He guides us and leads us along the right and true paths. Wow! Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. This line is especially suggestive when we read this psalm with an eye toward Jesus, the Great Shepherd. [9] As Jesus Himself said, 'You are the light of the world. ii. Is - Can you say that? In either case, the sulhan represented an intimate table fellowship, just as a dinner table does today. 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. It doesn't mean that anything outwardly has to change. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). Do we not gain comfort from the fact that it is Almighty God who is our Shepherd? He rammed it home so much that come lunch time we were saying 'I WILL eat my lunch', 'I will EAT my lunch.' Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? What is characteristic of them? 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. We are well escorted, with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind! (Meyer), iii. 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. 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]. [4]. See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Play. He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. These instruments (or instrument) of guidance were a comfort to David. If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. Psalm 23 distinctively stands out compared to other chapters in the Book of Psalms and receives a larger magnitude of respect. [1] As I mentioned, this is one famous Psalm. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. Luke-Acts It may portray the straying sheep brought back. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4a). He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too. David knew the uniqueness and intimacy of this metaphor. This table represents all the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. Many people succumb to their hopelessness and fear. ), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. i. The MacArthur Bible Commentary: John MacArthur: 9780785250661 Pray to him, then, for the blessingRestore thou me, thou Shepherd of my soul!, Some Christians overlook the blessing of sanctification, and yet to a thoroughly renewed heart this is one of the sweetest gifts of the covenant. And I will dwell in the house of the LORDforever: The psalm ends with the calmest assurance that he would enjoy the presence of the LORD forever both in his days on this earth and beyond. 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. MacArthur Commentaries - Grace to You Its interesting to note how David used the word shepherd in this psalm instead of a more distant term like a king or a deliverer. It makes sense. He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! The Gospels [9] These are the paths we should desire and actively seek. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. c. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over: Despite the dangers about and the presence of enemies, David enjoyed the richness of his hosts goodness. The Old Testament It is a treasure chest filled with spiritual truths that encourage many. 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). ), Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. Which is it? God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids shepherd. The Whole Bible And I will dwell in the house of the LORD We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. He is in control. In Psalm 23, we are compared to sheep who do not have a sense of direction, are hopeless, and are weak who need a Shepherd. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. But there is a greater provision and far greater blessing still to come. Wisdom Literature Bible Introductions - Hebrews by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible It helped him even in the valley of the shadow of death to know that God guided him, even through correction. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. The New Testament It leads to burn out, break downs and depression. There are no halfway measures when it comes to the Lords provision for our lives. God anoints His people with oil just like how shepherds anoint their sheep with oil. Psalm 107. Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. He is a great shepherd. Prophets [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! daq) is life lived in accord with ethical principleslife lived in accord with Gods law and Gods will. In extreme cases where a lamb continually wandered off and wouldn't stick with the pack (causing the Shepherd to repeatedly have to go and bring the lamb back) the Shepherd would sometimes break the lamb's leg! Scripture: Psalm 23. King David, who wrote this Psalm, obviously knew all about being a shepherd. He had known feast. It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. It works. God does not eliminate the risks and hazards but will illuminate His presence. It implies that the Lord is the only thing needed in life and that Gods shepherding care provides all of our necessities. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. 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. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. Our God does not withhold anything good from His flock. Anyway, we might have been being a tad naughty but the principle can be quite helpful and this is what I will do with this first verse. To eat at the Kings table in the presence of your enemies would show your enemies that the king holds you in high regard, and would demonstrate their powerlessness to hurt you. Historical Books It offers a broad overview of each Bible book and the internal consistency that results from having a single commentator. Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock. Prophets All the days of my life; He will never, ever, leave you! GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point 1 Samuel 17:35), and the latter for control since discipline is security., iii. They would travel from oasis to oasis. As someone who worked as a shepherd before, David knew that shepherds live with their flock and are everything to it: guide, protector, and source of provision. The anointing of oil to the sheep isnt just a meaningless ritual. They are well placed, well laid: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. i. It is a Psalm of life, rest and peace. (Proverbs 10:3). It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 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. The sense of this verse then is that, because God is loving and kind, his people can expect God to provide blessings throughout life. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point The Saviours Cross. 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. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. A sheep unoiled is an easy target for the infestations of such pests. Psalm 23 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible On still other days, she found herself walking through the middle of the valley. It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. Not to raging waves of strife, but to peaceful streams of holy love does the Spirit of God conduct the chosen sheep. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point Prophets Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. The green pastures and waters spoken of in this verse were often some distance apart and the shepherd would have to lead his flock to these places. