Psalms 23:1

The Lordis my shepherd How natural a figure in a pastoral country, and for the shepherd-king, if the Psalm is his! Jehovah is often spoken of as the Shepherd of Israel, and Israel as His flock, especially in the Psalms of Asaph. See Psalms 74:1; Psalms 77:20; Psalms 78:52; Psalms 78:70 ff.; Psalms 79:13; Psalms 80:1, and cp. Psalms 95:7; Psalms 100:3; Micah 7:14; and the exquisite description of Jehovah's care for the returning exiles in Isaiah 40:11. Jacob speaks of "the God who shepherded me" (Genesis 48:15, cp. Genesis 49:24). The title of shepherd is also applied to rulers; and in particular to David (2 Samuel 5:2; 2 Samuel 7:7); and to the future king of whom David was a type (Micah 5:4; Ezekiel 34:23); and so Christ appropriates it to Himself (John 10:1; cp. Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25).

I shall not want The language, partly of experience in the present, partly of confidence for the future. So of Israel, looking back on the wandering in the wilderness, "thou hast lacked nothing" (Deuteronomy 2:7); and looking forward to the Land of Promise, "thou shalt not lack anything in it" (Deuteronomy 8:9). Cp. Psalms 34:10; Psalms 84:11.