Psalm 23 - David’s Soul Song
1)The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2) He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3) he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4) Even though I walk through the darkest valley, 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 anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Background: The book of Psalms is the prayer book and hymnal of the Bible. In it the authors share every raw human emotion possible. The words can take us from feelings of fierce vengeance, to euphoric praise, to stately thanksgiving, to abject despair, to quaking fear and lament, to calm delight, to steadfast hope and trust, sometimes in the space of a comma. We are reminded in the psalms that all of human life is lived in the presence of and in awareness of God. The psalmists assume and assure us that all of human life is attended to by God and that all of human life is the appropriate subject of prayer. God does not want from us, in the intimacy of prayer, just the parts of life that feel good, or look good, or feel faithful or look faithful. Every breath is a breath of the Spirit, and no circumstance is too petty to bring before God. No feeling, even about God, no doubt, no anger, no disappointment with God, is off limits when life is lived in God’s presence. What a comfort it is to know that we do not have to censor our prayers, as if we could if we wanted to.
The book of Psalms is a compilation of several collections of psalms; many used liturgically in worship. Perhaps some were written for private devotion and, because they express themes that are universal, later became a part of the worship language of God’s people. Traditionally it was thought that all of the psalms were written by King David. Many probably were, but we now know that others had hands in these beautiful poem/prayer/songs. Whoever the writer/composer may have been, in these texts we are given permission to be real, before God and with each other. The psalms as poetry and song, have many layers of meaning which unfold within us in our daily experience.
Psalm 23: There are few passages in scripture as familiar to both believers and non-believers as this beloved psalm. Most scholars agree that this is an authentic psalm of King David, although there is no universal agreement about the point in his life in which it was written. If it was a song of David’s younger life, and there are pretty persuasive arguments for that, it likely was written while he was on the run from the mercurial King Saul after his first wife Michal, saved him from her father’s jealous wrath by lowering him through a window. He was on the run for a long time in the wilderness. Some argue that this psalm was written during his later years, after the grief and family destruction that led to the death of his son Absalom. The argument for that point of view is the evident maturity of his faith that is displayed here. Faith this steadfast often come from years of walking with God in the highs and incredible lows of life. Wherever and whenever, David wrote, the words soar across time with comfort and faith. The poem has two central images from which the bounty spills forth. The first half, verses 1-4 give us a look at God as our shepherd. We learn in them what God’s shepherding actually does. The end of verse 4 introduces the fact of darkness and hard times in all of our lives, and then pivots into prayer in which God is shone as divine host. Verse 6 closes the song with a display of confidence in God’s nature that will not only see us through the dark days, but also accompany us forever.
Word Study
Vs. 1 – is – It is interesting that in the Hebrew text there is no verb. This absence adds to the powerful declaration with which David begins the song. It is as if he is saying YHWH=Shepherd.
Shepherd – King David grew up as a shepherd. In those days it was a humble but much nobler profession than it became in the time of Jesus. Shepherd’s knew their flocks, guarded, led and provided for them. They fought off any predators. They created the environment in which their flocks could feel safe to live their lives just as they were created to do.
I shall not want – In this construction it is as if this phrase completes the former. Want just means lack in any form. It is striking that this seems to be the only use of this word in the Bible that does not have an object. I shall not want…what? I shall not lack…what? Some suggest that the lack of an object intentionally globalizes the statement. It could be rendered something like: devastating lack is not a part of the experience of those who are shepherded by God.
Vs. 2 – pastures – This lovely word means dwelling, habitation, a pleasant place.
Still waters – This is a poetic image of safety and life sustaining plenty.
Vs. 3 – restores – This word is a little tricky to translate. It means to turn back or to turn around, or to return. Here, it is like saying that God, and only God, can cause my life to return to what it was created to be.
Soul (nephesh) - The totality of one’s being, what makes one a unique being.
Right paths (tsedeq)- This is a crucial word in the Hebrew scriptures! It means justice, right things, equity, ethical rectitude, straight(as in unimpeded). David tells us that the whole of that concept is where God is always leading us.
Name’s sake – One’s name in the ancient world declared both the nature of the one named and the honor due the named one. Why does God lead us toward justice for his name’s sake? Because justice is God’s nature and we only truly honor God when that is our cause. When we are led to justice, we display who God is and honor God’s name.
Vs. 4 - the darkest valley – This word is a compound noun in Hebrew. Older translations rendered it ‘the shadow of death.’ It was used to describe an utterly terrifying and dangerous place or state. It is sometimes translated as the darkness of calamity and can refer to an internal state of mind or an external one. It is sometimes also translated as deep anxiety.
Fear – this word means to be totally terrified almost to the point of immobility.
Evil – (ra) – This means wicked, terribly bad.
You – Notice that the psalmist has moved from describing God, to addressing God personally.
Rod – This refers to a stick used for punishing, chastising.
Staff – Also associated with rulers, this refers to the shepherd’s crook that is used to redirect an errant sheep.
Comfort – This is a very odd word in Hebrew. It means to draw a forceful breath, to pant, to be sorry or to grieve. The ancients thought that to breathe deeply was a sign of compassion. There is always an element of sorrow that comes from correction (the rod and staff.) It is that awakening grief of sin or injustice that leads to renewed and deepened compassion.
Vs. 5 – Table – God is our host, and it is God’s great banquet of life into which we are called. Notice that there are enemies present. Even then we are fed at God’s table. To be a host in the ancient world was to commit to the needs and the safety of the guests. Enemies of the guest cannot harm them in the hosts tent.
Anoint – This is another interesting word. It means to be fat or juicy. It became associated with the fat gathered from ritual sacrifice. To be anointed implied being made whole from the sacrifice, being made fit, or set apart as honored like royalty.
Head – This word means person or chief. To anoint the head with oil was to declare someone’s leadership.
Cup overflows – the wine and wonder of life has no limit.
Vs. 6 – Goodness (tov) – This is another BIG word in Hebrew. It means deep goodness. Something that is tov is pleasant, beautiful, excellent.
Mercy (hesed) – We have studied this word before. It means steadfast unshakeable devotion, loyalty and loving kindness.
Follow – This word is most peculiar! In every other instance in scripture, it is used in a very negative and threatening sense. It means to pursue relentlessly through everything. Here the image is of goodness and mercy relentlessly hunting us down, seeking to capture us and contain us. Just wow!
House – This is the word for tent, hut, mansion or household.
My whole life long – This is a better translation of the actual Hebrew than the more familiar ‘forever.’ The ancestors did not have the same understanding of eternity that we now do. These words just mean a long, long, long time.
Questions for Personal Reflection
- The 23rd psalm is a song of comfort and faith. We may hear it most often at funerals. What are your dominant associations with this psalm?
- Look at the note above about shepherding. How have you experienced God shepherding you? What are the qualities you notice in God’s shepherding? How do you see them in the life of Jesus, our Good Shepherd?
- The time of darkness in this psalm does not refer exclusively, or even specifically, to physical death. It refers to terrifying times that seem out of control or calamitous. These can be personal, emotional, familial, national or global. What are some of the dark valleys you see or experience today? How might God’s shepherding help you navigate those times without fear of evil?
- A part of the way God leads is by correcting us when we go wrong. Can you think of times when you experienced God’s loving correction?
- The psalmist reminds us that God is our divine host who will supply us with what we need and defend us against any enemies. Have you ever experienced this?
- The song ends with an image of goodness and mercy relentlessly hunting us down. Have you ever experienced goodness and mercy on your heels? Were you trying to outrun them? If so why?