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.
What new insights stood out to you from this passage when rereading it after learning more about this book of the Bible throughout the past week?
Focus
To prepare your heart and mind even further for today's sermon, the Story of Scripture team at Dallas Theological Seminary wrote this devotional you might enjoy. Make a plan to join us at one of our five campuses to engage this passage in prayer and study with others in our church family.
Psalm 23 — With God in Every Moment by Kraig McNutt
“...for you are with me….” —Psalm 23:4:b
The main idea behind Psalm 23 is simple yet profound. The psalmist wants the reader—ancient and modern—to understand that because God (the Shepherd) is with us, we lack nothing. The Hebrew picture here is the idea of having no lack; therefore, one needs nothing other than the shepherd's presence. How beautiful is that?
Since I wasn’t raised in a shepherd-sheep culture, the closest I can approximate that is a man and his dog.
I recently rescued another dog. We now have three rescues. Two chihuahuas and a pit bull-terrier mix we just got. We named her Winnifred—or Winnie for short.
Winnie had severe need issues when I first saw her at the dog pound. When I opened her crate at the pound, she was initially quite shy and fearful. I placed the leash around her neck and took her for a walk in a safe place. It was love at first sight for me—and I think for Winnie, too.
I went back five times before taking her home, walking her in a pen by ourselves each time, with no leash. I just circled the perimeter of the yard, and she followed beside me every step. After the fifth visit to the pound, doing this made the bond unmistakable, and I took her home for good.
I have rescued dogs, cats, horses, and even an alligator (when I was nine). I have never rescued an animal that wanted to be with me more than Winnie. As long as she is beside me (on the floor beside my feet as I write) all the time, she “lacks nothing.”
We are just like Winnie when it comes to God. We have need issues. But, at just the right time, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). That took care of our need for salvation.
Now, we need to live the Christian life, knowing we need nothing more—we lack nothing—than being with Jesus.
Every time I look into Winnie’s eyes now, I am reminded that the question isn’t whether I have enough or need more. It’s whether I’m staying close enough to my Shepherd to realize I already have all I need.
Pray
Craft your own prayer based on the Scripture passage, asking God to be present in all the gatherings of churches across the globe, as the gospel story is shared today.
Invite someone else (friend, family member, church member, etc.) to engage in this passage in prayer with you, and share with them one thing that was meaningful to you from it.
Going Deeper
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.