455_The Good Shepherd Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Years ago, a well-known actor stood on stage before a packed audience. His resonant voice and commanding presence held his audience. That night, he was asked to recite something from memory. He chose to recite the 23rd Psalm. His performance was flawless. With poise and flair, he spoke the beautiful old words, each word measured, each pause intentional. When he finished, the audience erupted in applause. Later that evening, an elderly pastor was invited to the same stage and asked to say anything he chose. He chose the same psalm. His voice was failing, and his frame frail. At the end, there was no applause. There was silence, followed by the sound of soft weeping across the room. When someone wondered aloud later why the responses had been so different, the actor told them, “I knew the Psalm. He knew the Shepherd.” Psalm 23 is not merely beautiful poetry; it is personal testimony of trust and truth. It reflects a relationship to be experienced. And this relationship begins with one powerful word: “my.” “The Lord is my shepherd.” Psalm 23 is central to a triad of psalms. Psalm 22 paints the picture of the suffering of the Christ who was pierced for our transgressions. Psalm 24 reveals the returning King in glory, ascending the hill of the Lord. Nestled between them is Psalm 23, the reality of life with the Good Shepherd who came to seek and to save that which was lost. This reflects God’s order, for without the crucifixion there could never have been redemption for the flock that had gone astray. And through the cross and resurrection the Lord has been raised to the highest place in heaven and earth. David was a shepherd himself. He had spent days and nights caring for vulnerable sheep—leading them, protecting them, providing for them. Their safety and well-being of the sheep depended entirely on him. That is why everything in this Psalm flows from the declaration of the first verse. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Without this personal relationship with God, the rest of the psalm remains for the reader only poetry, not a promise. The world chases security through wealth, possessions, or status. Yet insecurity remains, plaguing even the richest and most powerful with insecurity, fear, and anxiety. In contrast, David was completely content, for he had a Shepherd. He had nothing