I've never been a shepherd, at least not the kind that works with sheep of the animal variety. My experience with sheep is pretty much limited to petting zoos. I've only met one real life shepherd that I know of, and that was on an airplane. That said, why should Psalm 23 be so special to me? Have you ever wondered why this "Shepherd" Psalm is so popular in this country yet doesn't even make it on Wikipedia's list of sheep population per nation?

I think it is because we can relate to the picture - and the picture is so rich and multifaceted and right on. We are sheep. The Lord is our shepherd. He takes care of us. Think of everything that means. David puts it nicely. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." Because of our relationship with him, we lack absolutely nothing, and as you read through the Psalm you see the list develop: food, water, rejuvenation for my soul, guidance for life, all fear removed no matter the circumstances, his rod for protection, his staff to guide me, safety even in the presence of enemies, the rich welcome we receive from our shepherd - anointed with that oil of celebration - or maybe it's the oil that the shepherd used to treat the wounds of the sheep - either way we are seeing his love for us; my cup overflows - more blessing than we can even hold. And then look at how long it lasts - goodness and love following all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

So many pictures, so let's go right to the heart of it. In Hebrew poetry, one of the most common poetic devices used is called centering. That's where the poet highlights the most important thought, the theme thought of the poem in the very center. In Psalm 23, if you count the Hebrew words, right in the middle you have the phrase, "For you are with me." Twenty-six words before and twenty-six words following.

Now, I don't know if the "26" thing was intentional, or if it is just one of those things that numbers people like to do and read more significance into it than there is - but this we know: the letters of the Hebrew alphabet were used as shorthand for numbers. If you add up the values of the letters, 26 is the numerical equivalent for the letters that make up the name Lord, the first word of this Psalm - the name that describes God as the "I AM" God, the God of full and free and faithful love, the Lord, who is my shepherd.
The psalmist focuses in on the truth that that Lord, your shepherd, is with you. He is with you to do all of those things we listed above, but they basically fall into three categories. Your shepherd is with you to:
1) Provide for you.
2) Protect you.
3) Prepare your future.
Today, let's look at the first three verses. He's with you to provide for you. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."

Now, while I might not have much experience in shepherding, a lifelong shepherd named Phillip Keller wrote a book about this Psalm. In his book, Keller describes what happens when sheep are thirsty and need something to drink. They find it - wherever they can. If they aren't led to the good water supplies of clean, pure water, they'll end up drinking from the polluted ponds and potholes, even the puddled urine of other sheep, where they pick up internal parasites, liver flukes, and all sorts of other disease germs that can do all sorts of damage, or even kill them.

Do you remember the word "Cryptosporidium?" If you had lived in the Milwaukee area like I did about 18 years ago, you would. In a matter of hours, that word went from one no one had ever heard of to a household word that made people go to some great lengths. You see, Milwaukee depends pretty heavily on Lake Michigan for its water supply. So, in 1994, when the water of Lake Michigan became infected with that bacteria Cryptosporidium - and the filtering process wasn't able to clean it, people got sick. The whole metro area was reduced to buying or boiling all of their water they would use for drinking and cooking. Those microscopic germs put so many out of commission. We needed pure water or we'd be in trouble. Even though the stuff coming out of the faucet looked good enough, it was dangerous. If they hadn't told us, we'd have all gotten sick.

Now the human soul needs the water of life, but all too often we'll go for whatever liquid we see flowing. That's our nature. Every soul thirsts, but we don't know where to quench it. So some go after money, some power, some fame, some fun. We need the quenching of the living water, but the alcohol lures and the addiction glimmers. We need the refreshment that God gives in his word - but the TV catches our eye and we wander over there for a sip. We need the hydration our shepherd provides, but all too often, we drink at the urinal of society's sin and busyness. And that is poisonous.

So hear Psalm 23: Your shepherd is with you, to give you living water, water that will quench your thirst - and it is in his Word that he does that - giving to your life purpose and fulfillment and value. So pick up your Bible today - and enjoy the living water.

The Rev. Jonathan Scharf is pastor of Abiding Grace Lutheran Church in Covington. Worship every Sunday is at 10:30 a.m. Full sermons and more information can be found at www.abidinggrace.com.