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

In the ancient Near East, the title “shepherd” was more than pastoral—it was royal. Kings were often called shepherds because their role mirrored that of one who tends a flock: to lead, protect, provide, and uphold justice. A good king, like a good shepherd, was expected to care for his people with wisdom and strength, ensuring their well-being and securing peace.

King David understood this role deeply—not only because he ruled Israel but because he had once been a literal shepherd himself. He knew firsthand what it meant to guard the flock, to face down threats, and to guide with a gentle but firm hand. So when David declares that, “The Lord is my shepherd”, he was not offering mere poetry—he was making a declaration of surrender. Despite his status, David acknowledged that he himself was a sheep, and that Yahweh was his true King.

Despite being Israel’s greatest earthly king—one who defeated Israel’s long-standing enemies, unified the kingdom, brought peace to the land, and returned the ark of God to Jerusalem, David acknowledges that he is ultimately a servant under the true and greater King: YAHWEH! David’s reign, with all its success and authority, did not lead him to pride but to surrender. He didn’t place his confidence in his military achievements or royal power. Instead, he anchored his identity and security in the kingship of God. “I shall not want,” he says—not because he lacked nothing as king, but because he trusted fully in the sufficiency of his Shepherd-King.

Centuries later, Jesus stood before the crowds and declared, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11a). To those familiar with Psalm 23, this was a staggering claim. Jesus was not merely presenting Himself as a gentle guide, He was the GOOD shepherd, he was THE shepherd which David was talking about. He was identifying Himself with Yahweh, the divine Shepherd-King of Israel.

But He did not stop there, he went on to say that “the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11b). This turned expectations upside down. The Israelites were awaiting a Messiah, a military leader who would liberate them from Rome and restore the glory of David’s kingdom. But Jesus came not with armies, but with a cross. His crown was made of thorns. His throne was one of suffering. And His victory was won through sacrifice.

In laying down His life, Jesus saved us from sin and death and brought eternal peace—not to a geopolitical kingdom, but to the hearts of all who believe. Through His resurrection, He now reigns as the eternal King—both Shepherd and Lord.

Dear brothers and sisters, to call Jesus your Good Shepherdis to do what David did: to surrender the throne of your own life and entrust yourself to the One who rules with righteousness and love. It is to follow His voice, even though the darkest valleys, knowing that His rod and staff will never fail. It is to know and hope in His second coming where we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Prayer:

Jesus, my Good Shepherd and King, thank You for leading me with love and laying down Your life for me. I confess that too often I try to rule my own life, relying on my strength, my plans, and my wisdom. But today I surrender to You. Lead me, protect me, and guide me. Help me to trust You not only in green pastures but also in dark valleys. You are enough. I shall not want. Reign in my heart now and forever. In Jesus most precious name I pray, Amen.