PSALM 23

The Hebrew word translated “Psalm” means “instrumental music; a poem set to notes.” The Book of Psalms was Israel’s ancient collection of hymns of praise and worship, which were widely used in temple and synagogue worship.

There are a total of 150 Psalms found in the Book of Psalms, and 73 of these are said to be written by King David. By far the most well-known of these Psalms is the beloved Psalm 23, authored by David.

David belonged to the favored nation of Israel, whom God had taken into covenant relationship with Himself at Mount Sinai. Israel had covenanted to walk in the Lord’s way and to obey His statutes; and in turn God covenanted with them that He would bless their every interest in proportion as they followed Him.

This collection of devotional material has been cherished by God’s people throughout the Gospel Age, those who make up spiritual Israel. Only those who have entered into covenant relationship with God can fully appreciate this Psalm and apply its promises to themselves. Psalm 50:5: "Gather My saints together unto Me; those who have made a Covenant with Me by sacrifice."

The Heavenly Father is specifically the Great Shepherd. By nature all mankind are sinners under God’s sentence of death, and not His sheep. But God will in due time bring all the world into his sheepfold when Christ’s Kingdom is established on earth. However, in the interim God is receiving special sheep - a “little flock” (Luke 12:32) - during this Gospel Age. This “little flock“ are those who compose Spiritual Israel and are in covenant relationship with God.

The way to come into covenant relationship with God is through Jesus. "If any man will come after Me [be My disciple], let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." There is only one way of entering the sheepfold, and that is through the door; and Jesus declared Himself to be the Door. John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

The LORD's sheep who are in relationship with Him now will lack nothing - “I shall not want.” The blessings promised to Natural Israel were earthly blessings, supplying their every earthly need. But God’s blessings to Spiritual Israel are spiritual favors. "No good thing will He withhold" from these, even chastisements and difficult experiences, that may be necessary for their spiritual development.

The Psalm assures us that, as the Lord's sheep, we will be provided with green pastures and the cool, refreshing waters of Truth. Sometimes a sheep might wander off into the wilderness, straying far from the Shepherd and attempting to feed themselves on the indigestible things of the present life, which no spiritual nature can thrive on.

But even such straying sheep the Shepherd will not leave, if they have become truly His. He goes after them. With the rod he beats off their enemies, the wolves that would injure; and with the crook of His staff He wisely and carefully assists the entangled sheep out of its difficulties, out from among the cares of this life, the temptations of wealth and sin. Many of the sheep of the Lord's flock can say, "He restoreth my soul" - He brings me back and makes me again to know and appreciate His provision for me and to see how much better it is than anything I could have provided for myself.

All mankind were born under the shadow of death, inherited from Father Adam. We are dying daily, and we are surrounded by dying conditions. But God is now leading His sheep of this Gospel Age, the Church, out of Adamic condemnation by having their sins covered through Christ Jesus. And soon He will lead the world, during Christ’s Millennial Kingdom, out of Adamic condemnation as well: "Other sheep [the world of mankind] I have, that are not of this fold [the little flock, the Church]; them also must I bring,...and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd.” John 10:16

The final result will be that there shall be no more sighing, no more crying, no more dying; but the whole world will begin to emerge from the Valley of the Shadow of Death. During Christ’s Kingdom, mankind will be rising again to the glorious heights of human perfection from which Adam fell, secured for all by the death of Jesus, "the Just for the unjust."

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
 thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

The table represents God’s provision. As already stated, Psalm 23 seems especially to apply to the Church. It is to Spiritual Israel of the present time who are prepared a table where they may partake even in the presence of their enemies. That will not be true in the future kingdom on earth because no enemies, nor anything that could hurt or injure, will then be permitted (Isa. 11:9).

Another evidence that the Psalm belongs especially to the Church of this Age is the statement, "Thou anointest my Head with oil." That holy anointing oil used on the priests and kings of Israel represented the Holy Spirit. Jesus, the Head of the Church, was anointed with the Holy Spirit at Jordan. And this same anointing oil has come down over all the members of the Church, the Body of Christ (Psalm 133:2).

The Cup signifies bitter experiences and trials in the present time, as Jesus said, "The Cup which My Father hath poured for Me, shall I not drink it?" And this was the Cup which Jesus offered to His disciples to share with him. The Cup in the present time can be bitter, but it is mixed with sweetness, in the sense that it is such a privilege to be able to participate in the sufferings of Christ, in any sacrifices or services for the Lord and His Cause.

God's goodness and mercy follows all those who are truly his day by day, moment by moment, making all things work together for our good! And if faithful unto death, we are promised that we will dwell in the heavenly House forever. Jesus said, "In My Father's House are many mansions...I go to prepare a place for you," and "I will come again and receive you unto Myself."

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Last modified: 04/04/07