With just five words, David paints one of the most comforting pictures in all of Scripture. The Lord, the covenant God, Yahweh, is not distant or detached. He is not merely the King enthroned in majesty, but the Shepherd who walks with His sheep. Shepherding was intimate, daily work: guiding, guarding, providing, correcting. To call God “my shepherd” is to confess personal trust in His nearness and care.
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Notice the personal pronoun: my shepherd. This is not abstract theology but a declaration of relationship. The God who created the heavens and earth stoops to guide one frail human being. David does not say, “The Lord is a shepherd,” or “The Lord is the shepherd,” though both are true. He says, “The Lord is my shepherd.” This is covenant language, God is personally committed to His people.
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For believers, this finds its fulfilment in Christ. Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11). He not only cares for His sheep; He lays down His life for them. To say, “The Lord is my shepherd” is to rest in the tender yet powerful care of Jesus, who knows us by name, calls us to Himself, and promises never to let us go.