(Part 1)
JBTM_13-2_Fall_2016
JBTM_13-2_Fall_2016
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JBTM Jeffrey G. Audirsch<br />
61<br />
Turning to the text itself, Ps 23 is about daily activities (e.g., eating, drinking, seeking<br />
protection) “in a radically God-centered perspective.” 10 This God-centered perspective<br />
can be summed up as “life with [God] is a life of well-being and satisfaction.” 11 The way<br />
shepherding imagery is used to express life’s “well-being and satisfaction” corresponds<br />
with other metaphors used to describe God. In the Old Testament, three metaphors,<br />
among many, evoke a powerful image of God: father, husband, and shepherd. All of these<br />
metaphors emphasize devotion, compassion, gentleness, and security. 12<br />
As noted above, Ps 23 is viewed as the work of David. Contextually speaking, the<br />
shepherding imagery is better understood within the context of the whole flock rather<br />
than an individual sheep. 13 This is certainly the case elsewhere in the Old Testament when<br />
the shepherding imagery is used. For example, God is described as the “Shepherd of Israel”<br />
in Ps 77:21 and 80:2 (see also Isa 40:11 and Ezek 34:11–16). Additionally, the “flock” imagery<br />
is used several times as a metaphor for people (e.g., Ps 74:1; 77:21; 78:52; 79:13; 95:7; 100:3).<br />
Thus, the metaphors of shepherd and flock can be used in singular cases (e.g., God/David in<br />
Ps 23) and plural cases (e.g., the Shepherd of Israel/Flock in Ps 77). The interchangeability<br />
of these metaphors makes Ps 23 both singular and plural—meaning the text can be applied<br />
to an individual (i.e., sheep) or a group of people (i.e., flock). In the conclusion, I will return<br />
to the implications of the flock being a metaphor for the people.<br />
Exposition<br />
Psalm 23 is framed by expressions of confidence in vv. 1 and 6: “The Lord is my shepherd;<br />
I shall not want” (v. 1) and “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” 14 Verses 2 and 4<br />
capture the herding imagery through references to feeding/watering (v. 2) and shepherding/<br />
protecting (v. 4). Verses 3 and 5 emphasize the “ruler patronage” through the restoring<br />
of the soul (v. 3) and restoring of strength through the table metaphor (v. 5). 15 Above, I<br />
explained that Ps 23 describes how “life with [God] is a life of well-being and satisfaction.”<br />
Though this is true, the metaphors of shepherd/flock imply that God will provide when we<br />
submit to his authority. This teaching is rooted in the “leading” of God in vv. 2–3. A shepherd<br />
cannot make sheep eat/lie down or stop/drink water. The flock must be willing to submit<br />
and follow the shepherd. The covenantal language of Exod 6:7 reiterates this relationship:<br />
“I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am<br />
10<br />
J. Clinton McCann, “Psalms,” in The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol 4., eds. Adele Berlin, Robert<br />
Duran, and Carol Newsom (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), 767.<br />
11<br />
Brueggemann, The Message of the Psalms, 155.<br />
12<br />
On the characteristics of the shepherd, see Gene Rice, “An Exposition of Psalm 23,” Journal of<br />
Religious Thought 52 (1995): 72.<br />
13<br />
Goldingay, Psalms 1–41, 348.<br />
14<br />
All translations are from the English Standard Version unless otherwise noted.<br />
15<br />
The use of similar/parallel themes in vv. 1 and 6, vv. 2 and 4, and vv. 3 and 5 draw upon principles<br />
3 and 4 in the “Guiding Principles for Interpreting Poetry.”