The Shepherd Who is Near
Throughout this fall and Christmas season, we've explored the theme of the good shepherd from John 10—the one who lays his life down for the sheep. We've examined Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 34, and other Old Testament passages, tracing the biblical imagery and royal tones in the title "shepherd," following the messianic prophecies that culminate in Luke 2 and Jesus' death on the cross.
As we stand at the threshold between 2025 and 2026, there is no more fitting passage than Psalm 23—the most beloved shepherding passage in all of Scripture. This deeply intimate psalm is so well known that even people outside the church can reference it. Today, we anchor ourselves in this profound truth: God is not distant. He is near, close at hand.
The Lord is My Shepherd
Verse 1-2
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures."
Verse 3
"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Verse 4
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil."
This psalm gives comfort and security, especially in grief, sorrow, and hardship. As we reflect on how the Lord has shepherded us through 2025—through battles with sin, through good times and hard times—we prepare to enter 2026 armed with truth. Like the ant in Proverbs that stores up for winter, we store up perspective so that when we enter the valley, we know we are not alone.
A Blessed Gift—But Also Dangerous Words
The Comfort
Psalm 23 is a blessed gift to hearts and souls. It shows the nearness of God, the kindness of God, the gentleness of God toward His sheep. These words offer profound comfort and security.
The Warning
Yet these words are also profoundly dangerous. They can nurture false assurance—a feeling that everything will be okay when the words do not actually belong to you. Only those who truly belong to God have the right to claim these promises.
The language of Psalm 23 is covenantal language meant for true Israel—genuine followers of Yahweh who love the Lord with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind. In the New Testament, these words belong to those who have trusted in the Messiah Jesus, who died on the cross. If you have trusted in Christ alone and are under the covenant blessing of His death and resurrection, these words are for you.
If you have not trusted in Jesus Christ, these words are not for you. But here's the good news: if you desire this relationship, belief can be yours today. Say, "I am a sinner in need of a Savior. Jesus Christ is my only Savior, and in Him alone do I trust." If you put your faith in Jesus Christ, these words can be yours for all eternity.
David: The Shepherd Warrior
David wrote this psalm, and it bears the touches of his own experiences. David himself was a shepherd who led sheep to safe pastures and fought off wild beasts. In 1 Samuel 17, David told King Saul: "When there came a lion or a bear and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. If he rose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him."
Can you grasp that image? A lion or bear has taken a lamb in its mouth, and David grabs this animal by the mane and delivers the lamb unharmed. David had literally been in the valley of death—in the Elah Valley with Goliath, on the run from Saul through the wadis where he faced his own mortality. He faced the death of his children as a result of his own sin. David has walked these waters, and in Psalm 23, he firmly anchors himself in the presence and nearness of God.
The Journey Through Five Landscapes
01
The Meadow
Green pastures where the shepherd provides rest and nourishment
02
The Paths
Walking along the heights in the Judean wilderness, guided in righteousness
03
The Dark Valley
Through the valley of the shadow of death, yet not alone
04
The Victory Banquet
A table prepared in the presence of enemies, anointed with honor
05
The House of God
Dwelling in the Lord's presence forever, the final destination
This structure echoes the Exodus wanderings where God led Israel through the wilderness with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, bringing them to water, giving them victory over enemies, so they could tabernacle with God. This is the primordial version of Pilgrim's Progress—a journey with three key images: the shepherd and sheep, the traveler and companion, the guest and host.
Three Personal Confidences
1
I Shall Not Want
There is no lack because the Lord is my shepherd. He provides everything I need.
2
I Will Fear No Evil
Even in the valley of death's shadow, I have no fear because He is with me.
3
I Shall Dwell Forever
I know where I will spend eternity—in the house of the Lord, secure forever.
These three statements address what we as humans struggle with most: lack of provision, fear of circumstances and death, and insecurity about our future. But notice something critical—the answers to these struggles are not found in something, but in someone. David does not itemize things that will satisfy. He identifies a person in whom all satisfaction is found.
Sufficiency in His Presence
"He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
We are hopelessly materialistic in our thinking. We say, "God, give me your good gifts, and by your gifts I will be satisfied," instead of "Give me God, give me Jesus." Psalm 23 teaches us sufficiency in who He is and His presence. He gives what we need—contrast that with what we want.
