Psalms 23
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Psalms 23
The LORD Is My Shepherd
★1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
PSALM 23
Psa 23:1-6. Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor.
1. Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; He 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Ge 48:15; Psa 80:1; Is 40:11, is not without some good reason.
PSALM 23
Psa 23:1-6. Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor.
1. Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd (Joh 10:14; He 13:20; 1Pe 2:25; 5:4), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Ge 48:15; Psa 80:1; Is 40:11, is not without some good reason.
The Pulpit Commentary
The Lord is my Shepherd. This metaphor, so frequent in the later Scriptures (Isa_40:11; Isa_49:9, Isa_49:10; Jer_31:10; Eze_34:6-19; Joh_10:11-19, Joh_10:26-28; Heb_13:20; 1Pe_2:25; 1Pe_5:4; Rev_7:17), is perhaps implied in Gen_48:15, but first appears, plainly and openly, in the Davidical psalms (see, besides the present passage, Psa_74:1; Psa_77:20; Psa_78:53; Psa_79:1-13 :14; Psa_80:1—psalms which, if not David's, belong to the time, and were written under the influence, of David). It is a metaphor specially consecrated to us by our Lord's employment and endorsement of it (Joh_10:11-16). I shall not want. The Prayer-book Version brings out the full sense, "Therefore can I lack nothing" (comp. Deu_2:7; Deu_8:9; and Mat_6:31-33).
The Lord is my Shepherd. This metaphor, so frequent in the later Scriptures (Isa_40:11; Isa_49:9, Isa_49:10; Jer_31:10; Eze_34:6-19; Joh_10:11-19, Joh_10:26-28; Heb_13:20; 1Pe_2:25; 1Pe_5:4; Rev_7:17), is perhaps implied in Gen_48:15, but first appears, plainly and openly, in the Davidical psalms (see, besides the present passage, Psa_74:1; Psa_77:20; Psa_78:53; Psa_79:1-13 :14; Psa_80:1—psalms which, if not David's, belong to the time, and were written under the influence, of David). It is a metaphor specially consecrated to us by our Lord's employment and endorsement of it (Joh_10:11-16). I shall not want. The Prayer-book Version brings out the full sense, "Therefore can I lack nothing" (comp. Deu_2:7; Deu_8:9; and Mat_6:31-33).
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. green pastures--or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest.
the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other.
2. green pastures--or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest.
the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other.
The Pulpit Commentary
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; literally, in grassy homesteads—" the richer, oasis-like spots, where a homestead would be fixed in a barren tract of land" (Kay). He leadeth me beside the still waters; rather, waters of refreshment; ἐπὶ ὓδατος ἀναπαύσεως (LXX.).
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; literally, in grassy homesteads—" the richer, oasis-like spots, where a homestead would be fixed in a barren tract of land" (Kay). He leadeth me beside the still waters; rather, waters of refreshment; ἐπὶ ὓδατος ἀναπαύσεως (LXX.).
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it (Psa 19:7), or relieve it (La 1:11, 19).
paths of righteousness--those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him.
for his name's sake--or, regard for His perfections, pledged for His people's welfare.
3. To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it (Psa 19:7), or relieve it (La 1:11, 19).
paths of righteousness--those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him.
for his name's sake--or, regard for His perfections, pledged for His people's welfare.
The Pulpit Commentary
He restoreth my soul; i.e. revives it and reinvigorates it when it is exhausted and weary (see the comment on Isa_19:7, where the same verb occurs). He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. Which are also "paths of pleasantness and peace" (Pro_3:17). For his Name's sake. To magnify his Name as a gracious and merciful God.
He restoreth my soul; i.e. revives it and reinvigorates it when it is exhausted and weary (see the comment on Isa_19:7, where the same verb occurs). He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. Which are also "paths of pleasantness and peace" (Pro_3:17). For his Name's sake. To magnify his Name as a gracious and merciful God.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. In the darkest and most trying hour God is near.
the valley of the shadow of death--is a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey. While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and which its terms suggest.
thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. By them he guides his sheep.
