Psalm 23: Resting in God

By Jenny Duffy

A note to readers

: as soon as Pastor Keat asked me to preach this Sunday, I knew that I wouldshare about Psalm 23. This portion of scripture in particular has been like medicine to me, andlike a pillow that I have laid my head on, as I have continued read it over again and contemplatethe sovereignty and goodness of God. Since translation cuts my sermon in half, I did choose justsome of the scriptures to highlight and teach on. There is much to be said about the scripturesthat I’ve chosen that I cannot do justice to, as well as the rest of the Psalm. When I did preachthis, I kept in mind that there aren’t any sheep in Cambodia and thus no shepherds. To keep itculturally relevant to the Cambodians and especially those unfamiliar with the Bible, I related thecomparison to the man who watches over the cows in the field. All of the scriptures quoted arefrom the English Standard Version.

A Brief Background

Psalm 23 was believed to be written by David in a time where he was hiding from Saul.God had appointed Saul as king of Israel, but removed him from this office when Saul showedhimself to be disobedient. God then anointed a shepherd boy to be the new king of Israel. In great jealousy, Saul attempted to kill David several times but failed. Finally, David fled for his life,wandering in unfamiliar places amongst strangers and enemies, in attempt to hide from Saul whoarranged an army to pursue and kill him. While there are a few theories as to when David didcompose this Psalm, the most popular thought is that it was during this dangerous time that hewrote the words ‘The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want’(Psalm 23:1).

God our Shepherd

David knew well about the job of a shepherd since he spent most of his life in thisvocation. It was the job of a shepherd to care for, protect and guide the sheep. David was happyto place the Lord in this role in his life: his protector, watcher, and care-giver. If God is our shepherd then we are his sheep. Sheep are unintelligent and defenseless animals, who easilywander into harm’s way. We can rightly think of ourselves as these feeble animals, who withoutthe guidance of our shepherd, wander into paths of sin, danger and fruitlessness. We need Godto constantly guide us into righteousness. Also, sheep are property to be owned, rather than awild animal. It is the children of God who are referred to as sheep, and the unbelievers are wolvesand goats. A farmer would know that livestock is bought at a great price. In the same way, Godhas bought us with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, and we belong to God. A shepherd doesnot stand at a distance and watch over his flock from afar, but rather he stands in the midst of them. Are you in the midst of a difficult situation? God does not look on from a far. He stands withyou in the midst of your circumstance. Just like how a shepherd doesn’t abandon His flock,neither does God abandon you. God is committed to you. When we feel that there is a distancebetween ourselves and God, it is not because God has moved away, but only because like sheepwe tend to wander. Jesus knew well the job of a shepherd when he spoke about how eventhough a shepherd may have one hundred sheep, he will go and look for the one that is lost(Luke 15:4-56). This is a picture of God’s ownership of us. Though we may wander, we stillbelong to God and continue to belong to Him, if we let Him take us back in His arms. He isdedicated to us. He is our shepherd and we are his sheep.

The Heart which does not Starve

In the same verse, David says, “I shall not want.” God is our provider. He is a goodFather who cares for his children. While we may not have everything that we wish, God helps usto be content. I believe that contentment is a precious gift from Holy Spirit. God helps us not tostrive, covet and pine after things in endless craving. God fills and satisfies our hearts with his

passion and excitement, leaving us satisfied and in utter disbelief of how much we really do have.

The Green Pastures

In his hiding, David writes “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me toquiet waters. He restores my soul (v.2-3).” Anyone who lives on this earth knows that this world isfull of troubles and tragedies. As Christians we can be comforted when we remember that after this world with its toiling and tears, we will arrive in Heaven where there is no shedding of tearsand we can enjoy God forever.But let’s not miss out on God’s goodness right now. While there seems to be no need for comfortin Heaven, there is certainly need for comfort on this earth, and God makes it His priority to beour comforter. We feel frustrated, burnt-out, and grief-stricken and our tears are sometimesabundant. Where comfort is needed, that is where God dwells. He specializes in healing our hearts. God doesn’t want us to wait for Heaven to feel relief and enjoy Him. God wants us toenjoy Him now. I believe that Psalm 23 is like poetry that paints a beautiful scene for us, sopicture this green, lush field covered in soft, fresh grass. Imagine laying in this field, feelingsatisfied and care free. There may be dangers around, but your shepherd is standing andwatching. This is a picture of our relationship with God. God invites us to come be with Him inenjoyment, trusting Him with all our affairs. It is very possible that we can lie down and our bodyis relaxed, but our minds are analyzing and trying to work out problems, and worrying. God islooking not only give us a physical rest, but also a mental and emotional rest. It is God who canmake us to lie down in these green pastures of peace and joy while He ministers to us.

The River of God

David speaks of ‘quiet waters’. The Bible speaks much of the river, and Psalm 36:8reads, ‘They feast on the abundance of your house and you give them drink from the river of Your delights’.God invites us to come and drink of Him. Jesus offers water that will end our thirst (John 4:14).An angel leads Ezekiel into the river deeper and deeper (Ez 47:1-12). God wants us to be fullyimmersed in Him, so that we may be so passionately in love that we give our everything. I thinkof the Holy Spirit as these quiet waters. While sometimes He may feel like a rushing flood, thereis serenity in the Spirit that doesn’t know stress, rush and anxiety.

He Restores my Soul

David says that God restores his soul. When we don’t spend time with God and inprayer, worship and reading the Bible, we allow ourselves to be vulnerable for this world to drainus. God wants our company so badly. In our constant communion with God, He feeds our hearts.Too often, we become too busy to simply be with God. We have this idea that we are doing theLord’s work, yet we neglect to spend time at His feet. I would dare to say that unless we areenjoying the fellowship of God, we are not really doing the Lord’s work. Jesus told His disciplesthat only by abiding in Him, would they produce fruit (John 15:4). I like when Heidi Baker says,“All fruitfulness comes from intimacy with God.”For the heart that has grown weary, bored and passionless, God tells us to come. He is the onewho refreshes us and gives life back to hearts that have become hardened and complacent. Godcan see the condition of our heart, and He is ready and willing to give us a fresh passion and lovefor Him.

The Feast

Later in the psalm, David says, ‘He prepares a table for me in the presence of myenemies (v.5).’ As Christians, we will have enemies. Jesus had enemies, and He told thedisciples that the world would hate them (John 15:18), but to take courage because He hasovercome the world (John16:33).David was well aware that he had enemies but even greater was