Introduction

Recited in thanksgiving during times of comfort and plenty or in supplication during times of grief and need, Psm 23 is probably the best known and best loved psalm in the world. Rendered in music in a dozen different tunes, its powerful imageries embrace us in assurance and hope even for most of us who otherwise know nothing about the pastoral world in which it is set. Yet its simplicity belies the depths of its affirmations. We hope this commentary will help you discover a new dimension to your appreciation of this wonderful psalm and—besides reciting it at someone's funeral—preach it more frequently.

We do not know the original background against which this psalm was composed. Delitzsch is confident that "if David is the author, and there is no reason for doubting it, then this Psalm belongs to the time of the rebellion under Absalom, and this supposition is confirmed on every hand." We agree with him on his first two clauses, but can only remain open to the possibility of the latter assertions. While we can appreciate the sensibilities of his arguments, there just isn't enough in the psalm to be so confident, we think.