The Lord is My Shepherd Rev. Teresa Stuefloten, M.Div. 5/31/2026

This morning I am speaking about Psalm 23, also called “A Psalm of David” and attributed to King David as the writer. I had to memorize the 23rd Psalm as a child in Sunday School and it has been a blessing in my life. When my mother was in the last years of her life I said the 23rd Psalm with her each night as I knelt by her bed and we said prayers together. I was glad that I had this comforting Psalm in my memory and could recite it with her. The English Standard Version, that is in more modern language, is the one I memorized and I will read it to you now.

ESV- English Standard Version

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. 

    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake. 

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. 

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Taking it line by line:

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” God is the good shepherd, our Source, providing all that we need. This does not mean that we are provided with all of our ego’s wants. It means that we have all we truly need. If we do not have what we truly need, food, shelter, clothing, employment, then we need to examine our thoughts and see if we are blocking our supply in some way. We must believe that we are worthy and that we will be supplied. If we do happen to have some of our wants in addition, such as a fancy car, and we obtained it honestly, and are not attached to it should something happen to it, then that is fine. But the focus here is our needs, not our wants that can take us away from our spiritual focus. The New International Version has wording that is more to the point, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.”

“He makes me lie down in green pastures,” What a beautiful and peaceful vision this is. Imagine lying in a verdant green field, gazing up at the blue sky with white fluffy clouds floating overhead, so relaxing.

“…he leads me beside still waters.” This reminds me of kneeling by a gentle stream when I was a child, peering into the shallow pools at the edge of the water where tiny minnows swam. The NIV version says, “he leads me beside quiet waters.” Sometimes my brother and I caught some of the minnows and took them home in a jar, but they never survived long because they need the quietly moving waters of the stream.

‘He restores my soul.” The NIV version says “He refreshes my soul.” Either way, how calming this feels. It is like meditation when we go into the silence. Our soul feels restored and refreshed after being in the silence of God communion.

“He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” What is righteousness? dictionary.com says: “Righteousness is the quality of being virtuous, honorable, or morally right.” The NIV version of the 23rd Psalm says, “He guides me along the right paths…” We are being led along the spiritual path that leads to a better life.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;” The NIV version says, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley..” No matter how dark conditions in our life may seem, we are lifted up by the Divine, out of the darkness and into the Light. We just need to trust that we are always Divinely cared for and reach out to the Light.

“…your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The shepherd’s rod is used to protect the sheep from predators like wolves, bears or coyotes, and usually has a knob on the end. The shepherd can tap it on the ground to get a wandering sheep back into the flock. The shepherd’s staff is a walking stick with a u-shaped curve at the top. It is used to steer the sheep, keeping them out of dangerous areas, to pull the sheep close to the shepherd for safety, and to pull a sheep or lamb out of the thickets, crevices or steep drops. So the imagery of the rod and staff, familiar to those in sheep herding areas, is a comfort because it symbolizes God keeping us safe.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;” Do we truly have enemies? We are all Divine expressions, made in the image and likeness of God. We are all one in Truth. The person who appears to be an enemy is a wounded person who is in error thinking. The person who says something unkind to us, the person who tries to hurt us in some way, the person who does things that lead to negative circumstances for others, this person is in need of help. Often this is a person who has been hurt by others and does not feel worthy, so they strike out at others. By refraining from retaliating and wishing, praying for this person’s healing, we assist them. We must learn to see the wholeness at the core of those who are in error. I was recently chatting with a person who worked as a counselor with young people in the juvenile justice system. He said that these young people had come from homes where they were abused and families that are involved with gangs and drugs. When we see with eyes of compassion we can advocate for systems of healing for those who are in error. So, we can imagine that table beautifully set to honor all who dine there.

“…you anoint my head with oil;”

Quoting from an article by Bryan Lowe, titled “The Shepherds Oil,” the significance of anointing with oil is explained.

“First of all the act of anointing with oil holds significant cultural and spiritual symbolism in biblical times. It was a practice to anoint guests as a sign of honor and welcome, especially in lavish feasts and celebrations.

Anointing with oil also had medicinal purposes, as it could soothe and heal various ailments.

In the context of Psalm 23, the phrase “He anoints my head with oil” takes on a deeper metaphorical meaning. It signifies God’s abundant blessings, His provision, and His care for His people. Just as a host anoints the head of a guest as an act of honor and hospitality, God lovingly anoints us with blessings and favor.

