The Shepherd of Our Souls
Imagine a canvas where you could paint a single picture that represents Israel’s exodus from slavery. What would you draw? The Bible’s depiction might surprise you. In Psalm 77, God’s redemption of his people is portrayed as a shepherd leading his flock through treacherous waters, with his footprints unseen. This imagery is echoed in Psalm 78, where God guides his people like sheep through the wilderness, keeping them safe while their enemies are overwhelmed by the sea.
A Divine Shepherd
When the Bible puts the exodus on display, what do we see? A divine shepherd leading his flock through danger to safety. But what kind of shepherd is God? To answer this question, let’s delve into the book of Exodus, where God reveals his name to Moses at the burning bush. “I am who I am” is a declaration of God’s self-sufficiency and independence. He exists from himself and for himself, untainted by external influences.
The Burning Bush
The burning bush is a powerful symbol of God’s nature. As Sinclair Ferguson notes, the fire in the bush was not dependent on the bush for its energy; it was a pure, self-sustaining flame. Alexander Maclaren eloquently describes the significance of this image: “The fire that burns and does not burn out… is surely a symbol of the One Being, whose being derives its law and its source from itself.”
A Self-Sufficient God
This understanding of God’s nature has profound implications. As Maclaren continues, “All other creatures are links; this is the staple from which they all hang. All other being is derived, and therefore limited and changeful; this being is underived, absolute, self-dependent, and therefore unalterable forevermore.” In contrast to our finite existence, God lives forevermore, his resources inexhaustible, his power unwearied.
The Lord is My Shepherd
With this backdrop, we can appreciate the significance of David’s declaration, “The Lord is my shepherd.” This statement is not just a sentimental expression; it’s a loaded metaphor that draws on the rich history of God’s relationship with his people. As Peter Craigie notes, this phrase is “back-loaded with the great saving event in Israel which so identified the Lord as the saving, all-sufficient shepherd of his people.”
A Sufficient Shepherd
The beauty of Psalm 23 lies in its simplicity and clarity. However, when we unpack the metaphor of the Lord as our shepherd, the riches of the psalm shine brighter. David’s needs are many – food, rest, water, guidance, shelter, comfort – but the God who needs nothing and no one provides for him. As Martin Luther says, “The Psalter is a little Bible, and the summary of the Old Testament.” Psalm 23 is a microcosm of the entire story of the Bible, encapsulating the themes of rescue, companionship, and hosting.
Recalibrating Our Desires
The message of Psalm 23 is profoundly God-centered. It invites us to recalibrate our desires, to stop and rest awhile, and consider afresh who God is for us. As Harold Kushner notes, the psalm suggests that if we don’t have something, we’re better off without it. If we needed it, God would have provided it. This is a liberating perspective, one that allows us to live “having nothing, and yet possessing everything” (2 Cor. 6:10).
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