Now David wasn't saying here that 'the Lord is my Shepherd, whom I do not want'! Every Christian is a priest, but he cannot execute the priestly office without unction, and hence we must go day by day to God the Holy Ghost, that we may have our heads anointed with oil. Like the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, David might say that all of life is lived under the shadow of death, and it is the conscious presence of the LORD as shepherd that makes it bearable. Rest -- for He makes me to lie down in green pastures. 'Do I need to be extra careful?' There are no halfway measures when it comes to the Lords provision for our lives. The instruments used by the shepherd comforted David. Psalm 23:6 And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. For other references to the shadow of death, see Jeremiah 2:6 and Job 10:21-22. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. They know that through all things, Jesus is a good shepherd. Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me. You prepare a table (Hebrew: sulhan) before me in the presence of my enemies (v. 5a). Anointing with oil was used for various purposes (healing, burial, expressing grief or joy). Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. It is a treasure chest filled with spiritual truths that encourage many. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Lord's Day Services. Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. Pauline Epistles My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.' However, the sheep do not easily lie down. With this verse, he begins to use the second person (you and your). Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him. Gods presence enables David to feast in perfect security. They would travel from oasis to oasis. i. Report an Issue Sermon Correction/Question . I. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Wisdom Literature Please read and believe! Lie down in green pastures quiet waters - But thank Jesus our great Shepherd that He does bring us to green pastures and quiet waters. [10] We have another source of confidence in our shepherd Jesus that even David didn't have when he wrote this psalm 3000 years ago. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' The mercy here comes from the Hebrew word Hesed which depicts Gods covenant faithfulness. But he would then carry that lamb while its leg mended and apparently, once healed, that lamb would never wander off from the shepherd again. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. The good man has his enemies. Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. Psalm 23 distinctively stands out compared to other chapters in the Book of Psalms and receives a larger magnitude of respect. i. Follow John MacArthur: Contact Information: Phone: 800-55-GRACE Fax: 661-295-5871 Email: [email protected] . To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. Enemies may surround David but he is saying that the provision and grace of God gives him such confidence that in a time when he should be fearful and anxious (like while in the very presence of his enemies), he is still able to sit, relax and eat! Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. How much would you have had in your cup? (Spurgeon), ii. It offers a broad overview of each Bible book and the internal consistency that results from having a single commentator. Johannine Writings Is it Messianic? This name is 'Yahweh', the sovereign, almighty, delivering God. Sep 8, 1980. Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! Lets look at the meaning and significance of each verse written in Psalm 23. But Jesus is the good Shepherd. Prophets In Psalm 23, God has answered this prayer God has led him in paths of righteousness. Forever. i. Pentateuch The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. This verse doesn't mean that there will not be times of drought, valleys, difficulties and need--- far from it God loves you too much to just make things always easy! Peace -- for He leads me beside the still waters. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. Some of the most obvious are: 1) the wisdom type with instructions for right living; 2) lamentation patterns which deal with the pangs of life (usually arising from enemies without); 3) penitential psalms (mostly dealing with the "enemy" within, i.e., sin); 4) kingship emphases (universal or mediatorial; theocratic and/or messianic rule); and 5) As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God (Psalm 42:1). There is some debate among commentators as to whether David had the idea of two separate instruments (the rod and the staff) or one instrument used two ways. He will never, ever, leave you! Oils and ointments can salve wounds and insect bites. It works. They will not lie down if they are afraid. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He had not only enough, a cup full, but more than enough, a cup which overflowed. This psalm is taken completely from the sheep's (David) point of view, as he talks about his shepherd. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. It talks about humanity, our experiences, and even our emotions. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.. Why is Psalm 23 one of the most well-known Psalms and the favorite biblical passage of many? You can also change some of your preferences. Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him His present care and provision for His people [8] If you are someone that God has placed in a position of leadership or teaching then you should also remember that you are called shepherds and are called to feed the flock of God. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. The image portrays that God has the power to feed and protect David. To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. God ultimately protects and provides for His flock and does everything in His power to care for them. John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible i. (12) I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. The subsequent trips through the valley become progressively easier as trust increases. