Who wrote Psalm 23? David but it is always intriguing to read liberal commentaries that still question the literal rendering in Hebrew & in the Greek Septuagint  "A Psalm of David"

When in his life did David write? One cannot be dogmatic but mention of valley of shadow of death & enemies recalls to mine those enemies like Saul (1Sa 18, etc) &  Absalom who sought his life (2 Sa 15-17, see "The Darkest Days of David’s Life"). This would at least suggest that this song was written later in his life and not necessarily when he was a shepherd lad pasturing his flocks. He undoubtedly never forgot his "roots".

What are David's "credentials"?

As alluded to above David was a shepherd (cf 1Sa 16:11 "There remains yet the youngest, & behold, he is tending (shepherding) the sheep." cf also 1Sa 17:15,28, 2Sa 7:8)

Did David understand the responsibility the shepherd had to defend his sheep? (see passage below)

1Sa 17:34-37 (explaining to Saul why he should be allowed to defend the" flock" of Israel from the "predator" Goliath) But David said to Saul, "Your servant was tending his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I went out after him and attacked him & rescued it from his mouth & when he rose up against me, I seized him by his beard & struck him & killed him. Your servant has killed both the lion & the bear & this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God." & David said, "The LORD (Jehovah) Who delivered me from the paw of the lion & from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."

What are the the metaphors David uses in Psalm 23?

Sheep (implied) & Shepherd. A metaphor (see synopsis of figurative Language or click here) is a word or phrase with one distinct meaning used in place of another word, to paint so to speak a "word picture" of the word it is used in place of. So for example In Psalm 23 what is David picturing himself as? Obviously as a "sheep".  In the first 4 verses he speaks from the perspective of a sheep, a metaphor which brings to our mind many comparisons as almost everyone is familiar with sheep. It is interesting to note that "sheep" are the most commonly mentioned animal in the Bible & are used some 400x (including the term "flocks") with "shepherd(s)" being used >100x.

Does God characterize men as "sheep" anywhere else in scripture? Again the obvious answer is "Yes" and we'll look at several of those passages in these notes.

How does Isa 53:6 characterize men⁽²⁾?
 

Isa 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way; but the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him." (Spurgeon devotional)

Men are like sheep. What do "sheep" do?

They stray. Notice the "all" which takes care of all humanity, but then the use of "each" brings it to a very personal level. So God says mankind is like sheep, which should be a  humbling revelation when we consider the nature of sheep. Dogs can often find their way home but not sheep. But no matter how far the sheep wander -- if they are truly His sheep -- He will find them &  bring them home. This truth should encourage us all, for as the hymn writer says below, we are "prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love." Praise God for His seeking, restoring grace. You are never so lost that  the Good Shepherd cannot find you.  "Straying" sheep are also seen in (Ps 119:176, Spurgeon's note; Mt 18:12,13-14, Lk 15:4, 1 Peter 2:25 [note]) (Click illustration  of potential cost of straying)
 

From "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"
(play midi)

Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love,
Here's my heart. O take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand'ring from the fold of God,
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed his precious blood

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let they goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to thee

WHAT ARE SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF SHEEP? HOW DO THESE APPLY TO MANKIND?

Webster's definition for "sheep" is interesting:

"a timid and defenseless creature"

Dumb (You won't find sheep acts in the circus because they can't be trained to perform). Sheep are singularly unintelligent & they don't learn from mistakes but in fact often repeat them. They tend to wander &  go astray & are unable to find their way home to the sheepfold even when it is within sight! Now that is dumb! But knowing this the shepherd never takes His eyes off His wandering sheep (cf Ps 32:8, Spurgeon comments...

As servants take their cue from the master's eye, and a nod or a wink is all that they require, so should we obey the slightest hints of our Master, not needing thunderbolts to startle our incorrigible sluggishness, but being controlled by whispers & love touches. The LORD is the great overseer, Whose eye in providence overlooks everything. It is well for us to be the sheep of His pasture, following the guidance of His wisdom.

Defenseless (No quills like porcupines, scent like skunks, claws like cats or teeth like lions). A sheep's bite is harmless. Most have no horns. Unable to defend themselves against attacks. Lambs are especially vulnerable & in need of protection. Shepherds on the Bethlehem hillsides still use a sling, made of goat’s hair or leather and immortalized by David against Goliath (1Sa 17:49).

