Despite the fact that the Holy Bible, with its the Old Testament and New Testament, abounds with divine inspirations, yet the Old Testament's Psalm 23 is frequently referred to in prayers while being considered as one of the divine gems of the Holy Bible.
This psalm has over the time drawn attention of the faithful who kept memorizing and reciting it particularly in times of danger, hopelessness, and despair.
Actually upon reciting this psalm, one feels divine love and mostly divine parental care. It instills peace, love, care, and mostly the feeling that the Lord is no so nigh that fear of the problems life and its complications are kept at bay.
In “The Lord is my Shepherd” psalm, the Lord affirms His unbreakable promises He has made to His beloved people. It declares His unchanging nature, all-sufficient power, and eternality. The verse "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want" indicates that we are greatly taken care by the Lord so that our needs are always fulfilled in due time. This verse concurs with the words of Lord Jesus, "Ask, using My name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. (John 16:24)
The verses, "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake" reflect utmost care demonstrated by the Lord Who leads those who trust Him to lie down in green pastures and quiet water which gives serenity and peace.
Thus, the Lord makes the faithful not want and gives them serenity and peace. These assurances are definitely evident in all those who walk in the steps of the Lord and view Him as the heavenly father Who guides them in life.
The culmination of the psalm is the verse, "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." This verse gives definite assurance that no matter what dangers one faces in life, there is no fear as the Lord are with us. This assurance really instills peace as it gives assurances that no harm can be inflicted so long that the Lord is with us. The term "the valley of the shadow of death" is merely a symbolic description of the world, meaning darkness and death are valleys on Earth one walks through life reflecting part of the human experience. This verse is reminiscent of an event mentioned in the New Testament when a furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
What is surprising is that Lord Jesus urges the disciples to have faith, thus "faith" is the key word which some people miss and consequently get drifted into the whirlpool of unlimited mundane problems.
Consequently, as we walk through the valleys of life, we can look back in faith to God’s protection. Once strayed as helpless sheep our Lord, the Shepherd became a lamb who died for us to make us honored guests in His eternal kingdom.
Our shepherded died on the Cross to save His sheep. Lord Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." (John 10: 11-16)
So, in life our Lord allows us to face certain perils without always explaining why. Thus, we must trust Him and be aware of our Shepherd’s presence in the valley of the shadow of death whereby as the Lord who created this world walks along beside us, we must fix our eyes on Him as we face the evils of this world in order to be saved.
With the psalm concludes stating "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever," is just an assurance that there is no better place than the house of the Lord which abounds with pacification where "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."
Lord Jesus, You are our shepherd. Protect us when we are in the valley of the shadow of death, make us lie down in green pastures, lead us beside quiet waters, and let us dwell in Your house.
