I just want to take a moment to write down some random thoughts that come into my mind as I meditate upon Psalm 23. I have pasted the text below and will comment after each verse.
Psalm 23:1-6 KJV; A Psalm of David. David knew a lot about sheep and shepherding. In 2 Samuel 7, as David sits in his palace admiring its splendor, Nathan the prophet reminded David where God has brought him from. “Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel:”
[1] “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Jesus said in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd : the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.” I can’t help but recall a story which Dr. SM Lockridge* related about a little girl trying to quote Psalm 23:1, and how she just couldn’t quite quote the KJV English so she said; “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD, HE’S ALL I WANT!” That sounds about right to me.
[2] “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” I never fully understood the significance of the second part of verse 2, until I read about how sheep are afraid of running water and won’t drink from fast moving streams. Jesus became one of us, so he could experience fear or anxiety.
[3] “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Isaiah says, “All we like sheep have gone astray.” Jesus said the good shepherd will find that lost sheep and rejoice when he returns it to the flock. 1 Peter 2:25 says; “For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
[4] “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” David recanted to King Saul how that he smote lions and bears when they tried to steal sheep from his fold.
[5] “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” Roughly 1000-years after David wrote this verse Jesus prepared the ritual Passover meal for his Disciples and said; Luke 22:15 “With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer:”
[6] “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” John 10:27-28 KJV “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [28] And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”
You might enjoy this short excerpt from Dr. Lockridge’s sermon entitled: “That’s My King” - https://youtu.be/VwQqQkdn_5Q