The Gospel in the 23rd Psalm
David K. Brillhart, January 2023
Psalms 23
The LORD, the Psalmist’s Shepherd.
A PSALM OF DAVID.
1 The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. NASB
The 23rd Psalm is probably the best known of all the Psalms. I’m sure I’m just one of many children that memorized this in Sunday School at a young age. But having learned it at such a young age, I didn't really think about what it means. So then, let us put aside some preconceived notions and take a fresh look at the 23rd psalm.
I was thinking this week about the Psalms and the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels. If we think about both together we may be able to imagine how Jesus might have been influenced by this psalm and how his teachings are an expansion of this familiar psalm. Certainly Jesus was familiar with the Psalms as they are read every sabbath in synagogue. What themes from this Psalm might we find in Jesus teaching?
First of all, have you ever though of Psalm 23 as one of the Messianic Psalms? It’s not normally thought of as such in the same way that Psalm 22 is, but if you think about it, there are some gospel themes foreshadowed by this psalm. Lets take a close look.
- The Lord is my shepherd
In writing this psalm, King David was likely thinking back to his own experience as a shepherd, but the inspiration of the Spirit gave him a vision of the coming shepherd that would be the ultimate shepherd. Let us look at what Jesus said about himself as the good shepherd:
John 10:11-17
11 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again.
King David knew a thing or two about a shepherd putting his life on the line for his sheep. In 1 Samuel 17:34 we see the story of where the young David tells King Saul of how he was able to rescue his sheep from the lion and the bear. But in looking forward to the coming of the good shepherd we see a foreshadowing of a shepherd that will not only put his life on the line for his sheep, but a shepherd who will actually die to save the sheep. Messiah Jesus is that good shepherd. He laid his life down for us so that he could take it up again!
John 21:16
16 He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.”
In like manner, Jesus instructed Peter to shepherd his sheep. Thus, Peter, and all subsequent pastors are to follow the example of Jesus and shepherd the sheep of the Kingdom, caring for them and protecting them as their first priority. This applies to full time pastors, but it also applies to fathers, mothers and other caretakers that have a responsibility to care (shepherd) for the little ones in their care.
2. I shall not want
1… I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
How worried are the sheep with a good shepherd? Jesus has an answer for that in Matthew 6 of how worried they should be.
Matthew 6:31-34
31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Luke 12:22-29
22 And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! 25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? 26 If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.
The good shepherd knows what you need and provides “green pastures”. It’s not the job of the sheep to worry about what he will eat or what he will wear. The good shepherd provides these things… “I shall not want”.
The good shepherd also leads us to a quiet place (beside quiet waters). It is surely true that “Each day has enough trouble of its own”, but the Lord admonishes us not to worry about them, but to trust Him to care for all our needs. Instead, it is good to sit by still waters and let the peace of the Lord overwhelm us.
Our family always tries to get to the beach once a year. We have a favorite spot which is quiet and where you can enjoy just watching the surf roll in. It’s good to take time out to just let the calm waters quiet our soul and appreciate the goodness of the Lord!
3. He restores my soul
Psalms 23:3
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
This leads us directly into the thought in verse 3; peace and righteousness. What does Jesus say about our soul and paths of righteousness?
Matthew 22:37-38
37 And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment.
What is the purpose of a restored soul? It is to love the Lord with everything that is within it! Jesus restates the greatest commandment to love the Lord with all your heart and the second commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. Following those instructions will indeed restore your soul and lead you in paths of righteousness.
And what about guidance? After Jesus came, we have a special shepherd to guide us.
John 16:13
13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
Jesus, the good shepherd, has provided us with the Holy Spirit to guide us in paths of righteousness. Indeed, He will guide us into all truth; all things that the Father wants to speak to us, “for His name’s sake”. So let us remember to seek that quiet place, beside still waters, where we may more clearly hear the voice of our shepherd, though the power of the Holy Spirit.
4. The Valley of Death
Psalms 23:4
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, prophesied in Luke 1 about the one who would come to lead us though the valley of death to a place of peace:
Luke 1:67 , 79
Zacharias’s Prophecy
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying:
...
79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Matthew 4:14, 16-17
14 This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
...
16 “THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT,
AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH,
UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED.”
17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Perhaps there is no fear greater than the fear of death. When I was very young, my Grandfather Brillhart died suddenly from a stoke. At such a young age, it was incomprehensible to me how I could face the valley of the shadow of death without fear. This psalm was a consolation to me then, even though I would not understand it for many years.
Now that I am older (some say very old), I have more perspective on this verse. I have seen many loved one travel though this valley, and mercifully, most of them had faith in Jesus and and were able to make the final journey in peace, because the good shepherd was with them all the way.