Drown easily (wool soaks up the H2O & they sink to the bottom). If they get on their backs they cannot right themselves. Kicking & bleating doesn't help although their cries can alert the shepherd who sets them on their feet again.

Danger poorly perceived (Poorly developed instincts to warn them of potential danger) Often a sheep will wander into a briar patch or fall over a cliff in the rugged Palestinian hills. The shepherd tenderly searches for his sheep and carries it to safety on his shoulder, wrapped in his own long cloak (Luke 15:3-6).

Depend TOTALLY upon their shepherd.

Need meticulous care: Phillip Keller⁽¹⁾ writes that

"Sheep do not "just take care of themselves" as some might suppose. They require more than any other class of livestock, endless attention and meticulous care."  

In water-hungry Syria and Palestine, shepherds have always had to search diligently for water, sometimes for hours every day for they know that the sheep must be watered daily.

Sheep have actually been known to nibble themselves over the cliff! That is dumb! But as you say it or think it, remember that "sheep" are a metaphor for men! So what is the great need for mankind? Clearly without a tender, caring shepherd willing to lay down his life for the sheep, they would surely perish & so it is with all men who do not have a "Good Shepherd" (discussed more fully in the next column) WE ARE THE "SHEEP".

CONCLUSION:
SHEEP NEED A SHEPHERD

Sheep need their shepherd's touch daily. Sheep answer his call, rub against his leg &  wait for a pat. Personal attention is better than food. Satisfied sheep eat drink and get fat &  fulfill their purpose. They will only answer to the herdsman's call, except when sick.

Spurgeon adds in a sermon (The Blood of the Covenant)

sheep have nothing to do with their own feeding, guidance, or protection; they have only to follow their Shepherd unto the pastures which he prepares, and all will be well with them

John Walvoord writes that...

"Sheep are utterly dependent upon the shepherd for almost everything pertaining to their well-being. In the work of Christ for His sheep, there is accordingly the ministry of leading the sheep in the path of the will of God. Only as sheep are willing to follow Christ will they find their complete spiritual needs supplied. It is their privilege to follow the shepherd, completely trusting Him for all the things that characterize their needs, such as food, water, shelter, and protection from their enemies. Just as natural sheep follow their shepherd, so believers in the Lord should follow Christ as the Great Shepherd and have their spiritual needs completely supplied....The green pastures and still waters are to be found by those who are near the shepherd....(In sum we see) on the one hand, the wonderful divine provision and on the other hand, the utter need of the sheep for that which God alone can supply." John Walvoord: Bibliotheca Sacra Vol 121: p298

What is the state of the sheep of the Good Shepherd according to Psalm 23:1?

They shall not want (lack for anything they need). The Greek word for "want" (lack, be without, have need) is hustereo which means to "fall short of the end" including falling short of expectations. Like the little girl recalled who was memorizing Ps 23 "I shall not want- I've got all I need". But not necessarily everything I want. The Shepherd knows some things are not best for my spiritual health. This phrase indicates that the Shepherd is committed to meet the needs of the sheep. It could be paraphrased "The LORD is enough"! John D. Rockefeller, the billionaire oil man, was once asked, "How much money is enough?" He replied, "Just one more dollar." He was never satisfied &  the word "enough" eluded him all his days. For us who are His sheep, the Lord is enough...but is He?...if we should have to declare bankruptcy? Is the Lord enough... if we don't get that job we desire? Is the Lord enough...if our husband or wife leaves us, or if they die suddenly, or our children get sucked into the drug & alcohol scene? Is the Lord enough...if we remain single all our life? Is the Lord enough...if we are never a success by worldly standards? Pithy points worth pondering.

Spurgeon writes

Does He not feed the ravens, and cause the lilies to grow? How, then, can He leave His children to starve? I shall not want for spirituals, I know that His grace will be sufficient for me. Resting in Him He will say to me, "As thy day so shall thy strength be." I may not possess all that I wish for, but "I shall not want." Others, far wealthier and wiser than I, may want, but "I shall not." "The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." (Ps 34:10)

It is not only "I do not want," but "I shall not want." Come what may, if famine should devastate the land, or calamity destroy the city, "I shall not want." Old age with its feebleness shall not bring me any lack, and even death with its gloom shall not find me destitute. I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because "The Lord is my shepherd." The wicked always want, but the righteous never; a sinner's heart is far from satisfaction, but a gracious spirit dwells in the palace of content." (Ref)

Why do the sheep of Jehovah Roi not want?

