Read: Psalm 23
Devotion: Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known psalms. Even if folks don’t know that it’s from the Bible, they have heard it quoted in movies, on television, and in popular songs. The psalm has been used on Billboards and commercials, and it has been printed on shirts and bumper stickers.
Verse four is particularly well-known. Perhaps you’ve even memorized it: “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.”
One of the most common uses of this psalm is at funerals. The intended effect by those who read the psalm is to provide confidence and comfort to the listeners. For believers, this psalm is certainly a a comfort as we think about death and dying. However—and this may surprise you because of how closely associated this psalm has become with funerals—the psalm’s primary message isn’t about how we should face death. David’s main concern here isn’t even really about himself, although there are a lot of ‘I’s’ and ‘me’s’ in the psalm.
Rather, David’s intent is to extol the Lord’s shepherding. All of the ways that David describes himself in this psalm are a direct result of the Lord’s care for him. It is the Lord who is guiding, providing, and protecting David so that he will not want or fear or have a lack of confidence about his future. It is the Lord as our shepherd that we should be focusing on as we read this psalm, which in turn informs our thinking and our actions.
It is here where we get our lesson on contentment. David is explicit in the first verse, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” If we have been called out of our wandering and into his flock, then the Lord is our shepherd just as He was David’s.
Do you want? This isn’t talking about the things that you may desire right now in your life—a new car, a spouse, a change in career, better health. Having desires and even hoping for change in your life is not sinful. The word that David uses here means literally “to lack.” Are you lacking anything?
This is where we start grumbling and complaining. This perceived lack is the fount of our discontent. But if the Lord is our shepherd, what are we doing when we complain about our lot and fix our thoughts on what we are missing? Are we not calling into question God’s shepherding skills? Are we not saying that our Good Shepherd is not, in fact, a good shepherd?
That’s exactly what we’re doing when we’re complaining and grumbling to God about our present situation. “Why aren’t you answering my prayers, God? Why don’t I have this, God? Why do so many others have this kind of life, and I don’t?” This is exactly how the Israelites in the wilderness grumbled: “And the people spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food,'” (Num. 21:5). The people were claiming that God had led them to a bad pasture and that he didn’t know what he was doing as a shepherd. They distrusted God’s provision and leading.
In stark contrast, consider David who was fully trusting in his shepherd. David knew that the Lord had provided him with everything he needed (v. 1). He knew that the Lord had led him to the best pasture that he could possibly be in (vv. 2-3). He knew that even if the Lord led him through rough patches that would the Lord provide and protect him through and ultimately lead him to even greener pastures (v. 4). And so David rightly saw his cup overflowing (vv. 5-6). David was content. Is the Lord your shepherd? Then trust in His leading, for you will not lack and you will be planted in green pastures and by still waters.
Ponder and Pray: Consider what a shepherd does for his sheep. How does this illustration relate to God’s relationship with his people? What does it imply for our contentment? Finish your time with the Lord by thanking the Lord for how well he shepherds you.