(Part 1)

JBTM Jeffrey G. Audirsch
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Turning to the text itself, Ps 23 is about daily activities (e.g., eating, drinking, seeking
protection) “in a radically God-centered perspective.” 10 This God-centered perspective
can be summed up as “life with [God] is a life of well-being and satisfaction.” 11 The way
shepherding imagery is used to express life’s “well-being and satisfaction” corresponds
with other metaphors used to describe God. In the Old Testament, three metaphors,
among many, evoke a powerful image of God: father, husband, and shepherd. All of these
metaphors emphasize devotion, compassion, gentleness, and security. 12
As noted above, Ps 23 is viewed as the work of David. Contextually speaking, the
shepherding imagery is better understood within the context of the whole flock rather
than an individual sheep. 13 This is certainly the case elsewhere in the Old Testament when
the shepherding imagery is used. For example, God is described as the “Shepherd of Israel”
in Ps 77:21 and 80:2 (see also Isa 40:11 and Ezek 34:11–16). Additionally, the “flock” imagery
is used several times as a metaphor for people (e.g., Ps 74:1; 77:21; 78:52; 79:13; 95:7; 100:3).
Thus, the metaphors of shepherd and flock can be used in singular cases (e.g., God/David in
Ps 23) and plural cases (e.g., the Shepherd of Israel/Flock in Ps 77). The interchangeability
of these metaphors makes Ps 23 both singular and plural—meaning the text can be applied
to an individual (i.e., sheep) or a group of people (i.e., flock). In the conclusion, I will return
to the implications of the flock being a metaphor for the people.
Exposition
Psalm 23 is framed by expressions of confidence in vv. 1 and 6: “The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want” (v. 1) and “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” 14 Verses 2 and 4
capture the herding imagery through references to feeding/watering (v. 2) and shepherding/
protecting (v. 4). Verses 3 and 5 emphasize the “ruler patronage” through the restoring
of the soul (v. 3) and restoring of strength through the table metaphor (v. 5). 15 Above, I
explained that Ps 23 describes how “life with [God] is a life of well-being and satisfaction.”
Though this is true, the metaphors of shepherd/flock imply that God will provide when we
submit to his authority. This teaching is rooted in the “leading” of God in vv. 2–3. A shepherd
cannot make sheep eat/lie down or stop/drink water. The flock must be willing to submit
and follow the shepherd. The covenantal language of Exod 6:7 reiterates this relationship:
“I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am
10
J. Clinton McCann, “Psalms,” in The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol 4., eds. Adele Berlin, Robert
Duran, and Carol Newsom (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), 767.
11
Brueggemann, The Message of the Psalms, 155.
12
On the characteristics of the shepherd, see Gene Rice, “An Exposition of Psalm 23,” Journal of
Religious Thought 52 (1995): 72.
13
Goldingay, Psalms 1–41, 348.
14
All translations are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.
15
The use of similar/parallel themes in vv. 1 and 6, vv. 2 and 4, and vv. 3 and 5 draw upon principles
3 and 4 in the “Guiding Principles for Interpreting Poetry.”