Psalm 23: A Perspective on Trust

Psalm 23 (KJV)

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

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I am not going to lie: I often wonder if the promises within this Psalm are only for David or if the rest of us, mere mortals, will also receive them.

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So, how do I reconcile this delimma—between what is written & what appears in my life?

I don’t know.

However, if David wrote this on the later end of his life, then David also knew that not every day seemed good. David would also know that he sometimes resisted the LORD’s wisdom. We see this in David’s actions to (1) commit adultery with Basheeba¹, (2) murder Uriah (husband of Basheeba)², (3) act against God by taking a census.³

At the very least, if Psalm 23 is written early in David’s life, David knew what it was to tend sheep. David was a shepherd before David was a king. Tending sheep, when I was meant to be a king, isn’t what I would consider a good day. I would rather be a king.

However, being a king involves much greater responsibility than tending sheep. Both are important. However, a king’s choices impact many more human lives than a sheep shepherd’s actions could ever impact.

God is the Creator of both the unrighteous & righteous man.⁴ The Bible demonstrates that a righteous man can fail⁵. There are seasons of injustice that permeate our reality on this fallen earth.⁶ Yet, the righteous man can rise after a fall.⁷

A temporary, injustice on earth does not mean injustice reigns in heaven. Injustice can’t reign in heaven because all sin & darkness is cast out of heaven.⁸ The LORD detests⁹ the differing weights of injustice.¹⁰ God accepts those who act in righteousness & commit acts of justice.¹¹

God directs the steps of a person.¹² God can determine outcomes.¹³ Victory is determined by God.¹⁴ Listening to wisdom & God’s knowledge is a blessing.¹⁵ When we listen to God’s Wisdom over our own thoughts, He directs our lives onto a straight path.¹⁶ Choosing actions that reflect God’s righteousness & love can improve our outcome & health.¹⁷ When we act with mercy & truth, we are held in high esteem by God & righteous men.¹⁸

God can sway the hearts of kings and all in authority.¹⁹ Fearing God, by choosing to act with love & righteousness, can result in “riches, honor, and long life.”²⁰ Keeping a pure heart & speaking with grace can create friendships with those in high places.²¹ Those great in skill will serve kings.²²

Don’t waste your time with fools.²³ Deceitful, adulterous, lying actions-of the wicked-are a snare.²⁴ Speaking rashly can negatively impact our lives.²⁵ God, as The Righteous One, will bring disaster on the wicked.²⁶ Injustice reaps calamity & disaster.²⁷ Driving out injustice can end quarrels, insults, and strife.²⁸ The unfaithful speak about wicked plans that will not succeed in the long run.²⁹ Gluttony results in destruction.³⁰ When we walk away from wicked paths, God can refresh our lives.³¹

Closing our hand to those who have great need can result in God closing His hand towards our need.³² Sharing our food with those in need can result in God’s favorable blessing.³³ Taking advantage of the poor & needy ends in poverty or death³⁴; God is their Defender.³⁵ No plan can succeed against God’s Will.³⁶

If God’s Promises are not ringing true today; that doesn’t mean they won’t ring true tomorrow. Hold fast, keep hope, and pray for justice, righteousness, forgiveness, & mercy. Love your enemies & pray for those who persecute you.

Don’t celebrate their destruction instead, celebrate God through all seasons. The windy seasons & the rainy ones. The sunny season & the snowy ones. The barren seasons & the seasons of abundant harvest.

God is Good, all the time & all the time, God is Good.

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1. 2 Samuel 11 ↩︎
2. 2 Samuel 11:6-26 ↩︎
3. 2 Samuel 24 ↩︎
4. Proverbs 22:2 ↩︎
5. Proverbs 24:16 ↩︎
6. Ecclesiastes 3:16-17; Isaiah 59; “What Does The Bible Say About Injustice?” ↩︎
7. biblehub.com/proverbs/24-16.htm ↩︎
8. 1 John 1:5; ↩︎
9. Proverbs 20:10; Proverbs 20:23; 2 Chronicles 19:7 ↩︎
10. Proverbs 17:15 ↩︎
11. Proverbs 21:3 ↩︎
12. Proverbs 20:24 ↩︎
13. Provebs 16:33 ↩︎
14. Proverbs 21:31 ↩︎
15. Proverbs 22:17; Proverbs 3:13-14 ↩︎
16. Proverbs 3:5-6 ↩︎
17. Proverbs 20:28; Proverbs 21:21; Proverbs 3:7-8 ↩︎
18. Proverbs 3:3-4 ↩︎
19. Proverbs 21:1 ↩︎
20. Proverbs 22:4 ↩︎
21. Proverbs 22:11 ↩︎
22. Proverbs 22:29 ↩︎
23. Proverbs 23:9 ↩︎
24. Proverbs 21:6; Proverbs 22:5; Proverbs 22:14 ↩︎
25. Proverbs 21:23 ↩︎
26. Proverbs 21:12 ↩︎
27. Proverbs 22:8 ↩︎
28. Proverbs 22:10 ↩︎
29. Proverbs 22:12 ↩︎
30. Proverbs 23:1-3 ↩︎
31. Proverbs 3:7-8 ↩︎
32. Proverbs 21:13 ↩︎
33. Proverbs 22:9 ↩︎
34. Proverbs 22:16; Proverbs 22:22-23 ↩︎
35. Proverbs 23:10-11 ↩︎
36. Proverbs 21:30 ↩︎