I offer this line-by-line exposition of the 23rd Psalm so that we can look to see exactly what David is telling us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A psalm of David. The Writing of Psalm 23. David was a shepherd before he was a king and so he could see the symbolism of God’s shepherding His people when he wrote Psalm 23. Psalm 23, written by King David, is a timeless testament to the rock-solid faith of the Jewish people in knowing that G‑d is always with us, protecting and guiding our path. 1 The Lord is my shepherd,(A) I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. The Writing of Psalm 23. It should not surprise anybody if someone starts to ponder upon why did David write Psalm 23 after reading the holy piece of work and feeling warm emotions amounting within their heart & soul.. Who was David? New International Version (NIV), Ps 25:11; 31:3; 79:9; 106:8; 109:21; 143:11, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Personal Size, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Biblical Theology Study Bible, Comfort Print: Follow God’s Redemptive Plan as It Unfolds throughout Scripture, NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Romans, Comfort Print, NIV, Beautiful Word Bible Journal, Acts, Comfort Print, NIV, Quest Study Bible, Comfort Print: The Only Q and A Study Bible. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. It is a known fact that David was a shepherd by virtue of his profession and it is also very well known that he had an amazing voice. 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Readers through the centuries have interpreted “A Psalm of David” to mean “A Psalm written by David,” but a number of scholars question that interpretation today. (rough guess). Psalm 23:1 - Psalm 23:6. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. It is a known fact that David was a shepherd by virtue of his profession and it is also very well known that he had an amazing voice. (B)2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,(C)3 he refreshes my soul. WORKS UPON THE TWENTY-THIRD PSALM Certain Comfortable Expositions of the Constant Martyrs of Christ. Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd. We do not know at what period of David’s life it was written, but it … There are a number of reasons for that, including the fact that “several Davidic psalms refer to the … The psalms, including Psalm 23, were written over a period of more than two hundred years, during and after the Babylonian Exile. 4 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. And he was the king of Judah between 1010-970. (G)4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a](H)I will fear no evil,(I) for you are with me;(J)your rod and your staff, they comfort me. All rights reserved worldwide. NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. The king who had been the shepherd-boy, and had been taken from the quiet sheep-cotes to rule over Israel, sings this little psalm of Him who is the true Shepherd and King of men. JOHN HOOPER, Bishop of Gloucester and Worcester, 1555, written in the time of his Tribulation and Imprisonment, upon the Twenty-third, Sixty-second, Seventy-third, and Seventy-seventh Psalm … Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. He had been a shepherd, and he was not ashamed of his former occupation.” “It [Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Charles Spurgeon wrote, “I like to recall the fact that this psalm was written by David, probably when he was a king. Probable Occasion When Each Psalm Was Composed contains the Psalm, the scripture it … So it is likely that Psalm 23 was written in his time as king, so probably about 1000 B.C.E. 5 You prepare a table(K) before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil;(L) my cup(M) overflows.6 Surely your goodness and love(N) will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Knowing David was a shepherd in his early years, we may be inclined to interpret this psalm from the perspective of the shepherd. Phillip Keller has written a book on Psalm 23 entitled A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, which has many helpful insights. King David's life is usually put to be between 1040-970 B.C.E. It should not surprise anybody if someone starts to ponder upon why did David write Psalm 23 after reading the holy piece of work and feeling warm emotions amounting within their heart & soul.. Who was David? (D)He guides me(E) along the right paths(F) for his name’s sake.