Trust in God
Introduction
What would you do if the leadership of your home church came to you and said that God told them to send you hundreds of miles away on an evangelism mission? But you couldn’t take any money along–no credit cards or checkbooks, either– and you couldn’t pack a suitcase or take anything except the clothes on your back. You couldn’t plan ahead at all. You wouldn’t have any idea how–or if–you would eat or where you would sleep. God’s mission for you was evangelism, to preach the good news.
Would you go? Would you trust God to work things out? The disciples did go, they did trust God, when Jesus sent them out in Matthew 10.
It would be one thing if you didn’t trust the leadership of your church or anyone else who told you to take such a risk. But if you were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that God Himself wanted you to go and under these circumstances, would you go?
Would you trust God to provide you with food, water and shelter? Would you trust Him to protect you and accept whatever circumstances lied ahead?
Trust is the subject of this article, and there’s no better definition of trust than what we find in Psalm 23.
The 23rd Psalm is one of the most well known and best loved psalms.
Virtually all commentators believe Psalm 23 was one of 73 Psalms that were written by David. And while there’s disagreement exactly when this one was written, I believe the most likely time was between 1,010 and 970 BC, and was probably toward the end of David’s reign as king of Israel.
David’s beautiful imagery and use of Hebrew poetry has inspired believers for hundreds of years. And it’s spiritual truths are still true for us today. It’s overriding theme is trusting and having confidence in God.
David certainly had his problems–very serious ones, including murder and adultery–yet he loved and obeyed God, trusting him like few humans ever have. Listen to what Samuel the priest says about David in 1 Samuel 13:14:
1Sam. 13:14 …the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart…”
David’s relationship with the Lord was so good that God said that he had a heart like His own.
What are God’s promises to us as His children? Even more important, how can we learn to trust God like David did–to trust Him as our shepherd?
Let’s read through the whole Psalm and then go back and look at it in more detail.
Ps. 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
Ps. 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Ps. 23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Ps. 23:4 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.
Ps. 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Ps. 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Let’s look at the passage in more depth, beginning with verse one.
The Lord Is Our Shepherd
Ps. 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
The first thing we notice is David’s use of the word shepherd. The original Hebrew word has several closely related meanings, including companion, keep company with, feed, and herdsman. The word here and elsewhere in the Bible carries the idea of leader, protector and provider.
The imagery of a shepherd is limited to the first half of the Psalm, but the overriding message of God as our leader and protector is seen all the way through.
The word “shepherd” undoubtedly meant a lot to David’s readers. The hills of Israel, especially near Bethlehem, David’s home town, was ideal for shepherds and their sheep. So people could identify with the word. They knew how important a shepherd was to his sheep. They knew how a shepherd cared for, provided for and protected his or her sheep.
David’s metaphor of God as his shepherd wouldn’t have surprised readers of the Psalm then and it shouldn’t surprise us now. David himself was a shepherd and knew all about what it meant to be one. Psalm 78:70-71 says this:
Ps. 78:70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheep pens;
Ps. 78:71 from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.
In this Psalm, however, we don’t want to forget that David is not the shepherd. The Lord is. We shouldn’t be surprised at that metaphor, either.
After all, God was named as Israel’s shepherd in the Old Testament. Listen to Psalm 28:9:
Ps. 28:9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever.
The New Testament refers to Jesus as a shepherd as well. 1 Peter 5:4 calls him the “chief shepherd.” Hebrews 13:20 calls Him the “great shepherd of the sheep.” And Jesus says this about Himself in John 10:11:
John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Not only is God the shepherd in this Psalm, David is metaphorically referring to himself as one of the Lord’s sheep. Like real sheep, David is dependent upon his shepherd for everything from food and water to protection from his enemies. And since the spiritual truths of this psalm still apply to us today, we’re also God’s sheep. The New Testament repeatedly refers to believers as Christ’s sheep. John 10:3-5 says this:
John 10:3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
John 10:4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
John 10:5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
He Gives Us Rest And Provides For Our Needs
If God is indeed our shepherd, that means, as verse one says, we will not be “in want.” A good illustration of the meaning of these words is found in Psalm 34:10:
Ps. 34:10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
More than any other kind of livestock, sheep require a tremendous amount of attention and meticulous care. Sheep have been described as timid, feeble, easily panicked and generally helpless.
So if a shepherd didn’t do his job the sheep would struggle, starve and lead a miserable existence.
In one sense all Christians can refer to God as our shepherd. But in another sense, a more practical sense, very few of us can really call God our shepherd, at least all the time.
