Psalm 23

Reflections on The Psalms

Psalm 23

(Psalms 23 KJV) "A Psalm of David. 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. {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."

Everyman’s favorite psalm. The most memorized, the most often set to music. It would be good to sit down and have a talk with the very real man who penned this psalm. I see this one written after a crisis is over (the valley of the shadow of death), and when everything is going well. Perhaps about the time he spoke with Nathan about building a temple?

I wonder how it might be written today. David knew well what it meant to tend sheep, so that is the way it was written. I don’t know how a person today who works in a cubicle on a computer might write this, for there is no resemblance at all to the relationship David describes. A shepherd is not an employer of sheep. He can’t even be accurately portrayed as a boss. A shepherd can be seen as a protector and provider, and that seems to be the way David sees his Lord. There is no fear in this psalm, no dread of the Lord

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