193. Monday after Second Sunday after Easter.
Prosper, O God, the work of thy
word upon our hearts. Amen.
Psalm 23. A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
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It was in one of the happy hours of his life that David wrote this psalm. The children of God have many dark hours; but the clouds roll away, and the upright again enjoy the bright sunshine. The strings of the heart are stretched until they seem ready to break; but this happens, in order that the joyful tones may thereafter sound with the greater clearness. In this psalm the Holy Spirit plays a grand anthem of praise on the harp of the psalmist.
The Lord, the strong and faithful God, is Israel’s shepherd. And in the term Israel you are included, if you have the true faith. He cares for you, and gives you all good things; and hence you shall not want. He feeds, restores, leads, comforts, protects you. He is able and willing to do this; for you are one of the dearly purchased sheep of his hand.
1) Through the gospel and remission of sins he feeds and nourishes your soul, and he gives you the bread necessary for the sustenance of your body. His word and grace are the green pastures. 2) When you need it, and can bear it, he will give you great joy by allowing you to taste in advance something of the bliss of heaven. You shall have intervals of rest in the midst of your struggles; and in the heat of battle you shall be refreshed at the wells of water under the palm trees of Elim (Exodus 15, 27). This is what is meant by the “still waters.” 3) He brings you back whenever you are about to be lost in the desert of sin and unbelief; he keeps you in the fear of him and in discipline; guides, admonishes, comforts, and instructs you by his Spirit, and is always at hand when you need him. You would soon plunge yourself into misery; but he hedges you in with tribulations and leads you in the paths of righteousness. That he will do this is vouched for by the everlasting name which he has made for himself in the revelation of his eternal nature through his works unto this day (Isaiah 63, 12). 4) The way leads through the valley of the cross; and none of God’s children shall be exempt from pain and distress. It is their lot to bear many infirmities, and they are assailed by many temptations. They would soon lose heart, did not his rod and his staff comfort them. But when they are able to say, “thou art with me,” they walk through the darkness without despairing; for they know that they need fear no evil. 5) The strongest enemy is powerless to injure them that are in the fold of Jesus. Their shepherd is a wall of fire around them, within which they sit, secure from all danger, eating and drinking of a cup that runneth over, their heads anointed with the oil of gladness. “In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Happy are you, if Jesus is your shepherd! Only goodness follows you, and you shall inherit life in the house of the Lord for ever.
Lord Jesus, let me be of thy fold. My prayer is answered! Hallelujah! Amen. Thou hast bought me, and baptized me, and drawn my heart to thee.
The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; he leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house for evermore,
My dwelling place shall be.