Psalms 23 · The Lantern

A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not lack.

And, moreover, the ark made of imperishable wood was the Saviour Himself. For by this was signified the imperishable and incorruptible tabernacle of (the Lord) Himself, which gendered no corruption of sin.

Having said in the psalm before this, "The needy eat and will be filled, and those who seek him out will praise the Lord," and again, "All the prosperous of the earth ate and adored him," here he suggests the provider of such food and calls the feeder shepherd.

Above, the Psalmist, speaking in the person of Christ, spoke much of his tribulation; here he speaks of the remedy by which he is sustained in it. And first he commemorates the benefits by which he is sustained. Second, the power of that sustaining, at "the earth is the Lord's." This Psalm does not have a new title, but seems to designate certain persons walking on a journey.

The LORD Is My Shepherd

In pastures of grass he makes me lie down; beside waters of rest he leads me.

The pastures that this good shepherd has prepared for you, in which he has settled you for you to take your fill, are not various kinds of grasses and green things, among which some are sweet to the taste, some extremely bitter, which as the seasons succeed one another are sometimes there and sometimes not.

The Lord leads me. That is the word of the one who the church, settled in a place of pasture and drawn from the water of reflection, has received, the one who is made complete from the suffering of the Lord. When the stream flows, it pours forth from deep veins, there freshness, there pleasantness, there renewal.

He designates all abundance metaphorically through the abundance of food and drink. For if He feeds us, He stands in relation to us as a shepherd to his sheep, which are nourished by two things, namely grass and water. With regard to the first he says, "in a place of pasture there He has placed me," that is, a place of grazing, where there is an abundance of grasses.

My soul he restores; he guides me in tracks of righteousness for the sake of his name.

Even when I walk in a valley of the shadow of death, I will not fear evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff — they comfort me.

To walk in the midst of the shadow of death is not the same as to sit in the shadow of death; one who sits in the shadow of death is firmly fixed in that shadow and strengthened in evil. On account of this, he is in darkness and lacks mercy so that the light may rise for him.

"Yea, though I walk in the midst of the shadow of death" [Psalm 23:4]. Yea, though I walk in the midst of this life, which is the shadow of death. "I will fear no evil, for You are with me." I will fear no evil, for You dwell in my heart by faith: and You are now with me, that after the shadow of death I too may be with You.

"For." Here he sets forth the benefits against evils. And first in general; second, in particular, at "your rod." And he speaks after the likeness of a man going through dangerous places, for whom security is necessary.

You arrange before me a table in front of my foes; you have made my head fat with oil; my cup overflows.

Just as certain rewards are given to the contender in mighty contests, so also in any trial, when that which afflicts is nearby and the powers of the adversaries bring tribulation, know that a spiritual and intellectual table is prepared on account of this trial. Therefore, however many times you will be afflicted, equally many times a spiritual table is placed before you.

I am the true vine, … intoxicating like the most powerful antidote, joy, against the grief that sprouted in Adam. Behold, I have prepared a table for you over against those who afflict you. Opposite Eden I settled Adam, who had violated that celebrated place, that by his seeing the delight no longer permitted he might suffer a ceaselessly smoldering distress.

With regard to the second he says, "you have prepared a table before me," a table of twofold doctrine. Prov. 9: "She has set forth her table; she has sent her handmaids to call to the tower," where there are diverse courses, namely, diverse spiritual teachings. And this "before me," because he meditates on the law day and night, Ps. 1.

Surely good and loyal love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will return to the house of the LORD for length of days.

When do you not have something that you owe to God? Or when are you without a gift of God, since your daily enjoyment of living is from God? "For what have you, that you have not received?" Therefore, because you always receive, always call on God; and since what you have is from God, always acknowledge that you are his debtor.

What he now has, let us look within the church. He has a rod with which he warns the delinquent ones. He has a staff by which he succors the penitent. He has a table where he gives bread to the believing. He has oil with which he anoints the head of those being present for freedom of conscience.

"And your mercy," etc. Here he sets forth future benefits. And first, with regard to participation in divine gifts; second, with regard to the enjoyment of God Himself. He says therefore: you have done all these aforementioned things for me; but I ask that "your mercy may follow me." Elsewhere he asked that it might go before; here, that it might follow.

Psalms23

The LORD Is My Shepherd