Psalm 23:4-6

Even 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.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever. (NIV)

I’m alone tonight, and I’m eight hundred miles from home. One of my adult sons came with me on this trip to Chicago, but he left this afternoon for an overnight side trip with a friend. It rained all day, leaving me trapped indoors. I was hoping for some change in the weather, so I could go for a walk this evening, but the drizzle continues. I responded to an e-mail from my wife, but now I’m alone with my thoughts.

Life does not always hand us sunny days. I am reminded of that as I turn to this portion of Psalm twenty-three. As we follow the Good Shepherd, He may take us on a path we would not willingly choose. The valley of the shadow of death alludes to events and situations more serious than a bit of rainy-day blues. The loss of a parent, a child or a life partner is a deep valley indeed. But David’s response is most interesting. He confidently states, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

But I can hear the incredulous sceptics asking, “David, you’re not afraid of evil? Don’t you know there is an enormous amount of evil out on the loose in this world? There is cancer. There’s AIDS and dementia. There are terrorists on the loose. Crime is rampant. Families are disintegrating. Our nation’s youth are going to hell in a filth-laced hip-hop spouting hand basket. David, you need to tune into the news. There are wars and rumours of wars, earthquakes and famines. We are living in the end times.”

To all this David’s reply is the same, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

David’s confidence is unshaken. It is unshaken because he knows the Good Shepherd. He knows him well. And we can know him too. Jesus is not a fair-weather friend who disappears at the first hint of trouble. No, when the times get tough, He draws all the closer. During our darkest hour He holds us closest.

We need to remember who penned this Psalm. David repeatedly went through times of horrific loss. After achieving victory after victory, he lost favour with King Saul and had to flee for his life. He lost the affection of his first wife. He endured years of depravation as he was hunted like a common criminal. At one point he lost favour with his own men, and they were about to stone him. Jonathan, his dearest friend was killed in battle. His own beloved son led a revolt against him and sought to kill him. His closest friends and advisers turned away from him. He mourned the death of two of his sons. David was all too well acquainted with the valley of death. He descended its steep slopes on many occasions.

But despite all this he assures us, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” 

You see David was never alone. In his darkest hour the Bible records, David found strength in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6). During those terrible times the Good Shepherd was near. He was in the service of the God who is with us.

David asserts, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

During those difficult times David drew comfort from the LORD’s presence right there beside him. There are really two aspects to be considered here when we look at the statement, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Both aspects are protective. On the one hand the Good Shepherd provides protection against the encroaching intruder; on the other hand, he protects us from ourselves.

Let’s look at the encroaching intruder first. I have spent enough time trekking about the forested wilderness of Canada to draw a certain comfort from carrying a good, sturdy stick. There is no telling what you may encounter around the next bend or over the next ridge. Not all wildlife fits under the category of small and cute.

As a shepherd, David was keenly aware of predators that might harm his flock. Now listen to David’s boldness as he tells Saul how he defended his own flock of sheep:

“Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear …” (1 Samuel 17:34-  36).

David knew how to use the rod to defend and rescue his flock. And he, himself was rescued from certain death, time and time again, by the Good Shepherd. The proverbial cat with nine lives has nothing on David. As you read first and second Samuel, you come to realize how frequently David escaped from the jaws of death. This rescuer of sheep was himself rescued on numerous occasions. He knew the comfort of the shepherd’s rod.

O, and what a tenacious Shepherd we serve! The Good Shepherd fights for His sheep. The roaring lion may approach but now listen to Jesus words concerning the sheep of His pasture. He says, “No one can snatch them out of my hand.”

There is a wonderful security that we can rest in as we follow this Heaven-sent Shepherd. 

Now let’s examine the second protective aspect we see in this statement, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

The LORD, who is my shepherd, protects me from myself. Sheep are not the brightest stars in the firmament. Intellectually, they do not rank very high in the animal kingdom. Some would go so far as to say that they are rather stupid. Consequently, sheep are apt to put themselves in harm’s way, rather than having the prudence to avoid it. 

Though as a collective, humanity sits on top of the intellectual heap, our innate ability to make stupid decisions is renowned. The annual Darwin Awards are a testimony to the ridiculously stupid things people do. These are actions stupid enough to get the instigators killed. This definitely is one award list you don’t want your name to appear on.

I confess that I have made enough dumb mistakes to fill every page of this book. Please excuse me for not providing all the details. If you have lived long enough, and have kept good records, you could probably do the same. Our daily prayer needs to be, “Dear Lord Jesus, please save me from myself.”

(Curiously, within two hours of writing the above paragraph, I locked my keys in my car. LORD, did I really need a fresh reminder of my ability to make dumb mistakes? I rest my case.)

In the spiritual realm we are particularly blind to danger. We prance right over to newest trap the devil has set for us. Snares? Pitfalls? What are those? We butt, shove and jostle the other sheep so we can get the best possible cliff-side view. Spiritual danger? What’s that?

