The first scriptures I ever remember reading are found in Psalm 23. My great-grandmother taught them to me when I was 3 years old and begged me to stand up in front of our church and recite all 6 verses…I refused, but still I know that entire Psalm by heart. I am incredibly grateful for a great-grandmother, a grandmother, and a mom who poured a love for God’s Word into my heart because it has shaped me up to this point and continues to shape my life daily! Hebrews 4:12 says that the Bible is alive and active, that God’s Word is sharper than any 2-edged sword which pierces to the division of the soul and the spirit, joints and marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. When you open the Bible, those words have power to transform. Someone needs transformation today and it will not happen without knowing God through His Word.
Today, I want you to see something with me in Psalm 23; it says something so simple and so pure about God and about us! King David describes what God does: He is a Shepherd who makes us lay in green pastures, He leads us beside still waters, He restores our souls, He leads us in paths of righteousness (right living) for His name’s sake, He is with us, He protects us, He comforts us, He prepares a table/feast for us in front of our enemies, He anoints us, He opens His house for us to dwell with Him.
And what does Psalm 23 say about us? When we submit to the Good Shepherd (Jesus), we don’t have to want for anything. We get to rest in Him. We get our souls restored. We receive direction that leads us to righteousness for His glory. We will certainly walk through the valley of the shadow of death sometimes, but we don’t have to fear any evil! He is with us! He comforts us! We get to sit at a table prepared for us, by our God who loves us, right in front of those who seek our destruction…and they can’t do anything about it! God anoints our heads with oil, our cups overflow. And every single time we turn around, God’s goodness and His mercy are right there. They follow us all the days of our lives, and when we know Jesus, we get to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Now, if that’s not Good News, I don’t know what is! I pray you’ll follow the Good Shepherd today. He knows what He’s doing. And He’s good.