Many people have heard Psalm 23 read or recited on numerous occasions. Often, the occasions are funerals for loved ones. The psalm is, indeed, comforting, and I am thankful for many scripture passages that comfort believers in difficult times. However, did King David, around 1000 B.C., write this psalm under the direction of the Holy Spirit to comfort those who are mourning? I don’t think so. Instead, I believe he wrote it as a reflection on how the people of God are to live daily in light of the care and nurture our Good Shepherd provides. He wrote it as an acknowledgement and praise to God for being the perfect Shepherd in this life. It is helpful, then, to have a resource like W. Phillip Keller’s A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 to guide us through a shepherd’s eyes into each meaningful phrase in the six verses of this well-known, beloved psalm.

Keller walks the reader through insights he gained over years of shepherding sheep. His knowledge of the needs, challenges, dangers, best practices, and the nature of sheep all combine in this book, first published in 1970, to enlighten readers, like myself, who are otherwise ignorant of such details. The end result for the reader is a much deeper appreciation of the meaning of each phrase in Psalm 23. I heartily recommend the book to all who love this psalm and want to delve into its depths and gain new insights. Otherwise, we risk quickly passing over them as we read the psalm, seeking only momentary comfort in the face of hardship. There is much more to understand and appreciate.

The 173-page mass market paperback, published in 2007, is a quick read. After a helpful introduction in which Keller establishes his credentials, the following dozen chapters each focus on one phrase in a verse, sharing insights from his experience. Keller is generous with applications for the Christian who seeks to live under the constant care of Jesus, the Good Shepherd.

I can honestly say that I will never again read Psalm 23 the same way I did for the first 68 years of my life. The imagery is now richer, more detailed, and far more meaningful. No longer will I limit this psalm to providing comfort in the face of grief. Instead, I will read it as a reminder of the beauty of my daily life under the care of the greatest Shepherd of all, my Lord Jesus Christ.

If you’ve never read A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, I encourage you to do so. And if you have read it, but it’s been years, perhaps it’s time to reread it and be blessed.