The Good Shepherd wields the shepherd’s staff for good reason. He needs that staff to pull us back to safety. I am sure that the pastor of every church in the land could come up with a list of candidates for a Christian version of the Darwin Awards. To my shame, I might make that list myself.  

“Dear Lord Jesus, please save me from myself.”

Where would I be if the Good Shepherd lost His staff? May my grateful confession always be, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

The stark truth is Satan and his cohorts have me surrounded. There is trouble and disaster lurking on every side. But in the middle of all this Jesus has prepared a feast for me—a banquet table spread with the most nutritious and delectable fare. There is the fresh-daily bread of heaven—the word of God. For the parched soul there is an endless supply of the water of life. Every fruit of the Spirit is there in abundance. And this Good Shepherd, who laid down His life for the sheep, has put His own body and blood on that banquet table. Now with a nail-scarred hand outstretched, he beckons, “Come. Come my beloved. Come and dine.”

Now don’t neglect His invitation. He will meet you there. And as you dine, be ever mindful of His words, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:54).

David declares, “You anoint my head with oil.”

Surely as David penned these particular words, his mind recalled the most significant event of his life. No, it wasn’t the day he slew Goliath, or the day he was crowned king of all Israel and Judah. It was the day that the venerable old prophet Samuel dropped in on Jesse and his family for a visit. David being the youngest son was nearly overlooked, as he was out tending the sheep. Let’s take a brief look at what happened that day.

Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power (1 Samuel 16:13).

This passage makes it clear that all the great accomplishments of David’s life flowed from this singular experience. The Spirit of the LORD came upon David, and he killed the lion and the bear. The Spirit of the LORD came upon David, and he slew Goliath. The Spirit of the LORD came upon David, and he defeated the Philistines time and time again. And on and on it goes. There was a power source that came into David’s life that day, which defies natural explanation. It came as he was anointed, and the above passage makes it abundantly clear that this power source was the Spirit of the LORD.

David was anointed for a purpose. That purpose was to serve and lead the people of Israel. In due time that anointing brought him to the throne room. Has God anointed you to serve? Has the Holy Spirit come upon you in power?

Just a few hours ago I returned from a cycling excursion. It’s about seven miles from where I am staying here in Chicago to the downtown. I set out at a leisurely pace along beautiful Lakeshore Park. My pace quickened as I neared Navy Pier, my turn around point at the downtown core. This part of the trip was a breeze. After a brief rest I headed back. That’s when I discovered why the trip downtown had been so easy. The wind had been at my back. They don’t call Chicago the windy city without cause. Now my whole body was a sail pushing me in the opposite direction. I put in twice the effort and got half the results.

Trying to do God’s work and will without the help of the Holy Spirit is like that. But when the wind of God’s Spirit is at your back, there is real power in every stride you take. David experienced the anointing of the Good Shepherd, and it totally transformed his life.  The same Good Shepherd has an anointing for you as well.

When God’s anointing is present in someone’s life, their cup overflows. David’s experience in this regard can be yours as well. The good life that comes from following the Good Shepherd is an overflowing life. The Good Shepherd supplies more than enough joy, more than enough peace, more than enough love, mercy and forgiveness.

Take God at his word. As you follow the Good Shepherd expect goodness and love to follow you all the days of your life. Following Jesus is not intended to be a temporary measure, and neither is His blessing on your life intended to be temporary. His desire for you is a good life, a good life that extends through all eternity.

Now hear David’s finally confident declaration, “I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

The Good Shepherd prepared a place for David. It’s a place in the household of God.  Before his departure Jesus told all his followers, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2).

David’s occupying a room in that big house right now, and some great day in the future I plan to walk by that room. I expect I will hear a trickling noise, or maybe it will even be a gushing noise coming from within that room. That’s because I am sure of this one thing. David’s wonderful cup is still overflowing, and goodness and mercy are still following his every move.

Bringing Life to the Psalms

1. Consider reading the biblical account of David’s life found in the Old Testament books of First and Second Samuel. These books provide a wonderful backdrop for any study of the Psalms.
2. David was anointed for a purpose. Have you discovered how God wants you to serve Him? Take time to pray for clarity in this regard. Too many of God’s people are wondering aimlessly, when He longs to anoint them powerfully for specific service. We are called to serve. Into what vocation has God called you?
3. Pull up a chair to the LORD’s banquet table. Be sure to read a portion of God’s word every day. When possible, make the celebration of the Lord’s Supper a regular part of your corporate worship routine.
4. Take a minute to reread this entire incomparable psalm. What is the Good Shepherd saying to you by His Spirit?

Today’s post is the fifth chapter from the book Psalms Alive! Connecting Heaven & Earth by David Kitz. To find out more or purchase click here.