Psalm 23 is probably the most popular of all the psalms. It is a hymn of God's goodness to his people. God is first portrayed as a shepherd, and then as a king. This psalm has been a source of comfort and encouragement to millions of believers over the years, and today it is as fresh and appropriate as when David first wrote it. Jesus may have been thinking of these or other psalms when he said of himself, "I am the good shepherd." A shepherd cares for his sheep and meets all their needs. He guides them to green pastures with quiet waters – symbols of health and freshness. But when God is the Shepherd, he will do much more than this!

God Almighty, who is a merciful God, if we seek refuge in Him and ask Him to deliver us from our pain, He will set us free. This God who frees us from our delusional fantasies is a god who is free and worthy of worship. This God must have freed us from humiliation, rejection, unseen, and bitterness in our lives. He has freed us from the society that has rejected us, from the families that have left us, from the hands of loved ones who do not understand us, and from the bitterness that surrounds us all. He must have enriched our fruitless lives so that by seeing that fruit, others can change their view of us.

A good shepherd loves his sheep. But even good shepherds do not usually sacrifice their lives for their sheep. Only the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, willingly sacrificed his life. The good shepherd owns the sheep. He cares much more about sheep than a hired shepherd. When the hired shepherd sees that the wolf is coming, he runs away and the flock is scattered and destroyed. But the good shepherd protects them.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely[d] goodness and mercy shall follow me ll the days of my life,and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.