Psalm 23 - Gleanings in the Psalms

There is no inspired title to this psalm, and none is needed, for it records no special event, and needs no other key than that which every Christian my find in his own bosom. — C.H.S

Verse 1. "The Lord is my shepherd: I shall not want." One mark of a good shepherd is skill to judge and know his sheep; and thus it is a usual thing to set a brand upon sheep, so that if they go astray the shepherd may seek them and bring them home again. Christ affirmeth the same thing of Himself: – "I know my sheep," He says, "and they follow me." John 10 verse 27. A good shepherd must also have a will to FEED his sheep according to his calling; the Lord above all others does this. But how earnest He is with Peter to "feed His sheep", urging him into it three times. A good shepherd is also to DEFEND his sheep. The Lord has every way provided for the safety and defence of His flock as David confesses in verse 4 of this psalm: – "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me". It is his duty, too, that if any of his sheep be weak and feeble, or his lambs young, for their safety he will bear them in his arms. The Lord is not wanting to us herein: "He shall gather the lambs with his arms, and carry them in his bosom". Isaiah 40 verse 11. And lastly, it is the place of a good shepherd to REJOICE when the strayed sheep is brought home. The Lord doth thus rejoice at the conversion of a sinner: – "Rejoice with me, for the sheep that was lost is found." Luke 15 verse 4.

Verse 2. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters". Here are many pastures, and every pasture rich so that it can never be eaten bare. Here are many streams, and every stream so deep and wide that it can never be drawn dry. The sheep have been eating in these pastures ever since the Lord had a church upon earth, and yet they are as full of grass as ever. The saints have been drinking at these streams ever since Adam, and yet they are brim full to this very day; and they will so continue until the sheep are above the use of them in heaven.

Verse 3. "He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." The subjects experimentally treated in this verse are – (1) The believer's liability to fall or deviate even within the fold of the church; or why should he need to be "restored"? (2) The promptitude of the Good Shepherd to interpose for his rescue – "HE restoreth my soul". (3) The Lord's subsequent care to "lead me in the paths of righteousness". (4) The reason why He will perform this rescue; all is resolved into the spontaneousness the supremacy, the omnipotence of grace. He will do all, 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". Every word here has a wealth of meaning. "Yea, though I WALK …" As if the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly WALKED with God. The dying place is called a "valley". The storm breaks on the mountain, but the valley is the place of quietude. The mountain is bleak and bare, but the valley is rich with golden sheaves, and many a saint has reaped more joy and knowledge when he came to die than he ever knew while he lived. And then, it is not the valley "of death" but the "valley of the SHADOW of death", for death in its substance has been removed and only the shadow of it remains. The shadow of a dog cannot bite: the shadow of a sword cannot kill: the shadow of death cannot destroy us. Let us not, therefore, be afraid – "I will fear no evil". If we had no troubles but REAL troubles, we should not have a tenth part of our present sorrows. We feel a thousand deaths in fearing one, but the psalmist was cured of the disease of fearing. "THOU ART with me." The little child out at sea on the storm is not frightened; it is asleep on its mother's bosom. It is enough that its mother is there. And it should be enough for the believer to know that Christ is with him. "Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me". I will believe that thou reignest still. The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign comfort of my soul.

Verse 5. "Thou preparest a table … my cup runneth over." Why doth the Lord make your cup run over, but other men's lips may taste the liquor?

Verse 6. "Surely goodness and mercy … and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever". Before he set down this resolution he numbered the many benefits received from the Lord. He had been led into "green pastures"; would be kept in "the valley of death", and before his "enemies"; therefore, to the end.

Gleanings in the Psalms

(Psalm 23)