Psalm 23
The Lord is My Shepherd
November 16, 2025
Psalm 23
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
John 10:11
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
1. Nourishment (v.1)
v.1 – “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
“Shepherd,” substantival participle = a verbal noun
“The Lord is my feeder.”
“The Lord is the feeding One.”
John 21:17
2 Timothy 4:1–2 – “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”
2. Rest (v.2)
v.2 – “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.”
“Restore,” Hebrew: “to turn back or to recover.”
3. Direction (v.3)
v.3 – “He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Psalm 119:105
“Paths,” Hebrew: “tracks, rutted tracks from a cart or wagon.”
4. Courage (v.4a)
v.4a – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”
Romans 8:31 – “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
5. Discipline (v.4b)
v.4b – “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
“Rod,” Hebrew verb: “to slay.”
6. Protection (v.5a)
v.5a – “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
7. Satisfaction (v.5b)
v.5b – “You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
8. Hope (v.6)
v.6 – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
“Goodness,” Hebrew: “that which protects, promotes, and enhances life.”
“Mercy (Lovingkindness),” Hebrew: ḥeseḏ, “covenantal faithfulness.”