Psalm 23: Following My Shepherd Through Today

Good morning. This is Morning Prayer from Bearing Fruit.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Many of us knew those words long before we needed them. If part of your life feels like a dark valley right now, this morning we'll pray Psalm twenty-three and follow our Shepherd into today. Let's bring this to God together.

In Psalm twenty-three, verses one to three, we read this.

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.

Psalm 23:1-3

David had kept sheep himself, long before he was ever king. So when he says I shall not want, he's thinking like a shepherd. A sheep needs food and water, rest, and someone to follow. It doesn't get to choose the field. With this Shepherd, it lacks nothing it truly needs.

Then David says the Lord guides him for the sake of His name. The Shepherd leads because of who He is. He doesn't wait until He has a better sheep.

Those right paths don't always stay in green fields. Listen to what comes next.

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.

Psalm 23:4

Some translations call it the darkest valley. It takes in death itself, and the long dark stretches of life. Notice the word through. The path runs through the valley, and the Shepherd stays with him every step of the way.

Until now, David has talked about the Lord. "He makes me lie down." "He leads me." Down in the valley, he turns and speaks to Him. "You are with me." A shepherd's rod and staff were his tools for driving off danger and steering the sheep. Even there, David takes comfort in both.

Many of us are in a valley this morning. For one of us, it's a work laptop in a box by the front door, ready to be handed back. For another, it's been a year since the funeral, and people have stopped asking how they're doing.

David doesn't say how long the valley lasts. Even the table in the next verse is spread with his enemies looking on. If what you're facing is darker than you can put into words, please tell someone today. A pastor, a friend or a doctor can walk part of it with you. The Shepherd often sends His help through His people.

Centuries later, Jesus took this picture for Himself. In John's Gospel, He says,

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

John 10:11

Jesus did that on the cross. He went down into death for His sheep, the darkest valley of all, and on the third day He rose again. So when you follow Him into today, you're following someone who knows the way.

The psalm ends by looking ahead.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23:6

The Shepherd goes in front, and goodness and mercy come along behind. All the days of my life includes this one, and the hard part of it too. You belong to His flock because He gave His life for you. How well you pray this morning won't change that, and neither will how bravely you walk.

Let's pray. You can pray these words with me, out loud or in your heart.

Father, I come to You through Jesus, my Shepherd. He laid down His life for me on the cross, and You raised Him from the dead. Because of Him I'm Yours, however this morning has started. I don't have many words today. Your Spirit helps us in our weakness, so I'm leaning on Him.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” You're the One who leads. You know where the good grass is, and where the water runs still. You make Your sheep lie down when they're too tired to stop. You restore my soul, and You guide me for the sake of Your name. Thank You that Your leading rests on Your name. I can lean my whole weight on that.

You know the valley I'm in. You know which part of my life has gone dark, and how long it's been this way. I'd give almost anything for a way around it. Some days I've gone looking for one on my own, and wandered after easier fields. I've grumbled at You as if You'd stopped leading. And I've been short with the people who've tried to walk beside me. Forgive me, Father, and set me on Your path again.

I'm bringing You my fear as well. It's heavy, and trying harder doesn't make it lighter. You already know it's there.

So lead me today. Take me through this valley one stretch at a time. Restore my soul, as You've said You do. Where I need rest, make me lie down, even if I'd rather keep pushing. Give me what I really need for these hours. You know my needs better than I do. And when my head gets loud, let me hear Your voice and stay close to You.

I'll say it with David, even while I'm afraid. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me”. That's what I'm holding on to. I don't know how long this goes on, or what's waiting at the far end. I'm putting all of it in Your hands, and I'll follow where You lead. Use Your rod and Your staff. Guard me from what I can't see coming, and steer me when I drift.

Your Son said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” He went into death for me, and You brought Him out again. He's gone ahead of me, so I can follow Him through whatever today holds.

I pray for others walking in the dark this morning. For a mother on a neonatal ward, watching the numbers on a screen. For someone signing papers they never wanted to sign. For anyone near the end of their life, and the people keeping watch with them. Be their Shepherd, Father, and let them know You're near. And lead each of us praying this morning through the valley we're in.

Lead me into this day, Father, one step and then the next. I don't need to see past the next bend. When the dark part of it comes, remind me You're right here. If I start looking for my own way around, keep me close behind You. Show me some of Your goodness along the way, even in the valley. A kind word, or an hour's rest. And tonight, when I look back over the day, show me where You were. I'll pray this with David as I go. “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

In Jesus' name, amen.

Take a moment of quiet now, and bring Him whatever's in front of you today.

Hear this blessing from the letter to the Hebrews.

Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Hebrews 13:20-21