Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” meaning that if we make it our priority to follow God, we have nothing to worry about, because He will take care of everything. This is the powerful promise that we find everywhere in the Bible, but perhaps the most beloved version of it is Psalm 23. This poem gives us one of the most influential biblical images in the church, but I want to help you understand today that Psalm 23 is not just an encouraging poem — it is a covenantal promise of supernatural provision, protection, and peace.

Verse 1: Our Shepherd

In verse 1, David declares, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

This image of God as our shepherd is seen all throughout the Bible, and even Jesus identifies Himself as a shepherd in John 10:11:

“I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

So why did David and Jesus choose a shepherd for this image? There are many kinds of caretakers, but the role of a shepherd would have been a familiar one to both David and Jesus’ audiences, as would many of its implications. If you have ever worked with sheep, you might know that they are often slow to learn, stubborn, and defenseless. Do those traits sound familiar? They should, because they are traits that have defined all of us at some point in our lives. Sheep would be totally and completely lost without the leadership of their shepherd, much like we are without our Good Shepherd, so by using this imagery, Jesus affirms His divine role in guiding and caring for His people, and David recognized this role all the way back in the Old Testament.

David’s use of the personal pronoun “my” in this verse also helps to give us a clearer picture of this relationship. The Lord is not just a shepherd or even the shepherd; He is my shepherd. This pronoun emphasizes David’s intimate relationship with the Lord, meaning God is not just an impersonal shepherd. He is not distant but present and personal. How wonderful it is that our God wants to intimately take care of us!

Verse 2: Protection and Peace

The next verse says, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”

Think about this image for a moment. If you feel comfortable enough to lie down or relax, you are probably in a state where you are free from fear, torment, panic, or hunger. Sheep are known for being stubborn because. His presence puts an end to fear so the sheep can lie down.

Going back to John 10:11, Jesus says that the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. The word “life” here is the Greek word psuché (ψυχή), and it refers to the mind, the will, and the emotions. It’s where we get the word “psychology.” The use of this Greek word tells us that Jesus gives and gives and gives from every part of Himself. He gives His mind, His will, and His emotions for our care and our protection. This is such a high level of commitment that He is talking about, that He is totally involved in watching over us. His whole life is committed to His sheep, and that means the entire flock. That means you! He leads, He guards, and He protects, so you do not have to be tormented over anything anymore.

When the second half of the verse says “he leadeth me beside the still waters,” there is another important promise in there. These waters are still because they represent peace and serenity — God’s supernatural peace.

Jesus talks about peace in John 14:1:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

The word “troubled” is the Greek word tarassó (ταράσσω), a well known and often used Greek word which means to be shaken, troubled, disquieted, unsettled, or perplexed. It depicts a state of anxiety or grieving. The person described with tarassó is one who feels inwardly shaken, unsettled, confused, and upset. Jesus is literally saying, “Don’t let your heart be shaken and upset.”

He says later in verse 27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Let’s look at this peace that Jesus is promising us. It is the Greek word eiréné (εἰρήνη), which is used all over the New Testament to describe the peace of God, and my friends, this word is so powerful. In ancient times, it was used to depict the cessation of conflict and war. This word says that it is time for the conflict and fighting to stop. It is a time of rebuilding and reconstruction now that the war has ceased, a time of prosperity. The rule of order has come in the place of chaos. Eiréné depicts an inner stability that results in the ability to conduct oneself peacefully even in the midst of circumstances that would normally be traumatic or upsetting. It is the Greek equivalent for the Hebrew word shalom, which expresses an idea of wholeness, completeness, or tranquility in the soul that is unaffected by outward circumstances or pressures. This is the peace He promises!

Even better than that, when Jesus says, “I leave with you,” the word “leave” is the Greek word aphiémi (ἀφίημι), meaning to permanently release. Jesus has permanently released peace to us, never to be taken back, so don’t let your heart be troubled, and don’t be gripped by fear or dread that produces cowardice. The Lord is your Shepherd, and He leads you to still waters. Just like Jesus said, Psalm 23:2 is God’s supernatural promise of protection and peace. So lie down in green pastures because the Shepherd is watching over you!

