Psalms 23 - Introduction

The grateful praise of Jehovah (i) as the Good Shepherd who tends (Psalms 23:1), and guides (Psalms 23:3) the Psalmist, providing for every want, and protecting him in every danger: (ii) as the bountiful host (Psalms 23:5), who entertains the Psalmist as his guest with gracious liberality.

The Psalm is unrivalled for calm serenity and perfect faith. Under Jehovah's loving care the Psalmist knows neither want nor fear. His words admit of the most universal application to all needs, temporal and spiritual, in every age. Their meaning grows in depth as the love of God is more fully revealed through the teaching of the Spirit in the experience of life (Ephesians 3:17-19; Romans 8:35 ff.).

The Targum explains the Psalm of God's care for the nation of Israel. This however, though justifiable as a secondary application, can hardly be the original meaning. Its tone is strongly personal. It is an individual realisation and appropriation of the blessings involved in the covenant-relation of Jehovah to His people. Each sheep can claim the care which is promised to the whole flock (Luke 15:4 ff.).

Was David the author? Many have thought that Psalms 23:1 are based on the recollections of his early shepherd life; and that Psalms 23:5 reflects his entertainment by Barzillai (2 Samuel 17:27-29). Nor is Psalms 23:6 decisive against the Davidic authorship. The language is figurative, and the phrase -house of the Lord" does not necessarily imply the existence of the temple (Exodus 23:19; Judges 18:31; 1 Samuel 1:7), though it must be admitted that it seems to point to it.

The kindred Psalms 27 should be carefully compared.