THE SHEPHERD

PASTOR RYAN LADEN – DEVOTIONALS

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Today we will begin a slow crawl through the power packed message of Psalm 23. This is perhaps the most well-known passage of the Bible and yet it holds new and more personal truths from the Lord every time I read it. 

Let’s begin with a time of prayer.

Lord Jesus Christ, I acknowledge you as the Good Shepherd, the one who lays down his life for us and who calls us and leads us with your own voice. As we prepare to read this powerful Psalm, we ask that you speak to us through the message of your Word. Thank you Lord. 

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

(Psalm 23 1-6 NIV11)

Who is my shepherd?

To answer that question we must know the one who is represented by those capital letters, L-O-R-D. 

When we see this term, “LORD” in our English Old Testaments, we are reading the name of God as given in Hebrew  (YiHiYah) otherwise known as, Yahweh (Jehovah in Latin).

Moses

This is the name that was given when Moses spoke to the voice that was part of the burning bush experience found in Exodus chapter 3. The voice commanded Moses to call for the deliverance of the Hebrews from their time of slavery in Egypt. 

Moses was concerned that none of the Hebrews would believe him and so he asked, “Who shall I say sent me?” To which the voice replied, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.”  

The Name

This phrase, “I AM” is actually the name, Yahweh, which is a form of the Hebrew verb for being. The name of the Lord was given in such a way that it stressed his nature in many ways. 

•   The Lord is the one who exists of his own effort and doing. 
•   He sustains himself, he was, is, and will be. 
•   He defines his own nature and being and will not be limited. 
•   There is no limit to what can be said about the name of the Lord. 

The point here is this:

•   Yahweh is not the unknown God of the cosmos…
•   Not the God of the wind, sun and stars…
•   Or the manifestation of the life-force or chi.

No. This is Yahweh:

•   The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 
•   The God of the Exodus, the God of Israel. 
•   Yahweh is known by his actions and by his covenantal relationship with humanity.

Bold

When David tells us that the LORD is his shepherd, he is doing something bold and powerful. He is describing Yahweh, the Lord God Almighty, the Maker of Heaven and Earth, as his shepherd, his guide, his protector, his leader and provider.

For David, Yahweh was not far off and distant, the creator who watches from a distance. Instead, Yahweh is David’s shepherd. He is near and present. He is not disinterested and aloof, rather the Lord is active and personal.

Meaning

What does it mean for David to speak of the Lord as being his Shepherd? How are we supposed to understand this very descriptive and personal image being applied to the Lord God Almighty?

Well, the rest of this psalm is concerned with helping us understand how the Lord our God is our shepherd. But for today, let’s think about the significance of what we have heard so far. 

•   The Lord is personal, present, and interested in you. 
•   The Lord is actively leading you and providing for you. 
•   Like a shepherd, he protects you from dangers and threats that you do not even perceive. 
•   Like a shepherd, the Lord wants you to thrive and mature, becoming all that you were created to be. 

Praise God for the gift of the Great Shepherd!

In Christ, 

Ryan Laden

PASTOR RYAN LADEN

Works at MTN. CHURCH

Former Senior pastor at Warnbro Community Church

Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Studied at Baylor University

Studied at Texas Tech University

Went to Castle Hills First Baptist

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