This Kind of Leadership Makes No Sense - Part 1

I’m pretty sure Psalm 23 is one of the most widely read Psalms in the world. Even if it isn’t, it’s definitely the best-known Psalm. Christians and non-Christians alike know these beautiful verses. David’s context when he wrote this chapter helps us understand how these verses are so often taken out of context. Let’s explore them.

Verse 1: David calls the Lord his shepherd. The shepherd is responsible for protecting and providing for the sheep. Sheep are weak and gentle; they can’t defend themselves against predators. The second part of this verse is often misunderstood. Usually, people think that "I shall not want" means I will have everything I need. What it really means is that I have the Lord as my shepherd. I DON’T NEED ANYTHING ELSE! This reveals complete dependence on Him!

Verse 2: "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters." David is not painting the picture of a beautiful grassy field in Scotland. These green pastures were small tufts of grass that the shepherd had to find to feed the sheep. David was content with God’s presence and trusted that He would provide for his needs. The second part of the verse reveals the protection God’s presence brings us. Since the shepherd understands how fearful sheep are, he leads them beside quiet waters that won’t frighten them. This second verse again reveals complete dependence on Him! And why can we trust Him: He knows us.

The world expects leaders to be strong critical thinkers and decision-makers without weaknesses (or good at hiding them). According to the world, the leadership principle we learn from these verses is complete nonsense. A leader is someone who clearly understands their dependence on the greatest Leader of all time. We’ll keep diving into this psalm in the next article.