English Bible Studies

1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

Psalms 23 

Introduction 

In the 1970’s, a song recorded by Lynn Anderson was a big hit. The title of the song was “Rose Garden.” The words of the chorus were, 

I beg your pardon, I never 

promised you a rose garden 

Along with the sunshine there’s 

gotta be a little rain sometime 

When you take you gotta give so 

live and let live or let go 

I beg your pardon, I never 

promised you a rose garden. 

The song reminds me that life is not always pleasant. We do not always feel optimistic or hopeful, and although we may wish that we lived in a perfect world, we live in an imperfect one. God did not promise us that living in this world would always be rosy. Problems that affect our lives happen. The Bible tells us that there will be wars and rumors of war. Where I live, crimes are committed every day. People are murdered, robbed, and other sad things happen. 

Thank goodness, Psalms 23 says all who love the Lord can have confidence in the Lord’s care. The psalmist uses the Good Shepherd as a figure of speech for the Lord Jesus. In John 10: 14-15, Jesus says I am the Good Shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. The sheep represent the people who love the Lord, His born-again people. If we trust Him, the Apostle Paul says in Romans 5:1 that we have been justified by faith. W. E. Vine says in Romans 5:1, “being justified” is “the definite time at which each person, upon the exercise of faith, was justified.” Then we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been declared righteous. As a result, we no longer should live in fear of judgment or God’s wrath. 

EXAMPLES OF WHAT GOD CAN DO 

Consider the oppression of the Israelites under the Egyptian Pharaohs. Because the Pharaohs viewed Israel as a threat to national security, they enslaved the Israelites and for years forced them into hard labor. The Israelites must have felt that there was no hope for a better life. Psalms 78:52 says, “Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.” It is a reference to the miracles of the Exodus from Egypt, which demonstrated God’s omnipotence, which means unlimited power, and covenant love. God led the children of Israel safely through the Red Sea and destroyed their enemies by drowning them in its waters. 

The Old Testament book of Daniel 6:16-18 says that Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, ” May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you! The king did not want to cast Daniel into the lions’ den, also translated as pit, but because of the law of the Medes and Persians, he had to do it. A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet ring of his Lords that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Daniel was left all alone to face his fate. Yet the King’s last words to Daniel pointed to a higher source of help. Because Daniel trusted in his God and was found blameless before him, God sent his Angel and shut the mouths of the lions so that they were unable to hurt him. The name Daniel means, “God is my Judge,” and that was affirmed. 

Paul also knew this peace even while chained to a Roman soldier. For our emotional lives, he gives rest by watching over our hearts. For our minds, he gives rest by guarding us against worry, pressure, and tension. He leads us beside still waters and restores our souls. 

1 Timothy 2:2 says that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. John MacArthur says the word “quiet” refers to the absence of external disturbances; the word “peaceable” refers to the absence of internal ones. Psalms 23:3 says, “He restores my soul.” Sheep tend to wander and get into danger, but the Good Shepherd brings them back to green pastures and quiet waters. Is it not true His born-again believers tend to wander sometimes, and the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, must bring His followers back to green pastures? 

Psalms 23 says I shall not want. It does not mean all that we want, but the Shepherd provides for all the material needs of His sheep. The word “want” means “to lack what one needs (ESV). Just as the Good Shepherd provides for all the needs of His sheep, God will supply the needs of those under his care. 

Born-again believers can find all their needs met in Christ. Philippians 4:6–7 teaches us not to be anxious, but to bring everything to God in prayer and supplication, that is, “to make a request,” with thanksgiving. When we entrust  ourselves to our loving heavenly Father, His peace which surpasses all 

understanding—guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 adds, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” John MacArthur says, “according to His riches,” meaning that God would give increase to the Philippians in proportion to his infinite resources, not just a small amount out of His riches. The same applies to all who love the Lord. 

Psalms 23:2 says, He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Green pastures and still waters picture places of peace, rest, and nourishment. The Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, provides physical and mental rest, but even more importantly, he gives those who love the Lord spiritual rest. We have peace with God, an objective reality, not merely a feeling. Because God is sovereign, He has unlimited power, a supreme ruler who is wise and loving. We can entrust every difficulty to Him. A thankful spirit also strengthens this inward peace. All people who love Him can depend on the law of the Lord as a moral and spiritual guide. It is our program of salvation and fellowship with God. 

