诗篇23篇可称得上是世界范围内最知名和最受喜爱的文学作品了吧， 也很可能就是从古至今所有问世的诗歌里最精彩的一篇。它也是比喻文学的典范。从这样一幅画面：我们自己是羊，在个好心的牧人带领下来到青草地上，可安歇的水边，我们去体会其深层的涵义。这诗篇里饱含了力量，让我们感受到“行过死荫的幽谷而无所畏惧”的信心，感受到“主为我们摆设筵席，使我们的福杯满溢”的慈爱与恩惠。

但是人们却不知道，这诗篇的语言是其特定的内层涵义的。我们如能理解其对应的内层意思，才能体会其更深层的美。因为诗篇23实际上描绘的是通往天国的旅程，和主想要引领我们去天国的热切愿望。

旅程的第一步是我们接受主做我们的牧人--接受他的教诲，他的领导。青草地和平静的水边代表了他在这旅途中要教我们的，慰籍我们内心的饥与渴。 主开始让我们的内心发生转变，引领我们过有序的信仰生活，在我们心中产生出从善的意愿，关爱他人。这是“他使我的灵魂苏醒，引导我走义路”的含义。

然而，我们还要面临挑战。我们生活在世俗的物质社会里，不可避免地有自私的享乐的欲望。与属灵的内层的生命相比，属世的外层的生命就是“死荫的幽谷”。但是，主的杖、主的竿代表的是从主而来的真理，从社会层面和精神层面上帮助我们抵挡不良欲望。

如果我们继续跟随主的引导，那么他将为我们摆设宴席--他在我们内心深处灌注爱与智慧，膏油和满杯美酒分别比喻爱与智慧。这样，我们被主转变了，被天国接受了，心中带着主给的恩惠，对他人的爱与被爱，直到永远。

诗中描绘的那么美好，其中有一点是，事实上是主做了所有的工作。 在整篇诗歌里， 羊唯一主动做的一件事， 就是走过那死荫的幽谷。剩下的它们只需要跟随主，信靠主，接受主的恩赐。真的就是这样！ 当我们的思维仅停留在属世的层面上（在低谷里），感觉好像是我们自己在做一切。然而，从内层的属灵的层面上，我们该把自己交给主，让他赐福给我们。

这里的基本含义是主创造了人类，以便他能爱我们，并因爱而希望我们快乐。他知道我们最大的幸福将是回到天国与他联结， 而他最大的愿望就是与我们因爱而联结。所以，他为我们每个人做的每件事，每一天每一刻，为这个地球上所有的人，都围绕着引领这个人去天国为目标。他热切希望接每一个人所有的人去天国的爱，超出我们想象所能及。我们要做的就是配合他。阿门。

(参考: 详解启示录375 [34], 727 [2]; 先知书、诗篇和圣言历史部分的内义概览273)

3384. 'Isaac dwelt in Gerar' means the Lord's state as regards matters of faith in respect to the rational concepts which were to be allied. This is clear from the meaning of 'dwelling in Gerar' as possessing what are matters of faith, and so a state as regards those things, since 'dwelling in' means living, 1293, and 'Gerar' matters of faith, 1209, 2504, 3365; and from the representation of 'Isaac' as the Lord as regards the Divine Rational, dealt with in 1893, 2066, 2072, 2083, 2630. Their being matters of faith in respect to the rational concepts that were to be allied is clear from what comes before and after, for in the whole of this chapter those things are the subject, that is to say, rational concepts which, when enlightened from the Lord's Divine, are appearances of truth.

[2] That 'dwelling in' means one's being and life, and so one's state, is evident from very many places in the Word, as in David,

I will dwell in the house of Jehovah for the length of days. Psalms 23:6.

One thing have I asked from Jehovah, that will I seek: I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of the my life. Psalms 27:4

He shall not dwell within My house who practices deceit. Psalms 101:7.

Here 'dwelling in the house of Jehovah' stands for one's being and life residing in good that stems from love, for this good is 'the house of Jehovah'. In Isaiah,

Those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shone out. Isaiah 9:2.

'Those dwelling in the land of the shadow of death' stands for the state of those who have no knowledge of good and truth. In the same prophet,

Babel will not be dwelt in for ever. Isaiah 13:20.

This stands for the state of condemnation of those meant by 'Babel'.

[3] In the same prophet,

O Jehovah God of Israel, dwelling among the cherubim. Isaiah 37:16.

O Shepherd of Israel, dwelling among the cherubim, shine forth. Psalms 80:1.

'Dwelling among the cherubim' means the Lord at work in a providential state, in which He prevents anyone's access to the sacred things of love and faith unless that person has been prepared for it by the Lord, 308. In David,

In peace I both lie down and sleep, for You, O Jehovah, alone make me dwell in safety. Psalms 4:8.

'Making a person dwell in safety' stands for a state of peace. In Jeremiah,

You who dwell on many waters, great in treasures, your end has come, the measure of your gain. Jeremiah 51:13.

This refers to Babel. 'Dwelling on many waters' stands for possessing cognitions concerning truth.

[4] In Daniel,

God Himself reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. Daniel 2:22.

'Dwelling' stands for having its being. In the same prophet,

The beast of the field had shade under that tree, and in its branches dwelt the birds of the air. Daniel 4:12.

And in Ezekiel,

Under its branches every wild beast of the field brought forth, and in its shadow dwelt all great nations. Ezekiel 31:6.

'Dwelling' stands for one's being and life. In Hosea,

Threshing-floor and winepress will not feed them, and new wine will be deceptive to her. They will not dwell in Jehovah's land, but Ephraim will return to Egypt. Hosea 9:2-3.

'Not dwelling in Jehovah's land' stands for not being in a state where the good of love is present, and so for not being in the Lord's kingdom.