Introduction on Psalm 23
One can imagine young David in the field tending to his sheep. The grass is so green, the skies so blue. A stream of clear water is flowing merrily always in the same course in a lazy fashion a little way off. Trees on the outskirts of the field are in full bloom and colour. Birds whistle love songs to each other. The perfect world and place for a young shepherd. Everything about this place denotes peace, comfort and contentment. It makes David think and reflect while walking with the sheep to the nearby stream.
Psalm 23 is a beautiful psalm that is well known and loved as it expresses the care of the lord for His people. It is a psalm that a martyr may sing while hanging or being burnt on the stake; a psalm where a Christian would feel the love of God coursing through him would sing; a psalm that would encourage us in any circumstance, and assure us of Gods continual love and care.
Sheep are dumb animals. All they do is eat and drink and grow wool. In fact, they need the care of a human if they are to remain continually healthy. They are to be led at least once a day to suitable drinking water and grazing pasture.
In verse one, David states that the Lord is his shepherd. By this, David is confessing an important thing. He considers himself a poor, dumb sheep to need GOD as his Shepherd; God, who is so majestic, great and powerful. David must think himself pretty poorly – even when later he became a King having great power in the land. David knows that he is so weak and in great need of Gods continual protection and providence.
Now that he confesses that he needs God as his shepherd, he goes on to say that he shall not want – or that he lacks nothing. And surely this is the case! What else do you need besides Gods Care, Love, Mercy and Providence!?!
So we lack nothing. As a result of this, should we find ourselves in wanting?
God restores our soul. What does David mean by this? When there is a sickly or weak sheep, it is the duty of the shepherd to care and cherish it, giving it a chance to heal before setting it amongst its flock again.
David feels that he experiences the same with God. If he is feeling poorly or very upset and miserable with life, he can count on God to raise his head and help him through his problems.
To restore a soul can also be seen as a conversion of the soul or a recovering of the soul so that life and vigour and joy is reflected through your whole being because you are Gods child. As a result we are then obedient for God’s name.
In verse four of the chapter, David expresses where his fears would come from. He knows that there is no need to fear anything that can destroy the body but what can destroy the soul. The shadow of death as is referred in verse four is the place where Satan works. However, knowing Christ as his Saviour, David needs to fear no evil and is able to trample all fear under his feet.
An example of the protection of the Lord is also clearly shown where David goes on to say – and I quote “For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” The rod and staff are shepherds tools. The rod is seen as a heavy cudgel where the shepherd attacks wild beasts. The staff or ‘crook’ as stated in other versions is a long stick with a hook at the end. The staff is used to direct the flock in the correct direction.
We too wander off in our own directions and need to be nudged and gently encouraged to walk back on the road of righteousness time and time again.
The main point being that God has the necessary weapons to take care of His own. We are continually under His eternal protection.
God however does not stop here with His blessings. Verse 5, David is treated as an honoured guest. He is happy and content because he is in the care of the Lord. There were many who desired the happiness of David and even went so far as too destroy him because of jealousy.
“You anoint my head with oil.” Anointing of oil was an act of curtesy in David’s time. He lived in a dry land and oil was soothing for the skin as it kept it moist. God treats us with such great care and love that we can only humble ourselves all the more.
As if this is not enough, David is assured of the fact that wherever he will go, the Lord as his Shepherd will always love, care and provide for him in every hour of need. His confidence in God is so secure that we can draw encouragement from it.
He then states that he will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. David knows that pursuit in materialistic wealth is futile. David may just as well have said – and I quote from Calvin; “I do not live for the mere purpose of living, but rather to exercise myself in the fear and service of God, and to make progress daily in all the branches of true Godliness. He saw that materialistic wealth only had some value if they helped him in his service to the Lord.
So what does all this mean for us today? Should we think ourselves poorly like David? Do we lack anything? How does God anoint us today? Does God really guide us too? Do we deserve His goodness? How does God discipline us – or does He discipline us? What really do we live for?
Thankyou