Understanding Psalm 23: God As Shepherd

Psalm 23 is a common Scripture. One of the most recited. 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He  restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of l the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for  you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever (Psalm 23)

The picture of a shepherd may not come home easily for many city dwellers. Perhaps they may even have never seen a flock of sheep grazing. But when David used this imagery of a Shepherd to describe God, he was describing something of a personal experience. He was a shepherd himself who took care of sheep (1Samuel 17:34-35).

God’s Provision
When David declared “The LORD is my Shepherd” he was expressing his trust and confidence in God’s provision and care for him. As a Shepherd, God provides and cares for his own. He finds them pasture: “greener pastures” In this Psalm, therefore, David is affirming God’s provision over his life.

The [Psalm] begins with the confident affirmation that … God leads his king to a place of full provision… God is the king’s “shepherd” and therefore the king lacks “nothing”… The words “makes me lie down…leads me…in verses 2-3 all speak of the LORD’S initiative in bringing the king to where there is plenty¹

Knowing this from David, we can equally confidently affirm God’s provision for us. If there is any area of lack or need in your life, you can turn to God. However, there is a danger we must avoid. God’s provision shouldn’t be viewed only in material terms. Often when you hear of God’s provision, we tend to think materially: Money, riches, cars, mansions etc. They indeed can be considered a blessing, but they pale in comparison to God’s true blessings. The blessing of peace and reconciliation to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

God’s Peace

After David has affirmed God’s provision, he goes on to express the peace that comes from God as Shepherd. “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul” This is a language of peace and tranquility. The imagery is of a place of quiet and calmness: a picture of comfort. Water is essential in shepherding sheep. After shepherding the sheep to graze in the hot wilderness, water is needed to cool off. The shepherd then takes the animals to drink. Some commentators have indicated the sheep will be washed and cleaned from any wounds they may have sustained through the wilderness and through rocks. 

I invite you to put your imagination to work and picture what water does for you in a hot sunny day. It quenches your thirst. It refreshes you physically. I can’t swim but I can imagine the calm that comes with jumping into a pool on a hot afternoon. How refreshing that will be. This is what is in view here. The soothing of David’s troubled soul (Psalm 42:1-3). Do you need peace, refreshment and restoration of your thirsty soul. Come to the Shepherd. Jesus applies Psalm 23 to himself in John 10 saying

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (v.11)I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me (v.14)

God’s Purity
The Shepherd leads the sheep to peace and to purity: “He leads me in paths of righteousness…” This means the Shepherd himself leads the sheep in ways pleasing to the Lord. Often, many of our problems in life are self-induced. They are a result of sinful choices in defiance of God’s command.

And in a true sense of biblical teachings, we are all sinners by nature which is why Jesus came into the world. To die to save sinners. And when sinners have put their trust and faith in Christ, they are saved and reconciled to the Father. And then God by his Spirit leads them “in the path of righteousness” (Romans 8:14, Philippians 2:13). 

God requires holiness from his people. And what God requires from us, he provides it. He leads in the path of righteousness for his name sake– for his glory. He does it for his glory: for his name sake. The focus of our lives and everything God does is for his glory.

God’s Presence
Now the Shepherd does the aforementioned by being with the sheep. He is not shepherding from a distance. He is with the sheep. His presence is with them: “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. ..” In these words, David is assured of God’s presence in the midst of trouble.  This is indeed a guaranteed promise of Scripture. God has promised never to leave or forsake his people. David is not only assured of God’s Presence but he is also assured of

God’s Protection

“your rod and your staff, they comfort me” “The rod and staff can be broadly categorized as tools of protection and guidance, respectively. The rod warded off predators; the staff was a guiding tool with a hook on one end to secure a sheep around its chest. Only the two tools together provided comfort to the sheep.” (Aaron L. Garriott, Table Talk Article, Thy Rod And Staff). We are never guaranteed a trouble free life. And David perfectly illustrates this. In his life as King of Israel, he experienced many challenges, but his trust and hope was in God. We must resolve that if like David, the LORD is our Shepherd, then we must trust him.

Jesus The Good Shepherd 
All of these truths are realised in the person of Jesus Christ. He speaks of himself as the good Shepherd who leads his sheep into greener pastures (John 10:4;11;14). If the LORD is your Shepherd then the Good Shepherd, Jesus, is your Saviour.

Note

1 Christopher Ash, Psalms For You (The Good Book:India, 2020),53