“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” -Psalm 23:1
The Psalmist is both a shepherd and a poet (1 Samuel 16:19, 23; 2 Samuel 5:2 & 23:1; Psalm 78:70–71). David was not only a shepherd of sheep but also of Israel.
It’s not hard to imagine one like David pondering the sheep and his role in their well-being. He was wise about their need for nourishment and refreshment. He was a comforter and healer when they were anxious or ill. And, he was a strong and skilled guardian against dangerous predators who would take advantage of the sheep’s vulnerability and the cover of darkness.
When God promoted David from tending sheep to leading a nation (Psalm 78:70–72), he understood shepherding on an even deeper level.
But that left the question, who was David’s shepherd? The answer is this Psalm. The Lord (YHWH) is David’s shepherd. The Lord, being omnipresent, would always be watching over him. The Lord, being omnipotent, would be a powerful defender against the wiles of that oldest of predators, who roaming like a roaring lion is always seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). And the Lord, being omniscient, knows David’s needs even before he asks for them.
Christians can also give thanks that the Lord (Christ) is our shepherd also.
“I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.” -Ezekiel 34:22–24