What Does Psalm 23 Really Mean? (Part Two)
He leads me …
We now look at the continuation of verse 4 and on to verse 6 of Psalm 23.
I will not be afraid [fear no evil], because you are with me. The presence of his Shepherd enabled David to overcame any fear of evil. Regardless of his circumstances, David could accept the Shepherd’s presence and know absolutely, ‘You are with me’, and because of that, ‘I will not be afraid [fear no evil].’[1]
Your rod and your shepherd’s staff comfort me. The rod and the staff were tools that a shepherd used to guide and protect the sheep from possible predators.
Derek Kidner[2], who had at one time been a shepherd, described how the rod was used for defence of the sheep (compare with 1 Samuel 17:35). He then said that the staff (crook) differs with its large hook at the top. It was used for pulling sheep out of difficulty, and for the sheep to pass under and be examined, so that all of them could be accounted for and kept safe.
Knowing that the Lord would defend him and keep him safe provided security for David. He knew that even in the valley of the shadow of death, God guided him, and provided correction as required. In the same way, as Christians we can experience great comfort knowing that we are not on our own, and that God will correct us for our benefit when He needs to.[3]
Psalm 23:4 also reminds us that we have nothing to fear even though we may feel overwhelmed by it. The Lord is our Shepherd, He knows what He’s doing, and He promises He will guide us through the valleys until we reach the sunny, open field on the other side. He is with us and will never leave us. And if we happen to stray away in the valley, He promises to leave the other 99 just to find us, wherever we may be.
But, what happens after we pass through the dark valley? What will we find when the Lord leads us to the sunlit, open territory where we are no longer feeling the oppression of darkness? What will we encounter when we get there?[4]
Verse 5 - You prepare a meal [table] for me in front [the presence] of my enemies. You pour oil of blessing on my head [anoint my head with oil]; you fill my cup to overflowing [make my cup overflow].
It appeared in verse two of this psalm that God provided for His sheep with the green pastures and quiet water, so what is this blessing? Remember, that the green pastures and calm water are provided by the Lord to give comfort, care, and rest before facing the dark valley of trials and suffering. The table, however, is an illustration of how God provides for us and satisfies us after we have experienced the dark valley and found out practically that He keeps all His promises that we find in His Word. We actually get to the place of unquestionably trusting the Lord while living His promises at the same time.
Even if we do not experience complete freedom in this life due to physical or emotional issues, we know that we will enjoy its fullness when we go to be with Jesus.
To illustrate more clearly the Lord’s provision once the valley has been negotiated, the psalmist provides other references to valleys and God’s provision in other parts of the Bible like Psalm 118:5–6[5]:
‘Out of my distress I called upon the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free and in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ (AMPC)
In Psalm 23:5 we see God’s provision on a ‘table’ which was actually an animal skin used like a rug or table cloth laid on the ground with an extravagant meal on it. Now, in Psalm 118:5–6 the large place refers to a flat tableland which shepherds sought after because it provided the best grazing area for their sheep.
In both cases the Shepherd brings the sheep out of the dark valley into a setting of complete safety where they can eat and rest, confident that the Shepherd has made sure that everything that they need is there, and that He will guard and protect them if necessary.
You prepare a meal [table] for me in front [the presence] of my enemies. As Christians we can eat at His table without any fear that the enemy will take away what has been provided to nourish us and give us strength. Instead they enemy will feel angry and frustrated about our success and abundance which has occurred despite anything they have done to obstruct our progress.
The Lord has a deep desire for all Christians to have victory over darkness by having an inspiring life spiritually. He longs to see us living above an ordinary day-to-day lifestyle. When we respond to His provision and live a life of holiness, generosity, peaceful satisfaction in His care, aware of His presence and enjoying the intimacy of His closeness, He is really overjoyed.[6]
You pour oil of blessing on my head [anoint my head with oil]; When we read in the Bible of the anointing of something or someone, it’s a good example of God’s blessing. In David’s day a considerate host would anoint his guest by applying oil to their head to refresh and calm them. It also reminds us of the anointing oil poured over David’s head by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13) to set him apart for the work the Lord had called him to do. In terms of a shepherd, oil was used to treat the sheep's wounds.
You fill my cup to overflowing [make my cup overflow] God not only provides what we need - He always gives us more. When we see that our cup overflows, we can follow the Lord’s example and be generous too.
Verse 6 - Surely your goodness and love [loyalty]; will be with [pursue]; me all my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. When we reflect on our Christian walk we see that the Lord has used all the experiences to strengthen our faith, draw us closer to Him, and to appreciate how dependable He really is.
I will live in the house of the Lord forever. The psalm ends with an incredible assurance that David would enjoy the presence of the Lord forever – both on Earth and in Heaven.
Psalm 23 shows us that there is victory when we get through the valley. It is as if God effectively pats us on the back and says, ‘Well done!’ just because we did not give up and we trusted Him.
We see that God provides our daily needs and we do not have to worry when we do not know what tomorrow will bring. The Lord keeps us on the right path, He helps us make the right choices even during the dark times, and He never leaves us.
Dear Reader – If you have found some value in this blog, please feel free to send a copy on to your family and friends. Kind regards, John
[1] Psalm 23 – The Lord Is My Shepherd And My Host, David Guzik, The Enduring Word Bible Commentary, enduringword.com;
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-23/
[2] Derek Kidner (1913–2008) was warden of Tyndale House, Cambridge. He wrote several volumes in the Tyndale Old Testament Commentary series, including those on Genesis, Ezra and Nehemiah, Psalms and Proverbs.
[3] Psalm 23 – The Lord Is My Shepherd And My Host, David Guzik, The Enduring Word Bible Commentary, enduringword.com;
https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-23/
[4] Understanding Psalm 23: What is the Valley of the Shadow of Death? Steppes of Faith, Medium.com;
[5] See also - 2 Samuel 22:20; Job 36:16; Psalm 18:19; Psalm 31:8; Hosea 4:16
[6] The Preparation of the Table, Johnny Hunt, PastorLife.com;
http://sermons.pastorlife.com/members/sermon.asp?SERMON_ID=2773&fm=authorbio&authorid=10
Psalm 23 -- The Good Shepherd Leads Us To Contentedness, Nate Holdridge, nateholdridge.com;
https://www.nateholdridge.com/blog/psalm-23-the-good-shepherd
