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Illustration of one joyful child glowing in vibrant color at the center of a vast crowd of hundreds of people sketched in soft grayscale, illustrating Psalm 23's promise that the LORD, our Shepherd, knows and cares for each of us personally though we are one among many.

Psalm 23

The LORD Is My Shepherd

God would jump over a million people just to protect you.

ComfortProtection

This is one of the most loved psalms of all time! It tells us that God is like a caring shepherd and we are like His sheep. A good shepherd leads his sheep to green grass and calm water, keeps them safe from danger, and never leaves them alone.

  1. 1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
  2. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
  3. 3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
  4. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
  5. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
  6. 6Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

What it means

Just like a good shepherd cares for every single sheep — finding them water, green grass, and keeping them safe from danger — God takes care of you every single day. You never have to worry because He is always with you.

A little prayer

Lord, thank You for being my shepherd. You give me everything I need, You walk with me through scary places, and Your goodness follows me everywhere. I am so glad I belong to You. Amen.

Memory verse

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

Psalm 23:1 (BSB)

Six words that answer the fear underneath most worries — that there will not be enough, or that nobody is watching out for you.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. A shepherd counts the sheep, knows each one, and goes after the one that wanders. Which of those three would you most want someone to do for you?
  2. The psalm says God leads us beside quiet waters. Where is the calmest place you know, and how do you feel when you are there?
  3. Verse 4 walks through a dark valley — it does not go around it. What is the difference between someone taking your fear away and someone staying with you in it?
  4. The psalm ends with 'goodness and mercy shall follow me'. If goodness were following you around today, what would it be doing?

Try this

The shepherd's count

One person is the shepherd and closes their eyes. Everyone else is a sheep and hides somewhere in the room. The shepherd calls each sheep by name and the sheep answers 'here'. Keep going until every sheep is found. Then read verse 1 together and talk about how the shepherd knew exactly who was missing.

Get the free printable — Psalm 23 Activity Pack — read-aloud, coloring page, copywork and a memory-verse card

From the blog

The Shepherd Who Loves You →

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)