Psalm 23 is a famous passage of scripture. The first half of the psalm beautifully pictures God as a shepherd leading, protecting, and providing for his sheep. The second half imagines God as a generous host who eagerly welcomes his people into his house to feast in his presence on an extravagant supply of food and drink. Both metaphors are intended to capture the continual presence of God with his people and the depth of his goodness and mercy available to them all the days of their lives.
The two halves of this psalm have something else in common. Both sections acknowledge the sufferings of this life. The shepherd leads his sheep “through the valley of the shadow of death”. The generous host feasts with his guests “in the presence of [their] enemies”. The “valley of the shadow of death” is more literally “the darkest valley”. This line refers to the times in life when our wellbeing is at risk. The mention of “enemies” within eyesight of the feast echoes this same reality. Together they acknowledge that the people of God are not guaranteed an easy life. We should expect hardships, trouble, and trials of various kinds in this world.
I love the bible. It’s realistic from beginning to end. In its pages we do not encounter an idealistic take on life. It depicts life as we know it from real lived experience. It represents life in all its beauty and brokenness.
What is the key that unlocks the treasure of this psalm of beauty and brokenness? I think it’s found in the reference to food and drink that we see in both halves of the psalm. The sheep are given green pastures and still waters to satisfy their hunger and thirst. The honored guests are invited to indulge themselves at the table of plenty and in the cup that overflows. What does the author want us to see in this all-sufficient supply? It’s clearly metaphor. But what is the reality being described in the use of the metaphor?
Psalm 23 does not give us the clear answer to this question. The answer is found in the biblical story that unfolds after its original composition. Psalm 23, like the rest of the Old Testament, finds its ultimate fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. The food and drink given for sustenance and blessing in our famous psalm find their truest and deepest meaning in the grace of God given to us in Jesus. He described himself as the bread of life that came down from heaven and promised that whoever would eat this bread would never hunger again. He also said he was able to give living water to those who believed in him that would quench their thirst forever. On the evening before his crucifixion, he broke bread and said to his followers, “this is my body broken for you”. At that same meal, he offered a cup of wine to his followers and described it as his blood that would be shed to release all the
new covenant promises of God for his people. Those promises included forgiveness of all sin, a new heart capable of loving God and other people, and the gift of the Spirit as God’s way of being forever present in the lives of his people.
The food and drink of Psalm 23 point to the extravagant grace of God given to us in Jesus. He has given us eternal life in Jesus. Eternal life speaks of a quantity of life and a quality of life. It means a life that doesn’t end and a life that is well resourced. It means abundant life. And that is what God gives to us in Jesus. In him we are given all the wisdom we need to make sense out of life. In him we are given all the hope we need to deal with the disappointments and losses we experience in life. In him we find all the comfort, encouragement, and strength we need for life. In him we find purpose for every season in life.
All of this and so much more is found in Jesus. In the language of Psalm 23 God has provided green pastures and still waters. He has welcomed us into his house, loaded his table and filled our cup. He has extended his goodness and mercy. He has done his part. All that remains is for us to do our part. And what is our part? We must eat and drink. We must feed our souls on the wealth of grace given to us in Jesus. As we do this, we will discover the satisfaction, contentment, and soul rest David enjoyed as he wrote this powerful confession of trust. We will be able to say with him, “I lack nothing”.