The psalm’s title associates it with David, who, of course, was a shepherd as a young man (1 Sam. 16:11) and was also called to shepherd the people of Israel as their king (2 Sam. 5:2).

It is an inexhaustible name, like its bearer. Chiefly, it refers to God’s timelessness, on the one hand, and to his self-sufficiency, on the other. Self-sufficiency means that God needs nothing. He needs no wisdom from anyone else; he has all wisdom in himself. He needs no power; he is all-powerful. He does not need to be worshiped or helped or served. Nor is he accountable to anyone. He answers only to himself.

Timelessness means that God is always the same in these eternal traits or attributes. He was like this yesterday; he will be like this tomorrow. He will be unchanged and unchangeable forever.

He is the great “I am.”

Phillip Keller is a pastor and author who for eight years was himself a shepherd. Out of that experience he has written A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. It throws light on this and other statements. Sheep do not lie down easily, Keller says. In fact, “It is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met. Owing to their timidity they refuse to lie down unless they are free of all fear. Because of the social behavior within a flock sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others of their kind. If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests can they relax. Lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel in need of finding food. They must be free from hunger.”

Fear. Friction. Flies. Famine. Sheep must be free from each of these to be contented. And as Keller notes, only the shepherd can provide the trust, peace, deliverance, and pasture that is needed to free the sheep from them.

Phillip Keller explains this by the situation known to shepherds as a “cast (or cast down) sheep.” What happens is this. “A heavy, fat or long-fleeced sheep will lie down comfortably in some little hollow or depression in the ground. It may roll on its side slightly to stretch out or relax. Suddenly the center of gravity in the body shifts so that it turns on its back far enough that the feet no longer touch the ground. It may feel a sense of panic and start to paw frantically. Frequently this only makes things worse. It rolls over even further. Now it is quite impossible for it to regain its feet.” In this position gases build up in the body, cutting off circulation to the legs, and often it is only a matter of a few hours before the sheep dies. The only one who can restore the sheep to health is the shepherd.

Sheep are foolish creatures. In fact, they are probably the most stupid animals on earth. One aspect of their stupidity is seen in the fact that they so easily wander away. They can have a good shepherd who can have brought them to the best grazing lands near an abundant supply of water, and they will still wander away to where the fields are barren and the water undrinkable. They are creatures of habit. They may be brought to good grazing land by their shepherd, but, having found it, they may keep on grazing until every blade of grass and every root is eaten; the fields are ruined, and they themselves are impoverished. No other class of livestock requires more careful handling than do sheep. Therefore, a shepherd who will move them from field to field yet always keep them near an abundant supply of water is essential for their welfare.

In biblical imagery oil and wine also speak of joy and prosperity, since olives and grapes take time to grow and oil and wine require time to prepare. In periods of domestic turmoil or war these tasks were not performed.

Moreover, oil and wine were highly valued in the dry, barren lands of the Near East. In Palestine, where the sun shines fiercely most of the year and the temperatures continually soar up into the hundreds, the skin becomes cracked and broken and throats become parched. Oil soothes the skin, particularly the face. Wine clears the throat. When a guest arrived at the home of a friend, hospitality demanded the provision of oil and wine so the ravages of travel might be overcome. David spoke of this, though somewhat differently, when he prayed, “O LORD, … let your face shine on your servant” (Ps. 31:14, 16). A shining face was the face of a friend. In another passage David thanks God for “wine that gladdens the heart of man” and “oil [that makes] his face shine” (Ps. 104:15).

If we will allow God to lead us where he will, we will find that a table has been prepared for us, our heads have been anointed with purest oil, and our cups have been filled to overflowing with the wine of true joy.

God is the royal shepherd who cares for his people. The psalmist expresses this relationship in an intensely personal and intimate manner. God is a shepherd to him, and, as such, protects and guides the psalmist on the right paths (v. 3b). The second part of the psalm introduces a new metaphor: God as host of a banquet at which the psalmist is an honoured guest.

Ezekiel predicted Messiah’s role as shepherd (Ezek. 37:24), and so did Micah (Mic. 5:2, 4 [1, 3], fulfilled in Matt. 2:6). In the New Testament, Jesus Christ as son of David according to the flesh experiences the shepherding care of his Father in heaven, and as Son of God becomes the good shepherd, providing, restoring, guiding, and protecting his sheep. He is the “Good Shepherd” (John 10:1–16), the “Great Shepherd” (Heb. 13:20), and the “Chief Shepherd” (1 Peter 5:4), forever provisioning them, providing them with rest, restoring their vitality, and safely guiding them to royal festivities at the end of days. He does so through all the means of grace at his disposal: the Holy Spirit, the Scriptures, the holy church, and the holy sacraments. He loses none—even passionately exerting himself to find one lost sheep—except the one doomed to destruction according to the eternal plan of God and so prophesied beforehand. His sheep are not to fear the danger of deceptive attacks from within and overt attacks from without (Matt. 7:15; 10:16), and the certainty of undergoing great tribulation in the future (Mark 14:27). This is so because it is God who is giving them the kingdom (Luke 12:32).