In line with one approach, Psalm 23 may be divided into two sections. The first section (vv. 1-4) portrays the image of God as SHEPHERD, guiding and caring for His sheep. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is seen to be that Good Shepherd of the flock (John 10:1-21). In the second section (vv. 5 & 6), the believer is invited to partake in a meal—and God the Father is the Host of this extravagant banquet.
Another approach found the early Church associating Psalm 23 with the three (3) sacraments of the Christian Church: baptism in verse 2: “beside the still waters”; confirmation in verse 5: “You anointed my head with oil” [the receiving of the Holy Spirit]; the Eucharist/Lord’s Supper in verse 5: “You prepare a table before me”.
Still further, Psalm 23 seems to comment on one’s “new life” in the Church and even one’s promised life hereafter, the latter being shown by the words: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v. 6).
It is well known that King David wrote this Psalm and, of course, was inspired by the Holy Spirit. As with many verses in the Bible, a verse can do multi-duty, that is, make application to human events as well as Divine events at the same time. Therefore, the speaker of Psalm 23 can be (1) King David, (2) Jesus Christ Himself, and also (3) Christians themselves. This leads us to view Psalm 23 from yet another complementary viewpoint, namely, as a three-part, Trinitarian Scripture.
Psalm 23 from a Trinitarian point of view
The “Christian” as the Speaker of Psalm 23
Psalm 23:1 & 2: Jesus Christ as a shepherd
“The LORD [Jesus Christ] is my [the Christian’s] Shepherd; I [the Christian] shall lack nothing. He [Jesus Christ] makes me [the Christian] lie down in green pastures; He [Jesus Christ] leads me [the Christian] beside quiet waters.”There are many verses in both the Old and New Testaments that attest to Jesus Christ [God the Son] as the Shepherd. The most famous Shepherd-“verse” is John 10:11 (cf. Zechariah 13:7) where Jesus in His own words claims that He is the “Good Shepherd.”
However, the earliest mention of Jesus Christ [God the Son] as a Shepherd appears way back in Genesis 49:24. Here Jacob blesses Joseph with the words, “His [Joseph’s] bow remained steady, the arms of his hands [Joseph’s] were made strong, by the hands [God the Son + God the Holy Spirit] of the mighty One of Jacob [God the Father] (Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62).
The identity of the “hands” is expanded upon in Genesis 49:24b-25. The hands of God the Father are (1) the Shepherd, “the Rock of Israel” [Jesus Christ, cf. 2 Samuel 23:3, Isaiah 30:29, Exodus 17:6] and (2) “the God of your father, who will help you” [God the Holy Spirit who is our Helper and Comforter, John 15:26]. It is also interesting to note that Psalm 80:1 echoes Genesis 49:24 where Asaph sings about the Shepherd of Israel (but with some reversal roles for the Father and the Son, which by the way is not unusual, cf. John 10:30 – also more than coincidentally referenced in that “Good Shepherd” chapter): “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel [God the Father]; You [God the Holy Spirit] who lead Joseph like a flock; You [God the Son] who sits enthroned between the cherubim.”
Also note another very important passage where Jesus, the final “Servant David,” is predicted to become the ultimate, “Shepherd” of the New Covenant and of its fruits, the Christian Church, which is composed of all Christians of all time (Ezekiel 34:23-25).
Psalm 23:3 & 4: Depicts the Holy Spirit as the Comforter and restorer of soul
“He [God the Holy Spirit] restores my [the Christian’s] soul. He [God the Holy Spirit] leads me [the Christian] in paths of righteousness for the sake of His [God the Son’s] Name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I [the Christian] will fear no evil, for You [God the Holy Spirit] are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”A man is declared righteous through his faith in Jesus Christ. (There are thousands of articles written on this subject.) In 1 Corinthians 12:3 it says that “no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed,’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” So it is the Office of the Holy Spirit to lead men in paths of righteousness for His Name’s [Christ’s] sake. In a sense, the Holy Spirit, like the Son and the Father, can also be called the Good Shepherd (cf. Isaiah 9:6 where Jesus is said to have fatherly characteristics – “Everlasting Father”).
Psalm 23:5 & 6: The goodness of God the Father and a promise
“You [God the Father] prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You [God the Father] anoint my head with Oil [God the Holy Spirit, Psalm 45:7]*; my [the Christian’s] cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy [steadfast kindness or love] will follow me [the Christian] all the days of my life, and I [the Christian] will dwell in the LORD’s [God the Father’s] House forever”.Everything visible and invisible belongs to God the Father. We will surely live in our Father’s home. Recall Jesus Christ’s words in John 14:2: “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
*NOTE: Anointing the head with oil is always associated with the Holy Spirit. “So Samuel took the horn of olive oil and anointed him [David] in the presence of his brothers, and the LORD’s Spirit came mightily on David and stayed on him from that day onward” (1 Samuel 16:13; cf. John 1:33).