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. God refuses to let the godly go hungry. Davids guidance from God has a moral component. In all of those things he was also being pursued the goodness and loving kindness of his great Shepherd. In either case, the sulhan represented an intimate table fellowship, just as a dinner table does today. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Major Prophets This word follow in the Hebrew does not just mean tag along at some distance behind. A number of our soldiers died there. David experienced the goodness and mercy of God from His tender care. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. Psalm 23 symbolizes the human race as a flock and God as their Shepherd. But mostly, they were comforting because they were in the hands of a caring shepherd. Title: The MacArthur Bible Commentary By: John MacArthur Format: Hardcover Number of Pages: 2040 Vendor: Thomas Nelson Publication Date: 2005 Dimensions: 9.75 X 6.75 X 2.75 (inches) Weight: 3 pounds 11 ounces ISBN: 0785250662 ISBN-13: 9780785250661 Stock No: WW250662 Related Products The Jesus You Can't Ignore: Study $7.49 $9.99 Save 25% Play. Kidner notes: The rod (a cudgel worn at the belt) and staff (to walk with, and to round up the flock) were the shepherds weapon and implement: the former for defence (cf. (Jer 23:1-4, Ezek 34:1-10) Work to be a faithful shepherd realising that it is God's own sheep that He has placed in your care. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, Pests would crawl through the ear canal of an unoiled sheep and lay in its brain. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. [1], It is not only I do not want, but I shall not want. Come what may, if famine should devastate the land, or calamity destroy the city, I shall not want. Old age with its feebleness shall not bring me any lack, and even death with its gloom shall not find me destitute. John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. It may portray the straying sheep brought back. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. I think if we could just grasp this first verse alone our hearts could then rest. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. The light shines the brightest in the dark. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! Most scholars account this Psalm to Davids maturity that contains vivid reminiscence of his youth as a shepherd. The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. (13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. It was spoken by someone who had been through more than we probably ever will so he knew what he was talking about! It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. But that is not how it is in the dry arid lands of the Middle East and we need to read this Psalm with that mindset. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. [4]. Each chapter begins with several questions under the title "PREPARE TO MEET GOD." . GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. Historical Books 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. The Old Testament What is characteristic of them? This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! THE LORD AS SHEPHERD 1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. c. I will fear no evil: Despite every dark association with the idea of the valley of the shadow of death, David could resolutely say this because he was under the care of the LORD his shepherd. Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. Sure enough, someone guessed pretty quickly that it would be Psalm 23. Though the majority of the occurrences of hesed are translated steadfast love, there are undeniable elements of mercy and kindness that underlie each of these occurrences (Renn, 633-634). 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. ), The Complete WordStudy Old Testament (Chattanooga; AMG Publishers, 1994), Baker, Warren and Carpenter, Eugene, The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2003), Bromiley, Geoffrey (General Editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, 4 vols. He wrote: Unlike in the west where people get multiple jobs, here the jobs are very rare. In that culture, people considered a persons name to be more than a simple label to identify that person. He served them bread, saying, Take, eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28). We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Well, having said that I should say that you will be free from fear to the degree that you know He is with you - rain, hail and shine. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck Goodness and mercy follow him alwaysall the days of his life the black days as well as the bright days, the days of fasting as well as the days of feasting, the dreary days of winter as well as the bright days of summer. Comfort -- for your rod and Thy staff comfort me. Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. Was it where you thought you would go? 'Was it just a silly dream or something more spiritual?' He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Be assured! John MacArthur. God anoints His people with oil just like how shepherds anoint their sheep with oil. Pauline Epistles The world is now experiencing a dreadful pandemic. Oh! God is. These instruments (or instrument) of guidance were a comfort to David. The Whole Bible This unspeakably delightful verse has been sung on many a dying bed, and has helped to make the dark valley bright times out of mind. It is great advice but more than likely it is the most highlighted passage because people are in desperate need to remember it! In fact, he thought quite highly of it, as is evident by this especially generous compliment: Of this delightful song it may be affirmed that its piety and its poetry are equal, its sweetness and its spirituality are unsurpassed. Spurgeon once referred to Psalm 23 as the Pearl of the Psalms in his monthly magazine, The Sword and the Trowel. A shepherd would prepare a table for his sheep by scouting ahead to find good pastureland free from predators and poisonous plants. But observe: Thou preparest a table, just as a servant does when she unfolds the damask cloth and displays the ornaments of the feast on an ordinary peaceful occasion. