Psalm 23 – The Lord
This week’s psalm is probably the best known and most often quoted in the book of Psalms. As a prayer it is second only to the Lord’s prayer. Psalm 23 – the Lord – it begins. Who is this lord who is also a shepherd? And what does it tell us about the nature of God?
Who is this Lord?
What does it mean to call someone lord? According to Webster a lord is: one having power and authority over others; a ruler by hereditary right or preeminence to whom service and obedience are due; an owner of land or other real property; one that has achieved mastery or that exercises leadership or great power in some area (eg. a drug lord). When capitalized it refers to God or Jesus.
In Psalm 23 – the Lord, the Hebrew term used was Jehovah-Roah, translated Lord my shepherd. To call God Lord recognizes his power and authority. And yet God is also a shepherd. Why did God choose such a common place title?
There were many shepherds in Old Testament Israel. The patriarchs were shepherds, as well as Moses and David. It was a role to which most could relate. Other leaders were referred to as shepherds. King Hammurabi of Babylon called himself a shepherd, and Homer regularly styles the Greek chiefs as shepherds of their people.
In Psalm 23, the lord and master is also a shepherd: a common place person who tends sheep. Thus begins the analogy. This Lord, the great Almighty, lowers himself and becomes a shepherd, a person who cares for sheep. He leads through service, an important theme in Scripture.
Who are the Sheep?
We learn more about the Lord, through knowing the sheep. According to Wikipedia, sheep have good hearing and are sensitive to noise. They also have an excellent sense of smell. Their intelligence is just below that of pigs and equal to that of cattle. They can recognize other sheep and humans and if worked with patiently can learn their names.
Sheep are flock animals and gregarious. They tend to congregate close to other members of a flock and can become stressed when separated from their flock. They have poor depth perception: shadows and dips in the ground may cause sheep to baulk. Sheep have a tendency to move out of the dark and into well-lit areas and prefer to move uphill when disturbed. They have a strong tendency to follow. A leader may simply be the first one to move. Being a prey species, they are quick to flee from danger. This quickness to run and flocking behavior can make shepherding a difficult endeavor. Hence the need for a leader.
We, like sheep, need a leader, however we often resist this, wanting to have our own way, not wanting to let anyone be Lord over us. In this way, we may be less intelligent than sheep. Yet, if we allow our God to be Lord over us, God is a good shepherd to God’s people as we see in Psalm 23.
Psalm 23
Psalm 23 – the Lord is my shepherd, the psalm begins then we hear the characteristics of the good shepherd. The good shepherd takes care of the flock. They lack for nothing. The shepherd provides water and rest to the flock.
“The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I lack.
In green pastures he makes me lie down;
to still waters he leads me;
he restores my soul.” (1-2)
He is a leader, guiding the flock and protecting them from danger.
“He guides me along right paths
for the sake of his name.
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 comfort me.” (3-4)
He feeds the flock and pours oil on wounds.
“You set a table before me
in front of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.” (5)
Some playfully suggest that goodness and mercy are sheep dogs, protecting the rear of the flock.
“Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me
all the days of my life;
I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for endless days.” (6)
I love the image of two border collies name Goodness and Mercy nipping at my heels.
Making Psalm 23 our Own
In choosing the image of the Lord as a shepherd, the psalmist chose an image that most people could easily relate to. While still a beautiful image, it is not one to which most people today can relate.
Last fall I attended a writing workshop in Alaska. The leader of the workshop, Leslie Leyland Fields, led us through reflections on Psalm 23 using the method she proposed in her recent book on the Psalms: Nearing a Far God: Praying the Psalms with our Whole Selves.
As part of this exercise, she encouraged us to rewrite the psalm using the term for shepherd that seemed most appropriate to us. I resisted this exercise at the time. Perhaps I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind. Perhaps I resisted because I love the image of Jesus, the good shepherd, guiding this unruly group of sheep, knowing each one by name, and seeking out any that got lost.
While others came up with creative ideas, I struggled. Each one I came up with just didn’t resonate. My list: mentor, teacher, counselor, healer, guide, leader, pastor, director, friend, love, seemed so dull and blasé.
I finally chose pastor. Didn’t really work, though. While reflecting and praying this psalm today, I thought, the Lord is my muse. That worked.
The Lord is my muse, there is nothing I want. She leads me beside still waters; she restores my soul. My muse does that. She refreshes me and requires that I take care of myself, rest, even when I don’t want to. She also leads me into areas where I’d rather not go but which I must, under her guidance. It brings the psalm alive to me in a new way.
Psalm 23 – The Lord
Psalm 23 is rich with meaning, rich with symbolism. It continues to speak to new generations. Who is the Lord for you? How do you make this psalm your own? Is it shepherd? Teacher? Dance Partner? Muse?
However you see God, God is truly the good shepherd, the best shepherd. Are you willing to be led?
(For another take on the beautiful psalm, see Psalm 23: A Prescription for Health – Patricia M Robertson)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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