Read | Psalm 23:1–6
A psalm of David.
The LORD is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside quiet waters.
He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even when I go through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
as long as I live.
Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV.
Thank God for his daily provision for your needs. For one moment today, intentionally stop and acknowledge God’s goodness pursuing you.
Focus & Pray
Art is a beautiful expression of God’s gift to us and can help us imagine, visualize, and better understand Scripture. View this work of art, titled The Shepherd, connected to Sunday’s sermon passage.
Observe what you see in the image, from colors to composition to recognizable elements, without trying to understand what it is supposed to mean. Then read about the work, using these details to help you interpret the work of art. Ask God what he might be saying through the image, and listen for his insight in your thoughts and feelings, then take a moment to respond through prayer to what God showed you in this image.
Commentary:
With a keen eye for images of the sacred in the everyday, Green captured this intimate moment between a shepherd and his sheep when she visited a farm in early 2024 to document a sheep shearing.
Through the lens of her camera, Green observed the tenderness the shepherd displayed toward his sheep. She noted that the sheep were restless, often toying with one another and startling easily. The shepherd showed patience and a willingness to continually correct the sheep gently.
A sheep’s thick wool, if not covered and protected, is easily dirtied by grass, hay, and other detritus. Wool, if not protected and continually cleaned, becomes soiled and cannot be sold for use in textiles. The shepherd, then, is not only responsible for protecting and guiding the sheep, but keeping them clean.
Though the shepherd in this photograph is just out of the frame, the viewer is able to see how physically close he is to the animals. Though we live in a world where it is often easy to forget about the tangible, real presence of God, this image reminds us that the Good Shepherd is present, even if he seems out of view. Through the Holy Spirit, he purifies, guides, and protects our souls.
This photograph is part of the Christ Community Permanent Collection and is on display at the Downtown Campus.
Art Source: The Shepherd, Alexandra Green, 2024. Used by permission.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.
