Psalm 23

Our Good Shepherd

This is the most well known and cherished of all the Psalms for good reason. In it, God’s people have found consistent comfort and rich treasures.

CH Spurgeon stated, “As ‘truth is stranger than fiction,’ so the truth that David spoke is more sweet than even fancy could have imagined. And it has more beauty than even the dream of an enthusiast could have pictured.”

So let’s dig into this well known Psalm so our souls might be refreshed once more as we encounter the Good Shepherd.

A psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD

for ever.

This opening sentence is like a title for this Psalm. With God as our Shepherd, we have everything that we need. But this opening is more personal. In saying YHWH is “my Shepherd” we profess our allegiance to him, our affection towards him and our assurance in him. In him, we have a protector, a guide and a provider in every sphere and situation in life. We have an ever present help and companion.

Here’s the rich truth at the heart of this Psalm. The confidence we have as God’s people, as his flock, is that he is not just with us but for us. God is for your good.

In vv2-3, God is the primary actor. He is the one doing all the work. He leads us into a place of rich abundance. He guides us into a place of cast-iron security. He restores the weary soul navigating us to the life giving waters. He keeps us on the straight and narrow.

David knows this from his own experience as King of Israel. But he has also seen how God has shepherded his people through the ages. Much of the language in these two verses comes from the Exodus. God went with his people through churning Red Sea and made it still waters for them. They drank the cool soul refreshing water from the rock. The LORD led them into the green pastures of the promised land.

He does this for his name’s sake. His name is printed on his people. So God is for the good of his people and for his own glory.

There’s a gentle tenderness to this picture in vv2-3 but we should not neglect his toughness as our Shepherd.

In v4, David confesses his confidence in God’s ever-present protection. For he has seen God’s goodness to his people all throughout history and experienced it all throughout his life. And so in the here and now, we can go forward with a humble certainty that God is with us in the dark valleys. He fights off our enemies and shields us from their attacks.

Did you notice the shift in v4? In vv2-3, God was spoken of as ‘he’. We were remembering what God did in history. But now, we speak directly to him as our Good Shepherd who is present with us.

East of Eden, after the fall, we all walk in the long daunting shadow of darkness. The darkness represents corruption, violence and deceit so prevalent in the world. The darkness is the wilderness, as we await our full arrival into the promised land. The darkness is death and the deep & existential pain in the face of it.

But it is not something that we must fear for our Good Shepherd is with us. More than that, our Good Shepherd has already walked through the this valley ahead of us. He travelled through anguish of suffering and the agony of death. Jesus calls us to follow him on this path trusting like he did.

Knowing his goodness in the past assures us in the present and gives us confidence for the future.

For the Good Shepherd is leading us through to a place of abundance, making sure we don’t get lost, but that we dwell in his radiant presence for all our days and ever after.

The Good Shepherd becomes our Good Host. I love the picture here in v5. Like a wedding cake surrounded by hungry dogs or a snowman encircled by radiators on full blast, God’s flock are bordered by their enemies, yet they sit in quiet security feasting on a splendid banquet. In war, soldiers receive basic rations, but here the flock of God have bountiful riches placed before them.

And as we close this song of trust, we remember God’s goodness and love. The word for follow here is used elsewhere to describes armies in battle. So we might actually translate it as, “Surely goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me all the days of my life.” It is not God’s goodness and love ambling after us like our pet dogs. The picture is of the proactive love of God which seeks us out when we have stumbled in the darkness. It is the picture of the Shepherd who leaves behind the ninety-nine to find the one lost sheep. To find you.

And he carries us back to live with him, in his presence, in the house of the LORD for all eternity.

We have great assurance and confidence because no one can snatch us out of of the Good Shepherd’s hands (John 10.28).

Glory be to God the Father, who lavishes us with rich blessings through Christ Jesus.

Glory be to God the Son, the Good Shepherd who lays down his life so that we have abundant life in him.

Glory be to God the Spirit, who is the living water that refreshes our weary souls.

Ever three and ever One.

(Some weeks I struggle to find a good song based on the Psalm. This week, I struggled to whittle it down to one. So I didn’t. Enjoy this wide range of renditions of Psalm 23)