1) PROVISION (Ps 23:2): He makes them lie down (to lie stretched out) in green pastures -

Green pastures and quiet waters are mentioned first because they are priority needs of the sheep if they are to survive and grow. The idea here  is "He makes me rest"  (the tense of the verb suggests He repeats this action over & over) & the Septuagint uses a verb picturing "pitching a tent", "tabernacling" or tarrying.  Am I taking time to "pitch my tent" & "tarry" in the presence of the pastoral provision of my Shepherd? Or am I so busy, in such a hurry, that I hardly hear His voice? The Shepherd went before the sheep & searched out the places of repose but the sheep had to follow Him. Are you following the Shepherd's lead or going your own way, to pastures of your own making (Pr 14:12)? Notice that the implications of the psalm are that sustenance is discovered only as the sheep follow the shepherd. He will lead them to quiet waters and green pastures, but if they fail to follow the Shepherd, they may well find themselves with unresolved needs. Have you noticed that your satisfaction level is directly related to your proximity to the Good Shepherd? Remember also that Israel was an arid land so it took a wise experienced shepherd to find the oases. Any disturbance or intruder scares sheep. They are very fearful & cannot lie down unless they feel totally secure as the were here in the setting of green pastures & in  the presence of their watching Shepherd. Similarly hungry sheep would not lie down. So when sheep are lying down in green pastures, it means  their tummies are full. They are content with the Shepherd's provision. Are you?

What are the "green pastures"? Although, we cannot be dogmatic, surely this picture includes the nourishment found in the Word of God (cf Jer 15:16 ) which alone satisfies the Good Shepherd's flock.  As the Good Shepherd of the sheep He meets every need of His flock (see note Philippians 4:19), and there is no want to those who trust him. When we follow the Shepherd closely, His will and desires will become our will and desires. We can trust the Good Shepherd to be consistent with His own nature. As someone has well said, the "Secret" of growing in grace is to be like a sheep &  to FILL UP, LIE DOWN & RUMINATE (Meditate) A hungry, ill fed sheep is ever on its feet, on the move, searching for another scanty mouthful of forage to try and satisfy its gnawing hunger. Such sheep are not contented, do not thrive & are no use to themselves nor to their owners. They languish and lack vigor and vitality. Can we not see the clear spiritual application? ARE YOU RESTING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE SHEPHERD OR RESTLESS BECAUSE YOU'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR GREENER PASTURES of  INFERIOR FORAGE?

In his "Farm Sermons" Spurgeon comments that

Just as the sheep has nourishment according to its nature, and this nourishment is abundantly found for it by its shepherd, so that it not only feeds, but then lies down in the midst of the fodder, satiated with plenty, and perfectly content and at ease; even so are the people of God when Jesus Christ leads them into the pastures of the covenant, and opens up to them the precious truths upon which their souls shall be fed. Beloved, have we not proved that promise true...My soul has sometimes fed upon Christ till I have felt as if I could receive no more, and then I have laid me down in the bounty of my God to take my rest, satisfied with favor, and full of the goodness of the Lord.

2) PEACEFUL REST (Ps 23:2): He leads me beside quiet waters.

Lit. "waters of resting places," i.e., restful waters--waters that provide refreshment and well-being (Isa 49:10). Sheep are afraid of fast flowing streams. God’s provision of still waters has a soothing effect & calms the sheep. The root word for "quiet" (hold pointer over "quiet"  for Septuagint or Lxx word) in Hebrew = "absence of movement" w/ the idea of being settled next to the waters to which He leads me. The verb hodegeo is used by the Septuagint (or Lxx) is) to translate the Hebrew word for "leads" &  interestingly is the same verb used by John to describe the leading of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:13) & is also used to describe the leading of the Lamb in (Revelation 7:17 [note]: the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd, and will guide (hodegeo) them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.").

Similarly the Lxx word for "quiet" (anapausis) is used by Jesus Himself in His invitation for all those who are weary & heavy laden to come to Him (Mt 11:29).

Spurgeon adds

Our Lord leads us beside these "still waters;" we could not go there of ourselves, we need his guidance, therefore it is said, "he leadeth me." He does not drive us. Moses drives us by the law, but Jesus leads us by his example, and the gentle drawing of his love.

