Psalms 23

Ps 23:1-6.

Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which

David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing

refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording

grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor.

1. Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the

figure of a shepherd

(Joh 10:14;

Heb 13:20;

1Pe 2:25; 5:4),

and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described,

and in

Ge 48:15;

Ps 80:1;

Isa 40:11,

is not without some good reason.

2. green pastures--or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not

in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest.

the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet

flow invites to repose. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on

the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other.

3. To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it

(Ps 19:7),

or relieve it

(La 1:11, 19).

paths of righteousness--those of safety, as directed by God, and

pleasing to Him.

for his name's sake--or, regard for His perfections, pledged for

His people's welfare.

4. In the darkest and most trying hour God is near.

the valley of the shadow of death--is a ravine overhung by high

precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to

inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey.

While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not

exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and

which its terms suggest.

thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. By them

he guides his sheep.

5, 6. Another figure expresses God's provided care.

a table--or, "food," anointing

oil--the symbol of gladness, and the overflowing

cup--which represents abundance--are prepared for the child of

God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor

will ever attend him. This beautiful Psalm most admirably sets before

us, in its chief figure, that of a shepherd, the gentle, kind, and sure

care extended to God's people, who, as a shepherd, both rules and

feeds them. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned

are spiritual.