The Great Promises of Psalm 23

The metaphor of God as our shepherd and God’s people as the sheep of his pasture runs through Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The most famous of these references is certainly Psalm 23.

Written by Ken Boa 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1

Many people are acquainted with the words of this psalm—some of us have known it by heart since childhood. Take a moment now to read this psalm slowly, asking God to help you see it with fresh eyes. Then we’ll walk through it together, noticing its natural breakdown into three parts, each focused on a different role of our Shepherd God.

Psalm 23 A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Loving & Caring (verses 1–2)

First, the psalm describes God as a shepherd who loves and cares for us (Psalm 23:1-2). The starting phrase, “The Lord is my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1a), should humble us right off the bat. If He’s our shepherd, then we must be the sheep, and sheep are not exactly clever animals. In fact, it is the responsibility of the shepherd to nourish the sheep and meet all of their needs, or the sheep will be unable to do so for themselves and they will die. This is the picture given in the first two verses of the psalm, which continues:

I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters. (Psalm 23:1b–2)

Sheep cannot lie down and rest unless their needs have been met. The image of lying down, therefore, is one of satisfaction and contentment. A good shepherd also must keep the sheep away from polluted, stagnant water, which the sheep will drink from if not led by the shepherd to “living [that is, moving] water.”

This first section of the psalm, then, impresses upon us our complete dependence on our Lord Jesus for contentment, satisfaction, and nourishment, and our complete helplessness without Him.

Guiding & Protecting (verses 3–4)

Second, the psalm describes God as a shepherd who guides and protects us (Psalm 23:3-4).

He restores my soul.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.(Psalm 23:3)

If a shepherd does not constantly guide the sheep into good pasture, the sheep will die. His guidance is ongoing, not a one-time thing. Just as a shepherd guides his sheep to good pasture, so the Lord continually guides us “in the paths of righteousness.”

The “valley of the shadow of death” mentioned in verse 4 may refer to the journey after winter to a higher grazing land. On this journey, the sheep must be led through dangerous valleys where predators lurk. But the sheep are not afraid, the psalmist says, when the shepherd is with them.

When you’re going through a time in your life that looks like “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4a), draw nearer to God and trust in His protection as a sheep trusts its shepherd. Do not abandon Him in that time when you need Him most. It’s in those times of darkness when you may grow closer than ever to the Lord your Shepherd.

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4)

A shepherd uses the rod both to guard the flock against predators and to discipline wandering sheep. He uses the staff to draw sheep together, lift newborn lambs to their mothers, and give special attention to certain sheep in the flock. These two instruments of the shepherd may be understood as metaphors for the word of God, which protects and reproves us, and the Spirit of God, who unites and comforts us.

Providing & Abiding (verses 5–6)

Finally, the psalm describes God as a shepherd who provides for and abides with us (Psalm 23:5-6). A shepherd will often go ahead of the flock to prepare the way and ensure there will be plentiful food where he is leading them. This is perhaps what the psalmist has in mind when he says, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” (Psalm 23:5). The good shepherd ensures provision for his sheep even though there are enemies present.

The anointing with oil described in verse 5 also refers to a common shepherding practice. A shepherd would anoint the sheep with a mixture of olive oil, sulfur, and spices in order to treat against flies, so that the larvae of the flies would not hatch and spread in the nostrils of the sheep. This anointing corresponds to God’s anointing of us with His word and the Holy Spirit, which treat our souls for everything that aggravates us or drives us to anxiety.

The psalmist concludes:
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6)

Having endured the summer months in the high country, the sheep are led full circle back to their “home ranch” at the end of each year. The psalm thus takes us through an entire year of a sheep, and applies this to the people of God. Because God is full of “lovingkindness,” we are ensured that ultimately He will carry us safely home.

Pray this week:

Heavenly Father, You are my Shepherd.  Help me to draw even closer to You in times of darkness.  Amen.