Commentary on Psalm 23:1-5 - A Shepherd's Guidance

Psalm 23:1-5 - A Shepherd's Guidance

The Psalm 23, a renowned biblical passage, begins with the affirmation, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1, YLT) ^[1]. This psalm is a testament to God's providential care, using the metaphor of a shepherd to describe His relationship with His people.

Literary Context

Psalm 23 is part of a collection of psalms (Psalms 23-28) that emphasize the importance of integrity, God's shepherding care, guidance, goodness, and living in His house ^[5]. The psalm itself is a beautiful expression of trust and confidence in the Lord, evoking images of the Good Shepherd and the messianic banquet (Ezekiel 34:12; John 10:11; Isaiah 25:6; Revelation 19) ^[5].

Historical Setting

The historical setting of Psalm 23 is attributed to David, who likely wrote it during a period of distress or when he was settled upon the throne of Israel ^[6]. The imagery of a shepherd was familiar to David, given his experience as a shepherd before becoming king.

Key Terms and Exegetical Decisions

The term "shepherd" is a significant metaphor in biblical literature, representing the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to His people (Psalm 80:1; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 25:34, 35; John 10:11, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4) ^[3]. The phrase "The Lord is my shepherd" is understood by some to refer to Jehovah the Son, Jesus Christ, who is often depicted as the Good Shepherd ^[9].

The psalmist's declaration that "I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1) is inferred from God's role as his shepherd. This inference is based on the shepherd's duties, which include providing for, guiding, and protecting the sheep ^{[2, 4]}.

Range of Interpretations

Interpreters across various traditions have understood Psalm 23:1-5 as a testament to God's care and provision. Matthew Henry notes that the psalm teaches us to encourage ourselves in the Lord our God, based on His relation to us and our experience of His goodness ^[8]. John Gill interprets "The Lord is my shepherd" as referring to Jehovah the Son, emphasizing Christ's role as the Shepherd who knows, guides, and provides for His sheep ^[9].

The imagery of the shepherd is rich in biblical symbolism. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights various aspects of the shepherd's role, including guiding, feeding, and protecting the sheep, which are reflected in Psalm 23:2-5 ^[2]. The psalm's depiction of God as a shepherd has been a source of comfort and confidence for believers throughout history.

Function in Tradition

Psalm 23 has been a favorite among God's people for generations, offering assurance of God's presence in adversity ^[5]. Its imagery has influenced Christian thought and liturgy, with Christ's relation to His people often represented by the figure of a shepherd (John 10:14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4) ^[7].

The psalm's themes of guidance, provision, and protection are echoed in various biblical passages and have shaped Christian understanding of God's care for His people. As Jamieson, Fausset & Brown note, the psalm describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance ^[7].

The enduring appeal of Psalm 23 lies in its powerful portrayal of God's loving care, making it a cherished passage for believers across traditions and centuries. The psalm's imagery continues to inspire confidence in God's presence and provision, even in the face of adversity.

Sources

Psalms “Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. -- Psalms 23:1”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, the Shepherd — Foretold -- Ge 49:24; Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; 37:24. The chief -- 1Pe 5:4. The good -- Joh 10:11,14. The great -- Mic 5:4; Heb 13:20. His sheep He knows. -- Joh 10:14,27. He calls. -- Joh 10:3. He gathers. -- Isa 40:11; Joh 10:16. He guides. -- Ps 23:3; Joh 10:3,4. He feeds. -- Ps 23:1,2; Joh 10:9. He cherishes tenderly. -- Isa 40:11. He protects and preserves. -- Jer 31:10; Eze 34:10; Zec 9:16; Joh 10:28. He laid down his life for. -- Zec 13:7; Mt 26:31; Joh 10:11,15; Ac 20:28. He gives eternal life to. -- Joh 10:28. Typified David. -- 1Sa 16:11”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Shepherd — A word naturally of frequent occurence in Scripture. Sometimes the word "pastor" is used instead (Jer. 2:8; 3:15; 10:21; 12:10; 17:16). This word is used figuratively to represent the relation of rulers to their subjects and of God to his people (Ps. 23:1; 80:1; Isa. 40:11; 44:28; Jer. 25:34, 35; Nahum 3:18; John 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25; 5:4). The duties of a shepherd in an unenclosed country like Palestine were very onerous. "In early morning he led forth the flock from the fold, marching at its head to the spot where they were to be pastured. ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Shepherds — Early mention of -- Ge 4:2. Usually carried a scrip or bag -- 1Sa 17:40. Carried a staff or rod -- Le 27:32; Ps 23:4. Dwelt in tents while tending their flocks -- Song 1:8; Isa 38:12. Members of the family both male and female acted as -- Ge 29:6; 1Sa 16:11; 17:15. Had hired keepers under them -- 1Sa 17:20. The unfaithfulness of hireling, alluded to -- Joh 10:12. Care of the sheep by, exhibited in Knowing them. -- Joh 10:14. Going before and leading them. -- Ps 77:20; 78:52; 80:1. Seeking out good pasture for them. -- 1Ch 4:39-41; Ps 23:2. Numbering them ”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 23:1: Pss 23–28 These psalms develop the importance of integrity (25:4-7, 12-14, 21; 26:6, 11; 27:7-12), God’s shepherding care (23:1; 28:9), God’s guidance (23:2-3; 25:5; 27:11), God’s goodness (23:6; 25:7-8; 27:13), and living in his house (23:6; 26:8; 27:4, 8). Ps 23 This psalm of trust and confidence in the Lord has been a favorite of God’s people for generations. It expresses assurance of God’s presence in the midst of adversity. It evokes images of the Good Shepherd (23:1-3; see Ezek 34:12; John 10:11) and of the messianic banquet (Ps 23:5-6; see Isa 25:6; Rev 19:”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 23 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 23 A Psalm of David. Thus psalm was written by David, either when he was in distressed circumstances, being persecuted by Saul, and was in the forest of Hareth, Sa1 22:5; as some think (r); wherefore he comforts himself with the Lord's being his shepherd, so that he should not want; nor would he fear, was he in worse circumstances than he at present was; or rather, when he was settled upon the throne of Israel, and in the most prosperous and flourishing state of his reign, as the latter part of the psalm shows; he speaks not in his”
Psalms (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Psalms 23 (introduction): Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor. (Psa 23:1-6) Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; Heb 13:20; Pe1 2:25; Pe1 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Gen 48:15; Psa 80:1; Isa 40:11, is not without some good reason.”
Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 23:1: From three very comfortable premises David, in this psalm, draws three very comfortable conclusions, and teaches us to do so too. We are saved by hope, and that hope will not make us ashamed, because it is well grounded. It is the duty of Christians to encourage themselves in the Lord their God; and we are here directed to take that encouragement both from the relation wherein he stands to us and from the experience we have had of his goodness according to that relation. I. From God's being his shepherd he infers that he shall not want anything that is good for hi”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 23:1: The Lord is my shepherd,.... This is to be understood not of Jehovah the Father, and of his feeding the people of Israel in the wilderness, as the Targum paraphrases it, though the character of a shepherd is sometimes given to him, Psa 77:20; but of Jehovah the Son, to whom it is most frequently ascribed, Gen 49:24. This office he was called and appointed to by his Father, and which through his condescending grace he undertook to execute, and for which he is abundantly qualified; being omniscient, and so knows all his sheep and their maladies, where to find them, what”

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