<P> J. Douglas MacMillan argues that verse 5 ("Thou preparest a table before me") refers to the "old oriental shepherding practice" of using little raised tables to feed sheep . Similarly, "Thou anointest my head with oil" may refer to an ancient form of backliner--the oil is poured on wounds, and repels flies . MacMillan also notes that verse 6 ("Goodness and mercy shall follow me") reminds him of two loyal sheepdogs coming behind the flock . </P> <P> John Ellinwood argues that in verses 4 and 5 King David acknowledges God's protection in expeditions and in battles . "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies" refers to the sober raucous dinner before major battles . These were raucous in order to demoralize hostiles camped within earshot, and (only) the king ate from a table . "Thou anointest my head with oil" because tomorrow this ceremony might be impossible . After each victory there was no longer a need for sobriety, so "my cup runneth over ." The king's lyricist wisely shortened these military verses for balance . Also in Psalm 18 David mentions God's protection in battle . (13). </P> <P> The first verse of the Psalm ascribes authorship to King David, said in the Hebrew Scriptures to have been a field shepherd himself as a youth . However, some scholars do not believe that David could have written any of the Psalms . </P> <Ul> <Li> Johann Sebastian Bach, Cantata No. 112 Der Herr ist mein getreuer Hirt, BWV 112 </Li> <Li> James Leith Macbeth Bain--hymn tune Brother James' Air </Li> <Li> Lennox Berkeley Op. 91, No. 1 (1975) </Li> <Li> Leonard Bernstein--Chichester Psalms (Hebrew, in Part 2, together with Psalm 2) </Li> <Li> Anton Bruckner--Psalm 22 Der Herr regieret mich WAB 34 (c. 1852) </Li> <Li> Noah Creshevsky--Psalm XXIII (2003) </Li> <Li> Paul Creston--Psalm XXIII (1945) </Li> <Li> Herbert Howells--Hymnus Paradisi </Li> <Li> Jessie Seymour Irvine--hymn tune Crimond </Li> <Li> Albert Hay Malotte </Li> <Li> Clément Marot (Latin) </Li> <Li> George Rochberg </Li> <Li> Miklós Rózsa </Li> <Li> Edmund Rubbra--Three Psalms, op. 61 (no. 2) </Li> <Li> John Rutter--The Lord is my Shepherd (1978), included in his Requiem (1985) </Li> <Li> Franz Schubert--version by Moses Mendelssohn (German) </Li> <Li> Randall Thompson </Li> <Li> Ralph Vaughan Williams </Li> <Li> Charles Villiers Stanford--"The Lord is my Shepherd" (1886) </Li> <Li> Alexander Zemlinsky Op. 14, (1910) for chorus and orchestra </Li> <Li> Antonín Dvořák, verses 1--4, No. 4 of his Biblical Songs (1894) </Li> <Li> Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach--Gam Ki Elech b'Gey Tzalmavet Lo Irah Rah Ki Atah Imadi . גם כי אלך </Li> </Ul>

As i walk through the valley of the shadow of death kjv