The Shepherd’s Song

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” — Psalm 23:1

Do you remember David, the shepherd boy who became king? Before he ever fought a giant, David spent his days and nights looking after his father’s sheep on the hills around Bethlehem.

David knew all about being a shepherd. He led the sheep to find grass to eat and water to drink. He protected them from lions and bears. He used a long staff with a hook at the end to guide them and pull them out of trouble, and a club called a rod to fight off wild animals. At night he watched over them. He knew each one.

Years later, David wrote a song. And in his song, David wasn’t the shepherd. David was the sheep. And God was his Shepherd.

This is David’s song. It’s called Psalm 23:

“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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

“I shall not want” means “I have everything I need.” A sheep with a good shepherd doesn’t need to worry about where its next meal is coming from. Its shepherd will take care of it.

The “valley of the shadow of death” is a dark, scary place. Sometimes life feels like that: frightening, or sad, or lonely. But David says, “I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” Even in the darkest valley, the Shepherd is right there.

And at the end, David says that goodness and mercy will “follow” him. In the language David spoke, the word means “chase”. God’s goodness and mercy are chasing after us, every day of our lives!

This is one of the most loved songs in the whole world. People say it when they’re happy and when they’re sad, at weddings and at funerals, when they’re scared and when they’re grateful. Many people learn it by heart. You could too.

Looking ahead to Jesus: Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus is the Shepherd David sang about. And He loves His sheep so much that He gave His life for them.

Read it in your Bible: Psalm 23; John 10:11–15

Dear Lord, thank you that you are my Shepherd, and that I have everything I need. When I am in a dark valley, help me to remember that you are with me. Amen.