Maybe the best-known, best-loved passage within the Bible, Psalm 23 combines pleasant poetry and deep piety. David’s easy, candy phrases breathe serenity, confidence, and power.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I’ve what I would like.
2 He lets me lie down in inexperienced pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He renews my life; he leads me alongside the fitting paths for his title’s sake.
4 Even after I undergo the darkest valley, I concern no hazard,
for you might be with me; your rod and your employees—they consolation me.
5 You put together a desk earlier than me within the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Solely goodness and devoted love will pursue me all the times of my life,
and I’ll dwell in the home of the Lord so long as I dwell (CSB).
Let’s draw two classes from this psalm for everybody who belongs to God by means of religion in Jesus Christ.
1) Christian, embrace your deepest identification: you’re the Lord’s sheep (v. 1a).
“The Lord is my shepherd.” This picture of a sheep is without doubt one of the most frequent biblical descriptions of a believer, not solely right here however all through the Outdated Testomony and into the New Testomony. The apostle Peter assures us, “For you have been like sheep going astray, however you will have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls” (1 Pet. 2:25). As Christians, we belong to:
- the great Shepherd who died for us (John 10:11);
- the good Shepherd who was raised for us and empowers us (Heb. 13:20); and
- the chief Shepherd who will return for us and reward us (1 Pet. 5:4).
Amid our many secondary identities as single/married, employed/unemployed, wealthy/poor, and so on., our identification as sheep stays foundational and all-defining.
2) Christian, take pleasure in your Shepherd’s a number of provisions (vv. 1b-6).
Verse 1 concludes with a complete abstract: “I’ve what I would like.” God’s provisions for the psalmist and us are full. Our all-sufficient Bible reveals our all-sufficient Shepherd. Increasing on this assurance, “I’ve what I would like,” think about 5 provisions in verses 2-6:
- Your Shepherd offers you relaxation and refreshment (v. 2).
Verse 2 provides a pair of photos: “He lets me lie down in inexperienced pastures,” grassy meadows for relaxation and grazing. “He leads me beside quiet waters,” not a fast-flowing stream the place fleece-covered sheep would possibly get water-logged and be carried away by the present. In fact, this psalm offers a foretaste of the religious relaxation and refreshment Christ gives for us now and endlessly:
- Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all of you who’re weary and burdened, and I provides you with relaxation.”
- Revelation 7:17, “For the Lamb who’s on the heart of the throne will shepherd them; he’ll information them to springs of the waters of life, and God will wipe away each tear from their eyes.”
- Your Shepherd offers you religious renewal (v. 3a).
Verse 3 declares, “He renews my life.” The picture suggests a shepherd who brings again a straying sheep, helps a “forged” sheep who has fallen over on its again, or heals an injured sheep. For us, it factors to religious renewal, the restoration of our soul once we sin or drift from the Lord. All believers face instances once we freshly want the Lord’s forgiveness and His Spirit to stir us towards even nearer communion. David used this identical verb “renew” 4 Psalms earlier, in Psalm 19:7, “The instruction of the Lord is ideal, renewing one’s life” (Ps. 19:7).” Our Shepherd makes use of His Phrase to revive our souls.
- Your Shepherd guides you alongside the fitting paths (v. 3b).
Verse 3 continues, “He leads me alongside the fitting paths for his title’s sake.” The shepherd finds protected paths for the sheep as they traverse the rocky and harmful terrain. For God’s sheep, it factors to His dedication to show us how you can dwell righteously. He guides us in sensible godliness as we learn His Phrase privately, work together with it in discipling, counseling, and small group relationships, and listen to it preached and taught publicly.
- Your Shepherd walks with you amid life’s risks (v. 4).
Within the Hebrew textual content, verse 4 kinds the middle of the psalm. The main target shifts from constructive provisions to wanted safety. “Even after I undergo the darkest valley, I concern no hazard, for you might be with me; your rod and your employees—they consolation me.” For animal sheep, darkish valleys have been harmful locations to go by means of, stuffed with robbers, wild beasts, uncertain paths, and unseen cliffs. The shepherd’s rod wards off wild animals and robbers, and his employees guides his sheep and rescues them from gullies.
However there’s one other extra hanging change. Verse 4 shifts from third-person (“he”) to second-person (“you”) pronouns. The place of our best hazard (“the darkest valley”) is the place of our best intimacy with the Lord (“you might be with me”). The Lord walks with you, proper subsequent to you, “by means of” the darkest valley, escorting you thru these risks.
- Your Shepherd will commune with you on this life and endlessly within the life to return (vv. 5-6).
The scene shifts in verse 5 from an outside pastureland to an indoor lavish feast, and so does the metaphor: your caring Shepherd can also be your beneficiant banquet host: “You put together a desk earlier than me within the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” We don’t know the event. Maybe it was a victory celebration, with the captured enemies current. Or a royal accession to the throne—a crowning ceremony with anointing oil and the reluctant enemies observing. Or only a generic feast, displaying us the peace God’s individuals discover even within the midst of enemies. Regardless of the setting, it’s one thing victorious, celebratory, joyous, peaceable, and bountiful. It’s a lavish unfold (“my cup overflows”), and the Lord Himself prepares the feast and welcomes you to the desk.[1]
In verse 6, the scene once more shifts from the banquet desk to the tabernacle, the home of the Lord. And it brings a remaining assure: “Solely goodness and devoted love will pursue me all the times of my life, and I’ll dwell in the home of the Lord lengthy as I dwell.” Whereas hardships and enemies would possibly threaten us, the Lord’s goodness and devoted love will pursue us at each level in our journey.
Conclusion
Christian buddy, amid the enemies you face and the fears this life prompts, the Lord your Shepherd gives all you actually want. Flip to Him immediately by religion.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the declaration in verse 1, “I’ve what I would like,” line up with these passages that tackle what individuals actually “want” in life, corresponding to Matthew 4:4; Luke 10:41-42; Corinthians 12:9-10; Philippians 4:11-13; 2 Timothy 4:17; 2 Peter 1:3-4?
- Replicate on the shift from “he” in verses 2-3 to the non-public, intimate “you” in verse 4. In what darkish valleys has the Lord met you in a deeply private approach?
- Which of the 5 provisions in verses 2-6 most encourage you?
[1] British literature followers will possible consider George Herbert’s pleasant gospel poem, “Love Bade Me Welcome.”
