Provider: Before he became King over Israel, David was first a shepherd (1 Sam. 17:34-36). He developed and well understood the skills needed to take care of sheep and ultimately even a nation (Ps. 78:70-72). It is with this knowledge that David presents the LORD as the skillful and expert shepherd. His excellence as Provider is portrayed by the well-cared-for sheep that rest in green pastures and continue by quiet waters.[1] But all of this isn’t meant to promise us health and wealth. Even as the LORD provided for Israel manna and water in the wilderness to train their souls (Deut. 8:3), so the LORD acts for the good of our souls: He continually restores wayward sheep to His paths of righteousness. In the LORD, our soul lacks nothing and it has everything.

Protector: The LORD is also our Protector. Even though we may face dark times in life, we need not be anxious when the LORD is with us. We find confidence in Him who wields a weapon of defense (“rod”) and a tool of oversight (“staff”) so that no evil can ultimately ruin us.[2] With the Father’s presence with Him, Jesus obeyed Him unafraid (John 8:29), so we can also.

Preserver: The LORD sustains us as our Preserver. He so richly supplies for our needs that the enemy can never vanquish us. Moreover, rather than being pursued by our adversaries, the two sheepdogs of goodness and lovingkindness drive us all our days until we reach the LORD’s house (John 14:3; 2 Tim. 4:18). There we will worship and serve Him forever (Rev. 21:3, 22; 22:3).

[1] Both verbs “makes me lie down” and “leads me” are imperfect verbs as are many verbs in this chapter. The LORD’s shepherding care is presented as continual and life-long (“all the days of my life”).

[2] Cf. Ps. 3:5-6; 4:8; 27:1; 56:3-4; 139:11-12. Cf. also Gen. 50:20; Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:11; Ps. 103:19.