Psalm 23 Excerpt From Heart of a Psalmist

PSALM 23: THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD The Shepherd Psalm

This is the greatest of the psalms and is the best-known passage of the Bible along with the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew. Spurgeon calls it “a surpassing ode, which none of the daughters of music can excel.” It is a masterpiece of literature; so short yet every line a gem of thought and poetry. The 10th chapter of John’s gospel is a close parallel to this song where Jesus declares: ‘ I am the good shepherd.’ (Jn. 10:11) It begins with the sheep in the meadows, the streams and a dark valley and then ends with the sheep at the table in their master’s house. The psalm is reflective of God’s faithfulness to David over his entire lifetime, yet it draws upon his early experiences as a shepherd. When Samuel asked David’s father if he had any more sons he answered: “’ There is still the youngest,’ Jesse replied. ‘But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep.’” (1 Sam. 16:11) David helped his father shepherd the flock as preparation for shepherding the nation of Israel: “ But David went back and forth between working for Saul and helping his father with the sheep in Bethlehem.” (1 Sam. 17:15) David’s courage and confidence was developed as he gave his life for his sheep: “’ I have been taking care of my father’s sheep,’ he said. ‘When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth…”(1 Sam. 17:34,35) The bravery gained in shepherding the sheep was used by David to slay Goliath, the Philistine giant.

The outline is based upon an increasingly intimate relationship with God:

I MY SHEPHERD - ‘He’ Is My Shepherd (1-3) II MY LIFE - ‘You’ Are My Shepherd (4-6)

INTRODUCTION :

“ A Psalm of David ”

This is one of seventeen Psalms that bear this simple title without musical instruction or historical background.

I. MY SHEPHERD - ‘He’ is My Shepherd (1-3)

“ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”(1)

Jesus is the ultimate shepherd of our lives: “ I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me…(Jn. 10:14) Each member of the flock has the privilege of an intimate relationship with the Great Shepherd that no earthly shepherd can ever replace. God sees us as sheep, animals that are fear- ful, guided by herding instincts and at times very unreasonable. Sheep are totally dependent upon the care of their shepherd for provision and protection. Peter tells us: ”Once you were wandering like lost sheep. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian (Bishop) of your souls. ”(1 Pet. 2:25)

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures;”(2)

Jesus said: “ Those who come in through me will be saved. Wherever they go, they will find green pastures.” (Jn. 10:9) Sheep will only lie down when they are free from fear of predators, free from friction among the flock, free from pests and parasites and free from hunger 1 . Then they will rest, chew their cud, produce milk and grow in strength and size. The

prophet Ezekiel speaks on God’s behalf: “ Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in lush mountain pastures. ”(Ezekiel 34:14) “ He leads me beside the still waters.”(2) Jesus is the one who gives us the water of eternal life and refreshing of the Holy Spirit: “ for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. “(Rev.7:17) Still waters can refer to the dew on the grass in the early morning. Peaceful streams only occur when the water runs deep, that is where the Holy Spirit reaches into the depths of our souls.

“ He restores my soul; ”(3)

Jesus is our shepherd and is concerned with every aspect of our lives: “ My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.” (Jn.10:10) Sometimes sheep will fall over on their back with their legs in the air be- cause of unfortunate circumstances such as having too much wool or being worried. They become ‘cast down’ or simply ‘cast’ sheep. They cannot get up from this state and would die unless the shepherd ‘re- stores’ and rescues them. Jesus wants to lift up the cast down soul to fullness of life.

“ He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. ”(3)

Jesus describes his shepherding role in our lives: “ After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice.”(Jn. 10:4) Sheep must constantly be led to new pastures or they will eat the old ones bare and erode the grass by creating deep rutted pathways. God leads us by his voice as he led David so long ago. “ …David asked the Lord, ‘Should I move back to Judah?’ And the lord replied, ‘Yes.” Then David asked, ‘Which town should I go to?’ And the Lord replied, ‘Hebron. ’”(2 Sam. 2:1) We must learn to be led by the voice of our shepherd as we pray and worship him.

II MY LIFE - ‘You’ Are My Shepherd – (4-6)

“ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; ”(4)

Something marvelous takes place at this critical moment in both the lives of the shepherd and the sheep. As they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, the impersonal pronoun ‘He’ becomes the more personal pronoun ‘You’ that continues throughout the psalm. The Shepherd grows closer in the darkest, deathly moments of life and fear is eliminated by his presence. This darkness is described as ‘the court of death…the most fearful darkness, as of Hades…as the shaft of a mine’ 3 . An even more amazing event takes place; it is the shepherd who dies in the valley of the shadow of death and the sheep passes on to receive the blessings in the remainder of the psalm. Jesus showed us a love beyond all loves: “ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired hand will run when he sees a wolf coming. ”(Jn. 10:11) Death is a shadow because our shepherd laid down his life in the valley. He did not run when the murderous wolf attacked the sheep, but he gave his life for us. “ Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone in all the world. ”(Heb. 2:9)

“ Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”(4)

The rod is for the protection of the sheep and is an offensive weapon whereas the staff is for guiding and restoring the flock. Moses’ rod became the symbol of God’s power by which he delivered them from Egypt and defended them in their battles in the wilderness. “ But lift up your rod and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. ”(Exodus 14:15)

“ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; ”(5)

This literally happened to David as he fled from the armies of his rebellious son Absalom: “ When David arrived at Mahanaim, he was warmly greeted by Shobi…They brought him sleeping mats, cook- ing pots, serving bowls, wheat and barley flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, honey butter, sheep, and cheese for David and those who were with him. For they said, ‘You must all be very tired and hungry and thirsty after your long march through the wilderness.’”(2 Sam. 17:27-29) God has provided a table for us as we journey to our heavenly home, it is the Lord’s Supper that we do in remembrance of him. Because Jesus our shepherd laid down his life for us we can receive the daily refreshing oil of the Holy Spirit. Philip Keller explains the ‘anointing’ in a very practical way: “I always preferred to use a homemade remedy composed of linseed oil, sulfur and tar which was smeared over the sheep’s nose and head as a protection against nose flies” 4 . The anointing of the sheep’s head was also to prevent the spread of ‘scab’ a highly contagious disease among flocks. The oil of the Spirit is spiritual and practical, enabling us to live a more abundant life. “ You anoint my head with oil; ”(5)

“ My cup runs over.” (5)

Because Jesus drank the cup of suffering and death we can now drink the cup of communion and receive the benefits of salvation: “ When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the benefits of the blood of Christ?” (1 Cor. 10:16)

“ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; ”(6)

Goodness and mercy are like twin shepherd ‘dogs’ used by the Shepherd to help guard and guide his flock. Spurgeon says of this passage: “These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck…’goodness’ supplies our needs, and ‘mercy’ blots out

our sins” Our shepherd came to give us quality of life: “ My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. I am the good shepherd.” (Jn. 10:10- 11)

“ And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ”(6)

The greatest benefit of our salvation is the gift of eternal life and the hope of being with him forever! “ My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. (Jn.10:28,29)

“ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

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