April 5 – Psalm 23

In Psalm 23, David sings of God as the shepherd who cares for the sheep (verses 1-4) as protector, provider, and restorer; and as the host (verses 5-6) who sets the table and readies his house, so that his guests can dwell with him.

In light of the Gospel, Psalm 23:1-4 points us to Jesus, the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-18), who in obedience to the will of God the father, became the perfect sacrificial lamb, taking on the sins of the world, dying the death we deserved on the cross, and descending into darkness before defeating death, Satan, and sin through resurrection on the third day. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, our souls are “restored”, revived, brought back to life from certain death. We can “fear no evil” because death has been defeated and we have eternal life. Darkness is no longer our future, but we will dwell in the light of heaven, in the presence of the father, for eternity. As we follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, he leads us on “paths of righteousness”, growing us more and more into his image and likeness, for the glory of God.

Psalm 23: 5-6 points to Jesus as the one who prepares the way for us to be brought back into the family of God, and to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Sin has separated us from God, but Jesus paid the price for our sin through his death on the cross, drinking the cup of wrath that was meant to be ours, and defeating death once and for all through his resurrection. Jesus has done all of the work necessary to prepare a place for us in the Father’s house. Through his goodness and mercy, we can dwell with God in heaven for eternity.