3) POWER RESTORED: He restores my soul. (Ps 23:3)

He revives me &  refreshes my spirit, where the Hebrew word "shuwb" (shuv) describes movement back to the point of departure, a reversal of direction (literally in 2 Ki 20:10) so one sense of restoring our souls may be that He restores us from our wandering way (cf Ps 51:12 where David prays to be restored; cf Ps 85:4-7). In addition our "spiritual battery" tends to run down with the toil & testing of each day & thus we find ourselves in daily  need of restoration & revival (2 Cor 4:16, cf Ps 119:25 - Spurgeon note). But how? Thru disciplined regular intake of His life giving Word (cp Ps 19:7 "The law of the LORD is PERFECT, restoring the soul" - Spurgeon note) &  thru the ministry of the Spirit of Christ. While a shepherd provides his sheep with food, rest & restoration, God provides His sheep with His Word, which is the principle means of giving spiritual nourishment, rest & restoration. Do you feel rested & restored? Are you daily taking in the Word? (if you having difficulty w/ this discipline let me encourage you to begin reading brief devotional in the Daily Bread  along w/ the Scriptural passage. The more you eat "good food" the more you will desire it.)
Spurgeon: "Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. Pray to him, then, for the blessing--"Restore thou me, thou Shepherd of my soul!" (cf Ps 119:176 - Spurgeon note)

4). PURPOSE REVEALED: He guides me in the paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3):

When we follow the Good Shepherd we will always be on the right paths, which are safe & productive because of His leading.  How does He "guide" us today? A central aspect of this guidance comes from His Word (Pr 6:22-23, 2 Peter 1:19 [note], Ps 17:4) as well as from our "Helper", the Holy Spirit  Who "will guide (us) into all the truth" (Jn 16:13, 1 Cor 2:12-14)

Hemphill writes

Being on the right path does not mean that we will not face danger or difficulty as we follow the Shepherd. In verse 4, the reader is reminded that the sheep may have to travel through the valley of death, yet the sheep are assured that no evil will befall them if they remain near the shepherd. We frequently desire and plead that we might avoid the difficult circumstances of life, when in truth our greatest concern should always be our proximity to the Shepherd. (Ref)

Four characterizing activities of the Lord as Shepherd (i.e., emphasizing His grace and guidance) are followed by the ultimate basis for His goodness, i.e., “His name’s sake” (cf. Ps 25:11; 31:3; 106:8; Isa 43:25; 48:9; Ezek. 36:22-32) God guides us for the sake of his reputation. The prosperity of the Lord's servant brings honor to the Lord's name. The professional guide’s “name” or reputation was the traveler’s only guarantee of protection and safe arrival, as it was the guide’s main claim to employment.
The measure of a shepherd is the condition of his flock. God’s reputation rests upon His ability to guide and care for His people. 

Ken Hemphill adds:

Don't overlook the fact that the green pastures and the still waters are the essential provision by which the shepherd restores the sheep for their journey. It is important for us to remember that the journey is not complete when the sheep reach the green pastures and the still waters. The sheep are only being restored so that they might continue the journey, which may well lead them through dark valleys before the day is done. Rest is always a means to an end. The Shepherd renews the sheep so that they might follow Him as He leads them in the paths of righteousness.  (Ref)

5) PROTECTION RIGHT BY MY SIDE:

