Psalm 23: Wild and Domesticated People

Animals may lead one of two types of lifestyles: they are either domesticated, or they are wild.

Wild animals are known for their freedom. They have no fences or boundaries and may travel where ever they please. If, on some moonlit night, they decide to take a stroll along the edge of a lake, they do not have to beg and plead to be let out of a fence. There is no master that controls their destiny, no one to demand the use of their skills. They are not harnessed to a sled, or tied to a plow, or locked inside a barn. Truly they have their freedom.

And yet that freedom comes with a price. Wild animals spend most of their time hunting for food. They scavenge for each meal, with no certainty that it will come. They must find or build their own shelters to keep them safe, and even then they must remain ever diligent to protect themselves from enemies. And though they have freedom to run wherever they please, there is no one to keep them from walking into danger. Should they become injured or sick, they have no one to nurse them back to health. Wild animals live with great freedoms, but almost no security.

The life of domesticated animals is quite the opposite. Domesticated animals do face fences and boundaries every day. The fences are there for their protection, both to keep them from wandering away from the safety of their masters and to keep out wild animals that would attack them. And their masters demand the use of their special skills, whether it be pulling a sled, protecting the yard, or simply growing their wool or laying an egg. Their special talents are utilized in the service of others, and they do not completely control their own destiny.

Within these confines, however, domesticated animals have great security. They do not need to worry about shelter, food, sickness, or enemies. Their master feeds them daily, providing them not merely scraps but nutritious food for their well being. They have a shelter to keep them safe and dry, and can rest secure in the confidence that they are safe from all the storms around, and the enemies that would attack them in the night. If they fall ill, their master provides ointments, medicine, or even surgery to restore them to health. It is true that domestic animals cannot do whatever they want, but in exchange for the freedoms they have lost, they gain the comfort and security of being cared for by another.

Unlike animals, we humans have a choice whether to be domesticated or wild. Domesticated means entering God's fold, accepting him as our master and shepherd. Wild means following our own paths instead of submitting ourselves to God's control. It is a choice we can always change, but however we choose, our lifestyles resemble that of our animal counterparts.

Those who remain wild instead of submitting to God have the freedom to behave however they will. They are not constrained by the fences of righteousness that "restrict" the domesticated animals; instead, they may choose their own standards of morality. They are "free" to engage without remorse in whatever acts they desire, and to use or squander their skills however they see fit. It is a freedom many people seem to desire, and yet in choosing the joys of freedom, they also choose the darkness of insecurity . When the storms of life come, these people have no shelter to trust. They have no guide to lead them on safe paths, or to rely on for sustenance, or to protect them from harm. Like wild animals, they pay for their freedom by spending their lives merely trying to survive.

In contrast, those who become "domesticated" by giving their lives to God have the promise of security and purpose. True, they must behave as their master expects, and their master requires them to use their skills in his service, but the reward is a peace of mind beyond compare. As his sheep we can declare that the Lord is our shepherd, and we will not be in need. Instead, he makes us lie down in green pastures, leads beside quiet waters, and restores our souls. He guides us in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we can fear no evil, for he is with us; his rod and staff will comfort us. He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. He anoints our head with oil, and our cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow us all the days of our life, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever ¹.

What wisdom is there in choosing to be wild?