The 23^rd Psalm is one of the most recognized and beloved passages in the Bible, one of the crown jewels of Scripture.  Although it is customarily thought of as the “Shepherd Psalm,” and rightly so, this psalm of David actually encompasses three distinct scenes: (1) the shepherd scene (verses 1-4), (2) the host or banquet scene (verse 5), and (3) the home or heavenly scene (verse 6).

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Now, let us break this Psalm down by verse to gain better insight into the whole passage:

23:1  The shepherd motif is used here and elsewhere in the Old Testament to characterize God, and it is also a marvelous foreshadowing of the “Good Shepherd,” who (1) loves the flock (verse 1), (2) feeds the flock (verse 2), (3) tends and cares for the flock (“restoreth my soul,”, verse 3), (4) protects the flock with his “rod” (verse 4), and (5) seeks the lost and straying sheep with his “staff” (verse 4).

23:2  “Green pastures” are pastures of tender young grass; “still waters” denotes the calm water necessary for sheep to drink.

23:3  “Restoreth my soul” literally means that the shepherd tends and cares for his flock.

23:4  The “rod” (a short club used to fight off wild animals) represents protection and discipline; the “staff” (a long shepherd’s stick with a crook) depicts guidance.

23:5-6  Though many scholars combine these verses, there is definitely a change in David’s though pattern.  Verse 5 pictures a guest at a banquet, even with enemies present.  This symbolizes God’s protective care over His children in the midst of a wicked and cruel world.  Verse 6 is finally the heavenly scene; no enemies are present here o oppose God’s children.

In Christian Brotherhood,
James Bozeman
Texas Division Chaplain