If He gives us good gifts, it's to teach us that He is all we need. If He gives us a desert experience, it's so we may not rest on the good gifts but look to the gift giver. He makes us lie down—this is provision. He leads us by waters of rest—the Hebrew carries a deeper meaning than just still water. This is the place where you can rest in calm, having all provisions met. Only He restores our being and soul. Stuff doesn't do that. Things of this world drain our soul, but He feeds and nourishes it.
He leads us in right paths. Walk with God, obey Him with your whole heart, and He will direct you. God's will for your life is to love Him, be holy, live obediently on mission, proclaiming His name until He takes you to heaven. Don't overcomplicate it. Look at God's word, do what it says—that's His will. And He does all this for His name's sake. He stakes His name to His work. He will never leave you, never forsake you, and in Him you will never lack.
Through the Valley of Death's Shadow
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.
The valley is not an accident. The shepherd knew the path he needed to take. Sometimes to get to the other side, you must go through the depths and its dangers. The valleys are by divine design and providence. He does not make the evil and dark calamity associated with the valley, but He sometimes leads us through those paths.
Only a Shadow
A shadow cannot hurt you. The object can, but the shadow is immaterial. If the Lord is your shepherd, only death's shadow can touch you—death itself can never touch you ultimately.
Not Alone
This frail heart needs comfort in weeping and lament. The assurance is that even in the valley, I have a companion. I'm not walking in darkness alone.
Rod and Staff
The rod is the weapon to beat off predators. The staff gently prods me to keep moving in the right direction. Even in battles with my own sin, He is gentle, kind, and comforting.
Why do I not fear? Not because I see the light at the end of the tunnel or because God fully explained it logically. I do not fear because I have a mighty, tender companion who speaks words of love and comfort through every step: "I am with you. That shadow can't touch you. I will fight off the predator. You are not alone. I will lead you through."
The Victory Banquet and Eternal Home
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
This is the scene of a victory meal. The enemy is vanquished, and dinner is prepared before them. But notice who does the preparing—usually left for servants, yet this shepherd king stoops to the role of servant to prepare a table of victory for His sheep. He is both king and servant.
He anoints those at the feast with status and honor. Oil is usually reserved for anointing kings, royalty, or priests—a sacred act of being set apart. The cup of extravagant blessing overflows. The cup often sealed covenants—treaties in war or marriage ceremonies between bridegroom and bride. This covenant cup overflows in bounty beyond anything we can imagine.
The result is not just being left as sheep or subjects or guests, but being invited to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. We've gone from sheep to sons, from subjects to members of God's household—the same loving care of sheep, but now brought in under the king at His expense to honor us, to enjoy His goodness and mercy all the days of our lives. The security is everlasting, eternal. I know where I shall spend eternity.
Jesus: The Good Shepherd
"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." — John 10:11
In Jesus is a shepherd with whom there is no want—He is all we need. He is the shepherd who goes first into the valley of death and removes the fear of death by giving His own life on the cross, so that all who believe in Him are hidden with His death and life. Death can never touch them. This is Jesus, who vanquishes the enemy and on the cross lays them open to shame, triumphing over them in victory.
Because of His death, we can dine with our servant King who did not consider it beneath Him to stoop and set the table of grace, to wash our feet with His love. In that same act, He makes us royalty—a royal priesthood, sons of God fully adopted into the household, so we might enjoy His own relationship with His Father.
1
Psalm 22
"My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"—prophecy of Christ's death on the cross
2
Psalm 23
All the benefits given to us as a result of our good shepherd laying His life down for the sheep
3
Revelation 7:17
"For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd. He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
One day—perhaps in 2026—the Lord may return. A great multitude that no one can number from every nation, tribe, people, and language will stand before the throne and the Lamb, crying out: "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!" The tapestry of Scripture made complete: The Lord is my shepherd.
Be strong. Let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord. If you have not trusted in Him, do not leave without making that decision. Eternity hangs in the balance. 2026 represents one year closer to eternity, one year closer to His return, one year closer to entering the house of our God forever.