Sheep who really trust God allow Him to control their lives. They’re the ones who believe God’s promises and never seem to worry or get stressed out, no matter what the circumstances. They seem unflappable and at peace with everyone and everything, and they don’t let the nonsense of this world take away their joy.
If you’re anything like me, I spend too much time stressed and worried instead of letting God be in control and taking care of me.
In essence, verse one sums up the entire Psalm. If we truly trust the Lord, we won’t need or lack anything. He can be trusted to deliver on His promises. The rest of the Psalm, in fact, shows us some of His specific promises.
Let’s read verses two and three.
He gives us rest and provides for our needs.
Ps. 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
Ps. 23:3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
In these two verses we see how God gives his sheep rest. And green pastures also means food and streams mean drinking water. Sheep won’t lie down–even in lush, green pastures–unless four requirements are met. First, because they’re so timid, sheep have to feel absolutely safe and secure. Second, they won’t lie down if they’re being bothered or intimidated by other sheep. Third, they can’t relax if flies or parasites are tormenting them. And finally, sheep won’t lie down if they’re hungry–they have to be well fed. God meets all these requirements so His sheep can rest.
Sheep are also picky about the water they drink. They don’t drink out of fast-moving bodies of water and don’t like to drink stagnant water. So a good shepherd has to work hard to find and maintain green pastures for food, and had to search diligently for the perfect source of water. They worked hard to give their sheep everything they needed.
When I read these verses I always think of a painting by Jesse Barnes called “The Quiet Place.” I don’t know if you’ve even heard of Barnes or seen any of his work, but that print shows a quiet stream surrounded by lush green grass and trees.
Every time I see that picture it makes me want to walk along a path that he painted alongside the stream. I get the same feeling when I read these verses. It seems like my heart slows down, my breathing gets more even and stress just floats away. It’s really peaceful and I think that’s what David is trying to communicate here in verse two.
It’s as if he’s telling me and everybody who hears or reads these words to relax, take it easy, God’s in charge and He’ll take care of us. Our problems will all be worked out in time and our needs will be met.
Jesus wasn’t kidding when He told us not to worry about what we eat, drink or wear in Matthew 6. The apostle Paul says something similar in Philippians 4:19:
Phil. 4:19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Note that this verse doesn’t just say God will meet some of our needs or most of our needs–it says God will provide for all of our needs. Notice also the word used here is “needs,” not “wants.” We don’t need a Cadillac with all the bells and whistles. God, however, may determine that our need is basic transportation so He may provide us with a friendly neighbor with a car or our own car with 100,000 miles on it. God promises to meet our needs, He does not promise to meet our wants.
David trusted God to provide for his needs, particularly when he waited several years from the time he was anointed as king before he was actually installed as ruler.
The beginning of verse three shows us the result of God’s provision: restoration of the soul. While the word soul is often used in reference to salvation, in this context the more likely meaning is to be refreshed. Listen to how the word soul is used in Proverbs 25:13, when it’s translated “spirit”:
Prov. 25:13 Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters.
Jesus talks about giving His sheep rest in Matthew 11 when He encourages the weary and burdened to come to Him for rest.
It’s interesting how the Psalmist talks first about green pastures–food–then quiet streams–water–and then rest and refreshing. That’s how I like to spend my Saturdays. Cut my lush green pasture with my lawn mower, drink a ton of water and then take a nap.
God doesn’t just provide for His sheep’s physical and emotional needs, however. He’s very concerned about their spiritual lives. The last half of verse three shows how He guides us, His sheep, to where He wants us to go. Just as a shepherd leads his sheep to safety and well-being, God leads us in paths of righteousness, which result in our well-being and contentment. In John 10:27 Jesus says:
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Like humans, sheep are creatures of habit–sometimes bad habits–like staying in the same area too long. When that happens, the pasture land is virtually destroyed because the sheep eat the grass and go after the roots as well.
Because of all this, the sheep are dependent on their shepherd to guide them and keep them moving. Sheep don’t know any better.
People are the same way, sometimes. We need our shepherd’s guidance. The Old Testament prophet says this:
Isa. 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The path that God leads us down is straight and sure. He knows what lies ahead. And as we allow God to guide us and lead us, that pleases Him and brings glory and honor to His name. David knew that and, despite opportunities to become king prematurely by killing King Saul–he had two opportunities to do so–he waited for God’s timing and did it in God’s way. The Lord promised that he would become king and David believed that it would eventually happen and he trusted God to deliver on His promise.
If we follow Him faithfully and do what He wants us to do and how He wants us to do it, it leads to godly living which in turns leads to enjoying God’s protection and provision. God knows what’s best for us.
