What Psalm 23 Reveals about God and the Gospel

Psalm 23 is one of the most beautiful and most quoted passages in the Bible and reveals a lot about God and the gospel. It was inspired by the Spirit of God and written and sung by King David, who was an accomplished musician and poet. It has endured for three millennia and will continue forever because it is the unchangeable word of God. This compact psalm is packed with revelation about God’s heart and nature. Let’s take a look at it line by line. I will be using the New Living Translation for the most part.

The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. Psalm 23:1 (NLT) —

Here the Spirit revealed through David that God the Lord is our shepherd, who provides, guides, and protects. David called him Yahweh-raah, the Lord my shepherd. If we know and rely upon him as our shepherd, we have everything we need. Jesus is the ultimate Good Shepherd who gave his life for his sheep. (John 10:11) He did this to bring us back to the Father by providing forgiveness for our sins, setting us free from all that enslaves us, giving us life eternal through the Holy Spirit, and making us children of God through the new birth. Ultimately we will co-rule with Christ over his creation. This is what Jesus called “abundant life.” Once we come to know Jesus as our Shepherd, life will never be the same.

Gospel Hint: If we encounter a person who feels lost, abandoned, or who generally needs a “shepherd,” we should present Christ as the One they seek. He proved his love for us at the cross and his ability to take care of us at the resurrection.

Another Old Testament compound name for God was revealed to Abraham when God tested him regarding his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac. When the angel restrained his hand, Abraham saw a ram caught in the thicket that he could use in Isaac’s place. He named that place Yahweh-Jireh – the Lord who Provides.

Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, “In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.” Genesis 22:14 (NASB95) —

In the hour of his testing and obedience, God’s provision became apparent. When we truly get to know God, we find out that providing for his people is part of his nature. It is who he is. We should never doubt his kind intention to provide for our every need.

Gospel Hint: Is we find someone who is afraid that they will not have what they need, we should introduce Jesus the Good Shepherd and provider. We can always count on God to provide. If we surrender our lives to him, he graciously extends his care to us.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. Psalm 23:2 (NLT) —

For sheep green meadows and peaceful streams are part of God’s provision for them, but this verse focuses more on peace and rest. Jesus promised that he will give his disciples peace that passes natural understanding. God revealed himself to Gideon as Yahweh-shalom, the Lord who is our peace, on the day he commissioned him to fight for Israel against seemingly insurmountable odds. (Judges 6:24) Peace does not depend on our circumstances, but on God’s promises and his presence in our lives.

Jesus said that he will give us peace in the midst of the storms we encounter in life.

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 (NASB95) —

Peace is one of the defining characteristics of those who know God. It is a fruit or result of God’s Spirit inhabiting and transforming us on the inside. The more we trust and rely on our Good Shepherd, the greater our peace.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 (NASB95) —

Gospel Hint: When we encounter someone who is afraid, we should tell them about the Good Shepherd who relieves us of our fears and replaces them with peace that passes understanding. His perfect loves displaces or casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalm 23:3 (NLT) —

In this case, it is a good idea to compare the New Living Translation with the more literal New American Standard Bible, which translates this verse as follows.

He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3 (NASB95) —

Our strength is renewed as the Good Shepherd restores and heals our souls. When we are born again, God makes our spirits brand new, but our souls still need work. The new birth is once for all, but the restoration of the soul takes a lifetime. This is part of Jesus’ ministry as healer. Everywhere Jesus went he healed and restored people. He still does today, but now he uses his Spirit-filled people to accomplish the work. Before we can help others, we need to experience his healing and restorative work in our own lives.

One of the compound names of God in the Old Testament is Yahweh-raphah, the Lord who heals. (Exodus 15:26) Healing is part of God’s nature or character. It is not something we have to wrestle from him. It flows from his kind heart to hurting people. Healing and deliverance from demonic oppression accompanied the preaching of the gospel in Jesus’ and the apostles’ day. Nothing has changed in God’s plan. God means for people to experience his healing and restorative touch today, too.

Gospel Hint: If we encounter someone who has physical, emotional, or spiritual pain or disease, we should offer to pray for them as we tell them that Jesus still heals. We never know what God may do.

Right paths and paths of righteousness are different ways of looking at the same thing. God revealed himself as our righteousness in the Old Testament.

In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6 (NASB95) —

When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, he provided a right relationship with God or “justification” for those who put their faith and allegiance in him. By taking our sins upon himself and exchanging our sin with his right standing with God, we became righteous before God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) We are not self-righteous, but righteous in Christ. Apart from him we have nothing.

