The Lord Is My Shepherd: A Reflection on Psalm 23
Sheep are unattractive creatures. They’re witless, defenseless, easily frightened, and unclean by nature. King David knew this by experience, for as a boy he cared for sheep in all kinds of weather, defending them against the lion and the bear (1 Sam. 17:34, 37). He counted each by name as they ambled into the fold at night, and he slept by the door so that none would stray. He searched for any lost sheep and nursed the injured ones to health.
Yet David—the shepherd king of Israel—knew he was cared for by an even greater Shepherd. Thus, Psalm 23 becomes a fitting picture of our Lord Jesus Christ—the Shepherd King who offers abundant life (John 10:10–15, 27) and guides his flock today (1 Pet. 5:4; Heb. 13:20). As we gaze on our Good Shepherd through the eyes of a sheep, we can find comfort in his provision, protection, and promises for eternity.
The Abundant Life (vv. 1–2)
David begins by meditating on Yahweh as the covenant God of Israel: “The LORD is my shepherd” (v. 1a). God’s personal name affirms the unbreakable promises he has made to his beloved people. It declares his unchanging nature, all-sufficient power, and eternality (Exod. 3:14). God’s covenant name links his people from generations past to generations future. For David does not trust in pagan gods who may or may not answer but in Yahweh alone as his Good Shepherd. He refuses to stray from the ever-present God who loves him with a steadfast love.
So also, with the Lord as our Good Shepherd we will never be in need (Ps. 23:1b). He knows the greenest pastures and makes us lie down whenever our fears keep us up at night or the “flies” of negative thinking buzz about our heads (v. 2a). Our Lord soothes us whenever conflict hinders our relationships with other sheep or the worries of life plague his stubborn flock. In kindness, he provides the food of his Word (Matt. 6:11) and leads us “beside still waters” (Ps. 23:2b). Like a wise shepherd who tosses stones in the river to slow its current, our Lord ministers life-giving water at a pace we each can handle. With every sip, we drink of his nourishment for the difficult road ahead (John 4:13–14).
The Righteous Life (v. 3)
David further exults, “He restores my soul” (Ps. 23:3a).
Likewise, our Good Shepherd seeks us when we lose our way (Luke 15:4–7) and revives his fallen sheep to life (Ps. 19:7a). When we’ve rolled onto our backs, our short legs flailing, unable to right ourselves, he flips us on our feet by bringing us to repentance (Ps. 51). He forgives our sin and returns us to the fold (Prov. 28:13). As sheep are notoriously stupid (Isa. 53:6a), any wrong turn might lead to death. So our Lord directs us “in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Ps. 23:3b). His reputation depends on how faithfully he guides his sheep (Ezek. 36:22–36).
The Protected Life (v. 4)
Our Good Shepherd also accompanies those whom he protects: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Ps. 23:4a–b). Israel’s rugged terrain made it necessary to travel down steep-sided valleys cast in darkness. Seasonal torrents released flash floods and wild animals lurked in the shadows. Yet shepherds led their sheep through these ravines to avoid the scorching desert.
In like manner, our Lord allows us to face certain perils without always explaining why. We must trust him to go before us and scout out enemies or identify hazards. We are often most aware of our Shepherd’s presence in the valley of death’s shadow (46:1), as the very God who made this world now walks along beside us. We fix our eyes on him as we face the evils of this fallen world.
Sheep cannot rely on themselves for strength. Instead, we claim like David, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (23:4c). The rod was a wooden cudgel the shepherd hurled at wild beasts (e.g., 1 Sam. 17:35), while the staff was a crooked walking stick to pry sheep loose from thickets, nudge them along the narrow paths, push aside any thorny branches, or drive off venomous snakes. With rod and staff, our Shepherd leads us, protecting us from our enemies and often from ourselves.
Yet there was once a time when even that was not enough. As Isaiah prophesied, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth” (Isa. 53:6–7). Centuries before Jesus ever walked the earth, Scripture foretold that the Good Shepherd would be struck on behalf of his wayward sheep (Zech. 13:7; see Matt. 26:31). He would die for the sins of many and become like a lamb himself “that is led to the slaughter.” He would stay silent before his accusers and trust his Father to the point of death. Instead of lifting his rod against his enemies, he would perish willingly on a cross (1 Pet. 2:21–25).
Today, as we walk through the valley of death’s shadow, our fears threaten to ward off life abundant. Yet the God who loves us will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5b). Instead, he sent his Son to die for us and to lead us through the greenest of pastures and the darkest of valleys. Our Shepherd Savior went before us to bear the brunt of danger and he showed us, by example, how to fear no evil as we walk with him.
The Faith-Filled Life (vv. 5–6)
Our Good Shepherd then honors the faith-filled life as David proclaims him to be a Gracious Host: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Ps. 23:5). As a king, David honors his important guests, yet here he is a guest in the house of his God. Though surrounded by his enemies, David is a friend at the Lord’s banqueting table. He receives the soothing oil of spiritual refreshment and the cup of wine to quench his thirst (104:15).
This “table in the wilderness” also refers back to God’s faithfulness in the exodus when Moses, another shepherd, led his people out of Egypt. Moses had taken his staff to confront the enemy king: “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness’” (Exod. 5:1). Yahweh then delivered his covenant people from Egypt and prepared for them a table in the presence of their enemies. He led them through a parted sea toward safety in a land of green pastures (15:13; Ps. 77:20).
After remembering this exodus, David looks forward in hope to God’s eternal promises: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (23:6). Just as the Egyptians pursued Israel, God’s abundant goodness and covenant mercies will chase his people like relentless sheepdogs until we rest in him (27:4). Even if we tried to escape, nothing could ever snatch us from our Savior’s sovereign hand (John 10:29). His love pulls harder than our wayward hearts.
Then one day, Christ’s redeemed will worship him eternally before the throne (Rev. 7:15–16), “for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (v. 17). God’s flock will dwell forever with the Lamb who reigns as Shepherd King and celebrate around his banqueting table (19:9b). We will endlessly delight in his glorious presence and no longer experience suffering, sickness, tears, or death (21:4).
Therefore, as we walk through the valleys of this present life, we can look back in faith to God’s protection and also forward in hope to God’s eternal promises. We all once strayed as stupid, helpless, dirty sheep who were destined for the slaughter. Yet our Good Shepherd became a Lamb who died for us to make us honored guests in his eternal kingdom. What a Savior and Shepherd! What a King! What glorious promises are these!
Tom Sugimura serves as a pastor, church planting mentor, and professor of biblical counseling. He writes at tomsugi.com, ministers the gospel at New Life Church, and hosts the Every Peoples Podcast. He and his wife are raising their four kids in Southern California and share their stories in Hope for New Dads: 40 Days in the Book of Proverbs.