Psalms 116:15
Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
Do you find it difficult to find peace in the valley of the shadow of death? The only way to find peace in the face of death is though the gospel of the kingdom of God. This is the gospel that Jesus preached and is the only way to find peace with God.
John 5:24
24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
John 8:51
51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.”
The promise of eternal life with Jesus is the answer to facing the fear of death. The assurance that the good shepherd will be with us, even as we pass through the valley of the shadow of death, is the greatest comfort that there is. This is our eternal hope.
But also note that this verse doesn’t necessarily talk only about physical death but “the valley of the shadow of death”. There are many things in life that can cause us to be afraid. Many forms of evil attack us in this life. Like a child walking through the woods, often the shadow is more fearful than the thing itself. I remember many times walking through the trees and seeing some shadow or hearing some sound that frightened me. Usually it was just an owl or some other harmless night creature, but that didn’t make the experience any less frightful! Jesus teaches us not to fear these evil things, but to trust in Him.
Matthew 10:28
28 Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 12:5-7
5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.
The good shepherd protects us with his rod and staff. The rod was a heavy stick that was a weapon to strike the enemy. Perhaps this is what David used on the lion and the bear. The staff is the shepherd’s crook that is used to guide the sheep and may be used to pull them away from danger. Lord help us to respond to the gentle nudge from the staff and not have to be pulled back by the crook end!
Jesus doesn’t speak much about the rod and staff other than to tell his disciples to take a staff when traveling for ministry.
Mark 6:8
8 and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt—
Lk 9:3
Their task was to shepherd the sheep, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and they were to rely solely on the Lord for their protection and sustenance. Thus the shepherd’s staff was sufficient for the job at hand. (Though Simon Peter seems to have kept a sword handy, just in case! Lk 22:36-38, John 10:18)
5. Prepare a Table
Psalms 23:5
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
The imagery here is of the shepherd clearing the high plateau, or table, for the summer grazing. The plateau had to be cleared of noxious weeds and predators before it was safe for the sheep to come up the mountain. The enemies such as fox and lions might still be in the surrounding hills, but the shepherd was keeping watch so that the sheep could eat in safety, without worry. We can go back to Matthew 6 to recall what Jesus said about worrying about food and drink:
Matthew 6:25a
25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.
Remember how Jesus fed the 5,000:
Mark 6:41
41 And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all.
The good shepherd is able to provide for us even in seemingly impossible situations; in the presence of your enemies, if you will. And more importantly, Jesus himself is the bread of life so He is our provision in all things.
John 6:32-35
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.
We are to remember this bread and this cup every time we celebrate the Lord’s supper.
Matthew 26:26-29
The Lord’s Supper Instituted
While they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and after a blessing, He broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27 And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”
In the psalm, the cup overflowed with blessing, but in Jesus ministry he tells us that His cup also contains some suffering that must be overcome.
Matthew 26:39
39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Mark 10:38-40
38 But Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 They said to Him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you shall drink; and you shall be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. 40 But to sit on My right or on My left, this is not Mine to give; but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.”
Jesus embraced this cup, in the presence of His enemy, death, and overcame it for all believers. Like the disciples, we may also have a cup of hardships, but through faith in Jesus we can overcome, becoming victorious over our enemies in all things.
6. Anoint my head
Psalms 23:5b
… You have anointed my head with oil;
The anointing oil was a salve for the sheep. It protected against insect pests and southed any bites and scratches. In like manner, Jesus anoints us with the oil of the Holy Spirit to empower us to overcome our adversaries.
Mark 1:8
8 I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
This anointing will teach us all things and will be a salve that brings us peace.
John 14:26-28
26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. 28 You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.
The anointing of the Holy Spirit is the power to go forth and complete the mission that He has given us.
Acts 1:8
but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Therefore, the table, anointing and cup are not only for our own sustenance, but give us the ability to reach out to the world and extend the Kingdom of God to all people.
7. Goodness and Mercy
Psalms 23:6
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
The grand benediction to the 23rd psalm exhorts to bless the Lord, who’s goodness and love are always with us. The good shepherd guides, protects and provides for us, but always out of love. This love is not only a blessing the the sheep, but a sign that they are truly members of His flock.
John 15:9-11
9 Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The most amazing thing about this love is that is everlasting. How can we comprehend a love so great that it never ends!
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”
Let us close with this thought then, that we have a good shepherd who cares for us as no other can. King David eloquently described the task of a shepherd, remembering his own youth in the hill with his father’s sheep, and also looking forward to when a greater shepherd would come. This Son of David would be the Good Shepherd, Jesus the Messiah. By accepting Jesus as our shepherd and savior, It is our blessing and privilege to “dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
No comments:
Post a Comment