A few thoughts on this well-known psalm
I recently had the opportunity to share Psalm 23 with a group of people. Psalm 23 is one of those passages in the Bible that we had to memorise as children in primary school, often without having any idea what it was about. Nobody explained to me as an eight-year-old what "want" and "restores" meant.
Many years later I find myself in a country in the Middle East, and although it is far away from Israel, the topography and climate are the same dry, desert environment. My wife and I had the following experience: early in the morning, on the way to the office, I pull the vehicle out of the yard and she closes the gate. Every morning there were small, white flowers on the ground. Later in the afternoon when we arrived home, they were dead, or so we thought. The next morning, despite the heat of the previous day, the white flowers were there again. I realised then how the Lord sustains nature, even in this inhospitable environment. My experience in that part of the world taught me more about the Bible than theology school and study ever could. Let's look at a few aspects regarding David's Psalm 23.
- The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. David was himself a shepherd and he knew exactly how to look after sheep. While abroad, I often watched the shepherds. I couldn't imagine how there could possibly be anything to graze on. Yet there was sufficient pasture. I just didn't notice it. The local shepherds, however, knew the environment well and knew where the grazing was. David cared for his sheep and ensured they had sufficient food. He was the shepherd and the owner of the sheep. I am glad to be called the Lord's old little sheep.
- He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He takes his sheep to "green pastures." We must understand the psalm in the context of the culture and geography of the time. David grazed his sheep in the mountainous parts of Judea. There were no large open green fields as we know them in a Western context. These pastures were in the Negev desert in the south of Israel. There were also still pools of water in these mountains, not fast-flowing rivers. Sheep prefer to drink clean, still water. The mountains in the country where I lived looked the same. Our idea of pastures is green lands with trees around where the sheep can happily feast without much effort. Alas, that is not the case. If these sheep were in such a pasture, there would be no need for a shepherd. Psalm 23 is about God's sufficient provision when it looks like there is nothing, by following Him.
- The wind that blew from the Mediterranean Sea blew through the mountains and brought moisture that ran down the rocks. The droplets then formed a small wet patch in which grasses began to grow. These small grasses were sufficient for the sheep. As the grass shoots were eaten, the sheep moved forward, following behind the shepherd. He would then go and look for where the next grazing was. Meanwhile, those grass shoots grew back again – only the leaves were grazed, not the roots. God keeps the cycle going.
- He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. The shepherd was always calm. The sheep walked along the mountain, in different rows in the flock, with the shepherd before them. They knew the shepherd's voice (John 10:27). This aspect is very important. Different flocks would often graze in the same area, all mixed together. However, when the shepherd calls or whistles, each sheep recognises the voice of its shepherd and so the flocks are quickly back with the right shepherd. They will not listen to the voice of another shepherd.
- The paths of righteousness are familiar paths. The shepherd would often bring the sheep back to the same area and they walked on the same routes as before. The grass grows again after it is grazed. It was therefore possible to use the same area repeatedly.
What does this mean for me?
- 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. The sheep were safe. David killed lions and bears, even though he was not a large and formidable man. See 1 Samuel 17:34. And yes, there really were brown bears in the area in those days. There were also more forested parts than today, where the bears lived, looking for easy prey. The good shepherd cares for the sheep and he puts his life on the line for them. John 10:11-18 explains this beautifully.
- You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. What does this mean for me and you today? God is with me. He takes care of me and makes my enemies jealous. Shepherds sought the best grazing for their own sheep. God also seeks only the best for me. The problem, however, is that we often do not fully trust Him. If I trust Him, I don't just live; I have abundance. However, I must follow the shepherd so that He can take me to places and opportunities where what I need is available. Oil speaks of anointing and of God's approval and favour. Just as David was later anointed as king with oil, so the Lord anoints me and I carry away His approval.
- Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Jesus Christ is the good shepherd. If I follow Him, I live forever. See John 10:11. It doesn't matter if mortal danger threatens. He is with me, not only in the present time, but also in the future. When David writes "and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" it is a prospect of eternal life for everyone who places their trust in Him, who listens to His voice, and who follows Him.
What now?
What is your situation today? For many of us there may be challenges that lie like a mountain before us. Perhaps it is a financial challenge that threatens to get out of hand. Follow Him. That first occasion when Jesus said to the first disciples "Follow me," was a reminder of Psalm 23. We are called to follow the Good Shepherd. If you have not yet been able to hear His voice clearly, it is perhaps time to first switch off the noise of the world around you. The Holy Spirit will not compete for your attention. Learn to listen to His voice and to focus on Him.
Read next
Now that you understand Psalm 23, I invite you to go read Ezekiel 34. It is a lesson for those who are not truly shepherds. This is what Jesus refers to in John 10:8.
We have also previously written another article about Psalm 23, with a different approach and details. [ Read it here. ]