Psalm 23

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, 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 they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."

"The Lord is my shepherd." David is speaking from the perspective of a spiritual sheep. There are three types of people in all of God's creation: sheep, goats, and the world. Only sheep acknowledge and embrace Jesus as Lord. Goats see Jesus as Savior, but not as the Lord of their lives because they feel they have attained eternal salvation via being born again. Their god is self and they unwittingly follow the father of lies. Those of the world are not born again and therefore have no relationship with the Lord whatsoever.

The Lord is the Good Shepherd to His sheep. Sheep are prey animals and are defenseless. They are dependent upon their Shepherd for all things; provision. protection, and guidance since they have no sense of direction whatsoever. They know the voice of the Shepherd and will not follow a stranger. They cannot carry burdens. They cannot care for themselves when they are wounded. When they are 'cast', or turned over on their backs, they cannot get up without the help of the Shepherd.

The needs of spiritual sheep are very much like those of natural sheep. We are 'prey animals' and must learn not to fight in our own strength or wisdom, for we will be defeated every time. We must learn that "the battle is the Lord's" and allow the Good Shepherd to be our strong tower, our shield and buckler, our Great Defense. We must "become as little children". Matthew 18:3 - "Truly I say unto you, Except you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." Children are absolutely dependent upon someone to take care of them for all their needs; so must we be absolutely dependent upon our heavenly Father to meet all of our needs. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19 The Good Shepherd's voice is known by His sheep. "And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." (John 10:4) He is our burden bearer: "Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you." (I Peter 5:7) He binds up our wounds. "Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he has torn, and he will heal us; he has smitten, and he will bind us up." (Hosea 6:1-2) The Good Shepherd will seek that which is lost and in peril. "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?" (Luke 15:4) The Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep for His love for those who call upon His name is without measure.

"I shall not want." David uses the future tense "shall" to speak of a time where there is no want. The Hebrew word for want used here is chacer - which means "lack, fail, decrease, fall". He speaks of a time where he will lack nothing, will not fail at anything, will not experience decrease but only increase, and he will not stumble or fall. He is speaking of entering into His rest where he ceases from his works and the Lord Himself fills him to work in him and through him. He is speaking of Galatians 2:20 where it is no longer he who lives, but Christ in him. In the beginning, sheep will make unwise decisions because they tend to use the carnal mind and lean to their understanding. They will seek those things they think they want but are not in their best interest. They will make selfish decisions. But as they mature, they progressively yield to the influence of His Spirit and their desires change from thinking only of themselves, to thinking more of others - esteeming others needs greater than their own. Their perspective will change from self centeredness to focusing on the will of the Lord. In maturity, the sheep will become led of His Spirit and will no longer fulfill the lusts of the flesh. They will overcome sin. They will no longer want that which is of the world. "But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:4)

"He makes me to lie down in green pastures." In the English language, "makes" would be similar to "forces". The Lord does not force us to do anything. All He accomplishes in our lives is with our cooperation, our willingness to surrender our will to His. The Hebrew word for makes as used here is shavah - which means to "level, equalize, adjust, bring forth". A better way of saying "He makes me to lie down" is to say "He brings me forth to rest". Again, David is speaking of entering into His rest. To lie down is to rest, to cease from working. Green speaks of life. The Hebrew word for pastures as used here is naah - which means "a home, habitation, pleasant place". The Lord, bringing us to perfection on the way that leads to life, will bring us to enter behind the veil to abide with Him and sit with Him in His throne if we allow Him. "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:21)

"He leads me beside the still waters." The Hebrew word for beside as used here is al - which means "above, over, upon, against". Still waters are putrid because there is no movement to bring cleansing. The Hebrew word for waters as used here is mayim - which means "waste water". This makes no sense unless we see how "waters" is used elsewhere in the word of God. "And he said to me, The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." (Revelation 17:15) The "still waters" represent the goats, the Harlot church, Babylon. The Lord leads His sheep to rise above that which is of the world and to recognize the worldliness in those who profess to know Him, but are carnally minded. Jeremiah well prophesies of those that are of the Harlot. "For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? no, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, says the Lord". (Jeremiah 6:13-15) The Lord will use His sheep that have entered into His rest to cry come out of her, My people. "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4)

"He restores my soul." The Hebrew word for restores as used here is shuwh - which means "turn back, retreat, return to starting point". The Hebrew word for soul as used here is nephash - which means "breathing creature, mind, person, self". In Genesis 2:7, "the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." In the soul of man was a mind that was pure and innocent. The mind of man at this time was uncorrupted by sin. The carnal mind had not yet come into manifestation. When Adam sinned and did not repent, he became carnally minded. The Lord's plan is to renew us, to bring our minds back to the starting point with the innocence and purity of mind He created us to have. "And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2)

"He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake." The paths of righteousness are the way that leads to life. There are paths (plural), for each of us are fearfully and wonderfully made and differ in that which must be overcome to bring us to enter into His rest. The Lord deals with each of us as individuals, with differing strengths and weaknesses, and differing giftings and callings. In His wisdom, He created a body designed to fitly join together to accomplish His purpose. His purpose is to have intimate fellowship with those who are like Him; those who are His image and His likeness; for His name's sake. The Hebrew word for name's as used here is shem - which means "honor, authority, character". The Hebrew word for sake as used here is maan - which means "purpose or intent". He leads His sheep along the way that leads to life to accomplish His purposes. He desires to bring forth life in us, bring His nature and character to manifest in us, and to use us as vessels of deliverance for those who walk in darkness..

