Psalms 23 Break Down

The Provision of the Shepherd:

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.

These first three verses speak of the provision of the “Good Shepherd”. Verse one confirms the Lord as a Shepherd and then comforts us by saying “I shall not want”. Verse two and three tell us why we should not want.

His Sheep He Knows:

Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Calls:

Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

Gathers:

Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.

Joh 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.

Guides:

Joh 10:3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

Feeds:

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Cherishes Tenderly:

Isa 40:11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry [them] in his bosom, [and] shall gently lead those that are with young.

Luke 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?(5) And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

Will lay down his life for:

Zec 13:7 ¶ Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man [that is] my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Mt 26:31 ¶ Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Joh 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

Ac 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Gives eternal life to:

John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.30 I and my Father are one.

The Protection of the Shepherd:

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.

The phrase though I walk tells us the psalmist is well aware that new troubles will confront him. But he has confidence that God who has blessed him in the verses prior will continue to bless his path.

Job 31:4 Does He not see my ways and count all my steps?

Psalms 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord

Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps