Bible Question: WHAT THE 23RD NUMBER WAS WRITTEN WHAT HAD DAVID GONE THROUGH? WHAT WAS HIS REASON FOR WRITTING IT? |
Bible Answer: Psalm 23 "This psalm is probably the best known passage of the OT. It is a testimony by David to the Lord's faithfulness throughout his life. As a hymn of confidence, it pictures the Lord as a disciple's Shepherd-King-Host. David, by using some common ancient Near Eastern images in Psalm 23, progressively unveils his personal relationship with the Lord in 3 stages. I. David's Exclamation: "The Lord is My Shepherd" (23:1a) II. David's Expectations (23:1b-5b) A. "I Shall Not Want" (23:1b-3) B. "I Will Fear No Evil" (23:4,5b) III. David's Exultation: "My Cup Runs Over" (23:5c-6)" (MacArthur Study Bible) The Believer's Study Bible states, "Psalm 23: 23:1 This psalm is one of the most beloved passages of the Bible, one of the crown jewels of Scripture. Although it is customarily thought of as the “Shepherd Psalm,” and rightly so, this psalm of David actually encompasses three distinct scenes: (1) the shepherd scene (vv. 1-4), (2) the host or banquet scene (v. 5), and (3) the home or heavenly scene (v. 6). The shepherd motif is used here and elsewhere in the O.T. (cf. Isa 40:11; Ezek 34:11) to characterize God, and it is also a marvelous foreshadowing of the "Good Shepherd," who loves the flock (v. 1; cf. John 10:11-15), feeds the flock (v. 2; cf. John 10:9; 21:15-17; Acts 20:28), tends and cares for the flock ("restores my soul," v.3; cf. Isa 40:11; John 21:15-17; 1 Pet 5:1-4), protects the flock ("rod," v. 4; cf. John 10:11-15; Acts 20:29-32), and seeks the lost and straying sheep ("staff," v. 4; cf. Luke 15:3-7). The sense of the second line might be paraphrased, "What more could I want?" 23:2 "Still waters" denotes the calm water necessary for sheep to drink. 23:4 The "rod" (a short club used to fight off wild animals) represents protection; the "staff" (a long shepherd’s stick with a crook) depicts guidance. 23:5-6 Though many expositors combine these verses, there is definitely a change in David’s thought pattern. Verse 5 pictures a guest at a banquet, even with enemies present. This symbolizes God’s protective care over His children in the midst of a wicked and antagonistic world (cf. Phil 2:15). Verse 6 is finally the heavenly scene; no enemies are present here to oppose God’s children." |