Day 3 — The Lord Is My Shepherd

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. 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.”

— Psalm 23:1–4 (BSB)

Before David was a king, he was a shepherd boy. He spent long days and nights in the fields taking care of his father’s sheep. So when he wanted to describe what God is like, he knew exactly what picture to use.

Sheep aren’t very smart. They wander off. They can’t find water on their own. They can’t fight off wolves or lions. Without a shepherd, a sheep wouldn’t last very long. But with a good shepherd, a sheep is safe.

“The LORD is my shepherd.” David says God takes care of him the way he took care of his sheep. And look at everything the Shepherd does:

• “I shall not want.” He gives me what I need.
• “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” He gives me rest.
• “He leads me beside quiet waters.” He gives me peace.
• “He restores my soul.” When I’m tired and worn out inside, He fills me back up.
• “He guides me in the paths of righteousness.” He shows me the right way to go.

But then the psalm goes somewhere dark: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Sometimes the path leads through scary places. Shepherds sometimes had to lead their sheep through deep, shadowy valleys where wild animals might be hiding.

Notice that David doesn’t say, “God will never let me go through a dark valley.” He says, “Even though I walk through” it, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”

That’s the secret. The dark valley is still dark. But the Shepherd is right there, walking beside you. His rod was a club to fight off wild animals. His staff was a long stick with a hook to rescue sheep and guide them. Both are signs that He is protecting you.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Your Shepherd loves you so much that He gave His life for you.

Think about it: Which part of Psalm 23 means the most to you right now? Why?

Try this: Read Psalm 23 out loud tonight before you go to sleep. Try to memorize the first verse: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Dear Lord, You are my Shepherd. Thank You for taking care of me, giving me rest, and leading me the right way. Even when I walk through dark valleys, I don’t have to be afraid, because You are with me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.