LIFE WITH THE SHEPHERD

As we continue our reflection on Psalm 23, the impression that the writer did not seem to have a shred of ambivalence towards God is hard to ignore.

In fact, the certitude he had about God is admirable, especially when he talked about going through the ups and downs of life. In verses 2-3, he resolutely tells readers, “He lets me…He leads me…He restores my soul…He guides me…”. And in verses 4-5, he addresses God directly with confidence, “for You are with me…Your rod and Your staff…You prepare a table…You have anointed….”

Sure, it’s always easy to talk about God’s goodness when we’re living trouble-free lives, but as soon as a calamity and personal crisis appears, we often start wondering if God has somehow changed His mind towards us. Instead of confidence in Him, we send Him a long list of why don’t You do this or that, and why hasn’t this or that happened for me.   

In this second instalment of our reflection on Psalm 23, we are going to take a closer look at verses 4 to 6 to settle any ambivalence we have towards God.

Verse 4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil,

for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23 is often read at funerals and memorial services because the word ‘death’ can be carelessly misinterpreted. Yet it is clearly used to describe a shadow. So it is not about death but about life. Death in Hebrew is often translated as deep darkness.Now,we know it’s impossible to have shadows in deep darkness because only the presence of light can create a shadow when something blocks the path of light. Therefore, the ‘shadow of death’ here speaks of the presence of God’s light in the most dire situations where there’s no guarantee of our personal safety or success. When we embrace the fact that the presence of God is as much a reality as the storms of life that we must go through, we will discern His involvement in our lives very differently.

Also, it needs to be said that there is great danger in thinking that the appearance of storms in our lives means that God is absent. This is a distorted perspective that sees God as a recreational existence rather than One who re-creates Christlikeness in us. When the Psalmist declares, “I fear no evil, for You are with me”, he was expressing a confidence in God’s power to convert menacing threats of death into mere shadows that play on our fears and emotions! We can trust that the Psalmist knew what he was talking about because as a young shepherd, he faced constant danger to his life (he later became King David). 

Fear is real and we should not downplay anyone’s experience of it but we must also be careful to not let it cripple and paralyze us into despair and inertia. Even when we feel that life is spinning out of control, even when we do not understand what is happening, even when we do not see the end in sight, we too, can say, “I fear no evil, for You are with me”!

When the Psalmist says, “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”, he is alluding to the rod and staff that are symbols of a shepherd’s protection and readiness to act in defense of his flock. To be sure, the rod is not used to beat or scare the sheep but to fight off predators, and the staff helps to guide the flock so they would stay together without straying off-course.

In the same way, God doesn’t want us to just look up to Him, He wants us to look out for each other. Readers, hasn’t God sent someone into your life to introduce you to a community of faith, like your friends here at BeInReach? Just as a shepherd holds onto his rod and staff with a constant firm grip, whoever God has sent into your life is His gift of assurance that He cares for you. God wants you to know that you will find Him in your storms because He works things out for those He loves (Romans 8:28).

Verse 5

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

Sharing a meal is an important relationship ritual. Since Jesus is the Bread of Life, what do you think is on the table when you eat with Him? No doubt, He will surely provide everything that you need and even desire! What’s on the menu? Likely your deepest fears, hidden anxieties, untold shame, unresolved hurts, and even a sense of alienation from God. So you’d rather not open it and instead, look at the Bread of Life seated at the table. It is a place of deep communion with Him - not just physical food but also food for your soul.

But why ‘in the presence of my enemies’. Picture a table for two: one seat for you, one seat for Jesus. The menu looks good for the devil – your insecurities, weaknesses, refusing to take responsibility for how your life has turned out. Yummy ingredients to the devil because he can use these to manipulate you to assign blame on others, wrongly accuse others and be defensive about your sinful choices in life. Pull out a chair to entertain the enemy at the table and he will certainly take you captive to do his will (read 2 Timothy 2:26).

It helps to know that the word ‘enemies’ come from the root word to cramp, choke and suffocate. God never does that! So if you are struggling to flourish as a believer, look around your table and see who you have created space for.

Verse 5 continues with “You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In biblical days, there were servants who washed the feet of the guests and also poured perfumed oil over their foreheads to refresh them. This was a sign of the hospitality that considered all the needs of their guests. Figuratively, the Psalmist is describing the welcome God extends to us to eat with Him at the table.

Finally, My cup is about life because our body is the cup that God fills till it overruns and spills over. To be sure, some Christian lives are so well-contained that they always look full but have nothing to offer anyone. Others are kept to a bare minimum level of existence just so they still call themselves Christians. Yet, there are others whose life - like the Psalmist’s – constantly spills over with love to refresh others. Their lives may not have Instagram-worthy backdrops but they count for sowing into impact-worthy outcomes.

Verse 6

Certainly, goodness and faithfulness will follow me

 all the days of my life, and my dwelling will be

in the house of the Lord forever.”

What a closing! It begins with the word ‘Certainly’. Some other bible interpretations say surely and but of course. There is absolutely no ambiguity: God’s goodness and faithfulness will follow you, pursue you, and run after you all the days of your life.

Who then, are you still going to allow to sit at the table prepared for just you and Jesus?

This is a summary and reflection based on a virtual BIR Session held on 15 October 2022.