Chapter Twenty-Three

According to its superscription, the psalm belongs to David, and by the similarity of its content with Psalm 14 (compare Ps 23:3-4 with Ps 14:1), one can consider the occasion of writing to be the same, that is, the transfer of the Ark of the Covenant from the house of Abinadab to the tabernacle on Zion, when already the procession was approaching the narrow and small gates of Jerusalem, which is why David exclaims “lift up your gates, O heads of yours” (Ps 23:7).

The supplement to the superscription – “on the first day of the week,” borrowed from the Greek Bible, indicates the time for the liturgical performance of the psalm on the first day, beginning the week, which corresponds to our Sunday, since the week ended for the Hebrews on Saturday.

The Lord is great: the earth and all that is on it belong to Him (1–2). Near God on Zion can therefore dwell the one who is pure in thoughts, deeds, and words, who seeks Him (3–5). O gates of the city! Lift up your heads so as to make a free entrance for the Lord, Who comes through you! He is the King of glory, mighty in war, He is the Lord of hosts (6–10)!

Psalm 23:1. The earth is the Lord’s and its fullness, the world and all who dwell in it. Psalm 23:2. For He has established it upon the seas and founded it upon the rivers. Since the Lord is the Creator of the earth, it belongs to Him, as does all that fills it, that is, the animal and plant kingdoms, the organic and inorganic world, the visible and invisible. He founded it “upon the seas and upon the rivers.” The earth, by its volume, is smaller than the quantity of water on the earth’s surface. The power of God and His omnipotence is displayed vividly in the fact that the earth occupies a firm and stable position, despite being surrounded by a moving element.

Psalm 23:4. The one whose hands are clean and whose heart is pure, who has not sworn by his soul to vanity and has not sworn falsely [to his neighbor]. To dwell near the Lord on Mount Zion is worthy one who has not committed an evil external act (“hands are clean”), who is pure also in thoughts (“heart is pure”) and who has not sinned in words: has not given false oaths and has not falsely invoked God.

Psalm 23:6. Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob! Such, worthy of dwelling on Zion, David considers those “who seek Your face.” In the immediate sense, this refers to the Hebrews as the sole bearers and servants of Jehovah.

Psalm 23:7. Lift up your gates, O heads, and be lifted up, everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall enter! Psalm 23:8. Who is this King of glory? – The Lord, mighty and strong, the Lord, mighty in war. “Lift up your gates, O heads of yours.” Gates in ancient cities were constructed very low, with a raised ceiling. They are called everlasting because of their very ancient origin. The procession approached Jerusalem and consisted of the Levites bearing upon their shoulders the Ark of the Covenant, on the lid of which were ornaments made of cherubim. The gates of Zion, with their unraised ceiling, were not sufficient for the One Who sits upon the Cherubim, the Lord, to pass through. The more prominent the person entering through the gates, the more unobstructed must be the entrance into them. Here, now, enters the very “King of glory.” This King of glory is the Lord of hosts, “mighty in war,” He Who is the victor over all peoples and to Whom David owes the taking of Mount Zion from the Jebusites.