God is the good shepherd: Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23:6
The authorship of Psalm 23 is attributed to King David, and it is the most famous hymn dedicated to the glory of the Lord. The song is a beautiful metaphor of how the Lord is the true spiritual guide, the good shepherd, of the people of Israel, and of all those gentiles who follow the path of the fear of God (constancy, firmness, devotion, equanimity, stability) like Ruth:
"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:1-6.
The first part of the Psalm explains to us that the ways of God, his righteousness (the golden rule), his mercy (gentleness, compassion, kindness) are ways of blessing, of happiness, of tranquility, of joy (Psalm 23:1-3).
The second part tells us that God frees us from anguish and fear in times of difficulty, he teaches us to cope with negative situations.
The last part explains that God is faithful and constant, his love (love of charity or Agape) is eternal and unconditional with those who fear him.
We see the expression of God as a good shepherd in other quotes from the Bible: "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close tho his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11.
Jesus in the new testament will take the title of the good shepherd, Christ is the messiah: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep." John 10:14-15.
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