A Devotional Glimpse at Psalm 23

by James Smith, 1859

The Lord is My Shepherd

"The Lord is my Shepherd — there is nothing I lack!" Psalm 23:1

So sang David — and so God would have us to sing. What the Lord was to David — that he is to every sincere believer in Jesus. God in Christ is our Shepherd. The Lord Jesus is our Shepherd. He claims us. And well he may — for he gave his life for us! He seemed to glory in this act. He seems to speak of it with peculiar pleasure, "I lay down my life for thesheep." Every believer is the purchase of Christ, therefore said the Apostle, "You are not your own — you are bought with a price." What wondrous words are those, "Feed thechurch of God, which he has purchased with his own blood!" My soul, never, never, lose sight of the fact, that Jesus bought you with his blood — he laid down his life for you!

Jesus is my Shepherd — he has the entire care of me. His Father entrusted me in his hands. He could not, he would not, entrust me to any other. Jesus has the care of my person, of my salvation. As the eastern shepherd took the entire care of the flock, to watch over it, provide for it, preserve it, and return it to the owner safe — so Jesus took the charge of me, and so careful is he for me, and of me — that he bids me not to worry about anything — but tell him all, trust him with all, and enjoy peace.

Jesus as a Shepherd, knows every sheep, and all about each. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" Yes, Jesus knows my heart, my state, my circumstances, my infirmities, my temptations, my trials, my troubles, my doubts, and my fears. Sweet thought — he who loves me most, and has the entire care of me — knows all about me.

Jesus prizes every sheep. He sets the highest value upon them. They are his wealth — his treasure — his glory. He will not part with one of them. Sooner than part with them, he would part with his life. He impoverishes himself, that his sheep may be free, and safe, and happy. He would part with anything — rather than one of his lambs. With what pleasure he says to his Father, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish — ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand." Not one lost! None ever will be. Jesus keeps every sheep in his eye. They seem to be left to wander — but his eye follows them. They are scattered over the face of the earth — but his eyes run to and fro throughout the whole earth, watching, keeping, and preserving them. "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous." Blessed thought, the eyes of the Lord our God are ever upon his sheep!

"The Lord is my Shepherd — there is nothing I lack." What a natural, what a comfortable conclusion! With Jesus for our Shepherd — can we ever be left to lack? Especially when it is said, "No good thing will he withhold, from those who walk uprightly." Imagined good, I may lack; real good — I shall never lack.

I shall not lack protection, for Jesus is an Almighty Shepherd. With perfect ease, he can protect every lamb of his flock, every sheep of his fold. And as he can, he will, for he has said, "I give them eternal life, and they will never perish — ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand!"

I shall not lack direction, for Jesus is an all-wise Shepherd. It is the shepherd's province, and a part of the shepherd's work — to lead the sheep; and Jesus will perform this work well. He may lead us in the dusty path of tribulation; or across the burning sands of affliction and trouble — but he will lead us in the way of righteousness, the right way to the Heavenly fold. He will lead us in the midst of the paths of difficulty — yet in the most prudent and suitable way, to his Father's house. Blessed Jesus, what a numerous flock have you led home, without losing one! How many are following you now! My soul cries out to you, "You shall guide me with your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory!"

I shall not lack supplies, for the resources of Jesus are infinite. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." Jesus has all authority in Heaven and in earth. He said, "All things are delivered unto me of my Father." And again, "All things which the Father has, are mine." As Jesus claims the wealth of the universe, as he has all things at his command. And as he has the entire care of his flock, and prizes every lamb so much, and has his eye at all times on all, and on each — is it likely that any one will ever be left to die for lack? Is it not more reasonable, as it is Scriptural, to say, "My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus." Yes, yes, all the flock of God, entrusted to the care of Jesus, shall be well supplied!

Once more, I shall not lack healing, for Jesus has all skill. Cheer up then, poor diseased soul — Jesus will heal you. He will heal the plague of the head, and the plague of the heart. He will heal you so, that no trace of disease shall be found upon you, and will present you to his Father, without spot or blemish.

I shall not lack, for Jesus will know all my needs. Jesus will lovingly supply all my needs. Jesus has already provided for all my needs. O my soul, rejoice you in Jesus, that GreatShepherd of the sheep! Rejoice in Jesus, the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep! Rejoice in Jesus, the Faithful Shepherd, who never lost a lamb, or parted with one sheep from his fold. He has broken the teeth of the young lions, and broken the jaws of the old lion — so that they cannot destroy or devour any of his flock. Roar at them, alarmand terrify them, they may; desire to have them, they may; but no, not one, for Jesus can still say, and will be able to say at the last day, to his Father, "those whom you gave me I have kept — not one of them is lost." Not one! Oh, blessed fact! Not one! Oh, delightful thought! Not one! What an honor to the Shepherd! Not one! What a comfort to the poor foot-sore, weak, and burdened sheep of Christ! Not One Lost!!

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