Psalms 23:1

David compared Yahweh to a shepherd as he reviewed His blessings on his life (cf. Psalms 28:9; Psalms 80:1). This was a familiar role for David who had been a shepherd of sheep as a youth and who later became a shepherd of God’s people as their king. Other ancient Near Eastern kings also described themselves as the shepherds of their nations. [Note: E.g., King Hammurabi. See James B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament, p. 164.] Even some pagan gods were spoken of as shepherds. [Note: Ibid., p. 388.] Isaiah later referred to Messiah as a shepherd (Isaiah 40:11). This title was one that Jesus Christ claimed for Himself (John 10:14) and that the New Testament writers used for Him (Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4). As David’s shepherd, the Lord provided all David needed. [Note: See Thomas A. Golding, "The Imagery of Shepherding in the Bible, Part 1," Bibliotheca Sacra 163:649 (January-March 2006):18-28.]