In the entire Bible, there may not be a series of verses better known by both Jews and non-Jews than Psalm 23. People have plaques of it posted in their homes, and there have been thousands of artistic renderings of the mental picture invoked by its powerful words.
These six verses written by the psalmist and shepherd reach deep into the heart of those who believe and provide hope to those searching.
Psalm 23:1-6:
“A psalm of David. Adonai is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the House of Adonai forever.”
Within these few verses, we find G-D’s promise of rest and provision in green pastures. We find G-D’s promise of peacefulness in still waters. We find G-D’s promise of restoration for our souls. We find G-D’s promise of guidance in righteousness. We find G-D’s promise of victory over death. We find G-D’s promise of victory over fear of evil. We find G-D’s promise to be with us. We find G-D’s of protection. We find G-D’s promise of comfort. We find G-D’s promise of peace, even when surrounded by our enemies. We find G-D’s promise of anointing. We find G-D’s promise of overflowing blessing. We find G-D’s promise of His goodness and mercy. We find G-D’s promise of dwelling forever with Him.
For most of us, as believers in the G-D of the Bible, we read these verses and our attention is drawn to these amazing promises. We proclaim the open words of the first verse: “Adonai is my shepherd, I shall not want…” and because of the list of promises that follow these first eight words, we interpret the word “want” in the verse in relation to the promises that follow it. In other words, we read the verse this way.
Because G-D is my shepherd, I will never lack for… and then we read the list of promises.
However, I would like to suggest that we view these eight words from a different perspective.
What if the psalmist’s intention was to say: “Adonai is my shepherd, so I will not want another shepherd,” or “Because Adonai is my shepherd, I will never be shepherdless?”
When we look at this verse through this lens, it brings new meaning to the words of Yeshua that we read in Matthew 6. These are words that were Yeshua’s instructions to His disciples telling them how to pray, which closes with these words:
Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
This view also helps us understand the words Yeshua spoke in John 10:
John 10:2-1: “But he who enters through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice. The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. “When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them; and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Yeshua told them this parable, but they did not understand what He was telling them. So Yeshua said again, “Amen, amen I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All those who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate! If anyone comes in through Me, he will be saved. He will come and go and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly! “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”
So, the bottom line is, If we really “want” Yeshua to be our shepherd, we will never want another shepherd. But, if we don’t choose Yeshua as our shepherd, we will always be in want of a shepherd and everything else.
The choice is ours. We must enter through the door of the sheepfold. We must choose to make Him our shepherd. We have to decide what we want.
Commenti