Verse 3: Restoration and Leading

In the next verse of Psalm 23, David declares, “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

In this verse, we find the promise of healing and restoration. It tells us that Jesus brings us back, repairs us, and restores what we lost, just like the promise of Jeremiah 30:17:

“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord;
because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.”

When we look into the life of our Lord, we see that Jesus specializes in restoration. In Luke 19:10, Jesus said, “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” That word “lost” is from the Greek apollumi (ἀπόλλυμι), meaning ruined, wasted, trashed, devastated, or destroyed, but Jesus came to save. “Save” comes from the Greek word sózó (σῴζω), which implies a rescue operation meant to restore to safety and soundness.

In Luke 4:18, He says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.”

Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted, and the word “brokenhearted” is the Greek word suntribó (συντρίβω), meaning to be smashed, crushed, or trampled. Maybe you feel like life has walked all over you and crushed you, but Jesus came to heal those wounds. The word “heal” in this verse is iaomai (ἰάομαι), referring to a progressive and ongoing healing. Then He says He came to bring “deliverance.” That is the Greek aphesis (ἄφεσις), meaning a permanent release from bondage. Jesus, our Good Shepherd, specializes in restoration. Friend, your Shepherd restores your soul, and when He is finished, you are not what you used to be — you are better.

The second half of Psalm 23:3 tells us that Jesus leads us, and that word “leadeth” is agó (ἄγω) and it depicts a rope tugging an animal. It is gentle but firm. He knows the safest and best path to take, and when we follow, it brings glory to His name. So don’t resist Him; just follow and let the Holy Spirit guide you!

Verses 4-5: Guidance and Anointing in Adversity

Next, David says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”

This is a powerful statement, that even when we are in dangerous situations, we do not have to fear anything!

I want you to realize that when David talked about walking through the valley of the shadow of death, he did not say he was settling down there. He was just passing through, and friend, you can walk through it too! God doesn’t want us to sit in a place of death and fear forever — He wants to help us walk through it! As a shepherd himself, David knew firsthand about the shepherd’s responsibility to protect, feed, and correct, and he has a certain image in mind when he mentions the rod and the staff. A shepherd’s staff had two ends: one to pull sheep back in line, and one to ward off predators. Thank God our Shepherd uses His rod, His power, to defend us, and His staff, His correction, to keep us safe. We can depend on Him to get us through that valley! As David says in Psalm 56:3-4, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” My friend, fix your eyes on the Lord. Trust His Word, and you’ll walk through and come out stronger on the other side.

Verse 5 tells us about the anointing that David claims in the Lord. When he said that his head is anointed with oil, David was talking about God’s hand that was on his life! Paul says in 2 Corinthians 1:21, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God.” The word “stablisheth” or “establish” is the Greek word bebaioó (βεβαιόω). This is a wonderful word that describes something that is firm, durable, dependable, or reliable. This very term was used in the ancient world to depict the lengthy and intensive investigative process involved in validating a document, so the verse paints a picture of God testing us, verifying us, and then anointing us. David had three anointings in his life — each greater than the last, because he was found faithful. If you’ll be faithful where you are, even in the midst of your enemies, then your cup, like David’s, will run over.

Verse 6: God Will Find You!

David ends this psalm with this statement:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Even after talking about the valley of the shadow of death and the enemies all around him, David wasn’t wavering — He was emphatic! God’s supernatural promise is that His goodness and mercy will hunt you down — yes, hunt you down like a lion — all the days of your life. This is not just a wishful thought. It is a declaration of absolute certainty! This is a relentless pursuit by God’s goodness and mercy. It’s His supernatural promise to you, that you will dwell in His house forever. Friend, this is not just for David — it is for you too!