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death." David is describing a journey. He is walking on the way that leads to life. He describes the path as a valley. The Hebrew word for valley as used here is gay (pronounced gah-ee) - which means "gorge with lofty sides, narrow". When one is born again, he steps onto this way that leads to life - a narrow way that few find. "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:14) This narrow way only has two directions: forward or back. It is like a gorge with lofty sides in which you cannot turn to the right or to the left.

Those that turn back are the goats - and spiritual death awaits them. "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6) Sheep will press on to find life. "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39) This valley has a shadow of death. The Hebrew word for shadow as used here is Tsalmonah - which means "grave, calamity, shadow of death". The shadow is created by the presence of the light of the Lord, revealing all that needs to die in us - that which is of the world. This is not a place of physical death, but of death to all that is of us that the Lord may fill us with that which is of Him. "He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:30)

"I will fear no evil". The Hebrew word for evil as used here is ra - which means "adversity, affliction, harm, trouble". Adversity in all manner of forms is what a sheep will experience as he walks this journey. As a sheep presses on, he will learn that the adversity, which he formally found so distasteful, is actually for his benefit to break him, humble him, and conform him to the image of his Lord. Adversity is what the Lord uses to prune us so that we may produce more fruit. A sheep will learn to embrace the suffering with praise and thanksgiving as he is brought to understand the love of the Lord. "For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives." (Hebrews 12:6) "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalms 34:19)

"For you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me." The Lord walks this path with us. He never leaves us or forsakes us. "Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord your God, he it is that goes with you; he will not fail you, nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6) His rod is the rod of correction. "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." (Proverbs 22:15) His rod also represenrs His protection. He delivers us from evil. His staff represents His support. The Hebrew word for staff as used here is misheneth - which means "support, sustenance." All that we need is provided by the Lord as we deny self and take up our cross daily. His rod and staff bring comfort. The Hebrew word for comfort as used here is nacham - which means "sigh, breathe strongly, console, repent". "Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4) To know the Lord is to know His goodness. His goodness is His glory. Moses said in Exodus 33:18; "I implore you, show me your glory." God answered in verse 19 - "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy."

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." The Lord is giving David a vision of what lays ahead as a reward for his faithfulness. He sees a table, laden with all his heart could desire - a representation of the abundant provision of the Lord for which he will not labor, for he has entered into rest and ceased from his own works. We enter into His rest through being crucified with Christ and being brought to the end of ourselves - dead to all that is of this world. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) In the day of Jesus Christ, those before whom the Lord appears will be judged as righteous, for they have died to all that is of this world. "His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23)

The now manifest son of God will walk in abundant blessings that come easily to him. This makes his accusers jealous, for they cannot understand how this can be. The demonic realm that was used to bring affliction and suffering, is now unable to touch him and unable to stop him; for it is the Lord Himself now living in him. The Lord openly rewards His servant in the presence of his enemies. "And the Lord gave them rest round about, according to all that he swore unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hand." (Joshua 21:44)

"You anoint my head with oil." The spiritual meaning of head is mind or thought. The spiritual meaning of oil is the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for anoint as used here is dashen - which means "make fat, satisfy, abundance". It is the Holy Spirit who leads and guides us into all the truth, i.e., leads us to know The Truth who is Jesus. In this process we must be transformed by the working of the Holy Spirit. Our minds must be renewed. "And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2) This is an ongoing process until we receive the mind of Christ.

"My cup runs over." The Hebrew word for cup as used here is kowc - which means "container, to hold together". The Hebrew word for runs (over) as used here is revayah - which means "abundant satisfaction, satiate, soak". David is speaking of a time when his spirit (the container that holds things together), is filled to the overflowing. He has received the mind of Christ. The excess, the glory of the Lord, may now spill out to touch other's lives. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) This is the Lord's plan for His people, that the Lord Himself would manifest to the world in His people that have laid down their lives that they would find life, know the Lord, and become His image. The Lord Himself will speak the word of the Lord through His manifest sons. Every eye will see Him. "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14)

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." As we seek to know the Lord and continue to walk on the way that leads to life, His hand will be upon us. Goodness and mercy will follow us. His blessings will be poured out upon us. He will be our provider, protector, and guide. He will give us the desires of our hearts, or rather, will place His desires for us in our hearts. He will fill us with wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and revelation. He will show us great and mighty things that we know not.

"And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." The word of God reveals, not just in this Psalm, but throughout the word of God, that we can know the Lord intimately in this life. We can dwell in Him, abide in Him. We can fellowship with Him in the secret place of the Most High. "He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1) David was given great revelation concerning knowing the Lord. He was a man after God's own heart. We have been given the potential to dwell in the house of the Lord in this life and forever. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacks these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and has forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall." (II Peter 1:4-10)