He Protects Us
In verse four we move from God’s provision to His protection. Let’s read it.
Ps. 23:4 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.
Here David poetically compares death with a valley. Despite the threat of death, however, David isn’t afraid because of God’s comforting presence and guidance.
His trust in God to protect him from evil and fear is no more evident than in Psalm 27:1. This is a great verse and would be a good one for all of us to memorize.
Ps. 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?
Isn’t that great? Another powerful verse on fear is found in Hebrews 2:14-15. Scripture says God will never leave us or forsake us, and this verse makes a powerful statement regarding Christ and our not having to fear death.
Hebr. 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death -that is, the devil -
Hebr. 2:15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
As humans we fight against disease, pain and suffering, but we’re helpless against death. People have always dreaded death like nothing else. Only God our shepherd can bring us safely to the other side of the valley of death. And only God can bring us through the trials and tribulations that we face in everyday life.
One might think that shepherds really didn’t much to fear, but that’s not the case. For months at a time, a shepherd would be alone with his flock far from civilization. If the shepherd or his family owned the sheep, they were often all that the family had. The sheep were the only source of income and very precious. So the shepherd’s sole mission was to protect his sheep at all costs which sometimes put him in life or death situations. In Amos 3 there’s a story about how the prophet actually tried to take a sheep from a lion’s mouth.
The shepherd and his sheep were considered easy pickings for wild animals, particularly when virtually unprotected in a valley. David calls it the “valley of death” here in verse four.
It’s in those times in particular that David spoke of how comforting the Lord’s rod and staff are.
A shepherd’s rod was used to protect his sheep and is a biblical symbol of power and authority. It was a heavy club which the shepherd often carried on his shoulder. Like an oversized baseball bat. Many of them had flints or nails sticking out of the end of them.
It was the primary weapon against predators such as wolves, and it could be used as a club or even thrown with precision.
A shepherd’s staff could also be used as a weapon, although it was primarily a walking stick and was also used to lead and guide wayward sheep. It looked like a big candy cane–it was about six-feet tall and had a hook at the top which the shepherd could use to steer his sheep with.
Both the rod and the staff illustrate how God’s actively involved in our lives and why we don’t have to fear evil. The Bible is one way that God’s involved in our lives; it shows us the way. Psalm 119:105 says this:
Ps. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.
Prayer is another way God’s actively involved in our lives and protects us from evil. Listen to James 1:5:
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
God’s also involved in our lives by using his “rod” in the form of chastening. This is a form of God’s shepherding we don’t necessarily like to think about, but He uses it in part to protect us and prepare us for facing evil. Hebrew 12:6 says this:
Hebr. 12:5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Hebr. 12:6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Hebr. 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?
Hebr. 12:8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Hebr. 12:9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
Hebr. 12:10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
Hebr. 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Discipline, or correction from God, then, is really to our advantage, and shows that we’re truly sons of the living God.
And let’s not forget how the Lord uses His angels to help us. Listen to Hebrews 1:14:
Hebr. 1:14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
One of the primary purposes of angels is to help us and to protect us.
And finally, as God’s sheep, Christians need not fear evil because God is all-powerful. 1 John 4:4 probably says it best.
1John 4:4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
God is more powerful than Satan, is more powerful than nuclear weapons and more powerful than all the world’s most evil people put together.
He Blesses Us
In verse five, the Psalmist ends his metaphor of God as his shepherd, although the message of God as protector and provider still comes through loud and clear. Let’s re-read it.
Ps. 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
It was very common during David’s time to confirm covenants and agreements between friends with a big meal or a banquet. This was particularly true between warring kings.
So here’s God, the host, exalting David, his king, in the presence of David’s enemies. We know from Scripture that God blessed David’s efforts in unifying Israel in numerous military campaigns. Over and over God brought David’s enemies into submission before the king. Over and over God showed David’s enemies that he was His chosen instrument in the world.
David’s readers also knew that to sit down and eat with a person was considered the ultimate act of friendship, and the host would often anoint his special guests with expensive oil mixed with perfumes and keep their cups full of whatever they were drinking.
The host’s most important job was to protect and provide for his guests. In this context, David’s cup is figuratively full of God’s blessings, especially provision.
In John 10:10 Jesus says this:
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Those of you who have children want to give them the very best. How much more does God take care of His children–His sheep? David was well aware of how abundant his life was when God was his shepherd.
He Gives Us Eternal Life
The climax of Psalm 23 is found in verse six and it’s a doozy. The best part of God being our shepherd is found in this last sentence.
