“… he leadeth me …” (Psalms 23:2b)

We have noted in previous devotions that David’s Shepherd was The LORD (or Jehovah, Joshua, Jesus):

1. He was David’s Shepherd (Guide, Leader, Provider, and Protector) by God’s Sovereign Choice; without any merit on David’s part (Psalm 23:1a)
2. Then we noticed in Psalm 23:2a, the LORD, David’s Shepherd, was in complete control of David’s will. God made a will change in David – from a selfish, depraved, bent-on-sin will to a New Will, flowing from a New Nature, or a New Creature (2 Corinthians 5:17) – through the Work of Grace by God the Spirit.

Now, in this devotion, under the general header of The Sovereign; David wrote in Psalm 23:2b, “…he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Here again, the exegesis of this verse is:

1. “He” refers back to Psalm 23:1a, “The LORD”: Jehovah, the I AM that I AM; the All-Sufficient One in Himself, for He is the Creator, Controller, and Consummator Himself; He is God; “In the beginning God…”
2. “Leadeth”; as a noun, the root word “lead” means 1) “a position at the front”; 2) “example”; 3) “one who leads.” As a verb (“led,” “leading”); it means 1) “to guide on a way”; 2) “to direct the operations, activity, or performance of”; 3) “to tend toward a definite result.”

These definitions fit the LORD (David’s Shepherd) according to the Revelation in His Word of God as a Shepherd.

Christ manifests Himself in John 10:1-31 as the Shepherd of His Sheep. He is the Good Shepherd.

Christ speaks of Himself going to the Sheepfold (or holding area). Christ calleth His Sheep by name, the Sheep hear His Voice, and He (Christ, the Good Shepherd) “leadeth them (the sheep) out” (John 10:3c).

Then in John 10:4b, “he (the Shepherd) goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”

In John 10:7-13, Christ shows the Sheep the difference in the “good shepherd” and the “hireling” (“the thief”) in the care of the sheep versus their destruction (John 10:9-10):

1. The Good Shepherd is the Door to Provision (John 10:9).
2. The Good Shepherd knows His Sheep (John 10:14a).
3. The Sheep know Him (John 10:14b); they hear His voice and they follow Him (John 10:27).
4. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the Sheep (John 10:15b).
5. The Good Shepherd gives His Sheep “eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28).

Whereas the thief, the hireling (describing the enemy, the devil):

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10)

“But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep” (John 10:12)

The thief steals, kills, and destroys. But Christ the Good Shepherd:

“And I give unto them (the Sheep) eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28)

This is what David understood about the LORD, his Shepherd. David knew that Jehovah, his Shepherd, had purposed to do good to him, and to save him (or to deliver him in this life from all enemies).

When David wrote, “He maketh me… he leadeth me…” it was not as a Master to His slave, with only the Master’s selfish goal in mind – but for the LORD’s Glory, and for David’s good, as in the Shepherd’s fold.

David had a will change, a nature change (from sin and the old man and unrighteousness – to righteousness and the new man). He knew the Lord, his Shepherd, was leading him right. He knew his Shepherd; he knew His voice; and he knew his Shepherd was God; and he knew God’s purpose was to save him (or deliver him from evil to good).

The Apostle Paul said these things about being led of God:

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:14-16)

“But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:18)

Praise God for His Leading – guiding; being out in front of us; showing us by example the Path of Righteousness (Provision and Protection).

His leading is not a Force with His Rod – but it is a Following by His Sheep.

Look at John 10:27: “My sheep hear my voice (That is, they know it is not the hireling or the thief. But they know it is the voice of their Shepherd; because they have been given spiritual ears to hear, and spiritual eyes to see, that it is Christ, the Good Shepherd, the One Who giveth His Life for His Sheep), and I know them (Christ knows His Chosen Ones (Ephesians 1:4-11; John 6:37)), and they (His Sheep) follow me.” (That is, they follow Him willingly. Why? Because they are His sons and daughters, made so by His Choice; by His Atonement; and by His Regeneration of them.)

The Sheep not only willingly follow their Shepherd; but they long to, they desire to follow their Provider and Protector; even their Savior – for He is their Life, Salvation, and Security.