Psalm 23: A Perspective of Trust in the Lord

Abstract

When approaching Psalm 23, which has been called the “shepherd’s hymn,” trust in the Lord is put into perspective, for through the use of metaphors such as the shepherd and host to refer to God, the psalmist highlights God’s care and protection of His people, as well as His provision for them in the face of danger. It encourages us to wait on God, who, despite difficulties, will lead us to still waters, bestowing peace and comfort through His guidance. The various literary devices of Hebrew literature, such as parallelism, are highlighted; the characters are explored in depth and connected to the New Testament; finally, it is emphasized that this poem remains vital and highly relevant to theology and the current context, such that it takes on special meaning each time it is reread.