This book is one of my all time favorites. You will never look at this Psalm again the same way after reading Keller's book. I would be very surprised if he was not an influence of Max Lucado as his writing style is filled with metaphor.

What is mostly amazing is how he indirectly shatters our own impression we create in reading the Psalm with a shepherd's point of view, in this case David's. Basically, Keller uses his experience as a shepherd to illuminate some of the language that David used and why. It all applies to the work of the
shepherd with his sheep. He then draws the parallel to Christ, the good Shepherd and we the sheep and how this terminology spiritually applies to our lives.

The metaphors and insights with this method are amazing.

For example, we read 'Thou preparest a table in the midst of mine enemies' and 'thou anointest my head with oil', and we get the impression of us literally sitting at a table and God pouring oil on our head symbolizing 'kingship' or 'specialness'.

This is not how David would have seen it.

The shepherd goes out to what is called the 'table lands' where the grazing is most plentiful. He makes sure it is safe from predators, poisonous weeds and that there is plentiful feeding. Then the sheep feels safe with the Shepherd there and all is well.

The flies and gnats and parasites can get so bad that the sheep can go crazy and hurt or even kill themselves. To avoid this, the Good Shepherd spreads a concoction on their heads that eases this misery and keeps the flies away.

Do you see the parallel to sin in our lives and the anointing power of the Spirit?

It is a fantastic book and I highly recommend it.

This is one of my all-time favourites, too. I've read it plus went through it as a group study. One of the members of the group lived where sheep were raised and could attest to how "stupid" sheep are.

I believe that Mr. Keller used to live in our province, near Oliver or somewhere. I reckon he's been dead for a while now.

Yes, I can't remember where but I think it was perhaps in Penticton or somewhere else in the South Okanagan.

It is indeed a wonderful book, it does give a lot of new perspectives. I recommend reading it with Dr. Herr's book on the 23 psalm (I think it might be called an archaeologist looks at the 23rd psalm, but don't remember for sure) and some cassett tapes (maybe now on CD) by Archaeologist Jim Fleming on the shepherd with his sheep.

Now I do have one dissagreement with the book, it's on approaching the text from his expirence but which maybe could use some more careful Bible and cultural and historical study. The text about preparing the table in the pressence of the enemy. What the idea of enemies having a table prepared in each other's pressence meant, to the ancient near east, forgiveness and reconcilliation. It is to indicate more than just the protection from enemies that are out there (getting rid of the poisonous plants and killing the snakes etc.) but pictures God as the shepherd as tableing or reconcilling the enemies. Herr almost says this in his book. He gives the background and builds the case but the chapter abruptly ends just before he actually draws this conclusion. Fleming of course points this out. Now when I was at Andrews I did a study in the 23 psalm and looked at it's chiastic structure. The Chiasm indicates that what brings about this reconcilliation is by passing through the valley of the shadow of death. That the sheep was willing to suffer near death or death so that the shepherd can prepare the table in the pressence of his enemies.

I see this psalm as messanic. As Jesus passed through the valley of the shadow of death to offer forgiveness to us ("while we were yet sinners Jesus died for us" is simply a paraphrase of the idea of Jesus passing through the valley of the shadow of death to prepare the table of forgiveness in the pressence of us, his enemies).

Another messanic implication to the text is the end where it talks about the sheep living in the house of the Lord forever...

Sheep tended not to live in the house of the Lord for a very long time... If I were a lamb in ancient Judah I would not feel too glad when they said unto me "Let us go into the house of the Lord" But here in the 23rd psalm you have a lamb that was sacrificed to bring about reconcilliation with his enemies, and who was able to go to the house of the lord not to again die but to live. (Although I believe that the lambs who did sacrifice their lives in the temple will be in heaven)

So may I recommend to once again that along with this wonderful book that you also get Herr's book (Herr is a professor at Canadian Union College)and the Fleming tapes (Jim Fleming is a Methodist Archaeologist his study site is called "Biblical Resources" you can google them) Then after reading / listening to these three sources (and Rabbi Kushner also has a good book on the 23rd psalm, which would be a good 4th source but definetely get the first three) then next time your pastor is out of town you can have a wonderful sermon or series on the 23rd psalm. Please get those other two or three resources and you will enjoy them. And please let me know how your study comes and about your sermon.

Kevin, how do you know Larry Herr? He was my prof for many classes in college and a great guy. He was one of maybe 3 profs in my 4 1/2 years at CUC where I can say that there wasn't one of his classes I didn't enjoy.

I would be interested in reading his book.

Sadly I don't know him, but I read his book and loved it (however the one section ended before he came right out and told what "Thou prepariest a table before me in the pressence of my enemy" means even though he was building the case for it). I'd like to get to know him.

By the way, I hope that you get his books and read / listen to the resouces I've listed and write your own sermon (or series) on the 23rd psalm and tell us here how it went. Oh, I forgot to mention above, another Fleming resource is his study of the Prodigal Son, where he shows more about Psalm 23:5 and it's relation to the story of the prodigal son.

I've never taken a class by Dr. Larry Herr, but I've listened to him lecture once and he was fascinating :)

Yes, he is a fun guy to be around. Sadly he has taken flack from more conservative students for some of his biblical interpretation and I know of at least 3 theology students (2 of them actually are my friends!) that had such an issue with some of his theology they tried to have him removed. The SDA Sanhedrin mentality that railroaded Des Ford is still alive and well in our churches. Luckily, it did not prevail. As I said before, he is one of my favorite profs I've had and I alway try to drop in and say hello if I'm ever in the area.

One thing I remember about his classes is that he always had a foreign student have the opening prayer in their own language. You couldn't understand anything of course but it was still pretty cool.

Have you read Philip Keller's other books such as The Shepherd Looks at the Good Shepherd, The Shepherd looks at the Sheepdog etc.?
He has written quite a number of books, all of which are worth reading. When I am back home the middle of this week I shall make a list of the books, most of which I have.

I have read 'At Water's Edge' (I think it's called) about his house by the lake, and the one about the sea (can't remember what it's called) and found myself lost in the imaginary pictures of nature and metaphor he created. He made me long for that kind of peace and tranquility. All I needed was John Denver music to seal the image!

I started to read 'A Gardner looks at the Fruits of the Spirit' but I can't get into it for some reason. I do have 'A Shepherd looks at the Good Shepherd' and I think I'll start that one next.

Just wondering if anyone has made a collection of Keller, Herr, Kushner and Fleming's material either for your own spiritual growth or to prepare a sermon / sermon series on the 23rd psalm? Get these (and maybe others, but especially the above 4) you will not regret it.

By the way, another powerful book,of the same type of idea, but sadly out of print is "Why Pray" by Lynn Harper Wood. It is a wonderful look at the Lord's Prayer. (While he does not discuss it in this book, Wood's understanding of hell fire really colored his excitement about the Bible) Anyone have read that book? What do you think of it?

We have a recording of Keller relating, Lessons from a Sheep Dog. An all-time favorite.

I have read this book and feel it is well worth the read! I really do appreciate Keller's writings.

SherryLee