We often hear the 23rd Psalm read or recited at funerals, but did you know that it does not apply to everyone, only to the sheep of the Great Shepherd. Let’s really understand this most popular of all the Psalms. Let’s go through Psalm 23 looking at some important details.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
When we look at this most famous of David’s melodies, we begin to see a Great Shepherd providing for His sheep in the midst of troubles. The traditional translation of this verse, to not be “in want” is strange to modern ears, when every advertisement encourages us to want more things in our lives, and even a counterfeit materialistic health-wealth Gospel has deceived many Christians. Yet that is not the original meaning. The Hebrew words lo ehser simply mean I won’t be lacking, or I have all my needs. We could call it a theology of sufficiency. In a world lusting for more, more, more, it is rare to hear people say that they lack nothing, that they are satisfied and need nothing more materially. Yet, that is the point of the Psalm, to be satisfied with life, and that is a truly happy life.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
When sheep are hungry or frightened they won’t lie down. This picture is one of serenity and security. How can we experience peace and safety in the midst of terrorism, pandemics, crime waves and other world problems? These can kill the body but not the soul protected by God. This is not a promise to everyone, but it is a picture relevant to those who allow themselves to come under that rod and staff of the Great Shepherd. When we go to funerals and this Psalm is read, many people just assume that it applies to them, but it does not apply to those who cannot be bothered with the things of God. It only applies to the sheep of the Good Shepherd. The Lord’s sheep experience lush pasture and quiet waters in the midst of dangerous predators.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
For most people, the right track in life is one of the ways of the world. It may be a favourite political party, a gender issue, the quality of foods we eat or the worldview that schools teach our children. However, the ways of the world often deceive us. They cannot guarantee a full and happy life, but God can. The word righteous is not popular today, but it simply means the right track and there is only one who can lead us there. Here it is often translated as the paths of righteousness, meaning the right tracks picturing the ways of justice and fairness. Anyone who has experience with sheep knows that they create and follow well-worn tracks. As God’s sheep, if we follow the Good Shepherd, he will lead us down the right track.
Yea, 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 two tools of shepherding mentioned here were a rod and staff. A sling was not mentioned. The rod was often a club used to protect the sheep from predators, but also to discipline them for their own good. Jesus’ rod is also a vehicle of comfort, even though momentarily perhaps a little painful. Discipline is for our good. The staff was a bent piece of wood that could be used to catch and rescue sheep. In our age of mass manufacture we imagine that they were all of the same model as pictured in our Sunday School books. But that is unrealistic. They were homemade and just about anything that would do the job was chosen. There are many times in life that we need Jesus to rescue us, and He sees that as His job.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
David, under divine inspiration, pictures a table prepared right in front of our enemies. All his life David faced antagonists, from those in his own family to Saul the king of Israel, and when he was king, to enemies roundabout. In the midst of our own enemies we seem strangely shocked by the news of world troubles. It is as if we cannot accept that this has always been and always will be until Jesus’ returns and brings about world peace. From the first murder of a brother by a brother to Viking terrorism to the most recent world troubles God has made a promise: that in the midst of all this, he would set a table for those in His sheepfold. The choice is ours. Who is our Lord? Is it this world or is our Lord the God of heaven?
Here is also a metaphor of anointing our heads with oil. Understanding the original language and culture helps us see the deeper meaning. When a shepherd came in from the fields as did David when he was to be chosen king, he would have been rather dusty and perhaps even have dirt in his hair. Just as many moderns prefer to cleanse with perfumed oils rather than soap today, so did the ancients. The original language actually says you “remove ashes” from my head with oil. As David was ill-treated by his brothers, and ashes on the head symbolizes mourning, this removal also symbolizes the Good Shepherd healing our emotional pain. Also, the anointing was to make David king, and symbolizes God lifting us up high after humiliation by others. Most importantly, God anoints us with his Holy Spirit.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
David is confident that goodness and mercy will follow him all the days of his life. So too, can we be confident that after repentance, we are forgiven. On the cross, Jesus asked for forgiveness for others, even before they had repented, because they did not know what they were doing. Surely even the most highly educated and highly intelligent in our world do not know what they are doing. Knowing that, we can practice lives of goodness and mercy. The highlight of our week ought to be hearing God’s Word preached in a church that is attempting to be faithful to the Word of God. The longer we live, the more precious those words become, and it is our desire too, to dwell with the Good Shepherd, where we are well taken care of, in the house of the Lord forever.
If we can truly say that the Lord is our Shepherd, then we’ll be satisfied with what He provides. If we are one of those lost sheep, or someone who previously chose cruel shepherds, look for Jesus, and He will save you. Only He can give us peace and safety in a troubled world. Only He can lead us down the right track. Only Jesus will protect and rescue us. We can relax in the midst of all enemies and be well fed. He will lift us up after humiliation and anoint us with the oil of His Holy Spirit. Why would we want to live anywhere else but with such a Good Shepherd forever!
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
