Psalm 23 – A Meditation

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Short Summary
The discourse reflects on Psalm 23 as a metaphor of God’s care for His people, portraying Jehovah as the great shepherd and Jesus as the under shepherd guiding the faithful. It emphasizes the qualities of the Lord’s followers as meek and obedient sheep who trust in God’s provision, protection, and guidance through life’s challenges, ultimately leading them to the heavenly kingdom. The psalm assures believers of spiritual nourishment, comfort amidst trials, and the promise of eternal dwelling with the Lord.

Long Summary
Context and Theme
– The Highland Park Ecclesia selected Psalm 23 for meditation at the beginning of their convention.
– Psalm 23 is widely regarded as the most beloved chapter in the Bible.
– Written by King David, who was a shepherd in his youth, the psalm uses the metaphor of a shepherd and his flock to illustrate God’s personal care, protection, and provision for His people.

Jehovah as the Great Over Shepherd and Jesus as the Under Shepherd
– Jehovah is depicted as the great over shepherd who looks out for the interests of His sheep—the church.
– Jesus is the anointed “good under shepherd” who directly cares for the flock.
– David, as the Lord’s inspired prophet, addresses the Lord’s little flock who obey His voice.
– The flock is being led toward the heavenly kingdom, which is the ultimate destination promised by God.

Verse 1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
– The Lord refers to His people as sheep, symbolizing meekness and obedience.
– Sheep’s key characteristics: meekness and obedience to the shepherd, entrusting themselves fully to His care.
– Good sheep submit their wills to the shepherd and trust His guidance.
– This trust frees them from worldly cares and protects them from spiritual dangers, particularly from Satan, the “roaring lion.”
– By recognizing the Master’s voice, the sheep avoid following strangers and going astray.
– The Lord provides all necessities: instruction, comfort, discipline, and training for spiritual welfare.

Verse 2: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
– Green pastures represent spiritual refreshment and satisfaction.
– Hunger and thirst for truth and righteousness are fully satisfied.
– The “still waters” symbolize the peaceful and calming streams of truth from the water of life.
– Believers are encouraged to discern the shepherd’s voice, which is truthful, distinct from error.

Verse 3: “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
– Restoration of the soul refers to reclaiming it from death, symbolizing justification through faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
– Believers sacrifice earthly life rights and follow the footsteps of the Good Shepherd.
– They are considered to have passed from death to life as spirit-begotten new creatures.
– The guidance on paths of righteousness benefits their spiritual growth.
– This opportunity arises not from their own worthiness but through God’s grace for His name’s sake.

Verse 4: “Yea, 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.”
– The “valley of the shadow of death” literally means deep darkness and metaphorically any dangerous, dark place where sheep might be ambushed.
– David likely experienced such valleys tending sheep near Bethlehem.
– The little flock fears no evil because Christ laid down His life to redeem them.
– Death is assured not to be extinction but part of the first resurrection.
– The shepherd’s rod: a short, heavy club used to fight off predators and chasten inattentive sheep.
– The shepherd’s staff: a long crook used to guide, assist, and comfort sheep in danger.
– These tools symbolize God’s correction, guidance, and loving care.
– The Lord’s providences are for the sheep’s welfare, and true sheep learn to love and find comfort in them.

Verse 5: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
– The table symbolizes the abundant supply of spiritual truth (“meat in due season”) and joy amid adversity.
– The presence of enemies indicates the trials believers face.
– Anointing with oil may reference the literal shepherd’s practice to heal and protect sheep, but spiritually it signifies the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
– The Holy Spirit’s enlightenment and energy foster the fruit and graces of the Spirit, transforming believers into Christ’s image.
– The overflowing cup represents both joy and sorrow.
– Followers must share in Christ’s sufferings to share in His reign.
– Present sufferings are insignificant compared to future glory.
– Believers are enabled to rejoice even amid tribulation.

Verse 6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
– God’s goodness and mercy are ongoing, not just past blessings.
– Believers can rest assured that divine goodness and mercy accompany them throughout life.
– The ultimate hope is to dwell in God’s house (the heavenly kingdom) forever.
– The Good Shepherd leads His flock to this eternal dwelling as members of the Divine family.

Application and Reflection
– Psalm 23 provides deep encouragement and assurance for believers.
– It is especially appropriate to meditate on this psalm during the memorial season and at the start of the convention.
– The psalm reassures the faithful of God’s care, guidance, protection, and ultimate promise of eternal life.

Key Bible Verses Cited from Psalm 23:

– Psalm 23:1 — “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
– Psalm 23:2 — “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
– Psalm 23:3 — “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
– Psalm 23:4 — “Yea, 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.”
– Psalm 23:5 — “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
– Psalm 23:6 — “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

This detailed meditation highlights Psalm 23 as a profound spiritual guide, illustrating God’s personal care through the shepherd metaphor, and encouraging trust and obedience as the path to eternal life.

