Psalm 23
Pt. 1
A Different Look

This is one of the most well-known and appreciated passages of scripture in God’s word. One of the ancient scholars compared Psalm 119 to the tree of life that is said to grow in the New Earth. Another said that if this is so, then Psalm 23 must be one of the flowers which grows on it.

This psalm is used often at funerals because of its reference to the ‘valley of the shadow of death’ and has given many comfort in knowing that the Lord walks with His people through the terrifying transition from this life to the one beyond.

But I have been given reason to think that maybe this is not the primary sense of the psalm and I would like to share with you some ideas that have come to me in regard to it.

1 The LORD is my shepherd;

These words, of course, reflect the lovingkindness of the Lord for His people. But David takes this to a personal level, ‘He is my Shepherd.’

In John 10 we find some of the marks of Christ’s sheep:

  1. They know their shepherd;

John 10:14
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

  1. They know His voice;

John 10:16
16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

  1. They hear him calling them each by name;

John 10:3
3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

  1. They are loved by love Him;

John 10:11
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

  1. They trust Him;

John 10:26
26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

  1. They follow Him.

John 10:4
4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (KJV)

The only one who can say that the Lord is his shepherd is one who is himself a sheep, one who knows and follows the voice and direction of Jesus Christ. This is the one who is acquainted with His words, who
carefully considers and meditates on them, who seeks to obey Him in all things. Such a one is His sheep and such a one can call Him ‘My Shepherd.’

He is not the shepherd of all men for He has designated some as goats, and He is never represented as a goatsherd.

I shall not want.

He is the One Who cares for me, plans for me, watches over me and takes care of all my true needs. ‘I shall not want’ or lack any real need. But what are our needs?

1. To be saved from our sins,

2. To know the blessings of true love and fellowship, and

3. To be secured from everlasting torment when we die.

This is no blanket guarantee that we will have every perceived need or want met in this life for many saints have not. But no sheep of the Great Shepherd shall be without spiritual provision in this life and in the life
to come that is a true need. The Shepherd is the One Who knows the difference between our needs and our wants.

One of the old writers said this:

“You must distinguish between absence and indigence. Absence is when something is not present; indigence or want, is when a needful good is not present. If a man were to walk, and had not a staff, here were something absent. If a man were to walk, and had but one leg, here were something whereof he were indigent. It is confessed that there are many good things which are absent from a good person, but no good thing which he lacks or is indigent of. If the good be absent and I need it not, this is no want; he that walks without his cloak, walks well enough, for he needs it not. As long as I can walk carefully and cheerfully in my general or particular calling, though I have not such a load of accessories as other men have, yet I want nothing, for my little is enough and serves the turn…Our corruptions are still craving, and they are always inordinate, they can find more wants that God needs to supply…God will see that His people shall not want; but withal, he will never engage himself to the satisfying of their corruptions, though he doth (engage Himself) to the supply of their conditions. Your ignorance, your discontents, you pride, your unthankful hearts, may make you to believe that you dwell in a barren land, far from mercies; whereas if God did open our eyes as he did Hagar’s you might see fountains and streams, mercies and blessings sufficient; though not may, yet enough, though not so rich, yet proper, and every way convenient for you good and comfort…” Obadiah Sedgwick.

— May 4, 2020