Psalm 23: The LORD is my Shepherd

image by David Padfield/FreeBibleimages.org

Of all the books in the Bible, the Psalms illustrate the human heart the most. They portray the endless varieties of  the circumstances of life; Joy, sorrow, repentence, despondency, gratitude, praise, sadness, love, anguish, bitterness and calm.

There are psalms of instruction, praise, adoration, autobiography and psalms foretelling about Jesus the Messiah.

Psalm 23, is one of the most treasured and beautiful compositions we have ever known. It is the testimony borne of experience yet the spirit of inspiration (from God) has breathed into it an undying beauty. It is one of the choicest chords on the harp of David the sweet singer of Israel.

Psalm 23 - A psalm of David:

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters.

3 He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4 Even 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.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The words are renowned for their simplicity and yet words on which the scholar can expend his choicest learning.

The Psalmist speaks of a state of mind that we all want. If we could only imbibe the principles of this psalm we would have peace like a river.

It is a Psalm of David, who began as a shepherd and became a king, another kind of shepherd. Yet David says the LORD is his shepherd.

It comes in a trilogy of Psalms about Jesus Christ. Psalm 22 is about the suffering saviour on the cross. Psalm 23 is about the living shepherd and Psalm 24 is about Jesus crowned as King.

Today we will look at Jesus as a shepherd. There are 3 places in the New Testament where the character of Jesus as a shepherd is referred to.

In John 10 he is giving his life for the sheep as in Psalm 22 here he is the good shepherd.

In Hebrews 13 he is risen and perfecting the flock as in Psalm 23, here he is the great shepherd. 

and in 1 Peter 5 he is reappearing in his glory bringing crowns of reward as in Psalm 24 and here he is the chief shepherd.

In Psalm 23 verse 1:

The LORD is my shepherd. The name of God (LORD) here is YHWH in Hebrew: Yahweh meaning "I will be who I will be" or "To Be"), the covenant name of God, who will be manifest (represented and reflected by) believers. Hence in v3 it is for His name’s sake that men are led in the paths of righteousness. It first comes to prominence in the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. The name of God YHWH is the purpose of the Psalm, God manifest in us people.

The shepherd was a notable feature of eastern lands. The sheep were kept at night in a fold, an open space surrounded by a stone wall. In the morning he led them out. He did not drive them, he led them. He called them by name. He goes before them up the mountain track towards the pastures, he takes them to quiet waters and running streams. If any should stray he goes in search of them. So during the day they lie, they walk, they graze. Then comes the evening when they are led back to the fold. Each passes under the shepherds rod. Then comes the oil and the cup. If one has torn its head getting through a hedge there is the oil. Then nearby there is the water from which he fills the bowl to drink. So the day is over.

David is using the shepherd title that  YHWH had appropriated to himself.

In Genesis, God is the shepherd and stone of Israel,(49v24)

In the wilderness Moses did not want Israel to be as sheep with no shepherd,(Num 27v 40)

During the Israelite monarchy the term of needrjing a shepherd is used (I Kings 22v17) and the people are seen as lost sheep.

David himself began his working life as a shepherd. Jesus uses the term shepherd of himself.

In Psalm 23 we have the words of David, and while it takes our mind back over David’s life it is no psalm of his youth. It bears the stamp of experience. He can speak of the valley of the shadow of death, he has had enemies, dark experiences. He has lived long enough to know God and to know he can rely on God.

The Psalm is the language of humble confession, in acknowledging the LORD is his shepherd he takes his place among the flock, and recognises his need for guidance. Also him being prone to wander away, his helplessness in himself without God and his need for protection.

The psalmist throws himself onto God’s care and mercy. If the Lord is our shepherd why is there any need for anxiety? He will take care of us. Not one of them is overlooked in the vastness of the scene.

Finally this is the language of grateful love. There was much David could sing about. His bold achievements, his rise to power but he looks back with a grateful  heart. He goes on:

I shall not want. This is the key note of the Psalm. He does not mean he will always have prosperity, nor presume wealth, but he knows whatever straits he finds himself in, he be under the watchful eye of the shepherd.

Provision – he makes me lie down in green pastures. This is in the morning when the sheep are led out of the fold. Green pasture means tender grass, newly sprung up. Grass withers in the hot sun so sheep have to be constantly moved.

