“Shepherd’s Assurance” | Psalm 23 Bible Study + Crossword

April 29, 2026 @DannyScottonJr Bible Studies, Lessons, Preaching 0

Previous Studies

For more details, please see the previous study and verse-by-verse commentary on Psalm 23.

"Shepherd's Assurance" | Psalm 23 Bible Study + Crossword

"Shepherd's Assurance" | Psalm 23 Bible Study + Crossword

Crossword Puzzle

Crossword Puzzle Answers

  • The LORD (Two words) In English Bible translations, ___ _____ (with small capital letters) is a rendering of YHWH, the holy Name of God told to Moses at the Burning Bush (Ps 23:1; cf. Ex 3:13-15).
  • Shepherd Even though David was a king and a ____ (1 Sam 17:34f.; Ps 78-70-72), he recognized that The LORD, the King of all kings, was his ____ (Ps 23:1; cf. Ps 28:9, 77:19-20, 80:1, 95:6-7). Ultimately, Jesus is The Good ____, who lays down His life for his sheep, and leads them to springs of living water (Jn 10:11; Heb 13:20-21; 1 Pet 2:24-25, 5:4; Rev 7:17).
  • Lack The LORD’s sheep do not ____; they do not want for anything (Ps 23:1; cf. Ex 16:18; Dt 2:7, 8:6-9; Neh 9:21).
  • Rest After providing sustenance, the LORD allows His sheep to lie down, and guides them to true ___ (Ps 23:2; cf. Ex 15:13; Num 10:33; Ps 78:52-55; Song 1:7; Is 40:11, 49:10; Hos 4:16).
  • Soul The LORD restores or refreshes our ___ – bringing back our liveliness and vitality (Ps 23:3; cf. Ruth 4:15; Ps 19:7, Pr 25:13).
  • Name The LORD leads His sheep on the right(eous) track to His right(eous) destination for the sake of His ____ (Ps 23:3; cf. Ps 31:3-4; 106:8-9).
  • Valley Even while walking through the darkest ____ (cf. Job 38:17; Is 9:2; Jer 2:6), because of the LORD’s Presence, we do not have to fear (Ps 23:4; cf. Ex 3:12; Is 41:10-13; Jer 1:6-8).
  • Staff The LORD protects and directs His sheep with His rod and His ____ (Ps 23:4; cf. Mic 7:14-15). The Shepherd’s crook keeps us from paths that are crooked.
  • Table The LORD spreads a ____ right in front of the psalmist’s enemies (Ps 23:5; cf. 2 Sam 9:7-13, 17:27-29; 2 Ki 25:27-30; Ps 78:18-19) and shows the psalmist divine hospitality (cf. Ps 62:2-5; Lk 7:46).
  • Pursue Though enemies typically ____ psalmists, here, the LORD’s goodness and loyal love will ____ the psalmist all the days of his life (Ps 23:6; cf. Ps 7:1, 5, 18:37, 31:15, 35:3, 69:26, 71:11, 109:16; cp. Ps 34:14, 38:20).
  • House The psalmist confidently sings that he will dwell/return to the ___ of the LORD (likely the tabernacle or Temple) for all of his days (Ps 23:1; cf. Ps 27:1, 93:5, 122:1-2).
  • Temple Though the ___ in Jerusalem was destroyed, all of Christ’s faithful sheep – both individually and collectively – are _____s of the Holy Spirit, who indwells us for all of our days (Jn 14:16-17; Rom 8:9; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19).

Bibliography

  • Bratcher, Robert G., and William David Reyburn. A Translator’s Handbook on the Book of Psalms. UBS Handbook Series. New York: United Bible Societies, 1991. [UBS]
  • Botterweck, G. Johannes, Helmer Ringgren, and Heinz-Josef Fabry, eds. Translated by John T. Willis, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, David E. Green, and Douglas W. Stott. Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1977–2012. [TDOT]
  • Briggs, Charles A., and Emilie Grace Briggs. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Psalms. International Critical Commentary. New York: C. Scribner’s Sons, 1906–1907.
  • Broyles, Craig C. Psalms. Edited by W. Ward Gasque, Robert L. Hubbard Jr., and Robert K. Johnston. Understanding the Bible Commentary Series. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
  • Brown, Francis, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs. Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977. [BDB]
  • Clines, David J. A., ed. The Dictionary of Classical Hebrew. Sheffield, England: Sheffield Academic Press; Sheffield Phoenix Press, 1993–2011.
  • Craigie, Peter C. Psalms 1–50. 2nd ed. Vol. 19. Word Biblical Commentary. Nashville, TN: Nelson Reference & Electronic, 2004.
  • Davis, Barry C. in Burge, Gary M., and Andrew E. Hill, eds. The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012.
  • Futato, Mark D. “The Book of Psalms.” In Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, Vol 7: The Book of Psalms, The Book of Proverbs. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009.
  • Futato, Mark D. HB101 Introduction to Biblical Hebrew. Logos Mobile Education. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016. [HB101]
  • Gesenius, Wilhelm, and Samuel Prideaux Tregelles. Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament Scriptures. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2003. [GHCLOT]
  • Goldingay, John. Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Psalms 1–41. Edited by Tremper Longman III. Vol. 1. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2006.
  • Harris, R. Laird, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, eds. Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. Chicago: Moody Press, 1999. [TWOT]
  • Jacobson, Rolf A., and Beth Tanner. “Book One of the Psalter: Psalms 1–41.” In The Book of Psalms, Kidner, Derek. Psaledited by E. J. Young, R. K. Harrison, and Robert L. Hubbard Jr. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2014.[NICOT]
  • Jenni, Ernst, and Claus Westermann. Theological Lexicon of the Old Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1997. [TLOT]
  • Kidner, Derek. Psalms 1–72: An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 15. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1973.
  • Koehler, Ludwig, Walter Baumgartner, M. E. J. Richardson, and Johann Jakob Stamm. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1994–2000. [HALOT]
  • Kraus, Hans-Joachim. A Continental Commentary: Psalms 1–59. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1993.
  • Longman, Tremper, III. Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary. Edited by David G. Firth. Vol. 15–16. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2014.
  • Matthews, Victor Harold, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament. Electronic ed. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
  • Motyer, J. A. “The Psalms.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 4th ed., 485–583. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
  • Ryken, Leland, Jim Wilhoit, Tremper Longman, Colin Duriez, Douglas Penney, and Daniel G. Reid. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.
  • VanGemeren, Willem, ed. New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1997. [NIDOTTE]
  • Waltke, Bruce K., James M. Houston, and Erika Moore. The Psalms as Christian Worship: A Historical Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010.
  • Walton, John H. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary (Old Testament): The Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs. Vol. 5. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009.
  • Wilcock, Michael. The Message of Psalms: Songs for the People of God. Edited by J. A. Motyer. The Bible Speaks Today. Nottingham, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 2001.
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