What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms! He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. The image exudes a sense of rest, comfort, and care. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. The mercy here comes from the Hebrew word Hesed which depicts Gods covenant faithfulness. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Major Prophets General Epistles The Whole Bible Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4a). Wow! You anoint my head with oil (v. 5b). Do you? This also shows us our need of giving Him His rightful place as Lord over our life. and flame will not scorch you. The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. I will believe that thou reignest still. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. In the presence of my enemies: This is a striking phrase. These valleys were often dark because of the shadow caused by the cliffs, and they were a favourite place for predators to hide in. This is the joy of the Christian! Johannine Writings And, then, it is not the valley of death, but the valley of the shadow of death, for death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a mans pathway even for a moment. So to be Gods guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. Play. In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. Minor Prophets But, God as our shepherd provides peace that transcends all understanding. There you have it. Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. Cookie Notice: We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Do this in remembrance of me. Paul affirms the importance of this table ministry when he says, For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:24, 26). They also enjoy the enthusiastic company of their fifteen grandchildren. David could confidently write the second phrase because he experienced the provision and providence of God in his life. ii. 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. ), which the WEB has updated. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Pentateuch David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. What would you say of a pilgrim commissioned of God to travel up and down the earth singing a strange melody, which, when one heard, caused him to forget whatever sorrow he had? But we need to learn to lie down. You can also change some of your preferences. and Kahane, Ahuvia, The Oxford English-Hebrew Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 1998), Fohrer, Georg, Hebrew & Aramaic Dictionary of the Old Testament (SCM Press, 2012), Freedman, David Noel (ed. Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. Wisdom Literature Arno C Gaebelin said (with some small modifications): A good way to read this Psalm is by asking the question, 'What shall I not want?' The Old Testament God is his shepherd and his Goda God all-sufficient to all intents and purposes. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! Included in the "better" provisions are: a better hope . The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. 27:1). (Kidner). Davids guidance from God has a moral component. Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). Minor Prophets range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. It was never used on the sheep. THE LORD AS SHEPHERD 1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because The Lord is my shepherd. The wicked always want, but the righteous never; a sinners heart is far from satisfaction, but a gracious spirit dwells in a palace of content.[2]. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. Oils and ointments can salve wounds and insect bites. The Saviours Cross. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Later, rabbis often designated it "The Book of Praises." . Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey Is it Messianic? David found him so, and so have we. If there is a wire fence, they'll get caught in it. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a royal metaphor. Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. When I was serving in Vietnam as a chaplain, I visited soldiers in the A Shau Valley near Laos. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. (Heb 5:12-14) [8]. Psalm 23 | Anchored | Grace Community Church - gracechurch.org iii. It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. It means to actively pursue, to chase, and normally in a negative sense as when Pharaoh chased Israel at the exodus. They also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals. Founded in 1969, Grace to You is the nonprofit organization responsible for developing, producing, and distributing Johns books, audio resources, and the Grace to You radio and television programs. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol | Desiring God The Pearl of the Psalms: Spurgeon on Psalm 23 While I am here I will be a child at home with my God; the whole world shall be his house to me; and when I ascend into the upper chamber I shall not change my company, nor even change the house; I shall only go to dwell in the upper story of the house of the Lord for ever. (Spurgeon), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time Psalm 23 was written. Priests were anointed (Exodus 40:13-15). It is 'The LORD' who is his shepherd! Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. Wisdom Literature [9] As Jesus Himself said, 'You are the light of the world. The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. MacArthur Commentaries - Grace to You Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. No matter his present environment, David could look to the fact of Gods shepherd-like presence and know, You are with me and I will fear no evil.. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. Gods motivations for treating His people rightly stem from the perfection and goodness of His nature. He is a popular conference speaker and the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.. They would travel from oasis to oasis. Dying soldiers have died easier as it was read to them; ghastly hospitals have been illuminated; it has visited the prisoner, and broken his chains, and, like Peter's angel, led him forth in imagination, and sung him back to his home again. