Sharper Iron — Time in the Psalms - Psalm 23: The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The beloved imagery of Psalm 23 has long captivated Christians’ minds. The LORD is the Shepherd who guides His flock to needed sustenance of both body and soul. He gives, and we joyfully receive. Even in the darkness of death, we know that He is with us, and so we follow Him in confidence as He takes us through death and into life. Even as enemies surround us now, we rest and find refreshment at His overflowing table, knowing that He will pursue us and lead us into His house forever. As Jesus prays this psalm, He receives His Father’s faithful answer, so that we know that in Jesus, we have the answer to this psalm ourselves: Jesus is our Good Shepherd who has laid down His life and taken it back up again for us.

Rev. Merritt Demski, pastor at St. John Lutheran Church-Hanover in Alta, IA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 23.

To learn more about St. John Lutheran, visit stjohnhanover.org.

Join Sharper Iron this summer to study selected Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Together in faith, LCEF helps to start, sustain and strengthen LCMS ministries through financial and strategic partnerships. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 23

The Lord Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.^[a]
³    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness^[b]
    for his name’s sake.

⁴Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,^[c]
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶Surely^[d] goodness and mercy^[e] shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell^[f] in the house of the Lord
    forever.^[g]

Footnotes

Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
Psalm 23:6 Or Only
Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).