Psalm 23 is one of the most popular and beloved psalms in the Bible. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet it’s more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza.
Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. He took care of and protected flocks of sheep, and he wrote this psalm describing God as a shepherd and God’s people as His flock.
Through this beautiful metaphor, Psalm 23 gives us invaluable insights into the character of God and His plan for His children.
God is Our Caring Provider
1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Verses 1 and 2 explain how God is like a shepherd who provides and cares for His sheep. We have need of nothing because our Shepherd provides everything. We can rest and relax knowing that God is taking care of us. With God leading us, we experience peace and provision.
Now understand—sheep are not the smartest animals, so they need someone to take care of them, protect them, and even correct them. Sheep need guidance to safe pastures, and we too need a Shepherd to guide us to safety and lead us to provision.
Sometimes we think we know better than the Shepherd; we’re sure that we can take care of ourselves, but we really can’t.
In Mark 6:34, Jesus compared the people to sheep: “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.” Obviously, shepherd-less sheep are not a good thing; likewise, we need Jesus to be our Shepherd.
God Cares for us Spiritually
3He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Our Shepherd cares for us, and He is able to restore our souls.
Our soul is comprised of our mind, will, and emotions. There’s not one person on the planet who hasn’t experienced some pain, disappointment or grief in their soul. But the good news is this: our Shepherd cares for us, and He is able to restore our souls. He restores and heals our minds and emotions, renewing and strengthening our very lives!
Our Shepherd also leads us in the right way. In John 10:27, Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” When we submit to His will and His way, we can be sure that He’ll guide us along the path that is best for us. And for the sake of His name and His glory, He guides our wills to line up with His.
God Protects Us
4Yea, 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.
Sheep are pretty helpless animals, unable to defend themselves. Without a shepherd to protect and guide them, sheep are easy targets for predators. Additionally, because they are dumb, sheep wander off and get lost, putting themselves in great danger.
Shepherds often risked their own lives to rescue their sheep. They carried a rod and staff to protect and correct their sheep; they beat off any beast trying to attack, and they prodded sheep who were going the wrong way to steer them back to safety.
It’s the same with us: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). Sometimes we wander off and get into trouble, but we can trust that God cares for us and will protect and guide us if we’ll allow Him to.
When we go through difficult times, we don’t need to be afraid because we know that our Shepherd is with us in the midst of it. We can take comfort that he protects and guides us with His rod and staff, walking with us in the darkest of valleys. Even when faced with death, we don’t need to be afraid.
God Blesses Us
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
There’s no way around this: God actually honors and blesses us right in front of our enemies! That’s right! He shows off by abundantly blessing us before the very ones who want to see us fall! We don’t have to worry about what others say or think about us because we know that God has our backs and that serving Him is never for nothing.
He will never fail us, and He’ll make sure that justice prevails. After all, “If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Romans 8:31). We can be sure that God’s goodness and mercy will pursue us every single day when we allow Him to shepherd us. With God’s love and goodness overtaking us, we can dwell in His presence every day until we finally spend eternity with Him.
Jesus Christ, Our Good Shepherd
In John 10:11, Jesus declared, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” He was clearly referring to the fact that He was giving His life to save us, His sheep.
Jesus was the Shepherd who became a sheep. Isaiah 53 is full of Messianic scriptures describing what the Messiah would be like. Verse 7b says, “He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” God the Father sent His Son Jesus to become the final blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind.
“John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” (John 1:29). Thank God for the Good Shepherd who became the perfect, sacrificial Lamb of God, removing our sin, guilt, and shame and making us right with our Heavenly Father!
~ by Jennell Houts
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Comments(29)
Jackie says
April 29, 2016 at 1:15 pmThe Lord is my Shepard ! So. True.
Zoe says
June 7, 2023 at 1:03 amWhat chief shepherd we have.
Am blessed. Thank you
Bob says
June 12, 2023 at 9:19 pmWe are studying the 23rd Psalm in Men’s Bible Study…… now I understand the importance of this Psalm. It has everything !
Samarpan Thorat says
May 14, 2017 at 4:27 amVery nice explanation on Psalm 23 .
God bless you.
Jimmy Ledesma Jr says
March 11, 2018 at 4:08 amHow can I share this on my Facebook page for all my friends to read?
