Today's Psalter reading is arguably the most famous in all of scripture. It's words of God's providence and comfort are almost unsurpassed. From these few short verses, we receive the image of God as shepherd which has become one of the most pervasive pictures of God in art and literature.
The Psalm itself actually contains two major movements held together by a poetic hinge. The first three verses give us the familiar picture of God as shepherd. They are a third person description of God as provider an protector. Verses 5-6 actually present a different picture. God is here portrayed as a benevolent king who hosts a banquet in honor o His righteous subjects. This portion of the psalm is a first person prayer of thanksgiving addressed to God.
The two portions are held together by a piece of wordplay. The Hebrew word of shepherd can refer both to a watcher of sheep and to a ruler of people. This dual image is reflected in the "rod and staff" of verse 4. The "Rod" is a symbol of the king's authority (a scepter) while the "staff" is the shepherd's tool for managing and protecting the sheep.
As we speak these familiar words, we are celebrating God's providence as our Shepherd, and inviting Him in prayer to become our King.
