WHEN I NEED COMFORT - Psalm 23

God provides, God comforts, God secures
the LORD may be considered the single most important word in the O.T. It is the personal name of God often written in English as Yahweh. David boldly addressed the LORD by His name...the God Who gave Israel the great Sinai covenant. He led the people to freedom from Egypt...guided them safely through the desert and supplied them with food and water. David was so close to the LORD that he was comfortable speaking to Him by name regularly in his prayers and songs. David claimed the LORD as His very own.

The second important phrase is my shepherd. A great description with two words of David's relationship with the LORD...Guide, Caretaker, Supplier ... a continued state or activity. As one very familiar with shepherds, David knew that his LORD (and MY LORD) is the ultimate Good Shepherd and he could say just as you can, "There is nothing I lack!"

For sheep to lie down 1. free from fear; 2. harmony with other members of the flock, 3. free of torment from parasites and insects, 4. well fed These require a lot of work on the part of a shepherd. Enemies must be eliminated. Good shepherds are difficult to find - it is hard work. Must create a flourishing pasture, clear the land, sow the seeds of nourishing plants and on and on.

To lead by still waters...the shepherd had to provide water for the animals. Water was scarce - sometimes it must be drawn by hand, sometimes large obstacles had to be placed to quiet the rushing waters which sheep feared. The LORD diligently seeks to lead us to places of spiritual refreshment and keep us strong and healthy with good water.

The LORD renews and refreshes His sheep. He does what is necessary for their good health. We must guard against attempting to find comfort by "rubbing sores" with another old grumpy, complaining sheep.

Meditating on His Word and words of comfort will lead us into peaceful thinking...uplift our spirit and take us from the clouds of depression. We are pictured as lowly sheep and it is not the cute little very white animal with the big pink bow! Sheep are dumb...defenseless animals that are prone to get lost. They need constant care. You can't drive sheep, they must be led. The shepherd saw the animals were fed well and then he sought an area of protection so they could peacefully and trustingly lie down. With a circle of rocks or such and himself positioned over the gap - he became the door...they could rest at ease.

The LORD is shepherding me. With no fences, with rough terrain, the helpless flock must have constant oversight, just as you and I as His children must! The LORD leads gently - but lead He must - "we are prone to wander" just as the sheep does. In wandering off, the shepherd on occasion had to break the sheep's leg and carry him back to the flock on His shoulders - just as we are chastized and suffer but carried back on the shoulders of forgiveness by His grace!

Traveling through the Valley of the Shadow - must be light to have a shadow...The Light of the World goes through the passage with us...that can, should and will continue to be our greatest comfort - "I will never leave you nor forsake you!"

Under the old covenant, the sheep died for the shepherd, but under the new covenant, the Shepherd died for the sheep--AND WE SHALL MEET OUR SHEPHERD SOON! "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Rev. 7:17