PSALM 23

A PSALM OF
DAVID
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack
nothing.
He makes me lie down in green
pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his names sake.
 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.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
 You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love
will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of
the LORD
forever.
King David, himself a former
shepherd, begins this Psalm with,
The Lord is my shepherd,
immediately putting himself as a
sheep in the care of Jesus Christ.
The shepherd is the provider and
protector of his flock. The sheep
are helpless without him. Similarly,
human existence is but a sinful,
carnal experience without God in our
lives
 I shall not want, David
indicates here that as a sheep
in Christs care, he was
confident that he would lack
nothing and its clearly
indicates Davids
understanding in regards to
putting God and Gods way
first in his life
He makes me to lie down in
green pastures: he leads me
beside the still waters.
Both the green pastures
and still waters indicate a
blessed abundance, further
illustrating the benefits of a
God-led life.
He restores my soul.
David understood that he
was a sinner, but also that
Christ had redeemed him
and would continue to
restore him upon
repentance.
David continues, he leads me in
the paths of righteousness for
his names sake, indicating
that it is Christs example that
we are to follow , and that it to
Gods glory when we obey. Yet is
only through the power of the
Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ in
us, that we are even able to do
so.
David knew that occasionally the
shepherd had to lead his flock
through treacherous terrain, and
so he writes (as the sheep), Yes,
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.
The rod and staff are the
shepherds tools, and are
used to guide and correct
the path of the sheep
much in the same way God
has to oftentimes guide, and
occasionally correct, our
path. This comforted David.
Paul indicates in II Timothy
1:7 that this mindset comes
only from God: For God
has not given us the spirit
of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a
sound mind.
Even among enemies, David
had complete confidence:
You prepare a table before
me in the presence of my
enemies: You anoint my
head with oil; my cup runs
over. He understood the
promises of blessings and
protections.
David knew that as long as he
would follow Christ, goodness
and mercy shall follow me all
the days of my life. He looked
forward to reigning (again as
King of Israel; Ezek. 34:23-24)
in the kingdom of God: and I
will dwell in the house of the
Lord for ever.