Psalm 23 - Week 1 (v1-3)
Psalm 23
〰️
Jesus, Our Shepherd
〰️
Psalm 23 〰️ Jesus, Our Shepherd 〰️
-
Over the next three weeks, we'll be going through Psalm 23 together, but during this series and study, we'll be in the English Standard Version (ESV) together. It’s not a big deal, but worth mentioning, as the book we’re reading together, The LORD of Psalm 23, is in ESV. We’ll return to the CSB translation after Psalm 23!
David, drawing from his own experience as a shepherd, crafts this Psalm with a powerful metaphor. His familiarity with the role of a shepherd, having once guarded a flock of his own, allows him to vividly liken our LORD to that of a shepherd watching over and caring for His sheep. This metaphor, a common thread throughout Scripture and in the time and culture, was often used to compare a ruler or king to a shepherd and the people to the flock.[1] Jesus later follows suit and calls himself "the good shepherd," telling listeners that He knows His flock (John 10:14-15).
At first reading, we might think of provision and flourishing in the physical sense, but David's writing is meant to reveal the spiritual flourishing that he has experienced with the LORD. Verses two and three both write of what a deep, intimate relationship with God looks like. David writes of three points of provision from a deep-seeded relationship with the LORD:
1. Spiritual Nourishment
2. Spiritual Restoration
3. Spiritual Guidance
1. Spiritual Nourishment - "He makes me lie down in green pastures" (2a)
Only the sheep who have fully surrendered and acknowledged that their shepherd has their best interest in mind (trust) can be fully led to green pastures and still waters. Being led into peace by God requires surrender to and trust in Him. God loves us deeply (Romans 5:8), and He desires that we would know Him and be filled by His word, receiving nourishment from His word. Peter writes of what it means to be a holy people, especially for us, as we live after Christ's death on the cross. Peter tells us to be "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation" (1 Peter 2:2).
2. Spiritual Restoration - "He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul" (2b-3a)
The second blessing noted by David is that of spiritual rest, restoration, and healing. "As a shepherd leads his sheep to placid waters for rest and cleansing, so the LORD restores or refreshes the soul. Here the spiritual lesson is clear: the LORD provides forgiveness and peace for those who follow Him." [2] God promises that as our spiritual shepherd, He will provide rest, healing, and restoration in Him. The beauty of this truth is that the LORD Himself is the source of our restoration. Proximity to God is the source of our healing and spiritual rest. Jesus taught this, too, offering hope and rest to the weary. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30)
3. Spiritual Guidance - "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (v3b)
The third spiritual blessing that comes from following the LORD is being guided by the shepherd. The shepherd knows the safe paths, protecting the sheep as they follow. He will never tempt us (James 1:13) or abandon us (Matthew 28:20, Hebrews 13:5, Deuteronomy 31:6). When we know we're safe and secured, that's when we sigh in relief and can rest. When our doors are locked, we're in our beds, and all is quiet, that's when we're best able to physically rest, knowing that we are safe and secured from the elements and harm. It is exactly the same with our LORD. In knowing that God will lead us and protect us, we can breathe easy and rest in His presence, knowing that as our Shepherd, we are safe. God "does so partly because of His reputation (for His name’s sake),"[3] as He loves us and desires to see us flourish in Him.
As we enter into discussion this week, we'll spend a little time discussing God's character and His intentions for us as His sheep. In our culture and context, we're often so individualistic that we either refuse to acknowledge God as our LORD or we don't even think about what it could look like to submit to Him as our caretaker, provider, and leader. We'll wrap up by reading Matthew 11:28-30 together and sitting in the passage for a moment, considering how our lives could completely change if we let go of the burdens of this life and took on the yoke of Christ. Close by praying over your people and praying that the LORD would draw us closer to Himself and place His yoke on us, leading us to green pastures and still waters, restoring our souls.
Discussion Questions
Read all of Psalm 23 together. Read it twice, doing so slowly and mindfully.
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
What about God's character does this passage reveal? How does it provide you comfort?
Why do you think the Psalmist uses the analogy of a shepherd?
What are "green pastures" and "still waters"? What do you think that looks like for us and our relationship with God?
What are some areas of your life you haven't fully surrendered to God as your Provider, Shepherd, or LORD?
What would it look like for you to submit to God as your shepherd this week?
close by read Matthew 11:28-30. Take some time to meditate and pray over submitting to God and taking on the yoke of Christ.
1. Allen P. Ross, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 811.
2. Ibid., 811.
3. Ibid., 812.