The simplicity and beauty of Psalm 23 make it arguably the most well-known and loved of the psalms. It is a picture of Jesus the good Shepherd and his relationship to his people.

Old Testament prophecies regarding Messiah promised that he would be a shepherd to his people, born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2-4). At Jesus’ birth, lowly shepherds received angelic visitors who proclaimed him and even served up an impromptu choir performance of praise. Later in Jesus’ ministry he used the imagery again, proclaiming he was the “good shepherd” (John 10:11), and that his people were his sheep. In Psalm 23, David describes that good shepherd in the present tense, marking it as a psalm describing the everyday lives of his relationship to his people. The good shepherd owns the sheep and are marked by him, and not the other way around. The shepherd cares for his sheep in many ways (leads, restores, guides, protects, disciplines, provides, defends). Finally we see that the shepherd gives himself faithfully to the sheep, promising his goodness and mercy forever. The question for us is whether or not we will give ourselves fully and faithfully to him.