Our Shepherd goes before us when the path is smooth, but He stands beside us when the way is dangerous and frightening. In a way the best 2 words in the entire Psalm are "WITH ME".  How often the assurance of His presence has encouraged the hearts of tremulous saints walking through valleys with dark shadows (cf Moses Ex 3, Joshua Dt 31:6-8, Josh 1:5,9, the remnant of believing Israel Isaiah 43:1, 5, every saint of every age Ps 46:7, Heb 13:5-6, Mt 28:18-20) The presence of the shepherd also offers comfort to the flock. Sheep are content merely to be in the same field with their shepherd; Christians are comforted by the very presence of the Lord. This thought is especially comforting when darkness overshadows the believer.  It is the Shepherd's presence which dispels our fears. (See Spurgeon's devotional) How often we turn a corner (even when being led in the paths of righteousness) &  find ourselves plunged into deep darkness against our will! The fact that God was David’s shepherd did not keep him from many trials and tribulations (1 Sa 18:6-9) nor will it shelter us from similar dark valleys. Life is full of "deep darknesses". In these tight & suffocating places, the walls begin to close in, the light is expelled, & our vision becomes very dim. But in the valley of deep darkness in Ps 23:4, we "see" our Good Shepherd in a much more personal way. (Click real life example  during US Civil War) We may not be able to literally see Him, but He is present. This Lord Who Is Here, Yahweh, is indeed with us in those times of darkness. Notice the shift in the pronouns from "HE" ("he makes me", etc) in (v1-3) to "Thou" when he entered  the valley of deep darkness. David clearly  reaffirms the sufficiency of His Great Shepherd as he exclaims "Thou art with me!" Is there any other place more fitting for us to find Him this intimately than in the moments of darkness & despair? Don't despise the dark valleys for in them you will discover sweet communion with "Shepherd &  Guardian of your souls" (see note 1 Peter 2:25), no longer ahead, to lead, but alongside to escort. And so in keeping with David's opening affirmation, we will never “want” or lack for the comfort which comes from the Shepherd's presence, power & protection. While we are never promised there will be no evil, we can be assured that we need “fear no evil” (v4), for we will always be in the Shepherd’s presence if we follow Him in His paths. How did David qualify the valley of death? It was only a "shadow" for to the LORD's sheep death is but a doorway into the Shepherd's presence. The Good Shepherd in laying down His life was then brought up from the dead as the "Great Shepherd" (see note Hebrews 13:20) thus conquering death. (1 Cor 15:24-25, 51-56)

This section is often applied to death of a saint to which Spurgeon writes

Observe that it is not walking IN the valley, but THROUGH the valley. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. Death is not the house but the porch, not the goal but the passage to it." (Ref)

Elsewhere Spurgeon adds

Behold, how independent of outward circumstances the Holy Ghost can make the Christian! What a bright light may shine within us when it is all dark without! How firm, how happy, how calm, how peaceful we may be, when the world shakes to and fro, and the pillars of the earth are removed! Even death itself, with all its terrible influences, has no power to suspend the music of a Christian's heart, but rather makes that music become more sweet, more clear, more heavenly, till the last kind act which death can do is to let the earthly strain melt into the heavenly chorus, the temporal joy into the eternal bliss! Let us have confidence, then, in the blessed Spirit's power to comfort us." (Click for full devotional)

Chuck Smith from Calvary Chapel had the following interesting note in a message on Psalm 23 especially the section referring to "death". He says

Death doesn't hold any terror or fear for the child of God. A survey was recently done among morticians 2000 of them responded to it. And it was a survey that dealt with the preparation of bodies of those people who they knew to be truly born again and those who were not, and you can ask a mortician to put a smile on a persons face when they are dead. Did you know that? Next to impossible, unless the person was a born again Christian! And they had observed this phenomena and so they made a survey among morticians, and it all came back, yes, they had all observed the same phenomena.

Interesting isn't it?

What gave David comfort? (Psalm 23:4)

"Thy rod & Thy staff".

The shepherd's  ROD was generally a short club used to fight off wild beasts & clearly pictures PROTECTION. The "STAFF"  was a slender pole with a little crook on the end used to aid the sheep &  depicts  GUIDANCE (how many times have we seen the idea of guidance in Ps 23? Why so frequent?) The crook of the staff could be hooked around the leg of a sheep rescue him from harm.

Has He ever rescued you from harm?

Gentle taps of the staff on the sheep's side provided direction & even discipline for sheep that were prone to wander from the "narrow path". In sum the Shepherd's rod and staff comfort the us as "sheep" because they convince us he has the necessary equipment to dispose of any evil or enemy we may meet in the darkness. What is your impression of God? A gentle Shepherd or an angry ogre eager to beat us? Note that the shepherd was not waiting for the sheep to take one false step so he could whap them. Our Shepherd is gentle in His directing & even in His disciplining of His sheep. Note also that while God may not always use His power to keep us out of trials, His presence and His power will always be with us to keep us through our trials. 

At times the shepherd will throw his rod at a stubborn, straying sheep that refuses to hear his voice. At other times he gently nudges the stray with the end of his six-foot staff, crooked at one end to fit his strong hand.

(1) A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller, Zondervan

What is the impression of the "God of the Old Testament" in many people's mind?

They picture a God Who is fearful, awesome, majestic & Who seems distant & often far removed from their personal life & their everyday trials & afflictions.