In the Bible, David is most famous for defeating the Philistine giant Goliath but he also wrote many of the Psalms. Psalms 23 is a favorite of healers and devote worshipers because of the message of protection and love it carries. Although the date of the poem is unknown, the message of the poem is clear—with the Lord as his protector, David will not want for any necessity he needs to live. In addition, Psalms 23 illustrates the belief that by completely trusting God and having confidence in his plan, David can get through any situation he may find himself in.
Psalms 23 begins with an analogy that David could make based on his own experience as a sheep farmer. The poem’s first line read, “The Lord is my shepherd,” in which David compares himself to a sheep in need of guidance and God as the shepherd willing to guide his flock on the right path. David maintains this analogy throughout the poem, mentioning the relationship between a shepherd and his flock several times. David writes of “paths,” “green pastures,” and “still waters,” referencing common themes in the life of a shepherd attempting to maintain his flock (Ps 23. 1-3). The strongest connection to David’s life as a shepherd comes with the symbolic use of the tools of a rod and staff which shepherds use on their flocks to guide them. David writes, “Your rod and Your shaft they comfort me,” again reaffirming that the tools the Lord uses to guide David, as well as the act of guiding him, provide a sense of security and peace of mind for David (Ps 23. 8-9).
The most striking imagery of Psalms 23 is the brief description of the Lord’s guidance through troubled times—“Yes, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil” (Ps 23. 6-7). The phrase “the valley of a the shadow of the death” brings to mind images of deserts and feelings of hopelessness; however David’s assurance that even amidst that hopelessness he will fear no evil because the Lord is with him punctuates the powerful message of Psalms 23 that accepting the Lord’s guidance will lead to eternal salvation. Whether or not one believes in God and salvation, the powerful imagery and relatable analogies provide a stirring message of love and protection from both internal and external evils.
Works Cited
The Holy Bible: Containing the Old and New Testaments. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987. Print.
