How would it be with you if God had filled your cup in proportion to your faith? We are well escorted, with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind! (Meyer), iii. Surely goodness (Hebrew: tob) and loving kindness (Hebrew: hesed) shall follow me all the days of my life (v. 6a). Psalm 23 symbolizes the human race as a flock and God as their Shepherd. Jesus the Messiah was also a descendant of King David. What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. So he calls [3]I learnt this when I went to a John Macarthur seminar one time. But he also knew, through many highs and lows, throughout his life, that he too was but a sheep with a far greater Shepherd. Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. God is the one who looks after our lives. This psalm is so personal, with the pronoun I or My, being used commonly. 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. 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. The writer of Psalm 23 makes an analogy between God and the shepherd. The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. (2.) He guides us and leads us along the right and true paths. Is it Messianic? ii. Is one better than the other? 3. See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. We understand that a shadow is not tangible but is cast by something that is. [6]. That is what God desires to work into your life. I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am Yahweh, says the Lord Yahweh, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes (Ezekiel 36:22-23). David had it right in placing his trust in the one true God who controls all things. I started off by saying that I wanted to have a look at what is probably the most popular chapter in the entire Old Testament. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The New Testament speaks of Jesus as anointed (Luke 4:18; John 20:31; Acts 5:42; Hebrews 1:9, etc.). i. Its authors are ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. 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. 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). Konto i listy Zwroty i zamwienia. That he had food convenient, a table spread, a cup filled, meat for his hunger, drink for his thirst. Peace -- for He leads me beside the still waters. (3.) Can you say that about your life? It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. WebTHIS psalm is one of those which have been called "composite"; and certainly it falls into two parts which offer the strongest possible contrast the one to the other. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids 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. In all of those things he was also being pursued the goodness and loving kindness of his great Shepherd. And yet through it all he could look back and write 'the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want'. Rest -- for He makes me to lie down in green pastures. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. 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. Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. [9] These are the paths we should desire and actively seek. WebInteractive Bible study with John Piper. This magazine often included an exposition of a psalm, and in the 1866 publication Spurgeon featured Psalm 23. But we need to learn to lie down. What great confidence! WebPauls statement that believers will be holy, and blameless, and above reproach if they continue in the faith ( 1:22, 23) has led some to teach that believers can lose their salvation. 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. But, what makes it so compelling? His past death for His people "He recovers me when I am sick, and revives me when I am faint, and so restores the soul which was ready to depart." A sheep unoiled is an easy target for the infestations of such pests. Then from the pulpit you would hear the same person say that if you didn't do this, this, and this you could lose your salvation or the Holy Spirit would leave you etc. 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. It is by a constancy of the means of grace that the soul is fed. Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. [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. (Whew!) Even conservative Christian pastor John MacArthur acknowledges that Psalm 23 uses common ancient Near Eastern images. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. I need to know you are well.' Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Oh! 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. A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. We are smart enough to do this in the physical. Each guide incorporates extensive commentary, detailed observations on overriding The rest of the Psalm exhibits the shepherding care of God that is essential to life. More is implied than is expressed, not only, I shall not want, but, "I shall be supplied with whatever I need; and, if I have not every thing I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me or I shall have it in due time.". '. He that is the shepherd of Israel, of the whole church in general (Ps 80 1), is the shepherd of every particular believer; the meanest is not below his cognizance, Isa 40 11. Is it a terrible thing that even though God is sovereign and controls the entire universe, we don't want to let go of the reigns! Now mine was a recent silly example. Sheep are easy targets for parasites, lice, and flies. The writer of Psalm 23 makes an analogy between God and the shepherd. They are times, as the Psalm says, when He restores your soul spiritually. Observe, (1.) You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. They believed that something of the persons identity was tied up in the namethat the name expressed something of the persons essential character. It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). Here is a prospect of the perfection of bliss in the future state. The way of duty is the truly pleasant way. Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. Countless experts also argued that David wrote it during the later years of his kingship because of its nostalgic and tranquil tone. And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. But it is there that you learn that though you may not be able to see the shepherd as well as normal, He can see you and is still protecting you! We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too. We can imagine various meanings for the valley of the shadow of death.. David could confidently write the second phrase because he experienced the provision and providence of God in his life. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. WebPsalm 23:4. In New Zealand (where I live) all of our farms and fields seem to be From the good gifts of God's bounty to him now he infers the constancy and perpetuity of his mercy, v. 5, 6. Thank God for such times! His word and Spirit shall comfort themhis rod and staff, alluding to the shepherd's crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Lev 27 32), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. It has poured balm and consolation into the heart of the sick, of captives in dungeons, of widows in their pinching grief's, of orphans in their loneliness. But, even in the supposition of the distress, there are four words which lessen the terror:It is death indeed that is before us; but, [1.] But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! ), 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. It is comprehensive in scope, reliable in scholarship, and easy to use. The constancy of it: All the days of my life, as duly as the day comes; it shall be new every morning (Lam 3 22, 23) like the manna that was given to the Israelites daily. Like the Greek word agape (love) in the New Testament, hesed (lovingkindness) involves actionkindness or love expressed through kind or loving actions rather than just feelings. That was his role growing up. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow. a. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. The center point of this psalm is for you are with me. In the original Hebrew language, there are 26 words before this phrase, and 26 afterwards (Limburg, 74). WebIt [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Do we not gain comfort from the fact that it is Almighty God who is our Shepherd? Ok, I'm being naughty. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. Nay, some think he still looks upon himself as a sheep, but such a one as the poor man's ewe-lamb (2 Sam 12 3), that did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom; not only thus nobly, but thus tenderly, are the children of God looked after. [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. When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. Theses are the paths in which all the saints desire to be led and kept, and never to turn aside out of them. The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. WebVerse six presents a key to understanding Psalm 1: For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.. Do you? It is the work of righteousness that is peace. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. ), Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000), Mounce, William D., (ed. He recounts his experience of the kind things God had done for him as his shepherd, ver 2, 3, 5. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' In these paths we cannot walk unless God both lead us into them and lead us in them. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. You are not your own but were bought with a price! If God is our shepherd then we must obey Him wholeheartedly. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a mans pathway even for a moment. It is the valley of the shadow, deep indeed, and dark, and dirty; but the valleys are fruitful, and so is death itself fruitful of comforts to God's people. Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. It could also refer to a piece of furniture like the tables that we know today. They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. daq) is life lived in accord with ethical principleslife lived in accord with Gods law and Gods will. 'What happened exactly to me in the dream?' 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. Ouch. When, after one sin, David's heart smote him, and, after another, Nathan was sent to tell him, Thou art the man, God restored his soul. WebPastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. The good man has his enemies. The sheep didnt know where the green pastures and still waters were. Published by Thomas Nelson, 2005. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. Now, if you let it and you tended to be a little superstitious, your mind could ponder, and wander, on that a bit. For I am Yahweh your God, He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. 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