Psalm 23: The Shepherd Psalm

"Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul: He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast anointed my head with oil; My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever. (Psalm 23 ASV)

For many of us, the 23rd Psalm is very familiar. It's one of the most quoted passages of scripture, and for a very good reason. This particular Psalm is written with very descriptive language. Like any good poetry, it is written to evoke a response within the reader. It paints a picture of peace and tranquility. Still, it is easy to pass over this Psalm because we feel we already know it. Something I've found though, is that even in the verses we already "know," God has much more to reveal to us if we really take the time to examine them.

"Jehovah is my shepherd " Psalm 23 compares God to a good shepherd. Of course, this is a metaphor that is also quite familiar to anyone who has studied the Bible. Jesus Himself even said "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (John 10:11 ASV) It is a very apt comparison. It was also very relevant to the people who lived in Biblical days. Back then shepherds were plentiful. King David, the writer of this Psalm, started out life as a shepherd, so he was well acquainted with their duties and characteristics.

"I shall not want." These four short words convey so much about God and our relationship to him. If we are truely allowing God to be our shepherd, to guide our lives, we will want for nothing. "Delight thyself also in Jehovah; And he will give thee the desires of thy heart." (Psalm 37:4 ASV) The more time we spend in God's presence, the less we desire the things of this world. As we learn to walk closer to Him, we begin to see how fleeting and hollow all of our former treasures really are. As we learn to see the world as God sees it, we realize that the only thing we really need is Him. And of course, since He also desires a relationship with us, that is something He is always willing to grant to us.

"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures" God knows that we need rest to restore ourselves. In our hectic and crazy world, it seems like everyone is running around, trying to do more, to do better, to be faster. This is not the life God has designed for us. Way back when he created the world, God set for us an example. "And on the seventh day God finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made." (Genesis 2:2 ASV) As our shepherd, God wants us to rest and wait on Him so that we can refresh ourselves.

"He leadeth me beside still waters." God has our safety in mind as well as our well being. Sheep need to drink water to survive, but rapidly moving currents can be quite treacherous to them. A good shepherd knows this and plans for it by finding calm, still drinking sources. God provides for us in the same way. He knows that it is easy for us to get swept away in the current of sin, so he provides our needs in ways that will not take us away from His presence. "but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life." (John 4:14 ASV)

"He restoreth my soul" We live in a world that is a constant assault on our souls. Every day we are barraged by images, words and experiences that are harmful to our spiritual wellbeing. Our souls are wearied by it all. This is why it is so important to spend time with God. The only way to recharge your soul and restore its health is to connect to Him. Time spent in God's presence can wash away all the filth and grime this world leaves on us and refresh our souls as well as our minds and bodies.

"He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." Because our God is righteous and just, He desires righteousness for us as well. He knows that we can not achieve righteousness on our own. That's part of the sinful nature that entered the world way back in the garden. God has provided for our justification through the blood of His Son, Jesus. This doesn't mean we're off the hook though -- we are still expected to walk the paths of righteousness, but now we have a guide. God Himself will lead us and aide us in our thirst for righteousness, because the righteousness of His people brings glory to His name. All we need do is to follow where he guides.

"Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me" This world is enshrouded in death. Every living creature, every day, is simply getting one step closer to death. This too is part of the curse. For the Christian though, we are exempt from the laws of mortality. Sure, someday we will exit this world, but we will be going on to a better place. Our death penalty was paid for us 2000 years ago, and in the book of judgment the case against us has been closed. This is why we need fear no evil. Because God has set us apart as His own, evil cannot touch us. One way or another, we will someday stand in God's kingdom. When we look at our lives through a heavenly perspective, anything that can happen to us here on earth is a fleeting moment in a vast eternity.

"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." The rod and staff were the shepherd's instruments of correction to the sheep. They were not used to harm the sheep, merely to guide them back to the flock if they had wandered off and to keep them out of trouble. In the same way, God's correction in our lives can be comforting. When He corrects us, we need to remember that He does so out of love, and for our own good.

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies" King David, who wrote this Psalm, knew plenty about having enemies. Throughout his life he accumulated many, and even had armies pursue him, bent on his destruction. Still, he never turned from God. God will care for us, no matter what is happening in our lives. Not only can He handle the "big stuff" like keeping David safe when people are out to kill him, but God also looks out for the "little needs" as well. Despite fleeing through the wilderness, David knew God would provide him food and a place to sleep.

"Thou hast anointed my head with oil" In Israel, kings were not crowned with gold and jewels, but rather with oil. This was a traditional way to show that someone or something bore divine influence. High priests and kings were annointed with perfumed oil, signifying that they were chosen by God. When David became King, he too was annointed with oil. "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of Jehovah came mightily upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah." (1 Samuel 16:13 ASV)

"My cup runneth over." This is a phrase that is still in common use today. It describes someone having more than enough. God provides for us, not just enough to get us through the day, but more abundantly than we could ever ask or imagine. When Christ fed the multitudes on the shores of Galilee, he didn't provide simply enough that everyone would be satisfied. "And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full." (Matthew 14:20 ASV)

"Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life" Once we are in God's favor, we know that He will never leave us. We can look forward to His provision not just for today or tomorrow, but for the rest of our lives, and wherever we may find ourselves.

"And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah for ever." Not only do we know that God has provided for us here on earth, but we also can look forward to our place in His eternal kingdom. "In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2 ASV)