Psalm 23 is full of loaded imagery. Shepherding was not only a common trade but also the language God used to refer to the leaders of Israel. And by the time David penned this psalm, Israel had seen its fair share of bad shepherds. Whether prophet, priest, or king, the leaders of Israel consistently failed to care for God's people faithfully. They led them astray, overlooked and even preyed on the vulnerable, accepted and condoned idolatry, and made unholy alliances, resulting in centuries of suffering for the children of Israel. So David's use of metaphor to describe the Lord as his shepherd arose from his own experience as a shepherd and his understanding of Israel's history. In doing so, he reframes a vision of our Good Shepherd for us.
Morning Pages: Psalm 23
Morning Pages: Psalm 23
Morning Pages: Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is full of loaded imagery. Shepherding was not only a common trade but also the language God used to refer to the leaders of Israel. And by the time David penned this psalm, Israel had seen its fair share of bad shepherds. Whether prophet, priest, or king, the leaders of Israel consistently failed to care for God's people faithfully. They led them astray, overlooked and even preyed on the vulnerable, accepted and condoned idolatry, and made unholy alliances, resulting in centuries of suffering for the children of Israel. So David's use of metaphor to describe the Lord as his shepherd arose from his own experience as a shepherd and his understanding of Israel's history. In doing so, he reframes a vision of our Good Shepherd for us.