THE BEAUTY OF PSALM 23
Approximately half of the Book of Psalms was written by King David of the Israelites, and they include praise, thanksgiving, lament, kingship, confidence, remembrance, and wisdom. David wrote Psalm 23 around 1000 BC, which is often quoted and little understood:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalms 23 NSV).
This is most often heard at funerals or in prayers over a loved one on their death bed. Readers tend to focus on the shadow of death rather than the restoration, peace, comfort, goodness, and mercy. There is so much richness and positive encouragement that Spurgeon preached in one sermon:
David was not dying; the psalm is full of happy, peaceful life. Lie is lying down in green pastures, and following his Lord by still waters; and if a cloud has descended upon him, and he feels himself like one threatened with death, he nevertheless expects goodness and mercy to follow him through all his days. The song is not to lie upon the shelf till our last day, but it is to be sung upon our stringed instruments all the days of our lives; therefore let us sing it at this hallowed hour in the courts of the Lord’s house, and in the midst of them that love him (Spurgeon, 1880).
The valley starts in Jerusalem and winds toward Jericho, and this writer looked across it to see the temple at a distance in 2018.
The fallen state of humanity is seen in walking through the shadow of death, which are challenging times, and dealing with evil, from the Genesis account of the fall through Adam and Eve. The valley represents dark and painful periods, which come in several forms. Shepherds used the rod and the staff to ward off predators and threats to the sheep. Our Shepherd’s rod is used to protect us from evil, and His staff is to keep us on the path of righteousness.
Almost everything in the Bible points to Christ, both Old and New Testaments. The beginning of this psalm refers to the Lord being the shepherd, and this word is seen approximately 111 times throughout the Bible because Jesus is likened to a shepherd overseeing and protecting His sheep who are His followers. Jesus is the final covenant God has made with His people, and this psalm is in the covenant portion of the book.
Again, this writer believes everything in the Bible applies to all humankind past, present, and future, and Psalm 23 gives hope through tough times. It describes how God lies us down in beautiful pastures and leads us on the path of righteousness. He is present to protect us from evil, and His presence gives us peace of mind. “God shepherds the righteous (23:1-6). Those who trust in Yahweh have all they need (23:1-3) and should never even fear death (23:4-6)” (House & Mitchell, 2007). The psalm’s end is appropriately about the promise of everlasting life in heaven. This is a beautiful psalm meant to bring joy to all who suffer and to all who put their faith, trust, love, and commitment to Jesus Christ, our Shepherd.
References:
House, P. R., & Mitchell, E. A. (2007). Old testament survey. B & H Academic.
Spurgeon, C. H., (1880) Sermon August 12. Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Volume 27
Written per APA 7 Guidelines
~DAVE DEGER