Opening Prayer
God, bless Your Word in our hearts. Amen.
Text: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Devotion
It was in one of the happy times of his life that David wrote this psalm. The child of God has many dark hours, but the light always breaks through again for the upright. The heart’s strings are stretched so that it seems they will break, but it is done so that the songs of joy afterward may sound pure and clear. Here the Holy Spirit plays a glorious song of praise on the psalmist’s heart-strings.
The Lord, strong and faithful, is Israel’s Shepherd. If you truly believe, then you are included here. He cares for you with every good so that you shall not want: He feeds you, restores you, leads you, comforts you, defends you. He can and He will do it. You are His dearly-bought sheep.
1) By the Gospel and the forgiveness of sins He feeds and nourishes your soul, and with the blessing of bread He sustains your body. His Word and grace are the beautiful pastures. 2) When it is necessary and good for you, He will give you great happiness and let you taste some of heaven’s joy. You receive quiet hours during the struggle, and physical balm in the heat of the strife at the waters under Elim’s palms (Exo 15:27). These are the still waters. 3) He continually draws you back when you want to go astray into sin and unbelief. He keeps you in fear and chastity, guides you, reminds and comforts and instructs you with His Spirit, so that you never walk alone. You would soon run into misfortune, but He limits it for you with tribulations and leads you on the paths of righteousness. It is certain, according to the name He has made for Himself by eternal revealing His nature in His works until this day (Isa 63:12). 4) The path goes through the valley of the cross. Each of God’s people will taste pain and need. Much weakness they have to bear, and many temptations rush in against them. They would soon give up if He did not comfort them with His rod and staff. But when they can say: “You are with me,” then they pass through the darkness without despairing; evil can never overtake them. 5) What may the mightiest foes do against Jesus’ sheep? Their Shepherd is a wall of fire around them, within which they are safe from all danger. There they sit, eating and drinking from a cup that overflows, their heads anointed with the oil of gladness. “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength” (Isa 30:15). Happy are Jesus’ sheep! Pure goodness follows you. You are an heir of life in the house of the Lord forever.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, let me be one of Your sheep. I am one! Alleluia! Amen. You bought me and baptized me and drew my heart to You.
Hymn
Thou art my host; for me, Thy guest,
A table Thou providest.
Though foes be near, I am at rest;
Thou still with me abidest.
With oil anointest Thou my head;
On me Thy blessing rich is shed,
My cup with bliss o’erfloweth.
Thy goodness and Thy mercy, Lord,
Shall follow me, attending
The days Thou dost to me afford,
Until they reach their ending:
Thereafter shall I in Thy love
Dwell in Thy house in heaven above
Forever and forever.
Arrebo: The Lord my faithful Shepherd is L 374:5-6 ELH 368:5-6 tr. C. Døving;
tune: Es ist gewisslich