Yesterday I wrote about the last verse of Psalm 23 and today I’m going back to the beginning. In verses 1-2, David establishes the view of the Lord as our shepherd and begins describing how a shepherd cares for his flock. In Psalm 23, David draws from his experience as a shepherd and sets the stage for future descriptions of Jesus as a shepherd.

The chapter begins with the declaration, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” which establishes both the authority and the responsibility of a shepherd. By stating that The Lord is the guardian and provider of His people, David affirms his respect and trust in God.

The second statement, “He makes me lie down in green pastures,” stresses the fact that sometimes the Lord has to prod us to rest because we don’t recognize we have reached the point of exhaustion.

Finally, David shifts the tone from “makes” to “leads” in the last sentence of today’s passage, “He leads me beside still waters.” Leading is dynamically different than making and the shift reflects David’s understanding that the Lord won’t force us to receive the spiritual nourishment He offers, but will lead us toward the source of strength, refreshment, and salvation.

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