Analysis

The Good King-Shepherd

                Growing up in a Christian home, my parents always encouraged me to read and meditate on God’s Word daily and to pray without ceasing. When I was old enough to read and comprehend the Bible on my own, I came across a chapter in the book of Psalms that I had seen many times throughout my life. Psalm 23, a popular chapter even in today’s culture, stood out to me despite the fact that there are one hundred and fifty other chapters in the book of Psalms that are just as important. I noticed that this particular verse was very popular among both Christians and non-Christians. Those six powerful verses seem to be found in people’s homes painted on a picture with a beautiful nature scene surrounding the words, carefully cross-stitched on a pillow, or even fancily written on a wall in the family room. This chapter is well-known among many, and those who have not read the Bible would even recognize them. Psalm 23 is a chapter written by a man named David, son of Jesse, who lived many years ago before Jesus was born. It is unquestionably one of the most powerful chapters found in the book of Psalms because in those six verses, David acknowledges and proclaims that the Lord is his Shepherd, a protector to him through his trials, and a King who treats him as if he were royalty.

                In Psalm 23:1-2, David begins the chapter by proclaiming, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (NIV). In biblical times, shepherds were responsible individuals who protected their sheep while they were grazing in the pastures. They look after them as if they were their own children and make sure that they don’t put themselves into danger. David describes the Lord in this way as well. Humans resemble the sheep in the pasture and the Lord plays the role of the good shepherd who protects each one of them. The type of device used in this passage is a metaphor because he is describing that the Lord is the true Shepherd (NIV). Since each person has this protection from the Lord, the Shepherd, they don’t lack anything in life. David begins to describe how the Shepherd “makes me lie down in green pastures” and “leads me beside quiet streams” (NIV). The Shepherd commands the sheep to rest in the green pastures, a place where the land is flourishing with life. By performing this gesture, the Lord is displaying his love toward David and his people. He wants to take care of his people and strives to give them the best.

                David proclaims that the Lord “refreshes” his soul, which means that the Lord brings peace among him. There is a sense of refreshment felt when the Lord is among him. The Lord “guides” David “along the right path for his name’s sake,” which refers back to the shepherd metaphor (NIV). Just as a shepherd guides his sheep along the safe path, so the Lord guides David along the right path in life. David makes his decisions based on how the Lord would lead him. He trusts that the Lord will direct him in the proper way. In life, however, not every person will always have the perfectly, straight path. David explains this situation when he walks “through the darkest valley” (NIV).  He will not be afraid because the Lord is alongside of him the whole way (NIV). “Darkest valley” is a metaphor for “circumstances of greatest peril,” meaning that David will face trials of many kinds and will be forced to walk through them (NIV). However, the Shepherd’s rod and staff protect David through these circumstances. Like a shepherd “guides, protects, and rescues” his sheep from danger, so will the Lord do the same for David (NIV).

                Even though the Lord is the Shepherd, who is also the King, he “prepares a table” for David and treats David as if he were a guest of royalty (NIV). Not only is the Lord known as the good Shepherd, but he is also known as the great King. Therefore, David acknowledges him as the “Shepherd-King” (NIV). By inviting David to eat, this shows that the Lord is gracious towards David and wants to protect him and treat him as though he were a guest of royalty in his kingdom (NIV). When a king invites a guest for dinner, the meal that they are sharing together symbolizes the friendship between both king and guest (NIV). The Shepherd-King “anoints” David’s head with oil, symbolizing that he is an honored guest in the Lord’s kingdom. Blessings overfill David’s cup, which symbolizes that the King has given him above and beyond everything that he needs. Not only is David a guest in the kingdom, but the King wants David to “dwell in the house of the Lord forever” as an eternal guest (NIV). He trusts that the Lord will take care of him for the rest of his life and that the Lord’s “goodness and love will follow” him even through the many trials he faces in his life (NIV). David is not an enemy of the King, but becomes friends with the King.

                Psalm 23 is one of my favorite chapters found in the Bible. It serves as a constant reminder that my God is always there for me and that I need to put my trust in him. Though I may face many trials in my life, this verse affirms that the Lord will be present with me as I walk along those dark paths. I find these verses to be a very important part of my life because they are hidden in my heart, which means that I have memorized them so that whenever I do face trials in my life, I can remember these verses to bring me comfort. This is a great verse to turn to when you’re feeling down and hopeless. Just like David, I believe that the Lord is the Shepherd who takes care of me, a protector through all the trials I may face in my life, and the King who treats me like a guest in his kingdom.

 

Works Cited

NIV Study Bible. Kenneth L. Barker, ed. Grand Rapids, MI:

     Zondervan, 2011. Print.