Transcript

The Highland Park Ecclesia has chosen a psalm for our meditation at the beginning of our convention together. Psalms 23 is widely regarded as the most beloved chapter in the Bible.

Written by King David, who himself was a shepherd in his youth, uses the metaphor of a shepherd and his flock to describe God’s personal care and protection and provision for his people. Jehovah the great over shepherd looks out for the interests of his sheep to us, the church, under the care of the anointed Jesus, our good under shepherd. As the Lord’s inspired prophet David speaks to all the Lord’s little flock who obediently hearkened to his voice, and to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the kingdom. It is to the heavenly kingdom that the good shepherd is leading his little flock. Such may truly say, as in verse 1.

The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. By calling his people his sheep, the Lord chose a very significant symbol of their character. The most noticeable characteristics of the sheep are meekness and obedience to the shepherd to whose care they fully entrust themselves. Good sheep submit their wills wholly to the shepherd and trust his guidance. In so doing they are relieved of the ancient cares that are so common to the children of the world.

Such an attitude of mind and heart is their only safety from the roaring lion Satan amid all the difficulties and confusions of this evil day. Knowing their Master’s voice, they perceive the voices of strangers and can never go go astray. The Lord’s sheep shall not want, because they have all the needful necessities, instruction, comfort, discipline and training. In fact, all things shall work together for good for their highest spiritual welfare in the lord’s pasture. Verse 2 He maketh me lie down in green pastures.

He leadeth me beside still waters. The Lord’s sheep have found green pastures of spiritual refreshment provided by their shepherd. Our hunger and thirst after truth and righteousness shall be satisfied, bountifully fed with present truth, and from the water of life the streams of truth are still quiet waters. As we drink this water, let us discern the shepherd’s voice with its truthful accent, so different from the voice of error.

Verse 3 He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his Name’s sake. He restoreth my soul means reclaiming it from death. This refers to our present justification through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus, that we too may sacrifice our earthly life rights and walk in the footsteps of our great shepherd. We are now reckoned as having passed from death unto life as spirit begotten new creatures in Christ being reckoned righteous, we are led by the Good shepherd in the paths of righteousness beneficial to our spiritual development.

This opportunity comes to the sheep not for their own sakes but or worthiness, but through the Lord’s grace for His Name’s sake. Verse number 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. The little flock fear no evil because he has shown his favor in already laying down his life to redeem them. His assurance is to them is that death shall not mean extinction of life, but they will be a part of the first resurrection.

The valley of the Shadow of Death is a famous Hebrew phrase which literally means deep darkness. While traditionally associated with death, the valley of the shadow of death metaphorically refers to any dark, treacherous ravine where a sheep might be ambushed or lost. David likely encountered such literal valleys while tending his sheep near Bethlehem. Only the little flock can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, making melody in their hearts to the Lord who has called us to joint heirship with our dear Redeemer. The shepherd’s rod is a short, heavy club used to fight off predators like wolves or lions.

He uses the rod to chasten sheep when they are inattentive.

The shepherd’s staff is a longer crook used to hook and pull to assist the sheep out of difficulties or back from dangerous ledges or guiding them through thickets. The shepherd also shows his love to his sheep by using his staff to rub on their backs. All these uses of the rod and staff were for the sheep’s interests and welfare. So it is with the Lord’s little flock, their shepherd’s rod of help. The true sheep learn to love the providences of the shepherd and are comforted by them.

Verse 5 you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil my cup overflows. This verse refers to the bountiful supply of truth, the meat in due season, and the full cup of joy and gladness prepared before the household of faith amid this valley of the shadow of death and while in the presence of our enemies. The anointing with oil may refer to a literal shepherd’s practice of rubbing oil on a sheep’s head to repel biting flies or heal wounds from thorns. The oil refers to the body members anointing of the Holy Spirit they receive as being prospective members of the Melchizedek priests and kings.

The Holy Spirit’s holy enlightenment, energy, and disposition through God’s word results in the development of the fruit and and graces of the Spirit, transforming us into the image of the Good Shepherd.

The cup running over is a cup of joy and a cup of sorrow. He who would partake of the joys of the Lord must also partake of his cup of suffering. We must suffer with him, and if we would reign with him. We count the sufferings of the present time as not worthy to be compared with the glories that shall be revealed in us when we drink that cup of joy anew in the kingdom with our Lord. Therefore we are enabled to rejoice even in our tribulation.

Verse 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The goodness and mercy of the Lord is not to be looked back to as a thing of the distant past. It has had its beginning here and now, and should be appreciated. We rest in the assurance that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.

It is to the heavenly kingdom that the Good shepherd is leading his little flock to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. As members of the Divine family, meditating on the 23rd Psalm is very appropriate for us to consider during our memorial season and to begin our convention blessings together today.

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