The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23, NKJV

It’s one of the most well-known and probably the most beloved of all the psalms. We have heard it countless times, and many of us have committed it to memory. It is used quite regularly in memorial services for those who have passed from this earthly life.

But there is so much in this psalm that we need to know if we would grow in our relationship with the Lord. And notice carefully that the word LORD at the beginning of the psalm is in all caps, showing that it is the name of God, YAHWEH. So, David is speaking of the relational aspect of his intimate knowledge of God. He is not just talking about God, but rather he is sharing his intimate relationship with God. Let’s take a few minutes to delve into understanding the many ramifications of this beautiful psalm.

First, think about the personal aspect of David’s words. He states in the most intimate of ways, “The LORD is my shepherd.” David can use this personal pronoun about himself because he knows God. He doesn’t only know about God, but he knows Him in the most personal way. He doesn’t have to speak of God in abstract, non-relational ways, speaking of His attributes out of his having learned those attributes, but out of his own personal experience with God. He can say “My Shepherd” because of his own personal experiences with God.

Second, David speaks of his confidence in his Shepherd. We see this clearly in the words, “I shall not want.” David has learned that no matter what his circumstances may be, or how serious his situation may seem, he can have confidence in God to care for him and to supply him with whatever is necessary to meet the demands of the moment. We are not to understand from this that God will always supply a super-abundance of the things we want, but He will always provide what we need. David had already learned this from the experiences through his many hardships in life, and now he trusts that God will continue to be with him.

A third thing we can learn from this beautiful psalm is that David believed God would protect him. He mentions two things that clearly illustrate this point: safety as he walks through the valley of the shadow of death, and having a table prepared for him in the presence of his enemies. The Shepherd always looks after his sheep! Philip Keller, in his book “A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm”, goes into great detail explaining how the good shepherd would put his own life in danger for the well-being of his sheep. Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd, did just that: He laid down His life for His sheep. Knowing Him gives us confidence and assurance as we walk through those dark valleys of life.

David closes this psalm by speaking of the permanence of his relationship with the Shepherd. He speaks of the fact that he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Believers in Jesus Christ have the assurance that we will live forever in that wonderful place the Lord has prepared for us. He will come again and receive us to Himself so that we might enjoy His presence and provision forever. Hallelujah! What a Savior! What a great Shepherd of His sheep.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, then take heart knowing that He is your Shepherd. He is providing for you, protecting you, and guiding you in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Rejoice today in knowing Him.

Until next time:

Blessings!