808. This verse has been established, for it is written, "A Psalm of David, Hashem is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Tehilim 23:1), for we have learned the difference between "A Psalm of David" and "To David a psalm." "A PSALM OF DAVID" SHOWS THAT THE SHECHINAH DWELT UPON HIM AND THEN HE SANG, AND "TO DAVID A PSALM" SHOWS THAT FIRST HE SANG, THEN THE SHECHINAH DWELT UPON HIM. Here by "Hashem is my shepherd," the Shechinah preceded and came and dwelt upon him first, FOR IT IS WRITTEN, "A PSALM OF DAVID." HE QUESTIONS, Why did the Shechinah go first here, BY "HASHEM IS MY SHEPHERD?" David should have gone first, since he asked for his sustenance from the Holy One, blessed be He.

809. HE ANSWERS, Surely the Shechinah went first and came and dwelt upon him, and aroused him to recite this praise to the King and request sustenance of the King. This is the way it should be concerning food, FOR THE SHECHINAH desires it and Her wish is that all the inhabitants of the world should pray for food, because when the Holy One, blessed be He, desires to bring down food to the world, THE SHECHINAH takes first. For Her sake, food descends to all the worlds, BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT THOSE BELOW SHOULD RECEIVE ANYTHING UNLESS THOSE ABOVE RECEIVE FIRST, AS MENTIONED ABOVE. Therefore, THE SHECHINAH went first in this matter of food and dwelt upon David.

810. "Hashem is my shepherd" just like the shepherd who leads his sheep to the place that has herbage and grasses, where nothing is lacking. The Holy One, blessed be He, is also my Shepherd to sustain one with everything I need. Another explanation FOR "Hashem is my shepherd:" We have learned that man's sustenance is as difficult to obtain as the splitting of the Red Sea. These here are two manners, TWO EXPLANATIONS, and they are both true.