Moreover, the act of anointing with oil has spiritual connotations. In ancient religious rituals, anointing with oil was a sign of consecration, setting apart someone or something for a holy purpose.

This verse also portrays a practical picture of medicinal shepherding.

In biblical times, shepherds used oil to treat and protect the sheep’s wounds and keep insects away from their heads. By anointing our heads with oil, God brings healing and comfort to our brokenness, soothing our hurts and protecting us from the turmoil of life.

Sheep often can do harmful things to themselves as they try to find relief from flies and ticks. Their ears and eyes can be targets for tormenting insects as well. Sheep have been known to bash their heads against rock walls to dislodge flies from their ears, noses, and eyes. A good shepherd watches closely over his flock. He watches over them carefully.

A good shepherd knows that poured out oil forms a barrier of protection against these things that would try to destroy the sheep.”

“Have you ever asked God to anoint your head with oil?

Psalm 23 as a whole beautifully paints a picture of God as our loving and caring Shepherd, guiding us, providing for us, and protecting us. The imagery of anointing with oil further illuminates the depth of His love and the extent of His care. It reminds us that we are chosen and cherished by God, and that His blessings are abundant and unending.

But ask yourself these questions. Do you have times of mental torment? Do the worrisome thoughts invade your mind over and over? Do you beat your head against a wall trying to stop them?

The Holy Spirit can come with His endless supply of oil!” (end of quote) (brokenbelievers.com)

“…my cup overflows.”

Just imagine a cool summer day and your cup is being filled with the most refreshing, delicious cool drink. Perhaps it’s strawberry lemonade, or whatever your favorite cool drink is. We are blessed with overflowing blessings of the Divine.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

We can be assured that God’s goodness will be blessing us as we follow our spiritual path with faithfulness. Daily meditation and prayer allow us to dwell in the house of the Lord. Our life may still have bumps and challenges, as that is the nature of life in the Earth realm as we learn and grow in Spirit, but we can rely on God to sustain us and give us comfort in times of need.

Sheep have been domesticated for more than 10,000 years. The shepherd caring for the flock was a common sight in the Middle East in Biblical times, which is why this imagery was used in the Bible. Shepherding is the first profession mentioned in the Bible, in Genesis 4:2. Moses and King David were shepherds. Jesus frequently used shepherd and sheep imagery to make a point. Sheep really do know the sound of their shepherd’s voice.

In John 10 Jesus uses the analogy of the relationship of the shepherd and the sheep.

“…he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

To him the doorkeeper opens the door, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by their names and brings them out.

And when he has brought out all his own sheep, he goes before them, and his own sheep follow him, because they know his voice.” John 10:2-4

“I am the good shepherd; a good shepherd risks his life for sake of his sheep.” John 10:11

“I am the good shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me.”

“Just as my Father knows me, I also know my Father; and I lay down my life for the sake of the sheep.”

“And I have other sheep also, which are not of this fold; them, too,  I must bring, and they will hear my voice; and all the sheep will become one flock and one shepherd.” John 10:14-16

“My own sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

Again referring to sheep in Luke 12:32, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, O little flock; for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.”

And in Luke 15, So he told them this parable: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:3-7

And in the Old Testament:

Isaiah 40:11 “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

Jeremiah 3:15 “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”

My Dad, who had lived on his grandparent’s farm during his high school years, said sheep are “dumb,” but pigs are “smart.” Well he was right about pigs, they are very intelligent, smarter than dogs, but he was wrong about sheep. They are actually very intelligent, too.

 challenge22.com says, “Many people believe that sheep are simple, unfeeling animals who simply follow the herd. Calling someone “a sheep” is not a compliment, referring to someone who doesn’t think for themselves, is timid, easily influenced, or not an individual.

But the truth about sheep is very different. They are individuals, just like we are. Sheep have a rich emotional life and they are far more intelligent than we may think."

Here are some facts about sheep from the BC SPCA:

“There are over 1,200 breeds of domestic sheep. With all these different breeds, some unique characteristics exist. Some breeds of sheep, like the Hebridean, grow two, four, or even six horns! Racka sheep are unique because males and females have long, spiral-shaped horns. Najdi sheep have long, silky hair rather than curly wool like other sheep breeds.”

