The 23rd psalm is one of the best known and loved passages of Scripture. Amazingly, it ministers to us even though it was written 3000 years ago, on the other side of the world, in a foreign tongue and culture. It ministers to us because the same Holy Spirit who inspired the writing of the psalm is present to illumine our hearts to understand the Word of God. God will not have his word go out without accomplishing all he intends for it to do in our hearts.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. From the very first verse we see that this psalm is not for everyone. It is for those who are in covenant relationship with the Lord. The name for God is not a generic name, but the name he revealed to his covenant people. This psalm is meant to comfort those who are in a covenant relationship with the Lord. It is for those whose only comfort in life and in death is that they belong, not to themselves but to their faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. If you are not in covenant relationship with God, then this psalm is an invitation to enter into that relationship. It is a call to know God as your Shepherd who will keep you from lacking any good thing.

You remember that King David had an earlier career as a shepherd. David risked his life for the sheep. He fought off a bear and a lion. The Gospel of John describes Jesus as the Good Shepherd who lays down for his sheep. The hired man runs off when danger comes, but not the shepherd. The Lord is our shepherd. He does not desert us when danger comes. He remains with us to give us all we need.

If the Lord is my shepherd, what does that make me? A sheep. Sheep are slow and wooly, cute and smelly, defenseless and not too bright. Can you identify? I can. There are needs I am faced with and I don’t know how to proceed. There are prayer concerns that face us and I don’t know how we will get through them. I am not clever enough, rich enough or talented enough to meet those concerns.

This psalm tells me that this is OK. I don’t have to be all that clever or bright or resourceful because the Lord is my shepherd. I will never leave you or forsake you, Jesus says. This is a comfort. It is not up to us to provide and protect. That is the shepherd’s job and he will do it. He makes me to lie down in green pastures and leads me beside the quiet waters. He gives us what we need in peace.

But my life does not always look peaceful and neither does yours. It is in the difficult times that my faith needs reminders that the shepherd is with me—even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. That is quite a statement. The reason for our confidence is the central point of the psalm. Because You are with me. Notice the change here. No longer is David talking about a shepherd. Now he is addressing the Lord—You are with me. What have I to fear? What can take me away from you? What can thwart your plans for me? Nothing. I am safe because You are with me.

Your rod and staff comfort me. The rod is used to drive away the enemies and keep the sheep safe. The staff has a crook to pull the sheep out of danger. Whether the danger is without (trials) or within (our own sin), the shepherd has the tools to keep the sheep safe. Whether adversity or personal sin, the Lord has what it takes to bring us back. He is with me. I will not fear. I have experienced God’s faithfulness. Even when the dark valley comes, I will not fear. God’s word is true. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good.

Anointing the head with oil is not a custom we have, but in David’s day, it was a way to refresh special guests. It also reminds us that we are blest because we are joined to the Anointed One, Christ, by faith.

The psalm ends with more imagery of God’s covenantal love for us. We are being followed by 2 things. Even better, we are being chased by two things. The first thing we are being chased by is good. We are not afraid of evil because good is pursuing us. The second thing that is pursuing us is God’s covenantal love that never ends. These are like two sheep dogs that the shepherd uses to round up the sheep: goodness and mercy, good and covenantal love. They keep us from the cliffs. They encircle us to keep us from harm or from getting lost.

This psalm ends where it begins, with the covenant name of God and the house of God. Jesus said, in my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you may also be. God has provided us a house, but his house, where we will dwell securely. Not just for today or even for the days of our lives, but forever.