Psalms 23 - Introduction

Here we have one of the most beautiful of Psalms, described as ‘A Psalm to David', and its very content points to David as its author. It likens YHWH to a shepherd Who watches over His sheep. None knew better the needs of the sheep and the duties of a shepherd than David. Indeed he had experienced them both as a shepherd over his wayward sheep, and as a King over his equally wayward subjects. And here he pictures YHWH as the perfect shepherd Who meets all the needs of His sheep.

The story is told of how at a particular gathering the Psalm was read by a famous actor whose rendering of the Psalm was extolled for its great beauty. Shortly afterwards it was read by a godly Pastor. When the meeting was over the actor, moved by the Pastor's rendering, approached him and said, ‘Sir, I know the Psalm, but you know the Shepherd'. And that is what is important as we study the Psalm, to know the Shepherd.

Heading.

‘A Psalm of David.'

The Psalm begins with an ascription to David, and there is no real reason for seeing it as not written by him. He had the reputation of being ‘the sweet Psalmist of Israel' (2 Samuel 23:1), which confirms that he must have written a good number of Psalms. The mention of ‘the house of YHWH' in Psalms 23:6 is not against this idea, for ‘the house of YHWH is not synonymous with ‘the Temple of YHWH'. Indeed it might seem a better parallel with ‘The Dwellingplace (Tabernacle) of YHWH'. For references to ‘the house of YHWH/God' prior to the building of the Temple see Exodus 23:19; Jdg 18:31; 1 Samuel 1:7. They did not think of a ‘house' as we do. It rather represented ‘home' wherever it may be. It is doubtful if David wanted to live in the Temple for ever, even idealistically.

The Psalmist picture himself as walking through life serenely and unafraid because of the One Who watches over Him. It is the idealistic picture of what we ought to be. It is a picture of how Jesus walked. If only we would truly hold on to these words and believe them our lives would be serene in all circumstances, for we would know His care over us at all times, and that even in the valley of the shadow of death we would not need to be afraid. For the point is not that trials and problems will not come, but that when they do the Shepherd will step forward and deal with them.

For this idea of YHWH as shepherd compare Psalms 74:1; Psalms 77:20; Psalms 78:52; Psalms 78:70 ff; Psalms 79:13; Psalms 80:1; Psalms 95:7; Psalms 100:3; Micah 7:14; Isaiah 40:11. Jesus described Himself as ‘the good (effective, fully responsive) Shepherd' in contrast with the false shepherds (John 10:11; see also Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25).