Tag Archives: Psalm 23

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Jesus – the good shepherd

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Jesus says in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Ezekiel wrote in Ezekiel 34:11: “Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 … I will rescue them …. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak.” God is the good shepherd.

150 years earlier Micah 5:2-5 wrote: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, … from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. … 4 he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord. … 5 And he shall be their peace.”

Likewise, Isaiah 40 wrote: “10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; … 11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.”

By calling himself the good shepherd in John 10, Jesus is saying that God can be experienced through him.

In John 10:31 “the Jews picked up stones again to stone him …. 33 because you, being a man, make yourself God.”

In Psalm 23, David reveals to us what this shepherd is like.

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I shall not want

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Psalm 23:1

I shall not lack anything “lo achsar” (לֹא אֶחְסָר). God gives us enough hints to help us to make good choices that are in accordance with His will.

God is not our “servant” but our friend. The Hebrew word for Shepherd shares a root with the word for companion, or close friend.

YHWH Ro’i (יְהוָ֥ה רֹ֝עִ֗י) God is “the one who sees me”. He sees what I need and gives me what helps me in the moment to move forward. So, it doesn’t mean that God gives me everything, but contributes what promotes my growth.

These can also be challenging situations, because in them we come to the border of understanding and enter the world of trust (belief). Then God is there. Sees me and gives me what I need to move on. I shall not lack anything.

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The LORD is my shepherd

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Psalm 23:1

The image of God as a shepherd appears in Jacob for the first time. In Genesis 48:15 it says: “He (Jacob) blessed Joseph and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day.”

When David was chosen, he was set up to be the people’s shepherd. In 2 Samuel 5:1-2 it says: “All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, … “The LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’”

In Psalm 23, David describes God as a shepherd. God is his example for his own life. He wants to be inspired by God.

About 250 years later Isaiah also writes about God as the shepherd (Isaiah 40).

About 150 years later, Ezekiel writes about God as the good shepherd (Ezekiel 34:5-16).

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I will return to the house of the LORD forever

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Psalm 23:6

The different translations of the last verse of Psalm 23 point to a rich picture. We could also say: We find rest by God.

The Greek translation Septuagint (LXX) translates: “I shall dwell.”

Shabti (שַׁבְתִּ֥י) also means “I will sit” and shares the same root as Shabbat. Like sitting at the table laid with a feast again. It speaks of rest, and of belonging. David also sees his destiny as sitting down in the house of God. David knows he will dwell with God in God’s dwelling place for the rest of his days. No one will ever ask him to leave. Continue reading I will return to the house of the LORD forever →

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Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

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Psalm 23:6

David makes the experience: Despite my faults, God helps me.

Mercy or loving kindness (חֶסֶד – chesed) requires that one is aware that one has missed one’s mark and can no longer do things well. Mercy is the act of restoration without merit of one’s own.

That someone wants our best is behind the words: Goodness shall follow me. God as the good shepherd has good thoughts over our lives. He does not look for our mistakes but sees our potential. He wants to restore us so that we become what he created us to be.

Behind the word “follow me” is the image of rushing after, chasing and pursuing. More like goodness and mercy will chase me — they will hunt me down. The root word used is the same for persecution even — so it’s saying that goodness and mercy, or loving kindness (חֶסֶד – chesed) will chase me down. For those in God’s flock, under the care of the Good Shepherd, it’s goodness and mercy that’s doing the hounding, eager to capture us and surround us with good things. Instead of looking at our problems, with God’s help we can discover the goodness of God around us.

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My cup overflows

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Psalm 23,5

What was David thinking when he wrote: My cup overflows?

The cup is central to the celebration of Shabbat and Passover. There are four cups in the celebration of Passover: the cup of sanctification, judgment, redemption, and praise. The cup of redemption (Luke 22:20) was used by Jesus as a sign of the new covenant of forgiveness.

Jeremiah 25:15 speaks of the cup filled with the wrath of God. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that the cup of suffering might pass from him, if it were possible (Luke 22:42).

At Psalm 23 it seems to be more of a positive image. God sets a table, cares personally for me, and His goodness overflows, which is expressed in grace and mercy.

God gives us so much that we can give without suffering lack ourselves (Psalm 23:1). At the same time, David also experiences that God can transform suffering into overflowing blessings.

Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

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You anoint my head with oil.

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Psalm 23:5

David was literally anointed on his head with oil by the prophet Samuel. The word (משח) “Messiah” means “anointed one”, “anointed one for a purpose”. However, despite the fact that this is a messianic psalm, a different Hebrew word used in this case.

Since sheep can injure themselves on the thorns on their heads while grazing and the wounds could become inflamed or infested by parasites, the shepherds poured olive oil into the open areas after disinfecting them with wine to protect them.

David might also have this image in mind. If I hurt myself, you worry about my wound.

Before David spoke of the stick and of the people who harass him. Wherever I hit my head, God is present and takes care of my emotional injuries.

However, the anointing with oil expresses the personal care of God for us. Revelation 7:17 says: “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

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He restores my soul

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Psalm 23:3 – Holiday Impulse 2023

Others translate: “He refreshes my soul” or “He brings my vitality back”

The Hebrew says, “He restores my soul” or “my soul comes back to me.”

We could also say: “I feel like myself again“.

Those who commit themselves to the good shepherd will find their way back to their determination of life. Our personality is taken seriously, and we are encouraged to prosper. God wants us to supplement, encourage and appreciate each one an another.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:14-25, “The body does not consist of one member but of many. . . . God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. … that the members may have the same care for one another.”