The 23rd Psalm is one of the best-known and most-loved literary works in the world, and it may well be the best poem ever written. It is also a fine example of the power of figurative language: We read deep things into the vision of ourselves as sheep, led to green pastures and good water by a kind shepherd. It’s empowering to feel the confidence to go fearlessly into the valley of the shadow of death, and to feel the love and caring of a table prepared by the Lord and a cup so full it overflows.

What people don’t know, however, is that this language actually has precise internal meanings, and that when we see them there is an even deeper beauty in the poem. That’s because what it actually describes is the path to heaven, and the fierce desire the Lord has to lead us there.

The first step is to let the Lord be our shepherd – to accept His teaching and His leadership. The green pastures and the still waters represent the things He will teach us for the journey. Then He begins working inside is, setting our spiritual lives in order, so that we desire to do what’s good and to love one another. That’s represented by restoring our souls and leading us in the paths of righteousness.

But we will still face challenges. We still live external lives, out in the world, and we are subject to desires that arise in those externals, in our bodily lives. That’s the valley of the shadow of death. But the rod and staff represent truth from the Lord on both external and internal levels, ideas that can defend us against those desires.

And if we keep following, the Lord will prepare a table for us – a place inside us that he can fill with love (the anointing oil) and wisdom (the overflowing cup). Thus transformed, we can enter heaven, with love for others (“goodness”) and love from the Lord (“mercy”) and can love and be loved to eternity.

One of many beautiful things about this is the fact that it is the Lord who really does all the work. In the whole text, the only action taken by the sheep is walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Other than that, they follow the Lord, trust the Lord, accept the blessings of the Lord. And that is really true! In external states (in the valley) we might seem to be doing the work ourselves, but internally, spiritually, we simply need to give ourselves to the Lord and let Him bless us.

The underlying idea here is that the Lord created us so that He could love us, in loving us wants us to be happy, knows that our greatest happiness will come from being conjoined to Him in heaven, and Himself wants nothing more than to be conjoined to us. So everything He does, in every moment of every day for every person on the face of the planet, is centered on the goal of getting that person to heaven. He wants each and every one of us in heaven more than we are capable of imagining. We just need to cooperate.

(References: Apocalypse Explained 375 [34], 727 [2]; The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms 273)

6. To the above let me add here some passages that speak more openly of the Lord’s advent:

...the Lord Himself gives you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name “God-with-us.” (Isaiah 7:14, cf. Matthew 1:22-23)

...unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the government will be upon His shoulder. And He will call His name Wonderful, Counselor, God, Hero, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to...establish it with judgment and righteousness, from now on and even to eternity. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

There shall come forth a rod from the stem of Jesse, and a shoot from his roots shall bear fruit. The spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might.... Righteousness shall be the girdle of His loins, and truth the girdle of His thighs.... It shall come to pass in that day that the gentiles shall seek the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; and His resting place shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:1-2, 5, 10)

Send the lamb to the ruler of the land, from Petra toward the wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.... By mercy the throne has been made secure; and One sits upon it in truth, in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness. (Isaiah 16:1, 5)

It will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him to save us. This is Jehovah, whom we have waited for; we will rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of Jehovah; make plain in the solitude a highway for our God.... The glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.... Behold, the Lord Jehovih shall come in strength, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him.... He will feed His flock like a shepherd. (Isaiah 40:3, 5, 10-11)

My elect one, in whom My soul has good pleasure.... I, Jehovah, have called You in righteousness, and...I will...give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out the bound from prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am Jehovah, that is My name; My glory I do not give to another.... (Isaiah 42:1, 6-8)

Who has believed our word? and on whom has the arm of Jehovah been revealed? ...He has no form...; we have seen Him, but there is no beauty.... ...He bore our infirmities and carried our sorrows. (Isaiah 53:1-2, 4-12)

Who is this who comes from Edom, with red dyed garments from Bozrah..., traveling in the greatness of His strength? “I who speak in righteousness, great to save.... For the day of vengeance is in My heart, and the year of My redeemed has come....” ...So He became their Savior. (Isaiah 63:1-8)

[2] Behold, the days are coming...when I will raise up to David an offshoot of righteousness, who shall reign as king and prosper, and bring about judgment and righteousness on the earth.... And this is His name that people will call Him, Jehovah Our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:5-6, cf. 33:15-16)

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Sound the trumpet, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and saved.... He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. (Zechariah 9:9-10)

Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Zion! ...behold, I am coming, to dwell in your midst.... Many nations shall cleave to Jehovah in that day, and they shall become My people. (Zechariah 2:10-11)

You, Bethlehem Ephratah, little it is that you are among the thousands of Judah; out of you shall come forth to Me the One who will be ruler in Israel, and whose goings forth are from of old, from days of eternity.... He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of Jehovah.... (Micah 5:2, 4)

Behold, I am sending My angel, who will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, and the angel of the covenant, whom you have longed for, behold he is coming.... Who can endure the day of His coming? ...Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Jehovah. (Malachi 3:1-2, 4:5)

I was watching...and behold, coming with the clouds of heaven was one like the Son of man.... To Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, and all peoples, nations, and languages will worship Him. His dominion is the dominion of an age, which will not pass away, and His kingdom one that will not perish.... And all dominions will worship Him and obey Him. (Daniel 7:13-14, 27)

Seventy weeks are decreed for your people and for your holy city, to finish the transgression..., and to seal up vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies. Know therefore and perceive, that from the going forth of the word to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, there shall be seven weeks.... (Daniel 9:24-25)

[3] I will set His hand upon the sea, and His right hand upon the rivers. He will cry to Me, “You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.” Also I will make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.... His seed I will make to endure to eternity, and his throne as the days of heaven. (Psalms 89:25-27, 29)

Jehovah said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I have made Your enemies Your footstool.” Jehovah shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! ...“You are a priest to eternity, according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalms 110:1-2, 4, cf. Matthew 22:44, Luke 20:41-43)

I have anointed My King on Zion, My holy mountain. I will declare the decree: Jehovah has said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You. ...I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth as Your possession.... Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, lest you perish in the way.... Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalms 2:6-8, 12)

You have made Him indeed a little less than the angels, but You have crowned Him with glory and honor. You have made Him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under His feet. (Psalms 8:5-6)

Remember, O Jehovah, David..., who swore to Jehovah and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob: “If I enter into the shelter of my house, if I go up to the couch of my pallet, if I give sleep to my eyes...until I find a place for Jehovah, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Behold, we heard of Him in Ephrathah; we found Him in the fields of the forest. We will enter into His dwelling place, we will bow ourselves at His footstool.... Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let Your saints rejoice. (Psalms 132:1-9)

The passages cited here are but a few of them.