Psalms 23:3 says, He restores my soul. The law of the Lord converts the soul from the influence of sin. The law of the Lord is firm and simple. All who love Him can claim guidance. Psalm 23:3 also says He leads me in paths of  righteousness for his name’s sake. The ESV says the paths in which God leads his faithful are the basic moral direction of their lives, toward righteousness, seen here as a blessing, not a burden, for his name’s sake. That is, to preserve His reputation for being true to His revealed character. Psalms 31:3 says For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me. The writer of the Psalms takes refuge, a place of protection, and he pleads for deliverance based on God’s righteousness and strength, which is symbolized by the rock. Psalms 85:13 says Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way. The Shepherd goes on to lead his sheep into the green pastures and the quiet still waters. He is present to guide his sheep and keep them from making the wrong turn and ending in disaster. Psalms 25:9 says He leads the humble in what is right and teaches the humble His way. Psalm 23 focuses on what Jesus does for us “all the days of our lives.” It is characterized by an expression and song of trust in God’s protection. 

Psalms 23:4 says Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Have you ever prayed that the Lord would heal a close friend or relative, but that person died anyway? I prayed my father would be healed from cancer, but when he was 48 years old, he died. I know people who have done the same thing, and because the person died anyway, they became bitter against the Lord. Ecclesiastes 3:2 says there is a time to be born and a time to die. “The valley of the shadow of death” could be a near-physical death experience. It could be that you are frightened because of something you are experiencing. The valleys of deep darkness may feel like God is far away, but Jesus reminds us in Revelation 1:18, “I am the living one.” I died, and behold, I am alive forevermore. When born-again Christians walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they are guaranteed His presence. The psalmist says in chapter 23:4 that I will fear no evil. Why? As Psalm 27:1 says, The Lord is my light and my salvation: who should I fear? 

On December 30, 2011, I looked up at the sky and had a vision. A warm white light seemed to come down from heaven and surround me, making me aware that I was standing in the presence of God. Fears were lifted. As wonderful as that experience was, something that was even more important happened to me: God changed me within. That place which makes me a living being. I became more aware of His love for me. Tears of joy flowed down my face uncontrollably. For months afterward, I could not speak about that experience without tears of joy flowing down my face. Today, that experience is still alive. 

Psalms 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” David faced problems and enemies, yet he trusted God boldly. Jesus also promises His people in Matthew 28:20, “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” 

Psalms 23:4 says, Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. The rod was an instrument of authority. The thick wooden pole was used to count the sheep and protect them from their enemies, while the staff helped guide them, especially through dark or difficult places. Together, the rod and staff symbolize the Shepherd’s protection, guidance, correction, and comfort. 

Psalms 23:5 says You prepare a table before me in the presence of my 

enemies. It is a reminder of the Lord’s table with its bread and wine. A reminder of the love of the Good Shepherd. A reminder of the One who died for his sheep. A reminder of the One who will return to claim His sheep as His property and share His victory with them. The Lord’s table is a symbol of His victory. 

Psalms 23:5 says you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. The Moody Bible Commentary says, “my head with oil” was a symbol of consecration, refreshment, and rejoicing. Psalms 16:5 says The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The writer of the Psalms wanted nothing more. All the days upon the earth. 

We have divine provision for every blessing in time. Psalms 23:6 says, 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. 

We have divine provision for every blessing in eternity. Psalms 23:6 also says that I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Revelation 21:3 says And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of  God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God  himself will be with them as their God.” It is a message for all who love the Lord, His born-again believers. The psalmist in Psalms 95: 7 says For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. What the Lord does for us “all the days of our lives.” David describes how God fully provides for the needs of his sheep. 

BORN-AGAIN BELIEVERS CAN CLAIM THE GOOD SHEPHERD’S 

CARE IS SUFFICIENT. THE GOOD SHEPHERD BEING JESUS CHRIST.