Jesus in the Psalms
August 25, 2023
The Shepherd Psalms
You know Psalm 23, likely by heart. But the poetry that takes us to green pastures would be meaningless without Psalm 22, which is like standing on holy ground. Called “the psalm of the cross,” Psalm 22 accurately and specifically describes Jesus’ crucifixion better than any other part of the Bible. But the picture Psalms 22 and 23 paint isn’t complete without Psalm 24, a chorus sung about Jesus, the King of glory.
All three together are called the Shepherd Psalms.
In Psalm 22, Jesus is the Good Shepherd. (Read John 10:11.) He’s the Savior on the cross. No one can say, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” until he can say, “The Lord is my Savior.”
In Psalm 23, Jesus is the Great Shepherd. (Read Hebrews 13:20-21.) Here we see Jesus, our Satisfier, holding His staff. He satisfied the Father’s holy demands through His blood, and today He satisfies every searching soul with goodness and mercy.
Psalm 24 reveals Jesus as the Chief Shepherd. (Read 1 Peter 5:4.) In this psalm, we picture the King’s crown that Sovereign Jesus will wear someday.
The Shepherd Psalms remind us how to face life and death. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.” It’s a terrible thing to think of dying by yourself. I know I’m not going through the doorway of death alone. Somebody is going with me, so I’m not going to fear. Our tender Shepherd Jesus does not leave His sheep but leads us from this life to the next.
This world hasn’t anything to equal that kind of love.
For today, David said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” For eternity, he said, “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Who is Jesus to you today? He is your Shepherd. In Psalm 22, He gives His life for the sheep. In Psalm 23, He gives His love to the sheep. In Psalm 24, He gives us light when He shall appear.
Next time you hear or read Psalm 23, remember the more complete picture. In the past He died for us, in the present He lives for us, and in the future, He is coming again for us.