THE BEAUTY OF PSALM 23

Psalm 23:1-6 NKJV 
1 The Lord is my shepherd; 
I shall not want. 
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; 
He leads me beside the still waters. 
3 He restores my soul; 
He leads me in the paths of righteousness 
For His name’s sake. 
4 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. 
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; 
You anoint my head with oil; 
My cup runs 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 
Forever. 

If there is such a thing as an iconic psalm, this is the one. People who typically know very little about the Bible know this psalm. And because of its beautiful portrayal of the Lord as our shepherd, I included the entire psalm. 

This psalm starts with David declaring the Lord as his shepherd. And if anyone was qualified to speak to the characteristics of a good shepherd, it was David. He spent time as a shepherd for his father’s flock. David was not even present when Samuel came to anoint him to be the next king because he was watching sheep. 

David shows us what a good shepherd does for the sheep. With a good shepherd, there is no want or lack. The shepherd provides for his sheep, bringing them to good sources of food and water. 

Then David switches to what the Lord does for His sheep. He restores us and leads us in right paths. It's interesting how David speaks about the Lord and then speaks directly to what the Lord is doing for him. 

The Lord's rod and staff provide reassurance even in the valley of the shadow of death. I have heard people liken the rod and staff to the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit being our rod and staff today. They both bring comfort and give us reason to not be afraid. 

When David talks about the Lord preparing a table, he is acknowledging the Lord's provision and help. Anointing us with oil and filling our cup so that it runs over is not something a natural shepherd would do for sheep, but we are His sheep. He anoints and fills our cup. 

David declares that because the Lord, the shepherd, is guiding and providing, goodness and mercy will follow him. This reveals an expectation of good, not a dread of waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

And dwelling in the house of the Lord is something natural sheep don't do. But we are His spiritual sheep with a loving shepherd and a better arrangement. 

APPLICATION 

I want to challenge you to try something today. Read Psalm 23 out loud and then repeat that process three or four times. Read it slowly and think about what these words mean to you. Jesus declared Himself to be the good shepherd in John 10:11. So this 23rd Psalm is more than a pretty poem or a personal revelation that only applies to David. The Lord is my Shepherd and your Shepherd, so when you are reading this psalm, make it personal to you. Enjoy the beauty and insight of Psalm 23.