The 23rd Psalm is one of the most well known and often used passages of Scripture. I have been asked to read it in nearly every funeral that I have preached and even used a version of the Psalm written specifically for bikers. But while the passage often brings images of comfort and peace to our minds its full meaning is often lost because we do not fully understand the culture and circumstances of its writing.
Most likely this Psalm was written while, then King David, was waiting for news from the battlefront. His son Absalom had attempted a coup and were, at the moment this Psalm was penned, fighting David's men for control of Israel. It was perhaps the darkest time of David's life. And that is saying something!
But let's look a little closer at this Psalm.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Sheep are not the smartest animals. They required a shepherd in those days to protect them (sheep will stand by and watch as one of their flock gets eaten by wolves instead of scattering for safety) and to lead them to water and green grass for food. The sheep would starve or die of thirst without the shepherd, especially in the harsh surroundings of that area. David is stating in this first verse a truth, God is his shepherd and he is trusting God to take care of him.
He makes me lie down in green pastures...
Have you ever considered why the shepherd had to "make" the sheep lie down in the pasture? Often times a wayward sheep would not stay with the flock and after many attempts by the shepherd to help the sheep learn to stay put, and many rescues when the sheep would run off, the shepherd would break the wandering sheep's leg in order to "make" it lie down with the rest of the sheep. The shepherd would then have to carry the sheep everywhere they went and the sheep would learn to trust the shepherd completely. David knew what it meant to be broken by God in order to learn to trust Him completely.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me;
David had seen more than his fair share of these dark valleys. Pursued by King Saul for many years, afraid for his life, yet learning to trust God who was his protector. David had learned that no matter how dark things got he did not have to fear evil because God had always been with him. Like the shepherd who lay down his life for the sheep, God had always fought for David. There was no need to fear, God would provide.
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
The shepherd's rod was a shorter stick, fashioned with care, and would often have a small ball at one end. It was plucked and shaped with the root part still attached to achieve this rod that was used for discipline and protection. The sheep knew the sound of the rod as it whistled through the air and they knew what it meant. The rod was used to protect the sheep against predators and the shepherd was deadly accurate to hit snakes with the ball end. David most likely remembered fighting the bear and lion using in his hands the rod that he carried.
The staff served a different purpose. It was used to guide, comfort and retrieve the sheep. Unlike the shorter, stouter rod, the staff was long and slender with a crook or hook at the end. The hook was used to get the sheep out of trouble to retrieve them safely if they had fallen among other things. The staff was also long enough that it served to guide the sheep as they walked. The shepherd could stretch out the staff and gently nudge the sheep in the right direction. He could also use the staff to pull sheep close to him for careful examination.
The rod and staff were the shepherds greatest tools for discipline, protection, guidance and comfort. David saw God in all of these areas and the discipline as well as guidance were an equal comfort to him.
Prepare a table... anoint my head... my cup overflows
David fully expected God to once again fight for him. Though his heart went out to Absalom, his son, David had always been victorious in battle and surely expected that God would bring him victory over his enemies. After all, if was David's head that the prophet of God had anointed with oil all those years ago. David was God's chosen man. And he had been blessed by God. As David looked over his life with all the ups and downs he could not help but realize that God had caused his cup to overflow with blessing.
The 23rd Psalm has been well used while perhaps not being completely understood. Like a good shepherd God will at times bring sorrow and even pain into our lives by way of discipline, but it is always for out good. God never brings pain for the sake of pain - he is not cruel but loving. In this way even his rod of punishment is an instrument of grace, bringing correction so that further sin and perhaps death would be avoided. When God is leading our lives we do not need to fear the difficulties that come, we can trust that God will lead us through, gently correcting and diligently protecting. In the end, our lives will overflow with goodness and lovingkindness no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in.
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