God’s Care of His People

Psalm 23

GOLDEN TEXT: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”—Psalm 23:1

THIS beautiful Psalm is one of the most widely known and appreciated portions of the Scriptures. Doubtless as the Prophet David penned this Psalm, his mind went back to his father’s flock and to his own experience as a shepherd, concerning which we incidentally have the mention that while protecting it he slew a lion and a bear. Under heavenly inspiration the Prophet pictures the Almighty One as the great Caretaker watching over and protecting from harm all whom He recognizes as His “sheep.” Nothing can be farther from the sentiment of this prophecy and illustration than the popular sentiment which recognizes Jehovah as the shepherd and father of all mankind, and which is frequently voiced in the words, “the Fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man.”

Applying the Psalm to the Little Flock all of its provisions fit most minutely. Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we shall not want. Those who are proper sheep will submit their wills to the Shepherd’s will and trust. wholly to His guidance, and in so doing are relieved of that anxious craving so common to the children of the world, an acquisitiveness which is never satisfied, but the more it Vets the more it wants. The Lord’s sheep appreciate the heavenly things more than the earthly, and their wants in this respect are more than supplied when they accept by faith the divine assurance that no good thing will He withhold, from sheep which stray not from His fold. They have given up earthly interests in exchange for the heavenly, and realizing their own insufficiency and lack of judgment, they are trusting to the Lord to grant them such experiences in this present life as will be for their highest good, and as will work out for them a share of the glorious things of the future to which they have been called.

Although the experiences of the Lord’s sheep include many trials in the parched wilderness of sin, yet He graciously gives them restful experiences in oases of divine favor, These are not always accompanied with immunity from trial, so far as the world would view the matter, but certainly are seasons of rest and refreshment—to such an extent that the Lord’s sheep can truthfully say that they have the “peace of God which passeth all understanding” ruling in their hearts, notwithstanding outward trials, difficulties, perplexities, and adversities.

The “still waters” are contrasted with the rushing torrent of the mountain slope—still, not in the sense of stagnancy, but rather smoothly flowing. At the latter, only, could the sheep receive refreshment. The streams of truth and grace are living, but comparatively quiet, waters. As the Prophet intimates, these are not to be found by the sheep without the Divine guidance and direction—to find them requires the leading of the Spirit. Let us give diligence to His voice, remembering His words—that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Let us discriminate, discern His voice, with its truthful accent, so different from the voice of error.

“He restoreth my soul.” The Psalmist does not refer to a restoration of body or of physical health, but a restoration of soul, being. Applying the Psalmist’s words to the Christian experience we recognize that our soul or being has been restored through justification to life. By faith a complete restitution or restoration of soul is granted to the believer, that he might have something to offer in sacrifice to the Lord, “holy and acceptable” and that in sacrificing service he may walk in the footsteps of the great Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.—Rom. 12:1,2

The whole world is walking in the valley of the shadow of death. Mountain-tops of life, of perfection, were left by the race six thousand years ago, when Father Adam fell from his harmony with God to the plane of sin and death. The valley of sin carries with it the shadow of death—the penalty of sin. The whole human family still walks in the “broad road,” and even though the Shepherd leads His flock upwards, in reverse direction to the course of the world, nevertheless, according to the flesh, they are still in this valley of the shadow of death. However, the true sheep, hearing the voice of the good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, fear no evil. They realize, indeed, that the penalty of sin is upon the race, but they realize, also, that Divine Love has provided a redemption.

“His rod and His staff, they comfort me.” As the Shepherd’s crook was used to assist the sheep out of difficulties, to defend it from too powerful enemies and to chasten it when inattentive, and all these uses of the rod were for the sheep’s interest and welfare, so with the Lord’s little flock and their Shepherd and His rod of help, defense and chastisement. The true sheep learn to love the providences of the Shepherd and are comforted by them. Likewise, are these true followers of the Lord supplied abundantly with sustaining, strength-giving food, and that, too, in the presence of our enemies (Eph. 6:12)—secure so long as we are closely following the good Shepherd and under His care.

The anointing of the head of the guest with oil is said to have been a part of the hospitality of olden times. God has provided an anointing for His people—an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the little flock, the body of Christ, of which Jesus is the Head. The fullness of the cup may be considered to represent both the sufferings and the joys of the Christian. He is invited to partake of the Lord’s cup of suffering and the Apostle assures us “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom.” (Acts 14:22) But we share, also, the Lord’s joy, as He said to His disciples, “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might he full.”—John 15:11; 17:13,14

The goodness and mercy which we anticipate beyond the veil has its beginning here; nor is it to be looked back to as a thing of the past, but day by day the Lord’s goodness and mercy follow us, to strengthen, refresh and bless. Our highest hope is that of final union with our great Shepherd, our Heavenly Father, and if we are faithful, this will be realized when we shall be like our risen Lord, see Him as He is, and share the place He has prepared for His bride in the Father’s house.—I John 14:2

QUESTIONS:

Is God the Shepherd of all mankind during the reign of sin and death?

To whom does the 23rd Psalm specialty apply during this Gospel age?

What is meant in this Psalm by the “valley of the shadow of death”?

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