Now that we have right standing with God, he is working his righteousness into us on a daily basis. In other words, the Holy Spirit is transforming us on the inside so that we more and more think, speak, and act like Jesus. This allows us to “walk” as Jesus did in “paths of righteousness.” When we live like this it brings honor to God and blessings to us.

Gospel Hint: Sometimes we encounter people whose lives are a mess. We can introduce the Good Shepherd to them as the one who can restore them and get them on a path to blessings and success. It starts with their surrendering everything to Jesus the Lord and receiving all he has to offer, which is mainly himself.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (NLT) —

Everyone eventually goes through a dark place. It can be very scary, especially if we feel all alone. One of the most repeated promises in the Bible is “Do not fear. I am with you.” (Genesis 26:24, Deuteronomy 31:8, 2 Chronicles 20:17, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 14:27, and John 6:20) God revealed himself in the Old Testament as the ever-present One, Yahweh-shammah (Ezekiel 48:35). King David knew God in this way, too, as revealed in Psalm 139. Jesus also is known as the One who is present in his name Emmanuel, God with us. (Matthew 1:23) Our Lord also promised that the Holy Spirit, his executor here on earth and our helper, will always be with us.

I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; John 14:16 (NASB95) —

The Spirit’s presence in our lives is our most precious gift. Nothing compares. Because Jesus died and rose again, when we put our faith and allegiance in him, God comes to live inside us forever! We will never be alone again.

Gospel Hint: Abandonment is one of our greatest fears. Many people feel rejected and alone. Ultimately this is because our sin separated us from God. Jesus fixed this problem. All who put their faith and allegiance in him never need to be alone again.

The rod and staff represent the shepherd’s commitment to protect and guide his sheep. One of God’s compound names in the Old Testament is Yahweh-Mekoddishkem – The Lord who sanctifies you. (Exodus 31:13) God is committed to transforming us into Christ’s image as we navigate this life with his help. His loving discipline is represented by the rod. God disciplines all his children because he loves them. (Hebrews 12:6)

Gospel Hint: God accepts us just as we are, but he doesn’t leave us there. Most people would like to be better people. Only God can get us there as we learn that he is committed to transforming us on the inside without condemning us for our many failures. (John 5:24, Romans 8:1)

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Psalm 23:5 (NLT) —

God revealed himself in the Old Testament as Yahweh-nissi, the Lord our banner in battle. (Exodus 17:15) Sometimes we think that peace requires us to be delivered from the threat or presence of our enemies. God prepares a feast for us right in front of our enemies. He wants us to ignore the enemy and focus on him. The Bible teaches us the the battle is the Lord’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15) He has already defeated Satan and his evil allies. All authority in heaven and earth has already been given to our Lord Jesus. Nothing can happen to us without the permission of our Lord, and he promises to work out everything, even the bad things, for our good. (Romans 8:28)

God wants us to learn how to stand against evil. (Ephesians 6:13) We do this by understanding that we are protected by God. We are seated with Christ in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:6) Our enemies must go through God to get to us. This does not mean that we will never encounter tests, trials, or danger. It does mean that God is always with us as we go through these things. He is our victory. Our faith makes us overcomers in everything. (1 John 5:4)

Gospel Hint: When we talk to people who are in the midst of some kind of battle, we can show them that God promises to be with us in the battle and has already overcome the enemy. If we trust in him, he will give us peace in the midst of our struggles.

One of the most exciting things about being a follower of Christ is participating with him in liberating other people. When Jesus launched his earthly ministry, he quoted Isaiah 61:1 and said that God’s Spirit rested upon him, anointing him for ministry. (Luke 4:18) The anointing, which represents the Spirit’s power and presence operating in and through us, is what we need to effectively minister to others. God honors us by allowing us to participate with him.

God is not stingy. He overflows with blessings and has more than enough for all those who trust in him. This ties into God’s being our Shepherd and provider. As we are blessed by God, we can pass these on to others.

Gospel Hint: Many people live outside of God’s blessings because they have never surrendered their lives to Jesus. The gospel promises God’s richest blessings upon all who trust and follow Jesus.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6 (NLT) —

Instead of being hounded by the curse associated with sin, Jesus opened the door for us to be pursued relentlessly by God’s goodness and mercy as long as we live. When we die, we have the promise of being with God forever.

Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. John 14:1–3 (NLT) —