So I have been holding out on releasing my thoughts on this psalm, mostly because 1)So much has been written on it by others, what do I have to say about it? 2)I have so much that I would like to say about it…. and 3)the word picture I have in my mind is more intense than any photo or painting, therefore I can’t find a picture to post with it.
Just the phrase, “the twenty-third psalm,” has a status that is reached by only a handful of references in Scripture: John 3:16; Romans 8:28; 1Corinthians 13; and perhaps a few others. No doubt this status is attained to in large part because of the accomplishments it has made: the nostalgia to the preschool Sunday school class, security to the soldier at war, strength to the hurting, comfort to the bereaved.
This is perhaps the most loved psalm by God’s people. Countless numbers of tunes have been put to this song – A psalm of David, the shepherd.
David was a shepherd for some time, and in this beautiful psalm he ascribes God as his shepherd. Jesus was known as the Shepherd of his people, (see John 10:11, 14; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4; and Revelation 7:17) And God is described as a Shepherd in theses Scriptures:
Psalm 78:70–71 (NIV84)
He chose David his servant
and took him from the sheep pens;
from tending the sheep he brought him
to be the shepherd of his people Jacob,
of Israel his inheritance.
2 Samuel 5:2 (NIV84) In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ ”
Isaiah 44:28
who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd
and will accomplish all that I please;
he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,”
and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.” ’
Jeremiah 3:15 (NIV84) Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.
Jeremiah 23:1–4 (NIV84) “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. 3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.
Micah 5:4 (NIV84)
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
verse1 I shall not be in want God gives us all we need! We may want “toys,” we may even lack in the so called necessities of life; 
clothes, food, and shelter—- But God still will provide the spiritual resources that is needed for us to make it! We declaring God as our provider, even in times of scarcity. As I was looking at the the phrase “It is well with my soul” the thought came to me that is a declaration of faith as much, or more, than it is a state-of-being statement. Likewise, “I shall not be in want”.
David has a confident trust in his shepherd, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 1 will fear NO EVIL, for you are with me. . .”
We all need to take a lesson from this psalm. If we would surrender all to the Good Shepherd he will prepare a table in the presence of our enemies. Then surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life. That is such an encouragement to me- and then if we are faithful to our Shepherd through all of the time, we will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER.
There has been much written on this psalm. It’s been precious and meaningful to millions down through the centuries.
When I was a youngster my dad one day brought home a day old bottle lamb for me. I named her Molly. She grew up to be a sheep that knew my voice. She taught me things about on how to be a pastor (another shepherd term) that the seminary did not, could not, teach or explain. May be some day I will do a blog post about “My Seminary Professor, Molly the Sheep.”