According to Bible Summary, the 23rd Psalm is the most popular of the Psalms. I suggest that if it isn’t the most popular it is probably at least among the most familiar to both religious and non-religious people. For this post, we’ll take a look at the comfort it offers to believers who can say, “God is my shepherd,” in day-to-day living.
Understanding the shepherd's job
To gain a fuller understanding of Psalm 23, it helps to understand the job of the shepherd which falls into three categories:
- Protector: God inspired David to write this Psalm. Shepherding was his job as a young man. He understood that the shepherd protected the sheep. Sheep are defenseless animals and depend on the shepherd to protect them from predators. In 1 Samuel 17:34-36, as David is getting ready to fight Goliath, he tells Saul, “Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear.”
- Guide: The shepherd guides his flock to food and water. Sheep don’t have the inborn ability to find water or pasturelands on their own. If left to their own devices, they’ll eat in the same area and not move on. They keep eating in that spot until they’ve yanked up the roots and the area becomes barren. They don’t think to move on to nearby green grass and will starve. They must be led by the shepherd to green pasture. It’s the same with water.
- Bring them home: Sheep get lost easily. If they wander out of sight of the rest of the flock they are lost and don’t know the way back. The shepherd watches over them, keeps them from roaming and makes sure they get home safely.
Psalm 23 the Lord is my shepherd meaning
Now that we understand the role of a Shepherd, let’s take a look at the meaning of what many refer to as the shepherd’s prayer from David’s perspective and how it pertains to us.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want: David recognized the Lord is his Shepherd. It is the Shepherd’s job to get him home safely. The diligent Shepherd will provide for his needs. (The word for want in Hebrew means “to lack, be without, decrease, be lacking, have a need” and it is a verb). David was saying, "because the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want." As believers, He provides for all the needs in our lives.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters: In A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip W. Keller the author points out four things sheep need before they lie down:
1) to be free from fear
2) to be free from friction with the other sheep (if they’ve been in a fight they won’t lie down)
3) free from flies or parasites
4) must have a full stomach.
If the sheep are hungry they continue to forage. This verse is a picture of a content sheep lying in green pastures. Along with leading the sheep to food, the shepherd is responsible for taking them to watering holes. This brings new understanding to Jesus’ words to the Samaritan woman at the well when he said, Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life (John 4:14). The thirsty soul finds refreshing in our Shepherd Jesus.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake: Those who look to the Lord will not lack courage. As we keep our eyes on him, he helps us, strengthens us, and “restores our souls.” Instead of a feeling of unrest or panic, we can rest in him as he guides us. When we don’t know which way to turn, we can commit our ways to the Lord and ask Him to lead us. He provides the direction we need to follow His way.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me: This verse talks about how God directs, even when we near death. David realized that on the path of life we face ups and downs and that one day his path would bring him face to face with death. But as he walks through the valley of the shadow of death he “will fear no evil.” David was a realist. He had experienced plenty of evil in his life. King Saul tried to hunt him down, his son Absalom betrayed him, and many more really difficult things happened in his life. But as David drew closer to death, he was conscious of the Lord’s presence. I can’t help but notice the use of the word shadow, because a shadow has no substance. For the child of God, there is no true substance to death. This is why this Psalm is so often read at funerals. For true children of God, experience life after death.
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me: The rod and staff are shepherds tools. The rod was used to whack the sheep to correct them and keep them in line. But even though the Lord used it for correction, David says it is comforting, because that correction showed that he cares for us enough to use the rod when necessary, and the hook end of the staff was used to pull his sheep from danger.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over: In this verse, David talks of the Lord as his host. He sets a table before him, in the presence of his enemies. Even his enemies can see the good things God does in David's life. As for the anointing oil in this context, it helps to know that the sheep were bothered by flies. One fly, in particular, laid its eggs in the sheep’s nostrils and when they hatched, the larva climbed up into the nose. I could go into more detail but won’t. The thing I want to focus on is that the Shepherd anointed the sheep’s head with oil. This oil even reached into the nostrils so the flies did not bother them. God knows the little things that irritate and frustrate us and the Shepherd cares about those things.
Lastly, this verse closes with, “my cup runneth over.” Notice the cup isn’t just filled. It is overfilled, running over. This reminds me of the joy of the Spirit when we receive Christ. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost (1 Thessalonians 1:6). The Lord keeps pouring. He wants to bless your life and bless others through you.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever: With the Lord as our his Shepherd, David knows God’s goodness and mercy will follow him all his life, and that death is not the end. He will live in the house of the Lord for all eternity.
In this life, when God becomes our Shepherd it isn’t just for now. For believers, death is only a shadow. And if the Lord is your Shepherd and Guide it’s not just for this life, but for the next when we enter his eternal kingdom.
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