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the authors heart and trust in God. To be invited to a persons table was an honor. [12] Must admit that I have been dealing with a few trials lately and when I read this verse it kind of caught me by surprise! Location. One where 'the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. Commentary on Psalm 23 - Working Preacher from Luther Seminary Luke-Acts Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. The word hesed also has a variety of meanings kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. But Jesus is the good Shepherd. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! There was no fear involved. Near death, the saint does not walk in the valley, but through the valley. The New Testament speaks of Jesus as anointed (Luke 4:18; John 20:31; Acts 5:42; Hebrews 1:9, etc.). Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. The book of Psalms is the most quoted book in the New Testament, and Jesus would refer a lot to the Book of Psalms even in His claims and teachings. General Epistles The comforts of a living saint. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. i. Although God, by his benefits, gently allures us to himself, as it were by a taste of his fatherly sweetness, yet there is nothing into which we more easily fall than into a forgetfulness of him, when we are in the enjoyment of peace and comfort. It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! Poetical Books Everyone knows this psalm even non-Christians have heard it because it seems to be a favourite at their funerals. Articles Messages Books Podcasts Filter Resources By Ask Pastor John. Our children were still quite young. God is holy, and takes his holy name seriously: Since God is holy, we as Gods people need to insure that we do not tarnish his name by our wrongful words or actions. Major Prophets They will not lie down when there is conflict among the sheep. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. The word through is important. Most scholars account this Psalm to Davids maturity that contains vivid reminiscence of his youth as a shepherd. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. God anoints His people with oil just like how shepherds anoint their sheep with oil. Solid Joys. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. He had the honour of being King over all Israel, yet seen the lows of having his own son, Absalom, rise up against him and take the throne. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. God ultimately protects and provides for His flock and does everything in His power to care for them. What are these still waters but the influences and graces of his blessed Spirit? He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. The MacArthur Bible Commentary - John F. MacArthur - Google Books The New Testament King David, who wrote this Psalm, obviously knew all about being a shepherd. Amazon, in the last couple of weeks (Nov 2014) released the most highlighted passages in their most popular books downloaded onto Kindle, their electronic book reader. So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. As I said, it wasn't all easy and plain sailing being a sheep in Israel however. He is. Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. I recently did a study on this psalm for a home group church meeting. Excellent for: personal and family devotions pastoral study preparing Sunday-school lessons using with a small group simply readingeach volume draws you in It is a treasure chest filled with spiritual truths that encourage many. Site by Mere. But, what makes it so compelling? Oh! Prophets Lets look at the meaning and significance of each verse written in Psalm 23. Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. The New Testament A magnificent banquet is provided by a most liberal and benevolent host; who has not only the bounty to feed me, but power to protect me; and, though surrounded by enemies, I sit down to this table with confidence, knowing that I shall feast in perfect security. (Clarke). David wrote this while remembering his fearful experiences. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Psalm's 22, 23 and 24 give different glimpses of this wonderful Shepherd. John and his wife, Patricia, live in Southern California and have four married children: Matt, Marcy, Mark, and Melinda. Still, David has decided to praise God no matter what happens. This word follow in the Hebrew does not just mean tag along at some distance behind. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. He leads me - Jesus our Shepherd is in the business of leading and bringing you to a place of rest. ), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. Major Prophets The MacArthur Study Bible: new King James version - John MacArthur. However, the oil does not just protect the sheep from nuisance. May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. [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. Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Obviously this doesn't mean that the track that the shepherd takes is always an easy one. [7], 5001 North Oak Trafficway He will never, ever, leave you! Each chapter begins with several questions under the title "PREPARE TO MEET GOD." . The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. When flies or parasites annoy them, its hard for them to be at rest. He is utterly trustworthy. He is not just a 'good shepherd'. The hosts care and concern doesnt eliminate the presence of my enemies but enables the experience of Gods goodness and bounty even in their midst. Poetical Books Nothing is outside of His control. Joy -- You anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over. Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids shepherd. Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. [3]I learnt this when I went to a John Macarthur seminar one time. All the days of my life; 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 The Old Testament And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal!

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