The Good Shepherd

1You, LORD, are my shepherd.

I will never be in need.

2You let me rest in fields

of green grass.

You lead me to streams

of peaceful water,

3and you refresh my life.

You are true to your name,

and you lead me

along the right paths.

4I may walk through valleys

as dark as death,

but I won’t be afraid.

You are with me,

and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.

5You treat me to a feast,

while my enemies watch.

You honor me as your guest,

and you fill my cup

until it overflows.

6Your kindness and love

will always be with me

each day of my life,

and I will live forever

in your house, LORD.

the 23rd psalm is one of the most well known psalms and passages of the bible.  it is embroided and hung in hallways.  recieted at funerals.  sung in sunday school.  often we become so familiar with it that we forget to read it and meditate upon it and we miss the power and the grace and the hope for our real lives contained within its verses.

the Lord is my shepherd, the one who leads me and cares for me and provides for all my needs.  i am not in lack because he is the one who is Lord of my life.

the Lord is the one who leads me to lush green fields of peace and tranquility and restoration and rest.

the Lord is the one who leads me to streams that refresh me and fill me with life giving water.

the Lord is the one who leads me into the valley of death….

WAIT!  STOP THE BUS!

WHO leads me into the valley of the shadow of death.

yes you read it right.  The Lord, my Good Shepherd, does.

verse 3 says “you lead me along the right paths.”

the right path also includes the valley as dark as death.

this valley is filled with shadows and fears and frustrations and loneliness and darkness and doubt and rocks and desolation.

but this valley is important for us to grow and trust our God.

in this valley our faith is refined, like gold.

1 peter 1:5-7 You have faith in God, whose power will protect you until the last day. Then he will save you, just as he has always planned to do. On that day you will be glad, even if you have to go through many hard trials for a while. Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire. And these trials will prove that your faith is worth much more than gold that can be destroyed. They will show that you will be given praise and honor and glory when Jesus Christ returns

James 1: 2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, 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.

Isaiah 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.

The valley is not bad.  The valley is where God walks with us and comforts us and trains us and transforms us.

The valley is as much the will of God as the streams and green fields.

We must learn to not look so much at the scenery, the fields or the valley, but to keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus, the Good Shepherd, the Author and Perfector of our faith.

The kindness and love of God will always be with me each day of my life – no matter where i am walking – the valley or the fire or the flood or the fields.