The Lamb is My Shepherd

Tin Ling Harrell

The Shepherd is my Lamb,

He tasted my want.

He lay down in the wilderness;

He endured the judgment storm waters.

He relinquished his soul;

He was nailed to a cursed cross for my sinful names' sake.

Yea, though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death,

       He took upon my sin,

       Alone under wrath.

With the rod and the scourge, they beat him.

And he was made to hunger and thirst in the presence of his enemies;

His head mocked and crowned with cruel thorns;

His cup to be drained.

Surely grief and suffering followed him,

For he gave up his life,

In flesh dwelling that in Him I might dwell in glory.

 

The Lamb is my Shepherd,

I am his sheep.

He feeds me with the bread of life;

He leads me beside living waters.

He redeems my soul;

He guides me in his holy steps for his righteous name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of sin,

       I will fear no death,

       For you are with me.

Your voice and your Word, they comfort me.

You spread your banqueting table before me in your beloved presence;

You crown my head with love and peace;

My joy is made full.

Surely your grace upon grace pursues me,

For in you I have life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lamb forever.

 

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I have attempted to write a redemptive-historical poem based on the English memorization of Psalm 23. Since it is generally the foremost of Psalms to memorize, I attempted to match the meter and cadence of the memorized English verse as closely as I could so that my reader would be drawn to the original Psalm 23 and might reassess their thoughts in light of Christ, the Shepherd of the Psalm fulfilled, who laid down his life for his sheep.

I am indebted to two particular sermons by James Dennison and Scott Hunter which reflected on Psalm 23 in the light of Geerhardus Vos's Eschatology of the Psalter. Finally, I wish to acknowledge the constant patience and love of my husband, David, who has pointed me to our Ever-loving Shepherd as he walks with us through our valleys of despair and the shadow of death.