The Shepherd and The Sheep. Psalm 23:1-6

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1 1 Commentary by Clyde M. Miller Questions by John C. Sewell The Shepherd and The Sheep Psalm 23:1-6

2 2 Text: Psalm 23:1-6, The Shepherd and The Sheep 1. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in 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 paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will 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 anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (NIV) Introduction: I. Psalm 23 can be classified as a psalm of trust. A. These psalms come out of a background of trouble experienced or anticipated. B. Scholars differ on the number of psalms to be classified as psalms of trust, but 11, 16, 23, 27, 62, 63 and 131, are generally so classified. We will also include Psalm 139. II. In these psalms great confidence in God may cause the element of lament and possibly of petition to take a secondary place, or to disappear altogether. A. This is characteristic of Psalm 23.

3 3 B. The problem is still present (cf. vv. 4 and 5), but is greatly diminished. 1. Psalm 23:4, 5, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (NIV) III. Psalm 23 is best structured in two paragraphs. A. The first paragraph (vv. 1-4) enumerates provisions and protection granted by God. 1. Psalm 23:1-4, The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (NIV) B. The second paragraph (vv. 5-6) praises God for present and anticipated blessings (v. 5a), and consequently concludes (v.6) with a summary statement of extreme trust. 1. Psalm 23:5, 6, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (NIV) IV. Verses 1-3 employ the third person to speak about God, while verses 4-5 address God in the second person.

4 4 A. Verse 6 is a summary statement concluding the whole psalm. Commentary: God s provisions and protection (vv. 1-4) Psalm 23:1-4, The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (NIV) I. In the Old Testament, God is frequently designated as a shepherd (Psalm 74:1; 77:20; 78:52; Isaiah 40:11 and others). A. Psalm 74:1, Why have you rejected us forever, O God? Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture? (NIV) B. Psalm 77:20, You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (NIV) C. Psalm 78:52, But he brought his people out like a flock; he led them like sheep through the desert. (NIV) D. Isaiah 40:11, Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me. (NIV) II. In the New Testament, Christ is designated as the good shepherd (John 10:11, 14).

5 5 A. John 10:11, 14, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me (NIV) III. A shepherd feeds, guides, protects and generally cares for his sheep. A. These are also actions of God. B. Want, in most versions (v. 1b, chasar), would be more clearly paraphrased be in want. (NIV) C. The word does not mean desire, but refers to being in need. D. Still/quiet waters are waters undisturbed or not turbulent. 1. Sheep will not drink from rapidly flowing waters, only from those gently flowing or not flowing at all. E. Soul here and frequently elsewhere means life (v. 3a). F. The phrase paths of righteousness (v. 3b) is literally right paths (NRSV). G. Paths metaphorically refers to a way of life. IV. Verse 4 changes from a consideration of God s provisions to a discussion of His protection. A. Shadow of death (v. 4a, tsalmawet) could be emended to deep darkness (tsalmuth) by changing one vowel (cf. NIV n., the darkest valley ). 1. The Hebrew Bible was originally consonantal; the vowels were added by man.

6 6 B. The rod was a club for defense, and the staff was the shepherd s crook upon which he leaned. God s hospitality (vv. 5-6). Psalm 23:5, 6, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (NIV) I. The word shulchan table (v. 5a) has been variantly interpreted. A. If it refers to the leather canvass on which the shepherd would spread fodder or give medical attention to a wounded sheep, the metaphor of the shepherd with his sheep is retained. B. Some think, however, that the banquet table is under consideration and that the metaphor in verse 5 is that of a host at a banquet. C. The second interpretation is suggested by some as a reference to anointing the head with oil (v. 5b). 1. This could refer to a host at the banquet table. 2. It could, however, as well refer to pouring oil on the head of a wounded sheep. D. In the presence of my enemies suggests that protection from danger rather than banqueting is under consideration here. II. Verse 6 is best understood as a summary conclusion to the whole psalm.

7 7 A. It is structured in external alternating progressive parallelism, involving four lines of poetry. 1. Lines a and c are related as cause and effect. a. Because of God s goodness and love, he will dwell in the house of the Lord. i. Mercy (6a, KJV, RSV, NRSV) is better rendered here loving kindness (NASB), Love (NIV) or love unfailing (NEB). ii. Love translates chesedh, the basic meaning of which is covenant loyalty. iii. The word also carries the connotation of constant or enduring love or loving kindness. 2. Lines b and d are synonymous. a. For ever (v. 6a) is literally for length of days (cf. NRSV, my whole life long ), and is synonymous to all the days of my life (v. 6b). b. House (v. 6c) is here a metaphor of blessing and is a complement of the presence of God s goodness and love (v. 6a). c. The psalmist is here expressing his confident anticipation of an abundant life consequent upon God s filling his cup (v. 5b) to overflowing. B. The metaphors of this psalm are meant to be understood as spiritual blessings from God.

8 8 Application. I. Regardless of one s financial situation, social status, or treatment by one s fellowmen, spiritual blessings will attend the person who lives according to the will of God (cf. 1 Peter 1:3-9). A. 1 Peter 1:3-9, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (NIV)

9 9 Questions Psalm 23:1-6 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. The is my, I shall not be in. 2. He makes me to in, he leads me beside, he my. 3. He me in of for his s. 4. Even though through the of the of, will no, for are with ; your and your, they. 5. a before in the of my. my with ; my. 6. Surely and will the of and will in the of the.

10 Psalm 23 can be classified as a of which psalms come out of a background of or. 8. List other psalms which can be classified as being in this same category. 9. In these psalms, in may cause the element of and possibly of to take a, or to altogether. 10. How can Psalm 23 best be structured? What does each enumerate?_ 11. Verses 1-3 employ the to speak about, while verses 4, 5 address in the. Verse 6 is a the. 12. Give examples of God s being designated as a shepherd in the Old Testament.

11 What is said in the New Testament about Christ under the figure a shepherd? 14. A., and generally for his. There are also of. 15. Define the following words/phrases as they are used in Psalm 23: (1) Want (2) Silent/quiet waters (3) Soul (4) Paths of righteousness 16. will not from, only from those or not at all. 17. Verse 4 changes from a of s to a of His. 18. Explain the use of consonants and vowels in the Hebrew Bible. Why and by whom were vowels added?

12 Explain the use of the following words/phrases in Psalm 23. (1) shadow of death (2) rod/staff 20. What is meant by shulcham? To what does it refer? Explain verse How is verse 6 structured? Explain what this means. 22. Explain the meaning of the following words and their use in Psalm 23: (1) goodness (2) love (3) mercy (4) forever (5) house 23. The of this psalm are meant to be understood as from God.

13 What is the application of this psalm s teaching? 25. What does 1 Peter 1:3-9 say and mean? How does this passage relate to Psalm 23?