Shepherd in Control?

I was listening to one of the worship music CDs we have here and was enjoying a song that begins as an adaptation of Psalm 23:
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You are my shepherd, I have no needs
You lead me by peaceful streams
And You refresh my life

You hold my hand and You guide my steps
I could walk through the valley of death
And I won't be afraid

Because You are in control . . .
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But, wait, that's not what Psalm 23 says (apologies to Scott Underwood). As much as I may be comforted by the thought that God is in control, that is not the reason given in the psalm for why not to be afraid:

"I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Ps. 23:4b, TNIV, emphasis mine)

The psalm really says nothing about God's control of the situations of our life, unless you see some element of that in the rod and staff (but how much control can a shepherd really have over sheep?). There are those who are greatly comforted by seeing God’s control over either the grand scheme of the universe or over every situation in life. The psalmist may even be one of them, but in this moment the focus is on God’s presence, rather than sovereignty.

The reason we can move through the dark times of life is because God goes with us through the valley. God does not maneuver our lives so that we can avoid all hard times, danger, and pain. Instead, God promises never to leave us alone in those times.

This promise of God’s presence reminds me of a benediction that I sometimes use:

God be above us to watch over us
God be beneath us to lift us up
God be in front of us to lead us
God be behind us to push us
God be beside us to walk with us
And God be within us to love us forever.