Psalm 23

Psalms 23 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Have you ever had something in your possession not noticing what it actually was until you paid a little more attention to it? One Sunday while sitting in the pew waiting for church to begin, I noticed the bookmark in my Bible. The bookmark depicted a subtle place with blue skies and gently rolling green hills. The verses on the bookmark were from Psalms 23. I read the verses and immediately realized that this passage of Scripture has been quoted many times, whether in print or in movies. But do people take the time to actually study the verses? Today I will try to shed some light on the verses for you so that the next time you hear them quoted they will bring new meaning.

23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Before we come to know the Grace of God, we are the like sheep without a shepherd. Numbers 27:17 "who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be like a sheep which have no shepherd" After we place faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, He becomes our Good Shepherd. A good shepherd understands and provides for all of the needs of His sheep; they have absolutely no reason to want. God has supplied us with everything that we need in His Word. We must have complete confidence in the assurance of God’s promises, because He will always provide. Romans 4:21 “and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able to perform.”

23:2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters”
The Shepherd cares for His sheep in many intimate ways, wanting only the best for them. A pasture is necessary for the survival of sheep. The tender, rich grass of “green pastures” is vital nutrition for which sheep feed; the word of God is our spiritual nutrition, which we feed for our spiritual growth. Matt 4:4 “But He answered and said, "It is written, "MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'" The Word nourishes us, sustains us, and is paramount for growth. The Word is also where we find rest. Ps 62:5 “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.” Rest can only be truly attained by 100% reliance on God to supply your needs. Matthew 11: 28 “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.”
Every year the teen group from our church takes a white water rafting trip. The rapid, raging, swirling water of the river is enough to make the heart race, not knowing what the outcome will be when the trip down the river is complete. Our Shepherd, loving His flock, will divert them away from tumultuous waters to “quiet waters” that give refreshing pleasure and replenishment.

23:3 “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake”
No other animal is more prone to getting itself lost and unable to find its way than a sheep. Even the best of sheep of the flock have their times of going astray. We at times tend to take paths of unrighteousness becoming lost. We cannot take the righteous path without help from the Righteous. From the help of the Good Shepherd, He shows our errors and restores our souls and directs our steps. Psalms 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

23:4 “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.”
To the person of the world the shadow of death is always but a shadow, until it seems to get closer as our days become older. We do not have to succumb to the fear of death and its eminence. The fear of death is only for those who do not have the Good Shepherd. John 10: 14 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” Even death itself cannot separate God from the people He loves. As believers, we understand that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. “Your rod (the Word) and Your staff (the Spirit), they comfort me.” By studying the truth of God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit, we become enlightened to the all-sustaining Grace that God has for us. This is where true comfort and assurance is found.

23:5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows."
Every year at Thanksgiving we all go to someone’s house for dinner. We arrive to see that everything has been set at the table and nothing is left out. God provides all things for our bodies and souls, for time and eternity. Just as the Shepherd provided the sheep with green pastures and led to quiet waters God prepares our table, not sparingly but abundantly. 2 Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”

23:6 "Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
This whole Psalm has been about assurance. Nothing is more assuring than to know that we have eternal security when we place our faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Forever means forever. After studying this often quoted passage of Scripture I find great assurance in God’s marvelous Grace supplying all of my needs, not only in this life, but the life to come in eternity. I hope that you have become assured in knowing that God loves you, will provide for you, sustain you, and that you will be with Him forever. Thank you Father for the assurance of your all-sufficient Grace.