From Exile to Home: Provisions and Movements in Psalm 23

By Resources for Small Group Bible Study

Is it necessary to gild the lily? In some instances, yes. Psalm 23 is so beautifully written that its metaphors have to be thoroughly explored to capture its full impact. This is precisely what you can expect from this book. “From Exile to Home” explains the meaning of each symbol in a clear and simple manner that readers can understand. Illustrations are added in some passages to enhance the reading process. From Judea to Babylon and back, readers take part in the front seat of the psalmist’s adventure as he journeys from exile to home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 30, 2020
• ISBN: 9781973689904

Resources for Small Group Bible Study

Resources for Small Group Bible Study or RSGBS is a ministry in Durham, North Carolina that started in January of 2017. It aims to provide Pastors and Bible study leaders with materials that are scholarly done yet easy to read.

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ISBN: 978-1-9736-8991-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8989-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9736-8990-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020906961

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/29/2020

Contents

Preface

Introduction

Part 1: The Origin of Psalm 23

Psalm 23 and Prophecies Written during Exile

• Ezekiel

• Isaiah

• Jeremiah

The Two Scenes of Psalm 23

• The Progression of the Two Scenes from Exile to Home

• Conflict and Adversary in the Two Scenes

• The Two Scenes in Tabular Format

Provisions and Movements in Psalm 23

• Provisions in Exile (1–3a)

• Movements in Exile to Go Home (3b–4)

• Provisions and Celebration at Home (5)

• Movements to Remain at Home (6)

• Provisions and Movements in Tabular Format

• Provisions and Movements Today

Part 2: Exile

Provisions in Exile (1–3a)

• Green Pastures

• Quiet Waters

• Green Pastures and Quiet Waters in Babylon

• Green Pastures and Quiet Waters Today

Movements in Exile to Go Home (3b–4)

• Paths of Righteousness

• Paths of Righteousness in Babylon

• The Valley of the Shadow of Death

• The Psalmist in the Babylonian Valley of the Shadow of Death

• The Paths of Righteousness and Valley of the Shadow of Death as Movement Metaphors

• The Valley of the Shadow of Death Today

Part 3: Home

Provisions and Celebration at Home (5)

• A Table in the Presence of Enemies

• Anointed Head with Oil and Cup Overflows

• Celebration, Protection, and Provision

in the Homeland

• A Prepared Table, Oil Anointed Head, and Overflowing Cup Today

Movements to Remain at Home (6)

• Goodness and Lovingkindness

• Goodness and Lovingkindness as Covenant Blessings

• The House of the Lord (6b)

• The Psalmist in His Homeland Forever

Conclusion

Bibliography

Preface

From Exile to Home: Provisions and Movements in Psalm 23 is the second issue released by Resources for Small Group Bible Study (RSGBS) after the first book For You Are With Me: Eight Blessings Resulting from God’s Presence, A Study of Psalm 23. Although, From Exile to Home has a different interpretation of Psalm 23 and writing format compared to For You Are With Me, both share the same objective of equipping church workers with valuable resources for preparing sermons and Bible study lessons. Both books try to provide scholarly exegetical materials and relevant application of Psalm 23 for doing effective ministry. The two volumes also attempt to keep exegesis as simple as possible for a more casual reading of the book. However, in case readers prefer an in-depth study of Psalm 23, extensive exegetical information can also be found on the footnotes of From Exile to Home,

The interpretative framework that will be used for From Exile to Home has three levels. The first level (exegesis) explains the meaning of the symbols in Psalm 23 as they relate to the literary context of the two scenes and eight metaphors of the Psalm. Old Testament prophetic writings and Ancient Near Eastern shepherding practices and hospitality traditions are explored in the detailed commentary section of the book. The second level deals with how the insights gleaned from the first level shed light on the Psalmist’s condition in Babylonian exile and Judean return. Finally, an attempt is made on the third level to apply the findings from the previous two levels to our current situation.

Thus, it is the aim of this book not only to enrich the lives of its readers but also to showcase an interpretive method that relies on contextual and historical background study of Psalm 23 to produce relevant application.

Introduction

1 The LORD is my shepherd,

    I shall not want.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

    For His name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of

    the shadow of death,

I fear no evil, for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the

    presence of my enemies;

You have anointed my head with oil;

    My cup overflows.

6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will

    follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the LORD

    forever.¹

The story behind Psalm 23 probably started around 597 BC² when King Nebuchadnezzar and his army captured Jerusalem (capital of Judah or Judea) and led away several thousands of its prominent citizens to Babylonian exile.³ Two more waves of deportation followed on 586 BC⁴ and 582 BC⁵ after the initial invasion. During the second assault in 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar burned down and destroyed all the houses in Jerusalem including the king’s palace and the sacred Temple.⁶ A passage in Lamentations vividly describes the people’s reaction to these horrible events. Panic and pitfall have befallen us, Devastation and destruction.⁷ During these tumultuous years, a total of four thousand and six hundred (4,600) leading and most talented Judeans were exiled to southern Mesopotamia in Nippur, not far from the actual city of Babylon.⁸ None remained in Judah except the poorest people of the land.⁹

It is possible that one of the captives taken to Babylon throughout these waves of deportation was the brilliant writer of Psalm 23, the psalmist.¹⁰ During his Babylonian exile, he composed Psalm 23.¹¹ One of the reasons, which make this idea conceivable, lies in the striking similarities of the theme and language of Psalm 23 with prophecies written during exile in the books of Ezekiel, Isaiah 40–66, and Jeremiah.¹² The psalmist must have heard some of these prophecies in Babylon or Judea and recast them in poetic format to compose a Psalm.¹³

In Psalm 23, the psalmist expresses his trust in the Lord that He will provide for his physical necessities in Babylon (1–3a) and move to bring him back to his own land (3b–4). When he returns to Judea, Yahweh will continue to supply his needs (5) and let him dwell there as long as he lives (6). Thus, Yahweh provides and moves from exile to home.

Part One

THE ORIGIN

OF PSALM 23

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