“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalms 23:1).
Christians around the world love this psalm! It testifies that the Savior Jesus Christ is our “shepherd” in that He leads us, cares for us, protects us, and knows us individually. Our Jewish friends love this psalm too, understanding the “shepherd” to mean God. It is used often in both Christian and Jewish funeral services.
Part of the reason this psalm is so familiar is that it was adapted into a beautiful hymn by James Montgomery, a devout Scottish Christian who lived around the year 1800. He wrote hundreds of other hymns, including “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief” and “Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.”
His text for “The Lord Is My Shepherd” have been set to several tunes, but the tune in our hymnbook is by an Austrian composer named Thomas Koschat. Have a listen!
The Lord Is My Shepherd
“The Lord Is My Shepherd”
The Lord is my Shepherd; no want shall I know.
I feed in green pastures; safe-folded I rest.
He leadeth my soul where the still waters flow,
Restores me when wand’ring, redeems when oppressed,
Thru the valley and shadow of death though I stray,
Since thou art my Guardian, no evil I fear.
Thy rod shall defend me, thy staff be my stay.
No harm can befall with my Comforter near.
In the midst of affliction my table is spread.
With blessings unmeasured my cup runneth o’er.
With perfume and oil thou anointest my head.
Oh, what shall I ask of thy providence more?
[There’s a fourth verse, too, which is not in our current hymnbook:]
Let goodness and mercy, my bountiful God,
Still follow my steps till I meet Thee above.
I seek by the path which my forefathers trod,
Through the land of their sojourn, Thy kingdom of love.
(Hymns, no. 316)