The Shepherd’s song

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want

Episode 1: The main message of Psalm 23 is not that nothing bad will ever happen to us. The message of Psalm 23 is that God is close to us in every situation. We may also translate the words ‘I shall not want’ with: ‘I will not lack.’ When the Good Shepherd counts the sheep at nightfall, you are there. He does not lose sight of you. He calls you by your name and will encourage you to stay with the flock. He will carry you when you have gone astray. He will embrace you with faith, hope and a whole lot of love.

He makes me lie down in green pastures

Episode 2: The sheep then have to lie down for about three hours to rest and ruminate. There is a small problem: some sheep do not lie down of their own accord. They tend to literally eat themselves to death. The shepherd must not let that happen. That is why Psalm 23 does not say, ‘He leads me to grazing pastures,’ but literally, ‘He makes me lie down in grazing pastures.’ There are those moments in life when you are suddenly brought to a standstill. The big question is what you will do at such a moment. How do you react then?

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul

Episode 3: Sheep are afraid of running water because a strong water current can drag them along. Their coats then become so heavy with water that they drown. Therefore, sheep need a shepherd to lead them to calm waters that entangle them. We may also translate the Hebrew words ‘He refreshes my soul’ as, ‘He brings back my soul’. David discovered that his identity is not determined by people’s opinions, by circumstances or by what he can or cannot do.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake

Episode 4: David sings that the Good Shepherd will lead us ‘in the straight paths’ or translated differently ‘in paths of righteousness’. What does he mean by this? And why are sheep called animals ‘with golden legs’? Some Hebrew scholars translate the words ‘paths of righteousness’ as ‘circles of righteousness’. He does not chase us up steep slopes – uphill in one straight line – but rather takes us gradually and while circling up the mountain. While grazing, we reach the top.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil

Episode 5: When the sheep have grazed the pastures bare in spring, he has to find a new area. Otherwise, the flock will perish due to lack of food. A good shepherd leads his flock to higher pastures in summer to provide good and enough food for his sheep. But to do so, they must first pass through the valley of deep darkness. Know, however, that a good shepherd never takes his flock to a place where he has not first been himself. In this episode, Wilkin tells us that in their valley of deep darkness, their relationship with the Good Shepherd and with each other became unshakable.

For you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me

Episode 6: Psalm 23 is a masterpiece of genius in every way! The Psalm consists of exactly 55 words. Right in the middle of Psalm 23 are three words: YOU ARE ME! These three words form the heart of Psalm 23. It is the central message of the Bible: ‘I will be there!’ Sometimes hidden, but touchingly close. But what if you don’t experience God’s nearness at all? Wilkin tells the story of a friend who was in a bad car accident, as a result of which she only later fully understood the words ‘You are with me’.

You set up a table for me before the eyes of my enemies

Episode 7: The Hebrew word David uses for ‘dis’ means ‘an animal skin spread on the ground on which dishes are served’. The dis from Psalm 23 is nothing but a sacrificial meal. Our Good Shepherd gave his life for us. He spreads the lambskin before us and invites us to take a seat at his table before the eyes of our enemies. We all tend to turn our eyes away from the Good Shepherd and focus them on the enemy. David shows us another way. He does not allow the enemy to set his agenda.

You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows

Episode 8: David says that the Good Shepherd invites us to His table and He makes sure our cup will overflow. Because He enjoys our presence. God wants to be an overflowing source of blessing for all His children. He is not stingy in His blessings. David says in Psalm 21:4, ‘You meet me with rich blessings! God does not just give what you ask for or what you think you need. With God, the calf is always the fatted calf, and the garment is always the best garment. With God, the cup is never full, but always overflows.

Salvation and mercy will follow me all the days of my life

Episode 9: If Jesus is our Good Shepherd leading his flock, then ‘salvation’ and ‘goodness’ are the two sheepdogs watching over the flock. The Hebrew literally says that ‘God’s goodness and mercy will pursue me.’ We don’t have to chase after God’s goodness and mercy. His goodness and mercy know how to find us wherever we are. In this episode, Wilkin tells how God miraculously provided when they desperately needed it. Happy are you when the Lord is your Shepherd!

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want