A study on
Psalm 23:1-6. Part Four
A Psalm of Trust.
Psalm twenty-three is a psalm of trust. Within the six verses
there is a development of the single theme of the first verse: David has no
fear or concern, for “the Lord is his
Shepherd.”
This psalm of trust presents David in two ways.
1.
On
the one hand, he is the “sheep” whose Shepherd is the Lord.
2. At the same time, one of the most
common descriptions of kingship in the ancient world is that of shepherd.
In this sense, David as king was shepherd over
the flock of
Moreover, the psalm prophetically speaks of
Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd whose flock trusts in Him (John 10) and the King whose perfect rule will be established (Luke 23:2-3; Revelation 17:14).
The psalm has two developments:
1.
A
description of the Lord as Shepherd caring for the psalmist’s every need (verses 1-4).
2. A description of the Lord as
Shepherd extending His mercy to all (verses
5-6).
Though Psalm
23 is often read at funerals, its message applies to the days of your life
right now (verse 6). The Saviour who
died for you also lives for you and cares for you, the way a shepherd cares for
the sheep (John 10:1-18). If you can
say, “The Lord is my
Shepherd,” you can also say, “I
shall not want.”
The Shepherd feeds us and leads us. Sheep must
have grass and water to live, and the shepherd finds those essential elements
for them. God meets the everyday needs of your life as you follow Him (Psalm 37:25; Philippians 4:18). Never
worry!
If we wander, He seeks us and restores us, as
He did with David, Jonah, and Peter. When we need to know which way to go, He
shows us the right path and then goes before us to prepare the way. Even in the
places of danger, we need not be afraid. (Note the change from “He” in verses 1–3 to “You” in verses 4–5.)
He is with you!
At the end of the dark valley, He has a special
blessing for you: you drink of the refreshing water of life, and you receive
the Spirit’s anointing. The Shepherd is there to care for every hurt and heal
every bruise.
One day, you will look back at your life and
see that it was only “goodness and
mercy,” and that includes the valley experiences.
If life is difficult today, just keep following
the Shepherd; He will never lead you where He cannot care for you.
Verse one.
“The
Lord is my shepherd:” The word pictures David uses for
God come from his own life and experience. He had been a shepherd in his youth (1 Samuel 16:19).
Despite its worldwide status, the Psalm is not
for everyone. The image of the shepherd makes it evident that the Lord spoken of here is the Lord
Jesus Christ. It is applicable only to those who are entitled to say, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” It is true
that the Good Shepherd died for all, but only those who actually receive Him by
a definite act of faith are His sheep.
His saving work is enough for all, but it is effective
only for those who actually believe on Him. Everything therefore hinges
on the personal pronoun my. Unless
He is my Shepherd, then the
rest of the Psalm does not belong to me. On the other hand, if He is really
mine and I am really His, then I have everything in Him!
The most crucial element in this phrase is the
little word “my.” What right does the psalmist, or any man, have to call
the Lord Jehovah my shepherd? The answer is found in the preceding psalm,
which depicted the death of the Lord Jesus on the cross. The Lord Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd
gives His life for the sheep” John 10:11. No one has the right to consider
himself a sheep of the Lord unless the Spirit of God have renewed his nature.
Unconverted men are never pictured as sheep, but as goats.
Verse two.
Any disturbance or intruder scares sheep. They
are very fearful animals and cannot lie
down unless they feel secure.
A.
Green pastures: David uses eloquent language to express his
view of the abundant care God gives to His people.
B. Still
waters: Sheep are
afraid of fast flowing streams. God’s provision of still waters has a soothing effect and calms the sheep.
I shall not lack food for my soul or body
because He makes me to lie down in green pastures.
In continuing the thought that the Good
Shepherd brings us freedom from want, the psalmist notes, “He makes me to
lie down in green pastures.” Interpretations of this phrase have followed
along two lines.
1.
Some
have understood green pastures to be the place of most substantial
feeding for the sheep.
2. Others see a reference to the Lord’s
rest in the phrase he makes me to lie down in green pastures. Since the
green pastures of
Just as the grass of the green pastures is deep
enough to lie in, so also, we must understand that still waters run deep. Any
deep experience with the Shepherd can only be accomplished by time spent with
the Shepherd, as the words lie down
indicate.
Verse three.
He restores my soul: God refreshes His people with His
quiet voice and gentle touch. For this reason, the sheep know the Shepherd and
are known by Him (John 10:14).
For His name’s sake: The loving actions of the Shepherd
proceed from His nature.
I shall not lack energy because “He restores
my soul.” Not only is physical sustenance provided by the Good Shepherd,
but spiritual restoration is provided as well. When the soul becomes sorrowful,
He revives it. When our spirit becomes weak, He renews it. We have freedom from
exhaustion, for every time we would stray, as a sheep would, He brings us back.
I shall not lack moral direction because “He
leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” The word
translated “paths” (Heb ma˓gal) means the ways clearly marked by
wheeled traffic. These are not rabbit trails to nothingness but are the paths
of pleasantness and peace (Proverbs 3:17).
For what purpose does the Good Shepherd lead us in the paths of righteousness?
“For His name’s sake.” The leading of the Lord is
accomplished out of pure grace. It is to the honour of the Great Shepherd that
we keep the commandments of the Word and walk in the narrow way of
righteousness.
Verse four.
The valley of the
shadow of death can
refer to any distressing time in our lives.
The awareness of our own mortality often comes
with sickness, trials, and hardship. But the Lord, our Protector, can lead us
through these dark and difficult valleys to eternal life with Him. There is no
need to fear death’s power (1
Corinthians 15:25-27). You are with
me: The Good Shepherd is with us even in what seem the most difficult
and troubling situations.
