Psalm 23:1 1 The LORD is my shepherd
First, when we see LORD in all caps like it is here it is the personal name of God, YAHWEH, which he gives to Moses (Ex. 3:14). When we read it with God's personal name it adds a level of intimacy that the word Lord just doesn't carry.
The shepherd metaphor is one that is often applied to kings (1 Kgs. 22:17; Jer. 23:1-4; Ezek. 34:1-10). It carries implications of protection, provision and direction. The rest of this Psalm will tease out the meaning in more detail, but for today let's just focus on the basics of this metaphor. Because this is a foreign metaphor for us, unless you had the rare privilege of being a sheep farmer at some point in your life, getting this picture into our heads will require some imaginative work. It's not complicated to imagine, but it's not something we see on a regular basis. So take a moment and get the picture of a shepherd tending sheep in your head. In this image you are in the place of the sheep and God is in the place of the shepherd.
David says that YAHWEH is his shepherd. The shepherd metaphor is most often used in a communal context, implying that God is the shepherd of all the people of Israel (Ps. 80:1; 100:3). Here, David personalizes it. Later in verse 4, he will personalize it even further by changing from the third person ("he") pronoun for God to the second person ("you") pronoun for God. He moves from a description to a personal prayer. Perhaps this is why this Psalm particularly appeals to many Christians in our Western, individualistic culture. God is not just the shepherd of all Israel but the individual sheep as well. God's concern is not solely for the collective whole, willing to sacrifice one for the betterment of the flock; his concern is for each individual in his flock.
Jesus applies this common image to himself throughout his ministry, borrowing on some of these themes. He, like the psalmist describes here, is not solely concerned for the state of the flock as a whole. He leaves the 99 in search of the one lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7). He is the good shepherd and his sheep know his voice (John 10:14). He lays down his life to protect his sheep (John 10:15). The gospel writers often apply this image to Jesus with the connotations of leadership, protection, provision and intimate care (Mat. 9:36; 25:31; Mk. 14:27; Jn 10:11, 14; Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 2:25)
Reflection
Who can you honestly say is your shepherd? Is Jesus the one you look to for protection, provision and direction? Carry this statement with you throughout your day today, "The LORD is my shepherd."