Psalm 23:1 "The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want!"
What a great expression of trust! We have a Shepherd who knows our every care and watches over us. He loves and cares for us more than we can think or imagine! This Psalm paints such a comforting picture on the canvas of our hearts, the Middle Eastern shepherd watching over his sheep. Our Lord is the perfect Shepherd!
In the Middle East, rainfall is seasonal. From March until November, there may be no rain. A field that is good grazing today may be a desert in a few months. The shepherd must always be thinking ahead. Today, he leads his sheep beside the still waters. Full and content, the sheep lie in green pastures. With not a care in the world, all is well. But the shepherd knows what the sheep could never understand, the still waters and green pasture will soon be dry and parched. So, he leads his sheep in the right path, the way that is best for their future well being. In the lower elevations, there will be grazing for the next season. The mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea will be beneficial for treating any sores or skin problems the sheep may have. It will be like a table prepared with all that they will need.
So, one day, when the sheep are fat and content, the shepherd leads them away from this life that seems so good. Following, they enter the rugged, dangerous wadi that lead to the lower elevations. The deep ravine, with wild animals and hardships, must surely be the Valley of the Shadow of Death! With wolves howling and lions prowling, the sheep may wonder, "Why would our shepherd take us from such good pastures to a place like this?" Yet, with all the dangers and hardships, the sheep know that all will be well in the end. The shepherd can be trusted! His rod and staff will protect them from the wild animals; He will lead his sheep through this valley. Then, the valley widens, and Lo, the field before them is like a table spread with good things! The next season will be wonderful!
In looking at this picture, we must remember that we too are sheep, God's sheep. Our Lord sees not only where we are today, but what is best for our future. He has a green pasture prepared for each season of our lives. When a season is passing, we wonder why the still waters are drying up, why the grass is turning brown, why things are not as they used to be. Then our Shepherd gentle nudges us, gets us moving. We may anticipate that thing will quickly get better, but then we enter the valley and everything gets worse. There is less water, grass is sparse, the dangers are many. Yet, we have a peace that all will be well. We know that our Shepherd is wise and cares for us. He is our protector. This valley is not punishment, but a necessary part of His love and care for us. So, we trust and follow. To go to something better, there must be a transition. Then, we behold the table He has prepared for us for this next season of our lives. More wonderful and precious than anything we have experienced before!
God has a future planned for you, and it is good! Dear Little Lamb, trust your Shepherd. If this is your first time through this dark valley, don't despair. You are not alone. This valley is only a passageway to something very good. I know, there were other valleys, but none like this. You wonder what's on the other side? We haven't seen it, so we can only imagine. Knowing our Shepherd, it will be unimaginably wonderfully!