Psalm 23 - Paper Sample

Introduction

Psalm 23 is a well-known biblical chapter that reminds individuals of God's undying grace and love to His people. Despite the powerful message, the chapter was written in a poetic nature. The author David uses rhetorical devices to compose the verse and convey the message. The poem has multiple imagery, themes, repetition, and metaphors, among other literary devices. The essay will analyze palms 23 rhetorical devices used and their meaning.

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The psalm 23 poem uses parallelism, meaning the poem is divided into two units of thought in each verse. Every verse has two parts; the first part, an idea, is expressed and expanded in the next verse. For example, the first unit, "the lord is my shepherd," and the second unit explaining further is " I shall not want." The parallelism continues through the poem.

Metaphors

The poem begins with a metaphor of the shepherd, an extended metaphor. For example, the metaphor of the shepherd and the sheep extends throughout the poem. The term shepherd is used metaphorically in place of a leader. Instead of saying the lord is my leader, the author states the lord is my shepherd and maintains the shepherd tittle throughout. The use of a shepherd invokes a sense of security. The role of a shepherd is to guide, protect, and tend his flock with love. In this case, God is the shepherd to his people, and in him, I shall not want. The verbs the author uses, such as a guide and makes, indicated the shepherd leads him.

The shepherd metaphor and his lamb continue in verse two, where the author declares himself as the lamb guided to pasture and still waters by the shepherd. The presence of food and water serves as a metaphor portraying God's ability to satisfy his people of hunger and thirst. Another analogy is that of a host. God is described as a host who provides a bounty of food and shelter to his guests. the author quotes, "You prepare a table before me..… my cup overflows" (line 5). The shepherds and the host role in the poem are similar; they both are entrusted to care for and protect those under their care. Another metaphor is " through the valley of the shadow of death."(line 4). the valley signifies the good and difficult times of life. In ancient communities, valleys were used for grazing and sites to build cities and act as battlegrounds. In the poem, the valley is of death, but the author trusts God and frees himself from fear.

Symbolism

Symbolism is also used in the poem. For example, the symbols of green pastures and still waters symbolize God's nourishment, calmness, and peace. The anointing of oil in a cup that overflows is another imagery used. Oil was used for rituals and the blessing of leaders, softening wounds, and body application. However, in the poem, the oil represents the ritual of anointing for prayer and purification. In the poem, the author presents him/herself as the lamb in need of God's guidance and protection, but through his closeness, to God, he is a king.

Protection and Security

The psalm 23 poem has many themes, and one is the theme of security and safety. Like a lamb, the author desires God's provision for food, water, shelter, and protection against the enemies and hostile circumstances. The theme of preservation is introduced right from the first line and develops throughout the poem. In the first line, the ither declared the " the lord is my shepherd. I shall not want"(line 1). When the author claims the lord his shepherd, he is sure he will care for him as his lamb. He is confident in the undying provision by God such that he declares, "I shall not want." The shepherd later transcends to a host who provides for his guest's food and shelter and protects them from the enemy. He defends His people from the enemy even though he prepares a table for his lambs before their enemies; he watches them. In the valley of deaths, he still protects his servants from death and evil. The abundance of gods protection and eliminates all elements of fear from the author.

Trust

The theme of trusts is also prevalent in the poem. Pslams calls for a celebration of God's love, guidance, and protection, which is only achieved through faith. The poem appeal for total confidence in God as his lambs. The author serves as an example by declaring his belief "I shall not want." Fora person to dine and acquire the shepherd bounty, one has to show no douts or feer. The authors call for the need to stand strong in God such that when one is paraded before the enemies, he will have no fear., when walking in the valley of death, there is no fear but pure confidence and trust.

Conclusion

The poem set is in a pastoral community setting where people went to the field to feed the animals as a shepherd. The author of the poem has used imagery from the rural community to tell his shepherd story—a shepherd who tends his flock and guides them to greener pasture and still waters. In the second verse, the author states, "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters"( line 2). All are this imagery of a pastoral setting. The poem creates a mood of joy and celebration as the author prides himself on the love and protection he acquires from God. He recounts all the good deeds God does for him and provide.

References

Psalm 23 ("The Lord is My Shepherd"). In bible.