“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
TEXT — Psalm 23:4-6
Message
Once, a preacher who returned from Israel told his congregation what he considered the immeasurable import of Psalm 23. He said his guide during his stay among the Jews told him that David’s composition captured the peace and security the flock had under the watch of the rod wielding shepherd. Seeing him with his staff that made a little but audible noise as it tapped the ground, the sheep were assured of guidance and protection from marauders and wild beasts.
Regarded as a countryside piece, Psalm 23 is the celebration of our Good Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, who guides His flock, His Church worldwide, through the wilderness of life. It is drawn from the experience of David, himself a shepherd boy, who knew the bond between a shepherd and his defenseless sheep. His presence, by his own account, delivered the animals from predators like the lion and the bear. David risked his life as he battled these beasts for the sheep’s sake.
Jesus does infinitely more for us, His sheep. He is with us always, till our very last breath. He suspends natural protocols to meet our needs – spiritual and physical. He fights all our battles when the enemy emerges. When we take a small step towards an objective as we tell Him our aspirations in prayer, we see Him taking giant leaps for us. He has also given us the Comforter and the Holy Bible for counsel against the devil’s maneuvers and doctrines.
Finally, the Good Shepherd assures us of our everlasting place in heaven, where we are no longer susceptible to fear or death. These have remained two tormenting concerns of humanity. No earthly personality or system has triumphed over them. Only the Good Shepherd can offer this salutary victory.
Thought for the day
The Good Shepherd cares, corrects, counsels, comforts, and connects us to heaven.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