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. Can you say that about your life? But we need to learn to lie down. Our children were still quite young. [7] This was brought home to me this week in an email from a Kenyan Pastor. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. 14a (Downers Grove, Illinois: Inter-Varsity Press, 1973), Limburg, James, Westminster Bible Companion: Psalms (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000, Mays, James Luther, Interpretation: Psalms (Louisville: John Knox, 1994), McCann, J. Clinton, Jr., The New Interpreters Bible: The Book of Psalms, Vol. Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. It is a great comfort to know that God will correct us when we need it. [3]I learnt this when I went to a John Macarthur seminar one time. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Welcome to FaithGiant, where you can find everything you need to live a life of faith, hope, and love. And when the days of this life are over, then we shall enter into that which we can only partly imagine, for, 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.'. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. David claimed that the same God who faithfully rescued the Israelites from Egypt and provided guidance and provision in the wilderness is the same faithful God he served. Pastor John MacArthur. The shepherd image appears not only as part of the Old Testament but as a vital part of the New Testament as well. Notably, David recognized that under the shepherds leading, he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. (5) Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock. Other than the president and family, only a handful of people have been invited to make the White House their homeand then only for a few years. In Psalm 22 He gives His life for the sheep; in Psalm 23 He gives His love to the sheep; in Psalm 24 He gives us light when He shall appear. But despite this I got on with her pretty well. We can imagine various meanings for the valley of the shadow of death.. What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. Luke-Acts Click on the different category headings to find out more. The MacArthur Bible Commentary treats every passage of the Old and New Testaments phrase by phrase, with hundreds of word studies and sidebars throughout. He is. The emphasis of his pulpit ministry is the careful study and verse-by-verse exposition of the Bible, with special attention devoted to the historical and grammatical background behind each passage. Wisdom Literature The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. They are times, as the Psalm says, when He restores your soul spiritually. Psalm 23 is an explicit metaphor that displays the relationship between God and His people. Scripture: Psalm 23. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. However, he was confident that God is with him all the time. He doesn't stop, and he doesn't give up hope. 'What happened exactly to me in the dream?' Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). On some days, she was on one side of the valley. Please visit: https://www.bestbiblecommentaries.comPlease visit: www.bestbiblecommentaries.comBrowse John MacArthur's bible commentaries on Amazon:https://am. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point Just like the sheep, its difficult for us to be at rest when life throws a lot of problems. Why the double standard of confusing messages? Not will be, like you look forward to something He will do but IS - present tense. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. - Henry Ward Beecher, [2] J Vernon McGee writes 'to put it succinctly, in Psalm 22 we see the cross, in Psalm 23 the crook (the Shepherd's crook), and in Psalm 24 the crown (the King's crown). And he awaits the day when the great shepherd will become the chief Shepherd and shall come in the skies. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). The Third Commandment says, You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name (Exodus 20:7). John MacArthur (b. I have called you by your name. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. My cup runs over. They believed that something of the persons identity was tied up in the namethat the name expressed something of the persons essential character. To be invited to the Kings table was a great honor. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. This is the joy of the Christian! Luke-Acts Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, Psalm 2 Bible Study The Current Rebellion & The Coming King, Psalm 8 Bible Study The wonder of God and the second man, Psalm 16 Part 1: Testing's in the journey through life and death, Psalm 16 Part 2 - Hope in the journey through life and death, Psalm 22 Part 1 - Prophecy of the crucifixion and the wrath of man. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. That's the animal God choose which best represents you! John MacArthur: The Lord Is My Salvation 92,638 views Jun 16, 2017 1.3K Dislike Share Save Ligonier Ministries 448K subscribers "The Lord is my light and my salvation" (Ps. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. The word through is important. David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the lows of running for his life and hiding in caves from Saul. Nor have I ever heard an audible voice that was clearly God's telling me which decisions to make. It isnt his destination or dwelling place.