To lie down speaks of contentment, hunger appeased, wants are satisfied.

BUT he maketh me to lie down – it of God’s doing not his own.

Peace – he leadeth me beside still waters. It would never do for the flock to precede the shepherd. However rough the path the shepherd has gone before as is the case of Jesus our shepherd. We keep close to his steps.

The Hebrew word denotes a place of rest, a peaceful abode. This is the peaceful parts of our lives as opposed to the parts where there is the noisy rush of turbulent waters.

Restoration – he restoreth my soul. If he needed restoring he must have wandered. David of course did. A lost sheep was in a forlorn state. Miserable and lonely while the others are safe. At every step it takes, it wanders further and further from the flock and dangers thicken around it. The eye recognises no familiar object the ear hears no familiar voice. It knows not the path before it. But the shepherd knows it has gone and wants it back.

Guidence – HE leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. Crucial, we can’t do it ourselves, and this is the second time he says he leadeth me. In paths – the narrow way that leads to life. Why does he do it?  For his name’s sake. YHWH. "I will be who I will be". God wants to manifest his glory in mortals, that’s why he does it. God’s glory is God’s character and righteousness.

Courage – in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. This is when things are most difficult in our lives. He has restored my soul he has led me in paths of righteousness, so therefore I am able to pass safely through the valley of the shadow of death with confidence.

The word valley means a gorge with lofty sides, but not a gully with water. So we are out of the sunlight and the only way is forward along a narrow path that we must walk. Life is like this sometimes.  It is a place for an enemy to ambush us, to fire their arrows while we have no way of escape.

The psalmist walks—a slow steady pace – no rush- but he does not stop either, his advance continues.

Comfort – your rod and your staff they comfort me.The shepherd is always with us, he never leaves us.

The rod is shebet used for numbering the sheep as they passed under it. So none is lost none is forgotten. Also used for punishing, for protection, for walking but also translated as sceptre –to do with rulership of a tribe or clan – the sceptre will not depart from Judah till Shiloh come.

This is a prophecy from Genesis 49:10, meaning royal authority and lawgiving would remain within the tribe of Judah until the coming of the Messiah (Shiloh), to whom all people would eventually submit, symbolizing the establishment of eternal rule and peace. This prophecy points to Jesus Christ, the promised King from the line of David (of the tribe of Judah), as Shiloh, marking the end of earthly, temporal rule and the beginning of divine, universal obedience. 

The staff is mish-enah a walking stick, used as a support in climbing hills and in beating back bushes for the sheep to pass through. Sometimes there was a thick club at one end to beat off a threatening animal. Maybe the shepherd had just the one instrument and the two names are for the same thing using poetical language.

He feels comfort just by knowing the rod and staff are there (comfort and stability is available) before they are even used. The Word of God (the Bible) is our rod and staff.

Preservation – you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

This is evening when the sheep are led back to the fold.

The word table implies a meal. When we say "they keep a good table" it means they eat well. This means all provisions of life.

This happened to David when Barzillai provided him with food while on the run from his enemies in 2 Samuel 19 v 32. God was using Barzillai.

So Christ prepares us a table of bread and wine whatever our problems in life are.

This is the formal meal - the formal occasion, whereas feeding in green pastures and still waters is the informal occasion. God supports us in our every circumstance.

Healing – you anoint my head with oil. David was anointed as king 3 times but this is not the primary meaning here if at all, this is hospitality and medicinal. Oil softens, penetrates, heals, strengthens and preserves. Oil in the Bible is symbolic of God’s care through his Word.

The table is the provisions and the oil is the care.

Abundence - my cup runneth over. The cup is a share in something, so one can have a cup of fury or a cup of consolation or a cup of salvation. Sharing a cup of wine signifies fellowship. Runneth over signifies abundance, divine generosity that God does not do things by halves.

Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life means these qualities will attend him everywhere he goes, as the result of being led and cared for by the shepherd. And finally:

I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

This is the result of being led by the shepherd and trusting in him at all times. Eternal life in God’s kingdom. This Psalm tells us what to do if we want to be in the kingdom.

It is a Psalm showing an intimate relationship with the shepherd (Jesus) and with him is the LORD (God). Let us trust in our shepherd. Let us follow and remember him. He has provided his body and blood to save us.