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Grace Community Church 13248 Roscoe Blvd. This name is 'Yahweh', the sovereign, almighty, delivering God. John MacArthur: The Lord Is My Salvation - YouTube He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. Here David pictures God as a gracious host who provides all that he needs even in times of apparent difficulty. Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) Psalm 23:4 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. It is a Psalm of but 6 verses but countless sermons and entire books have been written on it. We are so invited and not just occasionally but foreverthe honor that exceeds all other honors. In all of those things he was also being pursued the goodness and loving kindness of his great Shepherd. April 17, 2011. The rest of the Psalm exhibits the shepherding care of God that is essential to life. Luke-Acts In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a royal metaphor. [5] We need to make sure that we have a Middle Eastern understanding of the Shepherd. This psalm is so personal, with the pronoun I or My, being used commonly. When the sheep are hungry or are anxious about food, they cant lie down peacefully. I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. We lie on our beds yet carry on the same thoughts inside. Shepherd - This imagery of the shepherd and sheep spans the entire Bible but is most prominent in the New Testament where Jesus speaks about His relationship with His people, His sheep. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. Priests were anointed (Exodus 40:13-15). 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? When I was serving in Vietnam as a chaplain, I visited soldiers in the A Shau Valley near Laos. The Analogy of God and the Shepherd in Psalm 23, The Lord As A Shepherd Who Provides (Verse 1), The Lord As A Shepherd Who Guides (Verses 2-3), The Protection And Comfort From Gods Presence (Verse 4), The Blessings of God Amidst Danger (Verse 5), Faith-Filled Content Delivered To Your Inbox, Best NASB Study Bibles Ranked & Reviewed, The Best Bible for Young Adults: Buyers Guide. Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. They know that it will be ok. Minor Prophets The word PSALM literally means praise and it features works of various characters the majority of which were written by David. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. Maclaren writes: The rod and the staff seem to be two names for one instrument, which was used both to beat off predatory animals and to direct the sheep.. Significantly, it is at the dangerous moment pictured in the psalm that the He of Psalm 23:1-3 changes to You. The LORD as Shepherd is now in the second person. He talks about going through it, showing that he expects to emerge from its shadows into the light on the other side. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. This gives us amazing confidence when we need it most. As I said, it wasn't all easy and plain sailing being a sheep in Israel however. This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. The MacArthur Study Bible: new King James version - John MacArthur. The New Testament 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. So to be Gods guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. It is getting harder to live on this planet - from a health point of view, from a financial point of view, from a spiritual and moral point of view, from a fear and anxiety point of view - there is much that a person could be concerned about. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. The analogy of a king as a shepherd is common in ancient times and is not unusual. Date: 1/31/2021. Bible Introductions - Psalms by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible However, many scholars believed David wrote it during his kingship (around 1000 BC to 993 BC). Forgiveness -- for He restores my soul. Therefore, when the shepherd started heading off on another journey the sheep followed wherever he went! The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! Included in the "better" provisions are: a better hope . He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. Our God protects His people, and His presence brings comfort to eliminate the fear of evil. type 23-6 in the address bar in place of 1-1 so that . The Old Testament I need to know you are well.' Now, if you let it and you tended to be a little superstitious, your mind could ponder, and wander, on that a bit. The Gospels The first time through the dark valley is always scary. Yea, prosperity not only so intoxicates many, as to carry them . They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. [7], 5001 North Oak Trafficway Just like the sheep, its difficult for us to be at rest when life throws a lot of problems. 'Do I need to be extra careful?' My cup runs over. In this context, it suggests blessings that will help the psalmist. To be invited to a persons table was an honor. He had known famine. [6]. The New Testament speaks of Jesus as anointed (Luke 4:18; John 20:31; Acts 5:42; Hebrews 1:9, etc.). Had a very strange dream last night and you were in it. Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. 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! "It [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Nov. 10, 2012. Psalm 40 - The Pit and the Pierced Ear in the Paths of God, Psalm 41: The pattern of betrayal - Past, present and future (P1), Psalm 55: The pattern of betrayal: Past, present and future (P2), Psalm 69 - The restoration and the zeal of the Lord, Psalm 102 - Change and the Unchangeable One, Psalm 110: Jesus the Messiah - Our Lord and King, Psalm 110: Jesus our priest in the order of Melchizedek. It is expressed in this verse - Rom Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. Nothing is outside of His control. So for now, let us follow our Lord where He would lead. The MacArthur Bible Commentary: John MacArthur: 9780785250661: Amazon He was faithful in caring for his flock and never complained about his responsibilities. To be invited to the Kings table was a great honor. David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! a. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. The other thing to note on this point is that the entire psalm is only valid for those who truly have Jesus as their shepherd. General Epistles Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. That is some revelation! Liberated for Life : Galatians - a Bible Commentary for Laymen by John F. MacArthur and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. Sounds like a nice place to be for a defenceless sheep now doesn't it? Pentateuch Luke-Acts Note the pronoun change in this verse. - 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). The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. (Spurgeon), iii. But the shepherds here use dogs and fences to drive and control the sheep. Psalm 23 Many of David's psalms are full of complaints, but this is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God's great goodness and dependence upon him. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. Johannine Writings Wisdom Literature When God anoints us with His oil, He guards us against the parasites of this world that seek to destroy us. iv. 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. 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. The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. Pentateuch [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. There is something about people who truly know their God. Our lives should be a testimony to God Himself. God is his shepherd and his Goda God all-sufficient to all intents and purposes.