Analysis
1. A PSALM FOR LIFE
A shepherd and his sheep – a peaceful, pastoral scene indeed! But looking more closely:
“He makes me lie down in green pastures” (v.2), implies that there are other barren places with no food.
“Han leads me beside still waters” (.2), implies other unsettled waters, perhaps stormy seas!
That he restores my soul, and leads me in paths of righteousness (v.4), speaks in the same way of a life which is not always easy.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v.4) – there are sometimes dark places in life where none of us want to go.
This psalm is about life, a life we all know so well!
2. A PSALM FOR THE ROAD!
There are echoes in this psalm of Israel´s wanderings from Egypt, through the desert and to the land of Canaan.
- Psalm 80 shows that God was viewed as Israel´s shepherd, who leads the people of Israel up from Egypt. See verses 2 and 9
- For you are with me (v.4), and I shall not want (v.1) – See Deuteronomy 2,7
- He leads me to lie down in green pastures – Israel’s song by the Red Sea – See Exodus 15, especially v.13
- He leads me beside still waters (v.2) – See Numbers 10,33
- For his name’s sake (v.3) – See psalm 106,8. By the Red Sea, God saved them for his name’s sake.
- Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v.4) – See Jeremiah 2,6. The desert that God leads Israel through after the exodus from Egypt is described as a land “of the shadow of death” KJV
- You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies (v.5) – See psalm 78,19. After Israel left Egypt, Israel spoke against God and said: “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?”
Usage:
It is assumed that this psalm was used by pilgrims on their way to Jerusalem (and the temple = the house of the Lord), for the annual feasts.
What does the psalm tell us?
The psalm tells us that God wants to be present in our lives. Han wants to lead his sheep, be their refuge and provider. But we must want to hear his voice – for he will meet us in the midst of life – yes, sometimes in the darkest places. There he will prepare a table for us – in the presence of our enemies. The psalm says that goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Christians will see this in the light of the New Testament.
God will not fabricate a life for us without trouble. It pleases him that we know him in his saving power for us. He wants us to learn to trust him, and to have faith in him. There are some parallels here to psalm 91. See especially verses 1-2, and 14-16. Again, this psalm doesn´t promise us a carefree life (as one might first think), but that God will be there to deliver him who sets his love upon him (v.14, KJV).
Let us not say with Israel in the desert: “Can God spread a table in the wilderness”
Let us instead with confidence say: “God will prepare a table for me”
In this presentation, I have used Professor Craig C. Broyles book Psalms (The New International Commentary). The analysis under points 1 and 2 above are his. I think he has a lot of good things to say about the psalms
