In Psalm 23, UJehova ungumalusi wami, David described his relationship with God. The words of Psalm 23 should also describe the relationship between a Christian and God. Although many Christians know Psalm 23 by heart, for many Christians the words of this Psalm only remain written words. Their words, isebenza, and behavior don’t line up with the words of Psalm 23. When is the Lord your Shepherd? What does the Lord is my Shepherd mean in your daily life?
UJehova ungumalusi wami; ngeke ngiswele
(IHubo 23:1)
God is the great Shepherd and He sent Jesus Christ to shepherd His flock. Jesus is the good Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus gave every person the opportunity to become part of His flock and follow Him, futhi usindiswe.
Uma ukholwa kuJesu Kristu, iNdodana kaNkulunkulu, and accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, futhi abe a indalo entsha; indodana kaNkulunkulu (lokhu kusebenza kokubili abesilisa nabesifazane), kuye, then the Lord is your Shepherd. If the Lord is your Shepherd, you shall not want.
When you murmur, ukukhala okubeleselayo, and complain all the time about your circumstances, the way people (imis)treat you, your lack in life, and constantly pray for all kinds of (impahla) things that, ngokusho kwakho, are lacking, then your words and behavior prove that the Lord is not your Shepherd. (Funda futhi: Ukubonga Kwamadodana KaNkulunkulu).
Because in the first verse of Psalm 23, it is written that if the Lord is your Shepherd, you have no lack.
God provided for you and gave you everything. Lokhu kusho, that you are satisfied with everything, God has blessed you with.
When we look at the words and behavior of the children of Israel, when they were on their way to the promised land, we read that they murmured and complained all the time (i.e.Exodus 16:7-8, Isintu 14:27,36, 16:11, 17:5, 1 AbaseKorinte 10:10).
No matter what God did and how God provided, it was never good enough for them.
Ngobani? Because they had a different ukulindela kukaNkulunkulu and God’s provision. And they constantly looked back to their old lives in Egypt.
They just couldn’t let go of their old lives. They didn’t remember their hardships when they lived in the bondage of Pharaoh and how they cried out to God for help. Cha, because one of the many characteristics of the Indoda endala yenyama is that they idealize the past and forget all the negative things of the past.
God is Jehovah Jireh
The way God provided for them and how He led them to the promised land, didn’t line up with their expectation and the way they wanted to be led and provided. They didn’t look at their provision. Kunalokho, they looked at the things they were lacking, Ngokusho kwabo.
The Lord was their Shepherd. He went before them and led them and provided for them. But they didn’t acknowledge God as their Shepherd. They were not thankful for His provisions. But they always looked at the things, they didn’t have.
Ngeshwa, AmaKristu amaningi, who remain carnal and walk after the flesh, have the same behavior. They are constantly looking at things, which according to them, are lacking. Ngakho-ke, they are never satisfied with the things they do have.
Instead of being thankful for what they have, they complain and murmur about the things that other people have, kodwa abakwenzi. If you live like that, then you can never be grateful. You shall always murmur and complain to people and God. (Funda futhi: Yeka ukusola uNkulunkulu!).
But if the Lord is your Shepherd then you shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures: He leads me beside the still waters
(IHubo 23:2)
If the Lord is your Shepherd, Uzomlalela. You shall humble yourself and allow Him to lead you. You shall follow Him and His Word and stay -zwayo kuyena. Instead of becoming rebellious and departing from Him and His Word. His words lead you and produce life and peace in your life. You shall be satisfied, and happy and experience the peace of God in every situation.
There will be storms in your life and the things in life may not always line up with your expectations or your dreams. But because you have laid down your own life on the altar and gave yourself to Christ, you shall endure and experience His peace, uthando, futhi injabulo in every situation.
You shall be complete in Him and not lack anything. You shall not be worried, because you are focused on Him; iZwi, and not on yourself.
The Lord shall make you lie down in green pastures, where He feeds you with His words. He shall lead you beside still waters as long as you stay in Him
He restores my soul
(IHubo 23:3)
This part has different meanings because the position of the fallen man has been restored in Jesus Christ. When you identify yourself with His death and resurrection and become a new creation, then you are risen from the dead and shall live.
The Word has restored you and reconciled you with the Father. The Word not only restored you, but the Word also renews and refreshes you every day of your life.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake
As long as you stay obedient to Him and led by His Word, and do what He has commanded you to do, you shall walk in the path of righteousness.
You shall walk according to His will and Imiyalo Yakhe. You shall do the things, which please Him. Ukuze, you give Him all honor and glory, and through your words, ukuziphatha, and your life, you honor and exalt His Holy Name.
Yebo, though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, angiyikwesaba okubi: ngoba Wena unami; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
(IHubo 23:4)
If the Lord is your Shepherd, He shall be with you all the time. Yebo, Uhlala ngaphakathi kwakho, ngeZwi lakhe nomoya wakhe ongcwele. That’s why you shall not be afraid and don’t fear evil, because He is always with you.
His words lead you, guide you, futhi akulungise. When you obey His words, you stay on the path of righteousness.
His words empower and comfort you and provide peace in difficult situations and the storms in your life. The words of the Lord ensure, that you stand firm and not be moved, (Funda futhi: ‘Isiboshwa Sezimo‘).
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
(IHubo 23:5)
The Lord will not remove your enemies; those who hate and persecute you. Kunalokho, the Lord prepares a table in the presence of your enemies. Lokho kusho, that in the presence of those, who hate, nqamuleza, and oppress you, the Lord supplies all your needs. Because He is your Provider.
As long as you keep your eyes on the Lord, instead of the circumstances, isimo(s), -phambili, abantu, njll. And as long as you stay loyal to Jesus and stay in Him, He shall be with you and feed you with His words.
He anoints my head with oil; my cup runneth over
He anointed you with oil, which means that He has set you apart from the world for His purpose and has sanctified and justified you in Jesus Christ. Because He has anointed you (He has put you in the position as son of God and a representative of the Kingdom of God), He has given you His Holy Spirit.
You are His son (lokhu kusebenza kokubili abesilisa nabesifazane) futhi kukhona ehlezi kuJesu Kristu Ngaphezulu kwakho konke ukubhala phansi, amandla, amadla, ukubusa, njll. He has blessed you in Christ Jesus with every spiritual blessing in high places, ngoMoya waKhe, Ohlala ngaphakathi kuwe (Oh. Kwabase-Efesu 1:3; 2:6).
That’s why you shall not experience any lack. You are complete and satisfied. Your cup shall not be empty but your cup runs over.
No matter what people say about you or whatever you are going through right now, God’s peace, uthando, and joy shall be in your heart. No one can take that away from you!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
(IHubo 23:6)
When the Lord is your Shepherd, you listen to His voice and be led by His voice and His Word. You believe Him and trust Him.
When you listen to His voice and His words abide in you, you shall walk according to His will. Uma uhamba entandweni Yakhe, ukulunga, and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
You shall stay in His Word and do what He has commanded you to do. Ngokuhamba kwakho nokuphila, you shall prove, that you are a son of God. If you are His son, then you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
‘Yibani usawoti womhlaba’
