When the psalm writer wrote this beautiful song, he may well have been thinking of the Lord’s guiding hand throughout the history of his people Israel.

God had called the people’s forefathers, promising to be their God and to bless them and their descendants (Genesis 12-35). God had freed the people from slavery in Egypt, guiding them faithfully through desert wastelands to the promised land of Canaan (Exodus 3 - Joshua 24), where they became established as his covenant people—and where David, the psalmist himself, set up Jerusalem as the center where God would be worshiped (2 Samuel 5-7).

And when Jesus, the Son of God, came to live and teach among us, he picked up on the beautiful themes of this psalm to announce that he is the good shepherd who will always care for God’s sheep, calling all who will follow him to have eternal life in his name (John 10). Jesus also introduced his followers to the coming of the Holy Spirit, who lives in us today, filling us with God’s presence and teaching us to live like Jesus (John 14-16).

Throughout history the faithful Lord our shepherd has made himself known to us, seeking us out when we were lost, and calling us to follow him and have life to the full.

As we journey with the shepherd, may we be confident in his faithful care and inspired to participate in his grace for all whom he calls to his fold.