The 23rd Psalm

By Vernon Gruver/Wendell Tenison


The Great Shepherd of the Fold


Psa 23:1-6 A Psalm of David." The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want...... He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters...... He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me...... Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over..... 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."

In over thirty centuries the 23rd Psalm has been read, loved and memorized.

The 118 words of this Psalm penetrate to the very depth of our souls.

They describe in detail the leadership, security, compassion and blessings that belong to those who love Christ as their shepherd. This is the Psalm of our great shepherd who cares for his sheep and lambs and equips them for this life.

People (Christians) see David as a young shepherd boy, lying on his back, looking looking up at the heavens. He is in a pasture thinking about God and what he has done for us.

This is a personal Psalm:

The word My is found 5 times
The word Me is found 6 times
The pronoun I is found 4 times

  • David thinks about "I shall not want" - The Lord will provide.

  • "Still waters" - The Lord is our peace.

  • "Restoreth my soul" - The Lord who heals.

  • "Leads me in the paths of righteousness" - The Lord is righteous.

  • "Thou art with me" - The Lord is with us always.

  • "The Lord anointed my head" - The Lord who sanctifies.

  • At the end of my life, I will have the privilege to dwell with my Lord forever.

    The Lord:

    The Lord is not a Lord or one of many, but the Lord is it.

    Eph.4:5, says, there is one Lord.

    Eph 4:5 " One Lord, one faith, one baptism,"

    In Acts 2:36, Christ is that Lord.

    Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

    Christ is Lord of Lords, Rev.17:14.

    Rev 17:14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

    Is My:

    (Is) is always in the present tense. He (is) means now and not yesterday or tomorrow.

    My: David made his Lord personal, in fact, in this Psalm, as already noted he used this word 5 times. The Christian needs to do something and get personal with Jesus Christ.

    Shepherd:

    Christ is not a shepherd, but he is the shepherd. He watches out for every sheep and lamb. Christ our Shepherd tenderly cares for each sheep in the flock.

    Sheep are defenseless animals that are prone to get lost along the way. You cannot drive sheep as you do cattle, they must be led. Shepherds know each sheep by name, Jn.10:1-5.

    John 10:1-5 " Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber......But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep......To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out......And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice......And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

    I shall not want:

    Several responsibilities of the shepherd is to provide for the needs of the sheep.

  • Guard them
  • Lead them
  • Provide food
  • Find them water
  • Take care of them when they are weary, bruised, cut, or sick
  • Love them, Jn.3:16

    Under the old law of Moses, sheep died for man; under the new law of Christ, the shepherd died for the sheep, 1Pet.1:18-19.

    1 Pet 1:18 - 19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;.....But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"

    The emphasis of Ps.23:1-3, is that Jesus is adequate for every need the sheep have in the pasture, Matt.6:33.

    Mat 6:33 " But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

    The sheep want for nothing, Ps.37:25.

    Psa 37:25 "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

    He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

    Sheep begin grazing at 4:00 a.m. and they would feed until about 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. Sheep love green grass and they do not lie down until they are satisfied. Christians should graze on the word of God and it will truly satisfy their needs, Ps.1:1-6.

    He leadeth me beside the still waters:

    Sheep will drink after being satisfied with food and rest.

    Sheep will not drink water if it has a riffel or rough waters and they will not drink unless it is still.

    The world is hungry and thursting for something of God's truth of which they are not getting, and therefore, they are restless. The word of God and Christ will calm them down and by being filled, they will find the spiritual calmness that their souls so desperately need, Matt.11:28-30.

    Mat 11:28 " Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest......Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls......For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

    In heaven, our shepherd will lead us unto fountains of living water, Rev.7:17.

    Rev 7:17 " For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

    He restoreth my soul:

    David's prayer to God was that he would create a clean heart and renew a right spirit within him, Ps.51:10.

    Psa 51:10 " Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

    He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

    This is how he restores our souls:

  • When sheep stray he seeks them and brings them back into the fold.

  • When sheep are ill, he carries them back home in his arms and ministers unto them.

  • When sheep are injured, he tends their wounds, Lk.19:10, Isa.53:6.

    Isa 53:6 " All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."

    Luke 19:10 " For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."

    When we are sickened or injured by sin, Christ the Great Good Shepherd will provide the spirutual medicine needed to heal our souls, James 5:16.

    James 5:16 " Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

    David's soul was restored, Ps.51:1-13.

    Remember, sheep left alone will go astray down the wrong path.

    Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death:

    We will walk through the valley of death, 1 Cor.15:22, Heb.9:27.

    1 Cor 15:22 " For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

    Heb 9:27 " And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:"

    The word "I" equals each one will walk and not run, because the good shepherd will be there, Rev.1:18.

    Rev 1:18 " I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

    We will walk to the other side; this means that Christians will not remain in the grave, 1 Cor.15:57; 1 Thess.4:13-18; Jn.5:28-30.

    John 5:28-29 " Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,.....And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

    Remember, you walk in the shadow of death.

    Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me:

    The great shepherd of the fold is able to succor those who are tempted and distressed.

    Heb 2:18 "For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

    Our Lord is called the chief shepherd, meaning, the elders or shepherds are subservient unto him. When he shall appear the second time, the righteous will receive a crown of glory.

    1 Pet 5:4 " And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

    Jesus Christ is the shepherd and bishop (overseer) of our souls. When we stumble or fall, he is there to pick us up.

    1 Pet 2:25 " For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls."

    The rod that our Lord now holds in his hand is the sceptre of righteousness, the sceptre of his kingdom. Combined with the sword of his mouth, he is able to save to the uttermost.

    Heb 1:8 " But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."

    Thou preparest a table before me in the presense of mine enemies:

    In that country there were wild dogs that would like to kill sheep, but the shepherd's rod and staff would protect them.

    Thou anointest my head with oil:

    This was done as an act of refreshment and joy. Also, Christians in those early days were commanded to call for the elders of the church if they were sick for them to anoint their heads with oil in the name of the Lord, James 5:14.

    James 5:14 " Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:"

    My cup runneth over:

    It was customary to fill the cup of a guest to overflowing.

    I believe that the blessings and comfort of the good shepherd (Jesus Christ) are given unto us so much that our cup runs over with mercy and kindness, James 2:13.

    James 2:13 " For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."

    I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever:

    This is talking about heaven and being with the sacred three, God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, Matt.25:46, 2 Cor.13:14

    Mat 25:46" And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

    2 Cor.13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen."

    The shepherd is now preparing mansions for us, Jn.14:1-6.

    John 14:1-6 " Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me......In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you......And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also......And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know......Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?.....Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.


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    © 2011 by Vernon Gruver/Wendell Tenison