“Your rod and Your staff: Ancient shepherds used the rod and staff to rescue, protect, and guide the sheep. Thus, they become
symbols of the Good Shepherd’s loving care over His flock. The sheep are not
alone; their Shepherd is standing over them, guiding them into safety, just as
the Lord stands over us and protects us. Whenever necessary He may use the rod
for correction also. Most sheep need this ministry from time to time.
And we need not be afraid of death. In “the
valley of the shadow of death” there is no need to “fear,” because
the Shepherd is right there with
us. The sting of death is sin, sin unconfessed and sin unforgiven. But Christ
has robbed death of its sting for the believer. He has put away our sins once
for all. Now the worst thing
that death can do to us is really the best
thing that can happen to us!
It is true that Christians may have a certain worry
about the suffering that so often accompanies death. But the fact still remains
that death has lost its terror for us because we know that dying means going to
be with Christ and this is far better. “To
die is gain.”
The shadow of death is nothing to fear. As the
shadow of the sword cannot kill, the shadow of death cannot destroy. Because
the Lord Jesus has taken the sting out of death. When we come to know God
personally through His Son Jesus Christ, the death barrier is shattered. All
who have trusted in Christ as Saviour are not only free from want but have
freedom from the fear of death as well.
Verse five.
In the meantime, the Shepherd prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. On the table are spread all the spiritual
blessings which He purchased for us with His precious blood. The table pictures everything that is ours
in Christ. Though surrounded by enemies,
we enjoy these blessings in peace and security “A table before me:”
God’s provision is so luxurious, it is as though He has prepared a banquet.
Unlike the account of Gideon and his three
hundred soldiers (Judges 7:6), the
Lord does not command us to hastily snatch a meal in the presence of our
enemies, but actually prepares a table before us in the presence of our
enemies. Nothing is hurried; there is no confusion.
We are with the Great Shepherd, and even in the
midst of our enemies there is perfect peace.
“Anoint:” Typically an honored guest in the
ancient
1.
Shepherds
anoint the heads of their sheep to soothe the scratches and wounds.
2.
For
priests, the anointing oil speaks of consecration to their work.
3.
For
kings, the anointing oil is associated with coronation.
4.
Every
believer is anointed with the Holy Spirit the moment he receives the Saviour.
This anointing guarantees him the teaching ministry of God the Spirit.
“My cup:” God’s provision is as abundant as
the wine offered to a guest by a generous host. The lavish treatment of the
guest is indicative of the loving care of God for His people.
When we think of all the riches of grace which
we have in Christ Jesus, we burst forth with the grateful acknowledgment, “My
cup runs over!”
His love has no limit,
His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men:
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He gives, and gives, and gives again.
—Annie Johnson Flint
In the life of the believer, it means that we
may be continually filled to overflowing with the Spirit of God.
Verse six.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life.”
So certain is the psalmist that these twin graces will follow him that he
begins his summary statement with a heavenly “verily” or surely. Goodness and mercy will not simply follow but will
pursue him. These graces actively seek us out when we walk with the Good
Shepherd. They are present with us in times of feasting, as well as times of
fasting.
The use of both mercy and goodness to
describe God’s loyal love intensifies the meaning of the two words. What is
described in verse five is God’s
overabundant mercy, love that is in no way deserved. The Hebrew verb follow describes an animal in pursuit.
When the Lord is our Shepherd, instead of being
stalked by wild beasts we are pursued by the loving care of the Lord. the house of the Lord forever: God’s promise for the Israelites was not
just for the enjoyment of this life in the land of promise (see 6:1–3); it was also for the full
enjoyment of the life to come in His blessed presence (16:9-11; 17:15; 49:15).
Finally, there is the secret of a happy
eternity. Escorted through all
of life by God’s goodness and
mercy, we reach the Father’s house at last, our eternal dwelling
place. “And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.”
The house
of the Lord does not
indicate a temple or church, but communion with God. The fact that we shall
dwell in the house of the Lord forever indicates sonship, for a servant never
abides in the house. As a child of God who walks in the path of the Good Shepherd,
I am always at home with God.
Conclusion
to this study on Psalm 23:
Theme:
They are Psalms 22, 23, and 24, and they are called the shepherd psalms. Christ as the great Shepherd. These
three psalms present the following picture of our Lord:
1.
In
Psalm 22 He is the Good Shepherd.
The Lord Jesus Himself made the statement, “I
am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep” John
10:11.
2. Now here in Psalm 23 He is the Great Shepherd. Notice this title in the
great benediction at the conclusion of the Epistle to the Hebrews: “Now the God of peace, that brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the
blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do
his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through
Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20–21. Psalm twenty-three reveals Him as
the Great Shepherd.
3.
Next,
we see Him in Psalm 24 as the
Chief Shepherd. “And when the chief
Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fades not away” 1
Peter 5:4.
To put it briefly:
1.
In
Psalm 22 we see the cross.
2. In Psalm 23 the crook
(the Shepherd’s crook).
3. In Psalm 24 the crown
(the King’s crown).
4. In Psalm 22 Christ is the Saviour.
5. In Psalm 23 He is the Satisfier.
6. In Psalm 24 He is the Sovereign.
7. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation.
8. In Psalm 23 He is the manifestation.
9. In Psalm 24 He is the expectation.
10. In Psalm
22 He dies.
11. In Psalm
23 He is living.
12. In Psalm 24 He is coming.
13. Psalm twenty-two speaks of the past.
14. Psalm twenty-three speaks of the present.
15. Psalm twenty-four speaks of the future.
16. In Psalm 22 He gives His life for the sheep.
17. In Psalm 23 He gives His love to the sheep.
18. In Psalm 24 He gives us light when He shall appear.
What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in
these three psalms!
That
is all folk!
