The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Psalm 23:1-3, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

The Psalms are divided into several themes. Some are Didactic, some are Natural (having

to do with nature), some are Penitential, and some are Messianic. Most beloved of all the

Psalms, is the 23RD and it is a Messianic psalm. David, who was a shepherd, is the human

author of this psalm, and he uses the word Yahweh, capitalized as LORD in many of our

Bibles. It is an indication of his personal relationship with Almighty God.

The LORD is David’s shepherd. He does not view himself as shepherd of his own life;

rather, he acknowledges the LORD as in that capacity. David’s desires are all in the hands

of the LORD. The reliability of all his provisions belongs to the LORD, too. That’s what he

means when he says, “I shall not want.”

It is easy to imagine lying down “in green pastures.” This relates to the restoration of his body

and soul. The “still waters” is easily understood as a refreshment for the mentality of a busy

shepherd as he tires in the toil of tending sheep, especially those who are given to wandering.

Additionally, The LORD guides the shepherd, who himself is the guide and protector of the

sheep. He keep the shepherd on the path of righteousness, lest in his fatigue, he wanders

into areas not suitable for one who is charged with leading others. Above all, The LORD

does what He does “for His Name’s sake.”

Apply these thoughts to your own life. You are not your own shepherd. The LORD is.

Everything you want and need, The Good Shepherd possesses. You need not be in

want of anything that is necessary to the accomplishment of The LORD’s work. His

provisions are bountiful! He refreshes your spirit and restores your soul –things that you

cannot achieve on your own. He guides you in “right paths” –paths that are beneficial to

you, but that are also “for His sake,” for His glory! He is what it’s all about! And when we

learn that, we will have reached a milestone in understanding Him and His love for us!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”