(Part 1)

JBTM Jeffrey G. Audirsch
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and the resources which sustain life.” 27 Moreover, the concept of pursuit/chase is typically
used in reference to the acts of enemies. 28 Thus, the refrain, “I shall dwell in the house of
the Lord forever,” reiterates God’s comforting presence and joyful reception of those who
submit to his authority. Reflecting on vv. 5–6, Sir Isaac Watts paraphrases,
The sure provisions of my God attend me all my days; O may your House be my abode, and
all my work be praise. There would I find a settled rest, while others go and come. No more a
stranger, or a guest, but like a child at home. 29
In many ways, Newton’s words underscore the “God-centered perspective” of Ps 23. So
many times Christians view the psalm from a human-centered perspective—want for
nothing (i.e., food, water, protection, and affirmation)—and miss the basic, and most
important, notion that God is the central figure in all of our lives.
Conclusion
As a psalm of confidence/trust, Ps 23 captures the realities of life in prayer form.
Although the psalm is divided into two sections (i.e., vv. 1–4 and vv. 5–6), I have shown
how the character of God is to provide for his people. 30 Goldingay appropriately expresses
the depth of Ps 23: “Food and water are known to fail and enemies to threaten. The psalm
invites people into a declaration of trust that is both extraordinarily courageous and coldly
rational.” 31 Thus, there will be times in life when food and water fail or become scarce and
our enemies threaten our physical, mental, and/or spiritual well-being. Even in the face
of life’s turmoil, we must recognize that God is sovereign over our lives and know that God
proudly accepts us into his presence when we submit to his authority. Personally, I have found
that these two overarching themes in Ps 23 are overlooked when strife arises in my own
life. When I find myself being shepherded in the greenest of green pastures beside crystal
clear streams, I must realize that danger can be lurking around the next pass. The dangers
of spiritual valleys can cause me to lose my footing, which can lead to enemies capitalizing
on my fragile state. When Ps 23 becomes a reality in our lives, we must remember the words
of Brueggemann: “Life with [God] is a life of well-being and satisfaction.”
27
Ibid.
28
J. Clinton McCann Jr., A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms: The Psalms as Torah
(Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1993), 131; “Preaching the Psalms,” 46–47; cf. deClaisse-Walford, Jacobson,
and Tanner, Psalms, 244; and Mays, Psalms, 118.
29
Sir Isaac Watts, “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need (Psalm 23),” in Amazing Grace: Hymn
Texts for Devotional Use, eds. Bert Polman, Marilyn Kay Stulken, and James R. Sydnor (Louisville:
Westminster John Knox, 1994), 51.
30
McCann, A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms, 131.
31
Goldingay, Psalms 1–41, 354.