Readings:
1 Samuel 16:1-13;
Psalm 23;
Ephesians 5:8-14;
John 9

Collect:
Merciful Lord,
you know our struggle to serve you:
where sin spoils our lives and overshadows our hearts,
come to our aid and turn us back to you again;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Reflection - The Shepherd Boy and The Shepherd

Two of the lectionary readings for this year’s fourth Sunday in Lent, has a direct connection to David. The Old Testament reading from 1 Samuel 16:1-13 tells the story of the anointing of David by Samuel as the King of Israel. The interesting fact is that David himself was not present at the gathering as he was shepherding his father’s sheep, until Samuel had Jesse (David’s father) brought him from the field and the rest is history as they say. The second is Psalm 23 which is attributed to David, though theologians are not in full agreement that the psalm was authored by David. However, it is not difficult to see why the psalm is attributed to the David as he was a shepherd himself. 

Psalm 23 has gained immortality by virtue of the trust and confidence expressed by its author in God, the sweet charm and religious feelings expressed in the Psalm speaks about a heart that has passed through many bitter experiences and battles as well as the perfect peace of mind that comes from a childlike trust in God. The metaphor of God the Shepherd is pregnant with meaning illustrating the character of the relationship between the psalmist and his God: God provides and protects. This metaphor is often used in the Old Testament to describe Yahweh as the “Shepherd of Israel”. To understand the concept of God the Shepherd, we must remember that some of the main characters in the Bible were shepherds: Abel, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and others. Jesus Himself said, “ I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me ”.

Thus, verses 1–3 portrays God as the Shepherd who leads His people and walks beside them; a Being who lives there all the time for them; One who risks everything in order to save them because He loves them passionately and fervently. Since He has already demonstrated His love for His people in the event of the Exodus from Egypt, His people can have confidence and trust in Him that He will deliver them in the future.

Even with God as the Shepherd, there is a recognition by the psalmist that the life is not always a bed of roses because he recognised that the However, the pastures are not always green, the waters are not always still, and the paths are not always peaceful. Sometimes human beings to go through “the valley of the shadow of death” as they experience the touch of suffering, loss, and death; life appears meaningless. This kind of experience has led many to dismiss God from their existences and reject His involvement in the events of history, but the psalmist dares to claim, on the basis of his own experiences with God, that when humans are passing through the va lley of darkness, God the Comforter comes even closer to them. The psalm carries within itself the message of hope, meaning, and the future because it speaks about the special, deep relationship and friendship between God and his people that continues to emerge even out of darkness and hopelessness. 

After the green pasture experience and after having been touched by God in the valley of death, God has yet another surprise for those who have made the decision to walk in the paths of righteousness. He organises a big banquet, invites all His friends, and He Himself serves them. The description of this banquet is so imaginative and brilliant that one has the impression of being present and smelling the heavenly flavours and tasting the cosmic drinks. The oil represents a perfume, the symbol of rejoicing; and when God serves, there is abundance of everything: the “cup overflows”. In the context of Psalm 23, it means that at last, at the end of time after having been led by God to the still waters and after having been touched by Him in the valley of death, God and His people are sitting together at the same table, looking in each other’s eyes and enjoying each other’s company – what a thing to experience. 

Surely, the Good Shepherd’s plans are good for David, and even today, they are good for us also. We can trust him to be with us and to see us through difficult and challenging times.

Adedayo Adebiyi