The Lord My Shepherd in Psalm 23 Brings Rest

Psalm 23 is such a visual psalm, offering object lessons to help us understand how Jesus brings rest. Jesus is the Lord my shepherd and I am his sheep.

Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even 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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.

Psalm 23:1-6 WEB

Verse 1 and 2 – Food, Water & Rest

When I was in Turkey, I saw a shepherd with his sheep. While the sheep are eagerly grazing, focusing only on the grass ahead, the shepherd was watching over them, making sure they are safe. He used his rod to tap them gently when they go after grass outside the safe zone.

It led me to think about the Lord my shepherd who leads me to good safe ground. A place of plenty and a place to rest.

My study bible says that green pastures are literally pastures of tender grass. Can you imagine lying on soft tender grass? How comfortable. And the grass is within reach. I do not have to stand up to eat.

It also says that still waters are literally waters of rest. Can you imagine lying beside waters of rest? Not torrential and noisy water but gentle streams. So peaceful and relaxing.

What’s more! He has to make me lie down. It seems that I am not willing to lie down. He got to make me. And when I lie down and rest, my soul is restored.

Verse 3 – Righteousness

The eating and resting in Verse 1 and 2 can be interpreted as physical and emotional needs. Next come the spiritual restoration. After my soul is restored, I can walk in righteousness. I’m not walking towards righteousness by myself, I am already on the paths of righteousness with the Lord beside me.

Verse 4 – Protection

Joseph Prince pointed out the valley is the valley of the shadow of death, not the valley of death. A shadow is just the shape, it does not have substance. Even then, the Lord is with me. I do not have to fear.

I had a sudden vertigo episode recently and this verse comforted me greatly that this is just a shadow of death. It will pass.

Verse 5 – Holy Communion

I had always interpreted the table Jesus prepared as the final banquet. It is not. It is a table prepared when enemies are still around.

It is the Lord’s supper. The bread of Jesus’s body is prepared by the Lord, not me. My cup of Jesus’s blood runs over. Abundance of grace and righteousness is mine.

Verse 6 – Eternal Hope

In my lifetime, the Lord’s hesed runs after me. But I am in the house of the Lord forever, beyond my lifetime.

Jesus is the Shepherd

Psalm 23 did not specifically say that Jesus is the Shepherd. This was done by another bible verse 1 Peter 2:24-25.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.

For you were going astray like sheep; but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter 2:24-25 WEB

Apostle Peter wrote that Jesus is the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. We are the sheep that have gone astray.

This then reminds me of the parable of the lost sheep.

Parable of the Lost Sheep

Jesus taught in Matthew 18:12-14 and Luke 15:3-7 on the Parable of the Lost Sheep.

What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go to the mountains, and seek that which has gone astray? 

If he finds it, most certainly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. 

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:12-14 WEB

He told them this parable.

“Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?

When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’

I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

Luke 15:3-7 WEB

The parable is about how a shepherd leaves his 99 sheep to go and look for the one that wandered off.

Actually no shepherd will risk 99 sheep to go look for one. Only God does that.

Only God will go and find the lost sheep, even only one. When He find it, He will carry it on his shoulder and brings it home. He will rejoice and celebrate over that one lost sheep. It is not just God’s willingness but also His ability to keep the 99 safe while He goes and look for the lost sheep.

Ahhh, what a wonderful divine thought!

Thank you the Lord my shepherd for looking for me. Bringing me to rest and supply.

Psalm 23 Songs

Let me end this quiet time with three songs inspired by Psalm 23:

牧者 – 新造崇拜

This is a Chinese Christian song by New Creation Church Singapore. The first 2 stanzas are taken from the Psalm 23, the chorus is a response of praise.

耶稣祢是我的牧者 
我不至缺乏 
祢使我躺卧在青草地上 
领我在可安歇的水边 
祢使我的灵魂苏醒 
牵着我的手 
引导我走义路

虽我走过死荫幽谷 
也不怕遭害 
耶稣 拯救主 
祢与我同在 
你的杖和竿 都安慰我 
你用油恩膏我的头 
我必住在祢殿中直到永远 

Chorus:
主耶稣 
我的心仰望祢 
我的主 我的神 
我依靠祢 
我将一切的忧虑 
卸在祢十字架前 
因祢为了爱我而舍了已 

Times of Refreshing by Marty Nystrom

I love this song. Not only is it inspired by Psalm 23, but Marty Nystrom also prayed the psalm in the middle of the song.

Times of refreshing
Here in Your presence
No greater blessing
Than being with You
My soul is restored
My mind is renewed
There's no greater joy, Lord
Than being with You (2 x)

My soul is restored
My mind is renewed
There's no greater joy, Lord
Than being with You

Times of refreshing
Here in Your presence
No greater blessing
Than being with You
My soul is restored
My mind is renewed
There's no greater joy, Lord
Than being with You

There's no greater joy, Lord
Than being with You

No greater joy, Lord
Than being with You

Psalm 23 By Don Moen and Steve Merkel

Jesus, my shepherd and only provider
He makes me lie down in green pastures
He leads me beside the still water
He restores my soul

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me
All the days of my life
And I will dwell in house forever
Until the end of time

Jesus, my shepherd and only provider
You make me lie down in green pastures
You lead me beside the still water
You restore my soul

Though I walk through the valley of shadows
I will not be afraid
Your rod and staff are my only comfort
And You'll be with me always

You prepared a table before me
In the presence of my enemies
And you anoint my head with oil
And my cup overflows
My cup overflows with your love, with your love

Jesus, my shepherd and only provider
You make me lie down in green pastures
You lead me beside the still water
You restore my soul

Feature image credit: https://www.maxpixel.net/Shepherd-Sheep-Freedom-Vietnam-Landscape-Travel-5301698

We have come to the end of this post. I hope you have found what you are seeking. If not, keep looking. For Jesus said,

⁹ “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.

Luke 11:9-10 WEB

For God so loved you, He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for you. You are precious to Him.