A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller brings a shepherd’s experience to the reading of this famous passage. We more clearly understand the nuances of God’s care for us by looking at the shepherd-sheep relationship.

In understanding how shepherds care for their sheep, God’s people see how much He loves them.

People are familiar with the humble beginnings of King David. As a shepherd, he was tending his father’s flock of sheep when the prophet Samuel arrived to anoint him as the king of Israel. Afterward, instead of heading to the palace, he returned to tending sheep. Numerous psalms reflect David’s experiences as both shepherd and warrior. However, in our modern world of concrete and technology, the background’s meaning for these passages is often lost.

Looking at the most acclaimed psalm through the eyes of a shepherd will enhance one’s understanding of Psalm 23. The perspective of what the psalm means in the context of David’s life as a shepherd is certain to incline our hearts ever more toward our heavenly Father.

In this summary, you will learn:

  • the parallels between sheep and believers;
  • how Christ cares for us like the shepherd of a flock; and
  • the beauty and balance of care and correction and how love drives them both.

Sheep are bought and cared for by their shepherd, and so too are people who follow Christ.

David begins Psalm 23 with “The Lord is my Shepherd,” speaking of the God of Israel, who is Jehovah. To understand the depth of this statement, we need to look at the person of God. The Godhead consists of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The Father is the Author and Originator. The Son is the Creator – bringing the Originator’s plans to fruition. The Holy Spirit works within us to bring about spiritual understanding. The statement declaring the Lord as our Shepherd asserts, then, a relationship between creation and the Creator.

Psalm 23 is written not with David as a shepherd but with him referring to himself as a sheep under the care and control of his Shepherd, Jehovah. It is overwhelming to look ponderingly to the heavens or pick up a handful of soil. The earth is tiny compared to the Sun, and our Sun is considered a small star. And in a handful of soil, there are billions of micro-organisms. The God who created all that we can see and feel selected us. We are His special creations because He chose us. He bought us for a great price.

Sheep are owned by their shepherds and must be purchased. The sacrifice a shepherd makes to begin his flock requires a financial and emotional investment. Though the shepherd may have an immediate connection to his sheep, the sheep must learn to trust this shepherd. Just as sheep are not self-sufficient, so humans are not self-sufficient either – we just often think we are. The point is that a shepherd constantly sacrifices to give the sheep the care they need. The twenty-third Psalm shows the meticulous care a good shepherd dedicates to his flock. What the shepherd purchased and owns also draws his attention and his intention.

Likewise, Jesus bought us with His blood. He watches and cares for each of His sheep. Just as the sheep are in service to their shepherd, we are in service to the Good Shepherd, Jesus. We must decide to come under the care of this Shepherd, but when we do, our lives should reflect His ownership. Just as a shepherd has a distinct, identifying cut he puts on the ears of all his sheep, so taking up the cross identifies us as belonging to Christ.

Shepherds make provision for their sheep so they have all that they need, enabling them to rest easy.

The next line in Psalm 23 is “I shall not want.” This wanting goes beyond basic care and indicates that the sheep are so completely satisfied that there is no wanting present. Jesus warned the disciples that this life would have trouble. He immediately provides comfort in stating He has overcome the world.

New Testament passages that downplay the importance of economic wealth (such as Revelation 3:17 and Mark 10:21) show us that this provision and satiety are not simply material in nature. We also see a distinct difference between the Good Shepherd (Jesus) and the derelict owner (Satan). A good shepherd sees that needs are met while the derelict owner makes no provision for the flock.

The Good Shepherd provides peace and richness of Spirit. “Not wanting” in this context reflects that satisfaction in knowing that Christ is managing things and His capability to handle anything that comes our way exceeds our own. This lack of wanting only settles on those who fully trust the Good Shepherd. Those always looking for what might be beyond the safety of the pasture are sure to find disappointment, disillusion, and spiritual lack. 

Much like the sheep in the pasture, people panic at the unknown. We tend to run from frightening encounters, just like sheep. No wonder, then, that Christ is referred to as the Good Shepherd. As our Shepherd, Christ tends to our needs and our fears. This enables us to stop running in blind fear and simply lie down for rest. Consider the message of 2 Timothy 1:7, which teaches us that we were not given a spirit of fear. A fearful mind is disturbed, but a mind that rests in the fact that the Shepherd has everything handled is at peace.

Outside forces are certainly a concern for sheep, but like people, they deal with issues inside the flock. Rivalry, competition, and the tensions those create are present in animals and people alike. In the animal kingdom, the dominant one rises and claims the best of things, generally bullying lesser members of the flock or herd. When people compete for status, it creates rivalry. Rivalry always results in tensions. And when sheep do not feel safe in their position, they will not lie down.

Join Holy Reads to read the rest of A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller book summary.

Download the App here and access 1,000+ bestselling Christian book summaries in written, audio, and video formats