“One way sheep communicate with each other and their surroundings is through their excellent sense of smell. Sheep have scent glands in front of their eyes and between the digits of their hooves that produce smelly secretions used to communicate with one another!”

“Rectangular pupils allow for a wide field of vision, around 270 to 320 degrees. This means that sheep can see almost everything around them, except for what’s directly behind them, without turning their heads! As prey species, this helps sheep stay aware of their surroundings and watch for predators, even when their head is down grazing.”

"Research has shown that sheep can recognize up to 50 other sheep faces and remember them for two years. Sheep can even recognize these faces at different ages and from various angles. Sheep can also recognize human faces, such as their favorite caregivers. Other studies have shown that sheep can remember how to navigate complex mazes.”

“Adult females, called ewes, form strong emotional bonds with their lambs soon after birth. Ewes stay close to their young lambs and encourage following behavior, which young lambs learn quickly. Another way sheep communicate with each other is through vocalizations, often called bleating. Ewes can recognize which lambs are theirs by the sound of their calls, and at just 12 hours old, lambs can also identify their mother through sight and by the sound of her call.”

“Sheep are selective grazers and prefer eating vegetation near the soil surface. Their upper lip is divided by a distinct groove called a philtrum. The philtrum allows them to get close to the ground and select only the grasses and other vegetation they like – they learn to recognize plants by their taste! They use this ability to eat plants that make them feel better when they are sick or prevent disease, but otherwise hold no nutritional value, and teach their young to do the same.”

“Sheep experience a wide range of emotions, just as humans do. Many studies have highlighted the ability of sheep to feel afraid, angry, bored, sad, and happy. Not only can sheep feel basic emotions, but their feelings can be very complex. For example, scientific studies have shown that sheep can display optimism, pessimism, and empathy! Sheep are sensitive to emotional expressions and can recognize emotion in the facial expressions of their flock mates – an important skill to keep the flock safe.”

“While sheep in a flock may all look the same at first glance, they each have a unique personality! Some of the personality traits that have been identified in sheep are shyness and boldness. Some sheep may be bold and adventurous, while others may be more cautious and shy.”

“A group of sheep is called a flock, but sheep do not remain in flocks simply for protection from predators. Sheep form strong bonds with one another. Social bonds are so important to sheep that they prefer to stay with their social group rather than graze at a distance – even for highly desired food! Sheep forced to live in isolation experience distress.”

“Just as our pets may have play dates with others, so do sheep! After about the first week of life, lambs form play groups. Play behaviours in lambs and sheep are well documented, including bucking, spinning, and running around. These behaviours indicate that sheep, like most other animals, express positive emotions when they have the space and freedom to interact with one another.” (spca.bc.ca) (end of quote)

My friend, Chuck Sandy, recently had a scare with what he thought was a heart attack and Psalm 23 was a comfort to him as he went through this episode. He writes:

Chuck’s Story:

"Today is  Good Shepherd Sunday, so I’ll tell you the truth. When I think of the 23rd Psalm, I picture places I know: a green field at my childhood home, still waters where we vacationed in Izu, righteous paths, a dark valley, a field full of sheep with an actual shepherd on the Camino. Those images got me through what I thought was a heart attack a few days ago.

Call the ambulance — green fields.

Arrive at the hospital — still waters.

Surrounded by doctors in the ER — dark valley.

The arrival of family — green fields.

Intense pain lifting — righteous path.

Scary CT scan — dark valley.

Finding out it was not a heart attack — still waters.

It turns out I have an electrical issue with my heart. It’s now under control with medication, so please don’t worry—I’m doing fine.

What I want to tell you is this: through it all, one image stayed with me: the field of sheep, with the actual shepherd.

Later that same night, I was listening to music on YouTube when the algorithm led me to someone singing Psalm 23. I just sat there, eyes filling with tears, saying “thank you” out loud.

The next morning, I woke at dawn to sunlight pouring through the windows. The light was there.

Whether you know Psalm 23 or not, what places would you picture to see you through? May the light dawn on you, too.”

(End of quote)

I Invite you to close your eyes and listen as I read the 23rd Psalm to you one more time. Picture the images that are meaningful to you in your own mind as read the words. (Read slowly)

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. 

    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake. 

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. 

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.”

Om, Peace, Amen, and so it is!