The Lord Is My Shepherd

The Lord is transcendent and unknowable, yet in His condescending mercy He has chosen to reveal Himself to man in ways we can understand with our finite minds. One way that He does this is by imaging His character through a human vocation. In Psalm 23, David uses the metaphor of a Shepherd to speak of his relationship to God, which gives us rich insight into the character of the LORD.

As a shepherd, God is our protector and provider. He leads us, His flock, in green pastures and beside still waters. He knows exactly what we need and provides for us in abundance. Still water, not rough, is needed for a sheep to drink; verdant pasture gives the image of peaceful grazing in rich abundance. In this God provides spiritual nourishment as David also testifies: He restores our souls. This restoration intimates that we are broken and in need of repair.

God not only provides for us, but also protects us. Even in the valley of the shadow of death we need not fear, because He is with us. When we go through trying times and difficult circumstances, He is with us, and leads us safely through. We need not fear evil times. The fact that David tells us that we walk through the valley strongly suggests that death will not overtake us, but that these trials are only a shadow, and there are green pastures again on the other side.

Even when enemies are imminent, the Lord continues to bless, protect, and provide. God prepares a table of good things, and overflows our cups in these perilous times. Moreover, He anoints us with oil for our refreshment which is also a sign of His favor and the outpouring of His Spirit on us.

Although God provides so richly and lavishly for us, He is also faithful to lead and correct us. He leads us with His staff, His Shepherd`s crook. With His rod He corrects us when we begin to wander from the path or from the fold. He makes sure that we follow the right paths that He wants us to travel.

In the end, God leads to a place where He Himself dwells. He takes us in to live with Him. Not only are we showered with His goodness and blessing, but we will live in the green pastures beside the still waters of heaven once we pass through the valley of death. We will be resurrected to a new and perfect life where there is no fear nor evil nor enemies, and eat of His bounty forever.

What glorious truths glitter in this text, and yet the picture is fuller when we understand the context in which David is writing. In using the shepherd/sheep imagery, David draws parallels between himself and the Lord who he is worshipping. David was the shepherd of Israel; as the archetypal Israelite shepherd-king he offers provision and protection to his people, to his dependent and helpless sheep. He guides and leads his people on right paths, in the service of the LORD.

There are also strong parallels to history of Israel in the wilderness. In the opening verses of this psalm, David reveals he is on a journey: he walks and is led; Israel was led and protected by the pillars of cloud and fire. This journeying suggests that David is not yet home; he is a sojourner. On this journey David, like Israel, is traveling through a wilderness. However, this valley of the shadow of death is not the end: he is walking through the valley. There is strong resurrection imagery in this as well. God’s sheep need not fear evil nor death, because the Lamb who was to come took their place and died in their stead. There is a goal ahead of them to look forward to: a land of rest.

During this wilderness journey, the Lord provides food and water, restful refreshment for David as He did for Israel in the wilderness. God will also give His people a foretaste of the goodness of the life to come as He blesses them in this lifetime. A table is prepared for David in the presence of His enemies, suggesting a time of peace and rest, since he had time to sit and eat. David the King battled with his enemies as he fought for peace for his people.

David follows God’s example in his own life, as we see in his dealings with the lame and homeless Mephibosheth. David offered him a place to eat at his table, in the presence of his ‘enemy’ (he thought David was going to kill him), and bid him to remain in the royal palace and experience his goodness and mercy all the days of his life. David did so to fulfill his covenant promise: he did so for Jonathan’s sake. God calls David, and us, into His house to feast in His presence for all eternity, fulfilling His covenant promises for the sake of His Son.

This is the end of the journey promised us- to dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Here, there is complete rest. This promise is also set in a historical context: that of Israel resting in the land that God promised to them. Israel is to look forward to the end of life’s journey expectantly, where they will sit and eat at the King of kings’ table in the protection of the Royal Palace.

Moreover, David is anointed with oil, symbolizing God’s choosing and the inaugurating of David to his kingly office. In this we see the foreshadowing of the Great Shepherd who was also anointed, the Messiah. This Anointed would be the Way to the land of rest, and that Way would go through the valley of death. The blessings of God are given in the power of the resurrection of the One who is both the Great Shepherd and the Sacrificial Lamb.

In all David’s greatness as the archetypal king and example for Israel to follow, David boldly states that the LORD is his Shepherd. As Israel seeks to follow David’s example, they are immediately pointed upward to God, and forward to the coming of the Messiah, the Great Shepherd.