Introduction
This is arguably the best-known passage in the Bible, both by Christians and non-Christians. Together with the Lord's Prayer, verse 1 is the only thing I can remember ever seeing around my parents' house while I was growing up (sticker on my mom's car).
Keil and Delitzsch (gold standard for OT commentaries) place this psalm in the time David was fleeing Absalom's persecution. They do that because of the similarities between this psalm and other psalms clearly written during that period. We will assume that Keil and Delitzsch are right.
Psalm 23 is about the goodness of the Lord to his people. David paints two word pictures of God: the shepherd and the host. Ultimately, David shows the goodness of God in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I. The Goodness of the Lord Displayed in the Image of the Shepherd, 1-4
A. God as the shepherd.
1. This image would be well understood in Israel because they had been historically a pastoral nation.
Gen. 47:3 – Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" And they said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers."
2. David would certainly be well versed in what it meant for God to be his shepherd since he had been a shepherd himself.
a. This is not an image original to David.
b. We find it as early as the book of Numbers where Moses is supposed to be the undershepherd of God's people (Num. 27).
c. And it becomes a regular motif in the prophets as we are going to see in a little while.
3. Though not directly quoted in the NT, this psalm is clearly behind several references to God being the Shepherd of his sheep, particularly John 10 where Christ's ministry is parallel to Yahweh's in psalm 23.
Jn. 10:11 – I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
Heb. 13:20-21 – Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
1 Pt. 5:4 – … and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
4. It is interesting that the Messiah is often prophesied as a shepherd of the same kind as Yahweh making him equal with him.
Ez. 34:31 – "You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God," says the Lord GOD.
Is. 40:11 – He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.
a. Yet, we know that there isn't any one like Yahweh
Is. 46:9 – Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me…
b. So we must conclude that the Messiah who is coming to be the shepherd of the sheep is not only from God but is God himself.
B. The things that God does as a shepherd: provision, guidance, and protection
1. It is important that we understand rightly what the word want means from the very outset of our study.
a. Some have found in this verse, the biding of God to give anything a Christian wants.
b. However, the connotation of this word is much closer to the English word need or necessity.
c. The psalmist is rejoicing that Yahweh will not let him go with the necessities for life unmet.
d. Newer translations have not dared changing such well-known passage.
2. The word want is further defined by the four actions of God in verses 2-3
a. God's provision is constant as seeing in the making to lie down.
1) Green pastures were seasonal in that area of world.
2) The shepherd would have to move the sheep back and forth form pasture to pasture.
3) Not with the Great Shepherd.
a) He leads his sheep to where they don't have to move from place to place to find satisfaction.
b) Thus, his sheep can lie down knowing that his provision is not seasonal, but constant.
Jn. 10:9 – I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
b. God's provision is thorough – green pasture and still waters.
1) Still waters refer to springs of fresh water or slow moving rivers.
2) The sheep can drink out of it without having to worry about current killing them.
a) This is typical of God's provision
b) We can be sure that what he provides is not going to harm us, is going to be safe!
c. God's provision involves the whole of life – Restores my soul
1) The word soul is used for the whole person.
2) The word restores carries the idea of refreshing or enjoyment.
Pro. 25:13 – Like the cold of snow in time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the soul of his masters.
3) Perhaps we can even say that God's provision renews us so that we feel that life in the presence of God is good and worth living.
4) He gives enjoyment of life to those who trust in him.
d. God guides his sheep.
1) Paths of righteousness are not expressly the paths that lead to righteousness though eventually they will, but the right paths.
2) God leads us into what is right and good.
a) Throughout the Scriptures, and particularly in the book of Proverbs, two ways are set before of us: the way of the Lord and the way of the world, see Proverbs 4.
b) The way of the Lord is always superior to the way of the world.
Pro. 4:26 – Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
Pro. 12:15 – The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Pro. 14:12 – There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Pro. 21:2 – Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
c) That is why the Bible pleads with us to let the Lord direct us according to his will and wisdom.
Pro. 3:5-6 – Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
3) Notice the reason why God directs the path of his people: for his name sake.
a) God's directing of us is not based on whom we are, that would not work out well.
b) It is based on whom he is what he has said he will do for his people – covenantal language.
Ez. 20:44 – "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have dealt with you for My name's sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel," says the Lord GOD.
3. Sometimes the right path that God leads into will go through the valley of the shadow of death, 4.
a. The shadow of death represents the most fearful darkness, the darkest experiences.
Jer. 2:6 – Neither did they say, 'Where is the LORD, Who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, Who led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and pits, through a land of drought and the shadow of death, through a land that no one crossed and where no one dwelt?'
b. God will at times take us through dark times and he will do that for our good, to purify us, to conform us to the image of his Son.
c. And he will go through it with us – the rod and the staff will be with us (protection and guidance).
Is. 43:2 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.
d. So, whether a path is hard or not is not determinant of it being right or not.
4. As we close this portion of the psalm, I want you to notice that, according to David, all provision is God's providing independently of whom brings it. That is why we have to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread."
II. The Goodness of the Lord Displayed in the Image of the Host, 5.
A. Let us keep in mind that this psalm was more than likely written during Absalom's persecution.
1. Things are tough.
2. There isn't a lot of food.
3. The king has to rely on the generosity of others.
2 Sam. 17:27-29 – Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, "The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness."
4. It is in this context that David speaks of his God treating him as the guest of honor.
a. The table in the presence of the enemy shows the Lord's vindication of his people – the enemy is not invited, but they can see what is going on.
b. The anointing with olive oil and myrrh was done to the guest of honor.
c. The cup that overflows is an image of abundant provision and blessings.
d. The communion table carries much of this imagery as well.
1) It reminds us that God has conquered all.
2) It vindicates us in the presence of our enemies.
3) It reminds us of the covenant God has made with us, that we are drinking the cup of blessing because Christ drank the cup of curse.
4) It renews God's covenant of grace with us.
III. The Goodness of the Lord Displayed in David's Conclusion, 6.
A. David is certain that the goodness and the mercy (steadfast love) will follow him all the days of his life.
1. The contrast with the context of the psalm makes these words more vivid.
2. Absalom and his men are following me wherever I go.
3. But I know that God's faithfulness to me is unmovable despite the circumstance I am in.
B. In the last clause of the psalm, we find the yearning of David's soul.
1. Included in the word dwell is the idea of return.
2. David is yearning for the appointed worship of the Lord at his house.
3. Sure God is presence with him in very real way in the wilderness.
4. But there is something about the appointed, corporate worship of God that cannot be found anywhere else.
Conclusion
David's shepherd is our shepherd and what David describes in psalm 23 is true for us as well. The Lord Jesus is our shepherd who purchased us by his own blood.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-goodness-of-god-ps-23.html
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