Psalms 23:1-4
¹The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
The Lord is my shepherd:
A shepherd leads, guides and directs. The Hebrew word for shepherd is ro’eh which means to pasture, tend ,feed, associate with, be a friend and a companion.
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Abraham was called to leave his familiar land and journey into the unknown, much like a sheep following the voice of its shepherd. In our text above, we see his faith in action: he obeyed and went, trusting the guidance he received. As the Scripture says, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
The shepherd leads with wisdom and care, and the sheep follow, trusting that every step is toward a better place, even when the path is fraught with challenges, hardships, and trials.
Many times we say, “The Lord is my shepherd,” yet resist following where He leads. But remember, even when a sheep falls into a ditch, the shepherd does not abandon it; He lifts it out. This too we find in Scripture: the shepherd abandons the rest to look for one, the shepherd cares enough not to let the sheep suffer misfortune, as he asked the Pharisees whether any one can leave a sheep(ass/ox) in the pit on a Sabbath, this he asked when he healed a man on a Sabbath ( Mathew:12:11, Luke 14:4):
When a driver takes you on a journey, you must trust that they know the way. Like Peter, step forward with your eyes fixed on Jesus, fully aware of your own limitations but steadfastly fixed on His nature and ability. It is only by fixing your gaze on Him that your steps become limitless, transcending the bounds of your own weakness.
Exodus 23:20
²⁰Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared. ²¹Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my name is in him.
He leadeth me; At times sheep even when known for their tendencies of following the shepherd, they can be hesitant to venture into dark enclosed places especially when scared or distrustful. Often we fear to tred into the un known, forgetting with certainty that God led Israel by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day. He guided them through the wilderness ( Exodus:13:20-23).
He didn’t direct them to go here or there as a map with specified directions , rather , step by step they walked alongside Him being a steady companion whose presence assured them of all guarantees.
As God led the Israelites, they encountered giants, scarcity, resistance, and hatred. Yet, God’s unwavering guidance ensured they reached their final destination. He leads them to a promised land not only of physical abundance but of spiritual fulfillment a place where faith triumphs over fear, and hope over despair.
Isaiah 42:16
And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
It is indeed simpler to guide one who acknowledges their blindness; both literal and metaphorical because such recognition opens the heart to guidance. It’s no wonder that the blind men received their sight from Jesus the Messiah, not just physically but also spiritually unlike the men that could physically see yet trapped within their familiar shadows.
John 9:39-41
³⁹And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. ⁴⁰ And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? ⁴¹Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Prophetic Utterance:
The Lord is my shepherd; I see by His eyes, He is abundant in ensuring my safety, He loads me with sustenance, in Him I am perfectly nourished. My ears hear Gods heart, my mouth utters His mysteries to His own that hear Him.
I am sustained to follow and do His bidding.
Halleluya.
Guiding Text:
Psalms 32:8
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.