This Psalm is one of trust, confidence, contentment, and satisfaction in God. The Hebrew word used for God is (YHWH) Yahweh. The importance of this is that this name for God represents the “covenant” God. The God of promise, the unchanging God. Isn’t it of great value to know that God makes a covenant with me that He will be my God, and I will be His?

It is read at almost every funeral I have ever attended. It probably is the single most-read passage of scripture at any time. My first remembrance of the scripture was burned on a wooden plank with care. The 23^rd Psalm brings comfort and hope to many; too many it is a reminder of death.

David does not open this Psalm with a problem he is facing as he does with many of his Psalms; he is not asking for an answer to prayer. He begins by extolling the goodness provided to him by the Great God of creation, by the God of covenants. The string of phrases from the opening statement to the very last line uttered is a Psalm of God’s care and concern and David’s appreciation for that care and concern.

Within the precious walls of this Psalm, the reader finds an intensely personal relationship with God described. The whole of the Psalm is about one man and his life with God. Seventeen times David refers to himself in six verses, thirteen times he refers to the Lord. A genuinely personal Psalm, a conversation to God. The type of relationship that we should all desire. It causes me to stop and ask, “what is my prayer life? To whom do I call out, not only in desperate times but times of peace and tranquility?” Is it God? If it isn’t, it sure should be. This Psalm helps us understand the special walk with God when we see Him as our Shepherd (vs.1-4) and our Host (vs.5, 6). It is the first four verses that I want us to hone in on.

In these first four verses, you can see a word picture of The Faithful Shepherd:

A Psalm of David. “The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.“ (Psa 23:1-4)

 The first line in this Psalm is the most significant expression of all time, speaking to complete contentment. Within these four words, “Jehovah is my shepherd,” describe the very personal relationship. It is a picture of a shepherd overseeing his sheep. The constant care and watchfulness that it takes to shepherd the flock. We are portrayed as trusted followers of a completely trustworthy God. In the most hurtful of times, my soul will call out to the God of the heavens with a plea to hold on tightly, to nestle me in His loving arms, to fold them around me, and protect me from the pain of life. We are not immune to hurt and pain, and problems, but we know where our comfort is. God is my Shepherd; it is He that sustains me.

The following phrase of this Psalm uses the English word “want.” The Hebrew word means “lacking.” The idea is more “I will not lack for anything,” meaning that one that places his hope in God will find fulfillment in God. You may ask, “how can we no longer want for anything?” We see this throughout the Psalm:

I shall not want for SUSTENANCE (vs.2a)

I shall not want for REFRESHMENT (vv.2b, 3a)

I shall not want for DIRECTION (v.3b)

I shall not want for COMPANIONSHIP (v.4)

I shall not want for PROTECTION (v.5a)

I shall not want for ACCEPTANCE (v.5b)

The description of God as our Shepherd proclaims once and for all that He is our sufficiency! He is SUFFICIENT as He: makes me lie down (v.2a), leads me beside still waters (v.2b), restores my soul (v.3a), and guides me in paths of righteousness (v.3b).

The passage continues and has within it a phrase that sums up the sufficiency of God; “FOR THOU ART WITH ME!” Picture a narrow passageway on a cliff; the Shepherd places himself between the sheep and the side of the cliff, guiding them along, assuring that none are lost to the dangers of the cliff.

God does this for us, providing for us along the steep and dangerous road of life. Even in the loss of a dear loved one, God is ever-present, holding us close, keeping us away from the cliff of despair if only we will let Him. “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Jos 1:5, 9)