The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even 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 overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.
This Psalm has provided comfort to millions, not just to believers but to people in the secular world. This is because it is so peaceful and reassuring. It describes the Lord as a shepherd. When David wrote these words He referred to the Lord, to Yahweh, as His shepherd. His use of this sacred name conveys the intimacy and trust that marked their relationship. He knew that he was but a helplss lamb, as are all believers, totally dependent on Yahweh for everything. The sheep described here is calmly resting in the presence of the shepherd. Sheep will not rest, will not even lie down unless they are free from all disturbances. They will not be at peace if they are hungry or thirsty, or if they need the wool shorn from them, or if they are troubled by fleas or other parasites, or have skin irritations. They will not be at peace if they sense the presence of a predator.
The shepherd takes care of all these problems. He makes sure they have enough food and drink. He anoints their wounds with olive oil and wine. The rod and staff of great comfort to the sheep as they are not used to discipline the erring ones as some teachers would have us believe. Rather, the shepherd uses the rod and staff to defend his flock against predators such as wolves and mountain lions.
This Psalm tells us that as sheep in the fold of the Lord we can rest easy knowing He keeps us safe against all harm. The whole Psalm comforts us by telling us that in the presence of the Lord, as we follow Him, all of our needs are met and we can rest easy even in sickness, even when life is tough and we are faced with death. This is why this Psalm is read publicly at times of death. The realization is that believers do not die alone. The Lord walks with us through the valley of death and leads us into the His kingdom. But He leads only those who truly are His. Only they benefit from His comfort.