Rohi, My Shepherd
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Yea, 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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
Psalm 23 (NKJV)
This passage holds a very special place in my heart. Some of my earliest childhood memories are tied to this verse, it was one of the first verses I ever memorized, and I’ve carried it with me ever since. I’m usually an NIV girl, but for this one I had to use the NKJV because it’s the version I remember best 🙂
It was also one of the first verses I taught my 3-year-old daughter, and as a sweet surprise, she memorized it too! Even now, hearing her recite it out of the blue melts my heart. Let’s go through it together.
Engage:
As you read Psalm 23, invite your little one to picture a kind shepherd caring for his sheep. Help them imagine soft green grass, quiet water, and a shepherd who stays close and never leaves. Pause and gently talk about what the Shepherd is doing in each part of the psalm, for example:
“Lying down in green pastures” means God helps us rest and gives us what we need.
“Beside still waters” shows that God leads us to calm, peaceful places.
“He restores my soul” means God helps us feel better when we are tired or sad.
“Your rod and staff comfort me” reminds us that the Shepherd protects and guides His sheep.
Let your child imagine being one of the sheep and how it would feel to be cared for so gently.
Apply:
He takes care of our needs: Help your child see that God, our Shepherd, cares for us both physically and emotionally. He gives us what we need, food, rest, comfort, and love, and He knows how we feel even before we say a word.
He protects and guides us: Talk about how a shepherd watches over his sheep. When we feel afraid, in danger, or even a little lost, God stays close. He gently corrects us, guides us back, and comforts us so we feel safe again.
He defends and blesses us: Explain that God stands up for us and defend us. Just like the shepherd protects his sheep, God blesses us and fills our lives with goodness and care.
Our response: God gives us everything we need, how could we not stay close to Him?
Repeat & Reinforce:
Say It Together:
Practice reading Psalm 23 out loud. Pause and let your little one finish the sentences. Before you know it, they’ll want to say the whole thing on their own!
My Cup Runs Over:
Fill a clear cup with water together and slowly keep pouring until it overflows. Talk about how God gives us more than enough: more love, more care, more goodness than we can hold.
Green Pasture Picnic:
Lay a blanket on the floor or outside and have a simple picnic together. Sit, snack, and rest for a few quiet moments. Talk about how God gives us food, rest, and peace just like green pastures in Psalm 23.
Valley of Shadows Craft:
Fold a piece of paper to make a simple valley/path. One side dark (the valley of shadows) and the other side bright (green pastures). Let kids move a sheep sticker or a cotton ball sheep along the path, talking about how God keeps us safe and guides us from the dark into His light.
Closing Thought:
YHWH Rohi, our good Shepherd. He loves us, takes care of us, protects us, and provides for all our needs. A good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep, and we see this perfectly fulfilled in Jesus, who gave His life for us so we can always be safe in His care.
I’ll leave you with this 2-minute song from the Young David about Psalm 23.
For even more hands-on fun, pair this mini-devo with the activity sheet below.
Love,
Gi 🤍
Rohi Activity Sheet
Page 1 includes a fill-in-the-blank memory verse, tracing the name Rohi, a mini maze guiding the sheep to still waters, a color-me sheep, and a short prayer.
Page 2 features a simple Count the Sheep activity, reinforcing early math skills while reminding children that their Shepherd knows and cares for every sheep in every season!
23 | Official Music Video From Young David | Angel Studios & Minno
