Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-158 Sunday 31 Aug 2003

Psalms on Sundays Reading: Psalm 23 – GOD AS SHEPHERD AND HOST

What qualities and actions make someone a good host? Have you ever thought about that as a picture of God?

Psalm 23 is one of the best known, most loved psalms, partly because of the beauty and simplicity of its poetry and partly because of its ability to engender in the reader the psalmist’s own confidence in God. The psalm works in this way because of the psalmist’s use of metaphorical imagery.

Biblical metaphors can sometimes be dangerous, especially to those who take them literally because they may be misled – yet metaphors are powerful because they help us to move from the known to the relatively unknown, by relating what is unfamiliar to what is familiar. Theology, ‘talk about God’ is necessarily full of metaphors. It is one of the few ways in which we can describe the invisible God who surpasses all knowing.

This psalm uses one explicit metaphor ‘The Lord is my shepherd’ (developed in vs 1-4) and one implicit metaphor, ‘The Lord is my host’ (developed in vs 5,6). In saying that God is a good shepherd and a generous host the psalmist is expressing confidence in God’s provision and protection. God provides the resources we need for daily life (vs 2,3a), guidance in using them (v 3b), his presence in difficulty (v 4), and rest and relaxation (vs 5,6). He protects us from all the dangers of life (v 4), including our enemies (v 5).

Psalm 23 may seem an utter contrast to the lament of Psalm 22. However, it expects that the godly person will experience ‘the darkest valley’ (see NIV footnote to v 4), where laments have their place. It is those who have experienced God’s protection there who can best share the psalmist’s confidence in God’s constant ‘goodness and love’ (v 6).

‘Lord Jesus, thank you! You are the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep, providing the ultimate provision and protection: forgiveness from sin, and eternal life.’

– Ernest Lucas

Copyright Scripture Union, 2003, Encounter with God

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