4. In the darkest and most trying hour God is near.
the valley of the shadow of death--is a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey. While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and which its terms suggest.
thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. By them he guides his sheep.
The Pulpit Commentary
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. A sudden transition and contrast, such as David loved. The quiet paths of righteousness and peace remind the poet of the exact opposite—the dark and dismal way through the valley of the shadow of death. Even when so situated, he does not, he will not, fear. I will fear no evil, he says. And why? For thou art with me. The same Protector, the same gracious and merciful God, will be still with him—leading him, guiding his steps, shepherding him, keeping him from evil. Thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff—i.e. thy shepherd's crook, and thy staff of defence—they comfort me. They make me feel that, however long and however dreary the way through the dark vale, I shall still have thy guidance and thy protection.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. A sudden transition and contrast, such as David loved. The quiet paths of righteousness and peace remind the poet of the exact opposite—the dark and dismal way through the valley of the shadow of death. Even when so situated, he does not, he will not, fear. I will fear no evil, he says. And why? For thou art with me. The same Protector, the same gracious and merciful God, will be still with him—leading him, guiding his steps, shepherding him, keeping him from evil. Thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff—i.e. thy shepherd's crook, and thy staff of defence—they comfort me. They make me feel that, however long and however dreary the way through the dark vale, I shall still have thy guidance and thy protection.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
5-6. Another figure expresses God's provided care.
a table--or, "food," anointing
oil--the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing
cup--which represents abundance--are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him. This beautiful Psalm most admirably sets before us, in its chief figure, that of a shepherd, the gentle, kind, and sure care extended to God's people, who, as a shepherd, both rules and feeds them. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual.
5-6. Another figure expresses God's provided care.
a table--or, "food," anointing
oil--the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing
cup--which represents abundance--are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him. This beautiful Psalm most admirably sets before us, in its chief figure, that of a shepherd, the gentle, kind, and sure care extended to God's people, who, as a shepherd, both rules and feeds them. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual.
The Pulpit Commentary
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Another transition. The danger of death is past. David reverts to the thought of the tranquil, happy, joyous time which God has vouchsafed to grant him. He has "adversaries,'' indeed, but they are powerless to effect anything against hint They have to look on with ill-concealed annoyance at his prosperity, to see his table amply spread; his condition such as men generally envy; his wealth typified by abundant oil—thou anointest my head with oil—great, his whole life full to overflowing with blessedness. My cup runneth over, he declares—is not only full to the brim, but runs over the brim—an expressive metaphor, indicative of a state of bliss rarely experienced in this life.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Another transition. The danger of death is past. David reverts to the thought of the tranquil, happy, joyous time which God has vouchsafed to grant him. He has "adversaries,'' indeed, but they are powerless to effect anything against hint They have to look on with ill-concealed annoyance at his prosperity, to see his table amply spread; his condition such as men generally envy; his wealth typified by abundant oil—thou anointest my head with oil—great, his whole life full to overflowing with blessedness. My cup runneth over, he declares—is not only full to the brim, but runs over the brim—an expressive metaphor, indicative of a state of bliss rarely experienced in this life.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
The Pulpit Commentary
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The past is an earnest of the future, As God's "goodness and mercy" have always followed him hitherto, David has no doubt that they will continue to cling to him while his life continues. And I will dwell. in the house of the Lord for ever. Such passages are, of course, not to be understood literally; they express the longing of the soul for a sense of the continual presence of God, and a realization of constant communion with him.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The past is an earnest of the future, As God's "goodness and mercy" have always followed him hitherto, David has no doubt that they will continue to cling to him while his life continues. And I will dwell. in the house of the Lord for ever. Such passages are, of course, not to be understood literally; they express the longing of the soul for a sense of the continual presence of God, and a realization of constant communion with him.
THE HOLY BIBLE
Psalms
Chapter 23
Translated out of the original tongues, and with the former translations diligently compared and revised.
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