Gunakumar Lagashu says
February 9, 2022 at 11:14 pmVery nice ❤️
Eulalia says
June 8, 2018 at 5:15 amSo true…..what a beautiful promise that Jesus gave us..He is our Shepherd, we dont have to fear anything for He is with us.Even though we go through the valley of death.
Thank you Lord for Psalm23.
Praise You Jesus
Amen.
Nanise Raco says
July 2, 2018 at 11:18 pmPraise the Lord I want to thank God for his love .He is a good sherpard to all of us who are sinners.
Nanise Raco says
July 2, 2018 at 11:21 pmPraise the Lord for his love for us.He is a good sherperd who always take care of his sheep.Thank you Lord for your mercy for us the sinners.
Hannah says
July 31, 2019 at 8:18 amI have read this a few times before but this has touched me alot. I have a friend who is an unbeliever. This is a beautiful picture to share with him. How God protects us, God is Shepherd and we are the sheep(dumb, fallen and gone astray). That the good Shepherd protects us and saves us by diying on the cross.
Nicholas Sedeya says
March 27, 2020 at 7:08 amVery well explained. May Our Lord Jesus, The Good Shepherd give us more insight of the Word God so that we can share with others. Good bless you.
Theresa Jessica D'Souza says
December 11, 2022 at 12:00 amVery small psalm but of great significance. God’s blessings and protection always surround us providing we “the sheep “allow the Divine Shepherd king to lead us. Amen
Cyrus DeVinney says
April 20, 2020 at 3:27 pmWow
Niko says
May 5, 2020 at 2:10 amThank you, a plain and simple translation of our Faithful and Loving Shepherd.
Beautiful Testimony.
God bless you.
Pastor Eben says
May 7, 2020 at 2:29 pmWaow this is wonderfully explain
Eniola Olakunle-olubiyi says
May 20, 2020 at 2:48 amI’ve been tremendously blessed by this explanation. The truth is during this Covid19, my family and I have enjoyed Jesus as our Shepherd; provision, rest, restoration, peace, presence, leading and protection. It’s been am amazing time for us. As I dwelt on how God has been so good to us, my mind went to Psalm 23 and that’s how I landed on your page. I guess God led me here🙂. God bless you and grsnt you more insight into His word in Jesus name, amen.
Luis Jasso says
August 20, 2020 at 1:18 amTruly inspirational.
comfort ucher says
December 30, 2020 at 2:00 pmindeed! the lord is our shepherd, and we shall never want. hallelujah !
Diane says
January 2, 2021 at 3:00 amI woke up scared and needing encouragement and immediately I was led to recite psalm 23 and while reciting it, I needed to understand every statement to for impact .and lo and behold I came across this site that perfectly explains it to me and i feel so blessed and at peace .Thank God .
P says
March 14, 2021 at 5:33 pmBeautiful explanation of psalm 23, thank you!
Andile Ngxabani says
April 21, 2021 at 1:32 amEvery time I feel attacked, disappointed and falsely accused, I always remember Psalm 23.God is my protector,my shield and my provider.
Helen says
June 23, 2021 at 8:19 amI thank God for your beautiful way of explaining Psalm 23. There is no greater Love than this by my Shepherd giving his life for me. I can rest and be at peace because He is a good Shepherd.
SUVARNARAJU YANGALA says
August 26, 2021 at 9:12 pmPraise the Lord Pastor
GOD BLESS YOU
Anthony says
March 19, 2022 at 9:48 pmBeautiful message! God bless you.
Mert says
March 31, 2022 at 5:00 pmI will be teaching bible study tonight thanks for more insight on the study.
Irene says
April 30, 2022 at 2:21 amoh yes this is a wonderful verse well elaborated,and great revelation.from today i will always let my god to lead my way, not to lean on my own understanding.
AMEN
Elly Ochieng. says
September 16, 2022 at 8:04 amWonderful teachings
Odoemelem Paulina Nneoma says
November 30, 2022 at 7:42 pmYes ooh, truly, the Lord is my shepherd if not, I don’t know what I would have done in this present situation of our country
Daniel says
August 25, 2023 at 1:37 pmHe actually a good shepherd taking away fears from us. Later became a lamb sacrifice for us.
Thanks