Ps. 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
David’s abundant life as a follower of God really expands here. Not only does the Lord shower David’s life with goodness and love, he’s assured of eternal life. David knows that God will deliver on His promise of heaven. This is a theme throughout the Bible and probably best summed up by John 14:1-3. In fact, you might consider memorizing this passage as well. It’s powerful.
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me.
John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
This and other passages confirm what the use of the Hebrew word for “dwell” in verse six means: heaven is a real place, a place where Christians will live forever with God, resting from the troubles of our human lives. It’s not a myth or the result of somebody’s imagination. Jesus is preparing places for you and all believers, even as we speak.
Like David in this psalm, as Christians we’re also God’s sheep and we need to trust and obey our shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we do, the result is contentment and joy in this life, above and beyond the unconditional promise of eternal life for each one of us.
Conclusion
Let’s summarize what we’ve learned.
What are God’s promises to us as His children?
God promises to provide for our needs, including food, water and clothing. In fact, He promises to meet all our needs.
God also promises to never leave us or forsake us. He’s always there, even during the toughest of times.
God also promises us rest and happiness as we spend eternity with our creator. There will be no more death, no more mourning, no more crying and no more pain, for the old order of things will have passed away.
And finally–perhaps most importantly–how can we learn to trust God like David did–to trust Him as our shepherd?
We can learn to trust God like David did by becoming a “man after God’s own heart.” But how do we do that? Let’s look at 1 Kings 2:2-4 and read what David’s last words to his son Solomon were.
1Kgs. 2:2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, show yourself a man,
1Kgs. 2:3 and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go,
1Kgs. 2:4 and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ‘If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
Look again at verse four. God’s promise to David–to have a man on the throne of Israel forever–will come about if Solomon and his descendants do the following: “…watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul…”
We can be a man after God’s own heart, and we can trust God the way David trusted Him, by watching how we live and by walking faithfully before God with all our heart and soul.
Jesus says essentially the same thing in Matthew 6:33:
Matt. 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
When we’re God-conscious and when we put God first at all times, everything else falls into place. Many of you already know that, but for those who don’t, I realize that sounds simplistic and unrealistic.
But try it. Seek God with all your heart. Pray and study the Bible. Apply what you learn in your life. Ask God to fill you with His Spirit.
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to trust in the Lord with our hearts and not to lean on our own human understanding, and if we acknowledge Him in that way God will make our paths straight.
Try it. Trust Him. Put God first. Seek Him with all your heart. Do things His way. Believe what He says, including all of His promises to you.
David trusted and God pulled him through all kinds of tough times. Try it yourself and see what happens.
There’s a story about an evangelist who, years ago, was exhausted from trying to win souls in large cities. Looking for rest, he spent several weeks in southern Alberta, Canada, where he would spend hours and hours each day wandering across the hills and prairies in the area, enjoying the peace and quiet.
One day he met a 14-year-old boy who was watching a flock of sheep. The man and boy became friends and they would sit and talk almost every day. The boy wasn’t a Christian so, thinking it was appropriate, the man helped the boy memorize Psalm 23. Everybody remembers things differently, and the boy did it by associating each word of the Psalm with one of his fingers. The … Lord … is … my … shepherd…
Not only did the boy memorize the Psalm, he also became aware of its significance and eventually trusted God with his salvation. He became a Christian.
The man returned to his work in the city but never forgot about the boy, and came back to the same place a few years later to rest and look him up again. After searching the countryside, the man found a flock of sheep in the area but couldn’t find the boy. Not knowing where the boy lived, the man knocked on the door of a nearby farmhouse.
The woman who answered the door began crying when she was asked about the boy. She was his mother, and explained that there was a blizzard late that spring and the boy died while tending his family’s sheep. When the woman finally calmed down, she told the man about how odd it was when they found his body.
She said that even though she had knitted him a pair of mittens and it was cold out, the rescuers found the boy’s body, buried in the snow, with his mittens at his side. And his right hand was found frozen, holding onto the forefinger of his left hand.
Here’s a boy who knew who his shepherd was. We don’t know any details about the events leading up to his death, but we do know how he reacted to death itself. As he lay nearly frozen in a snow bank, he trusted God with his soul. He believed that the Lord would carry him through the valley of the shadow of death. I believe that God did live up to his promise, and that boy is dwelling in the house of the Lord forever right now.
Do you trust God, or do you let the worries of this life wear you down? Even more important than that, is Jesus your Lord and Savior? Have you ever given God your life in the first place? God wants to prepare a place for you in heaven, but you have to take the first step.
Check out the Get Saved article right now and begin your new life as one of God’s children who has the promise of eternal life.