Robin Hardy Online
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This psalm has got to be one of the most famous of all the Psalms, but it wasn't until I sat down to memorize it a few weeks ago that I realized why. I was going through a particularly tough time at work (a great part of the motivation for memorizing Scripture), and in reciting the lines over and over, it began to sink in. I use the King James for memory verses because the language is so musical that it's easier for me to remember—but even in the structure, each part began to be clear to me.
"The Lord is my Shepherd;
I shall not want."
David, himself a shepherd, understood what it meant to care for a flock. I don't know how many people know anything about sheep nowadays, but if knowing that it takes a sheep dog to help keep them in line says anything, it's pretty entertaining to realize how dumb these animals really are. It is ironic then, that the best of us, due to our relative position in eternity, are a lot closer to dumb, bleating, woolly animals than we want to admit. We really do need a Shepherd, because we're simply not in a place to begin to comprehend what is around us. The smartest sheep listen to the shepherd's commands. Are we really so different?
But David takes this one step further: he not only acknowledges his position to the Lord, he also acknowledges that because God is his shepherd, he lacks nothing. All the fullness and provision that God has is ours also, because we are part of His care. The simple statement of total acknowledgement and total trust is, well, simply profound.
"He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside the still waters;"
Both of these indicate the same thing: a place of rest and provision. I find David's use of the word "make" here interesting: we suffer the risk of running ourselves haggard, but it is God who requires us to slow down and rest in Him.
"He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for His Name's sake."
This was the first place in the psalm where I actually breathed a sigh of relief. God's motive is not simply to lead me in obedience for my own good; it is also to glorify His name. God is not interested in seeing us fail or stumble around: his goal is to lead us along the best pathway for life, because it also brings glory to His name. And we can rest in that, as well.
"Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."
How easy is this to forget? When I face the bitterest trials from Satan, how easy is it to think I am alone? If you recall the maxim divide and conquer, this is, I think, one of the Enemy's ploys. He can't actually separate us from God, but he can make us to think we are separated. And how this notion flees with a little Scripture, the Word Himself! Notice, however, that it is not that we will never face the valleys in life; but we always have the assurance that the Good Shepherd is with us.
"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."
According to Keil-Delitzsch, the rod and staff are respectively the "means of guidance and defense". So as we pass through the most evil times, our Shepherd is not only with us, but he is armed for our defense. Once again, I cannot think of any more comforting idea.
"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence
of mine enemies:"
It is here that the figure of God transitions from our Shepherd to our Host. What sweet vindication—that it is not incumbent on us to either overcome or to show up those who would keep us down. Rather, it is the Lord of Hosts who overcomes the Enemy, and prepares for us a feast in his presence. The victory and vindication are thorough—which is why it is our job to pray for those who persecute us. Our ultimate victory is at hand, but there are those who are lost like we were once who are in need of our prayers. The security that comes from trusting the victory to God enables us to minister to others. I know, I know—easier said than done!
"Thou anointest my head with oil;"
Not only do we have the banquet of victory, we have the anointing of purpose. So we are simultaneously the guest of honor and made, through no merit of our own, the hero. This is a long way to come for a group-driven, noisy mammal! No wonder the angels long to look into these things. But there it is; we have only to take it on faith.
"My cup runneth over."
The last image in this beautiful triplet is one of anointing to excess—the blessing, the fulfillment is so abundant that it cannot all be contained, but that even the ground underneath is blessed. I still catch myself going slack-jawed at the imagery: I always seem to be holding a gilded goblet in a sun shower….
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,"
This declaration is one of faith: surely both graciousness (getting what we don't deserve) and mercy (not getting what we do deserve) shall follow me all the days of my life. Not that nothing bad will happen, but that in this and surrounding this and overcoming this are goodness and mercy. The tie to Hebrews 11 begins to become obvious: "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him."
"And I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever."
Here, we have a fitting climax and end to the psalm of faith and praise: when my life here, full of respite, overcoming, vindication, goodness and mercy, is ended, then I will no longer be separated from Him with whom I long to exist—not only this, but I will live in His very dwelling place. There is no question of this, and David wrote this (again, according to my dear friends Keil & Delitzsch) in the midst of fleeing during the struggle with Absalom. He is older, wiser, and more seasoned than in his time spent fleeing from Saul. But he still retains this faith. It simultaneously puts me to shame and inflames me with hope.
After chewing over this psalm for a few weeks, I understand a little better why it has been so highly regarded throughout history. But, being the bleating little ewe that I am, I keep repeating it simply because it means so much to me.
For more information, see Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes: Volume Five, Psalms, by C.F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, translated from the German by James Martin.
copyright 2005 Stephanie Cole
posted Nov. 18, 2005
