“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”– Psalm 23:1 (NASB)

Everyone answers to someone.  There are many that think they don’t, but they are wrong.  I can remember conversations when a Soldier would tell me they were leaving the military because they didn’t want anyone telling them what to do.  I became amused after I would start asking the Soldier their plans for the future.  It usually boiled down to work or school.  Then I would ask them if they ever considered they would answer to an employer or an instructor.  Then there was always that “ah-ha” moment when the light bulb came on and they realized what I already knew, everyone answers to someone.

Granted, we may not answer right away, and by answer I mean reap the benefits or suffer the consequences of how we act, but we will answer at some point.  Children answer to their parents.  Parents answer to others for their children.  Parents also answer to each other, or their boss, or their customers if self-employed.  Soldiers answer to superiors, Generals answer to elected officials, and elected officials answer to the citizenry (at least in theory).

Likewise, and I am sure this will come as no surprise, we in the Church answer to each other and to God.  As shepherds of God’s people we will answer for how we led (Hebrew 13:17).  David recognized this on multiple occasions and captured it with what is probably the best known Psalm.  I find it both interesting and revealing that David, the most famous shepherd, referred to the Lord as his shepherd.

I hesitated to tackle these verses in my continuing personal study of shepherding.  You see these verses everywhere and I am sure what I write here will not be new.  Still, I realized I couldn’t avoid the most famous shepherding scriptures ever.  Instead, it is time to examine these verses and see what can be learned.  So here goes.

Is there any doubt we should want the Lord as our shepherd?  I mean, who in the Church wouldn’t, especially after reading the six verses that comprise Psalm 23?  I’m thinking if David, a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), want’s the Lord as his shepherd, who am I to differ?  But why did David want the Lord as his shepherd?  The simple answer is “well duh, He is God after all!”  While that is sufficient enough for me, there are still reasons contained in the remaining verses that bear further investigation.

The first reason for me is because God will lead us to a better future.  I am sure there are many reasons behind “green pastures” and “quiet waters”, but as a shepherd what stands out to me is they are representative of both the blessings we enjoy now as well as future blessings we will enjoy later.  Why will we “not want”?  Because we can be content (Philippians 4:11) knowing that God is leading us to a better future and will meet our needs along the way.  We shepherds should also realize God has entrusted us with providing a better future for our flock along the way.  I think this can be difficult at times and varied by congregation to some degree, but as long as the future fits God’s purpose we will be alright.  One way to a better future is providing an environment where we can “restore our souls” and meet the physical and spiritual needs of our flock to the best of our ability.

So how do we create this environment?  Well, according to Psalm 23, it seems we create this environment the same way the Lord does, by guiding in “paths of righteousness.”  I never thought of this before this study, but for there to be a path someone must have been there before.  Someone has to have walked that path and by doing so demonstrated they are leading by example.  If you continue that thought then verse 4 reveals where those paths lead.

Many a Soldier has left relative safety of a secure compound to travel through the valley of darkness and death.  A multitude of books will tell you the reason they leave safety and security is for their comrades.  A multitude of books will also tell you what they rely on when they are out in the valley is the mutual feeling of having each other’s back as well as their training.

The second reason to want God as our shepherd is so we have no fear.  Notice there is no promise of safety, there is no promise that you won’t be physically harmed as you travel the valley.  However, we should not fear because our training in God’s word should sustain us (1 Timothy 4:6).  We should not fear because our brothers and sisters go with us to face the same dangers (Galatians 6:2, Hebrews 11:35 – 40).  We should also not fear because, similar to the way sappers mark a safe passage through a minefield, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, has been there before (1 Peter 2:21) to mark a safe path for us.  We only need fear if we stray from the path of righteousness and into the minefield of sin.

We recently conducted our annual hike to the summit of a 14er (14,000+ foot mountaintop).  During the hike I took along a five foot long walking staff made of Alaskan Birch.  The night before the hike we joked about it being the “rod of discipline” (Proverb 22:15).  However, during the hike some of the young men and women I was with commented they would like to see a mountain lion try to attack me with my staff because they felt I would get the better end of the deal.  We can also learn the third reason for wanting God as our shepherd and a lesson about our own shepherding by the role of the rod and staff in verse 4.  In this case, like on my hike, they are a comfort, symbols of protection and strength.  I would rather be viewed with staff in hand this way.  I am confident we as leaders and shepherds should use the rod and staff for gentle nudging and encouragement before resulting to the final “rod of discipline” alternative (figuratively of course).

I was taught Middle Eastern tradition holds that even if your enemy is in your house you are to extend to them the same hospitality as a welcome guest.  I wonder if this was not what David had in mind with verse 5.  In fact, David indicates we will be honored in our enemy’s presence while on paths of righteousness.  So, the fourth reason to have God as our shepherd is that paths of righteousness will lead us to the spiritual high ground and corresponding moral high ground in any matter and if we stray we will walk into a minefield with potentially horrible consequences for the spiritual well-being of our flock.

As a leader I appreciate how David concludes the Psalm.  He tells us the next reason for following God as our shepherd on paths of righteousness is because goodness and mercy will follow in our wake.  What does that goodness and mercy look like?  I am not sure for every circumstance.  What I am sure of is goodness and mercy require action by people, and if we follow paths of righteousness we will influence our congregation to produce acts of goodness and mercy.   These are two great things to be known for in the local community.

Finally, David states we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  In this case “dwell” could also mean “return”.  Just as a Soldier returns to a safe haven after being on patrol, we have the promise of returning to what God intended for man in the first place, that better future of living eternally in a safe place with Him.  If we have served God properly as shepherds we will also guide others to the same as they conduct acts of goodness and mercy while they walk the same righteous paths, and so on for each consecutive generation (i.e. descendants following their ancestors of the Lord’s house) until Christ returns to claim His own.

May your blessings exceed mine today and all your days. – DEM