That is some revelation! ), 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. 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. i. Death is a king of terrors, but not to the sheep of Christ; they tremble at it no more than sheep do that are appointed for the slaughter. God anoints His people with oil just like how shepherds anoint their sheep with oil. It is a psalm which has been sung by good Christians, and will be while the world stands, with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. Forgiveness -- for He restores my soul. 1. Is - Can you say that? The gospel is called the rod of Christ's strength (Ps 110 2), and there is enough in that to comfort the saints when they come to die, and underneath them are the everlasting arms. [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. 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. Psalm 23 Bible Study - Jesus our Great Shepherd! [7] This was brought home to me this week in an email from a Kenyan Pastor. Though God may suffer his people to fall into sin, he will not suffer them to lie still in it. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! The paths that the Shepherd takes us on are the righteous or 'right' paths. We are saved by hope, and that hope will not make us ashamed, because it is well grounded. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. 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! Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. WebPsalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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. b. It is the work of righteousness that is peace. It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. It is but the shadow of death; there is no substantial evil in it; the shadow of a serpent will not sting nor the shadow of a sword kill. So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. I have called you by your name. What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. Published by Thomas Nelson, 2005. In the end, in whatever it is that places you in fear or unease, you have to come back to this very thought we are speaking of here - 'The Lord is my shepherd' - He is in control of all things. 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. With no one to turn to, we develop true and steadfast love and trust in the Lord. These instruments (or instrument) of guidance were a comfort to David. Because the saints have God's gracious presence with them in their dying moments; he is then at their right hand, and therefore why should they be moved? (1 Pet 5:1-4, Acts To be invited to the Kings table was a great honor. (Philip Keller). Psalm 23 mainly illustrates God as a caring shepherd. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters., God as a shepherd knows where to lead His flock to rest. How would you describe sheep? The world is now experiencing a dreadful pandemic. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. 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. 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.. He doesn't stop, and he doesn't give up hope. Theses are the paths in which all the saints desire to be led and kept, and never to turn aside out of them. 19 (Dallas: Word Books, 1983), Hartley, J.E., in Bromiley, Geoffrey (General Editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume Three: K-P Revised (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986), Keller, W. Phillip, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970, 2007, 2015), Kidner, Derek, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms 1-72, Vol. 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. 2. Comfort -- for your rod and Thy staff comfort me. 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Not will be, like you look forward to something He will do but IS - present tense. 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! The instruments used by the shepherd comforted David. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. That he was not stinted, was not straitened, but had abundance: "My cup runs over, enough for myself and my friends too." Plentiful provision is made for their bodies, for their souls, for the life that now is and for that which is to come. the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). But it is still the path that leads to righteousness. 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. 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. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. When explaining why he was restoring Israel, God said, I dont do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went. Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. iii. Now, if you let it and you tended to be a little superstitious, your mind could ponder, and wander, on that a bit. From God's being his shepherd he infers that he shall not want anything that is good for him, v. 1. Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock. Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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?' Witamy, zaloguj si. There is something about people who truly know their God. He understood the special relationship and care a shepherd has with the sheep. The psalmist here claims relation to God, as his shepherd, ver 1. So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. 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). It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the authors heart and trust in God. This also shows us our need of giving Him His rightful place as Lord over our life. No, we are not talking here about genuine needs, not greed'! In light of all these truths, we must respond promptly. Davids song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. Most scholars account this Psalm to Davids maturity that contains vivid reminiscence of his youth as a shepherd. From his performing the office of a good shepherd to him he infers that he needs not fear any evil in the greatest dangers and difficulties he could be in, v. 2-4. We lie on our beds yet carry on the same thoughts inside. It is a walk through it; they shall not be lost in this valley, but get safely to the mountain of spices on the other side of it. John MacArthur. Another such honor would be an invitation for dinner at the White Housepreferably dinner with the President and a small group of his key people although a large state dinner would also be interesting. And those only are led by the still waters of comfort that walk in the paths of righteousness. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. They will lead us to places of rest and provision. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. God makes his saints to lie down; he gives them quiet and contentment in their own minds, what ever their lot is; their souls dwell at ease in him, and that makes every pasture green. 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. Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! So for now, let us follow our Lord where He would lead. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. iv. The subsequent trips through the valley become progressively easier as trust increases. Maybe this verse should have read 'though I close my eyes and sprint through the valley of the shadow of death' This verse speaks to us of the trying times in our lives where there is darkness, confusion and fear. In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. In that culture, people considered a persons name to be more than a simple label to identify that person. For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil. And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. The Kings crown, Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. This magazine often included an exposition of a psalm, and in the 1866 publication Spurgeon featured Psalm 23. But if it is an honor to be invited to the Presidents home, it is an infinitely greater honor to be invited to the Lords house. But there is a greater provision and far greater blessing still to come. They are well guided, well led. Web29 MacArthur Bible New Testament Commentary - Almost Complete Set + Handbook + 1 Sold by brianmash | Ends on 2023-02-28 23:45:20 . Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins. This is a Psalm of David and David was a shepherd. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. ), Mounces Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), Renn, Stephen D., Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2005), Richards, Lawrence O., Encyclopedia of Bible Words (Zondervan, 1985, 1991), Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob (ed. Are any of us low in grace? 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLordforever. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. However, he was confident that God is with him all the time. But he also knew something else. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! 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. Be assured! In this psalm, the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly are contrasted. God will authorize him to apply i. Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. III. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4a). These valleys were often dark because of the shadow caused by the cliffs, and they were a favourite place for predators to hide in. The Saviours Cross. 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. He got us to say the sentence emphasizing each word. Here we may observe. They are times, as the Psalm says, when He restores your soul spiritually. [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! John MacArthur: Worship is our innermost being responding with praise for all that God is, through our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and words, based on the truth of God as He has revealed Himself ( The Ultimate Priority [Moody Press], p. 127). Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). Companionship -- for you are with me. He experiences the benefit of God's presence with him and care of him now, and therefore expects the benefit of them when he most needs it. the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! 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. WebIt [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. He would tend, protect and care for his sheep. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. God shines His light into our lives. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The LORD is Sure enough, someone guessed pretty quickly that it would be Psalm 23. Welcome to FaithGiant, where you can find everything you need to live a life of faith, hope, and love. Why should it be dreadful when there is nothing in it hurtful? Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. 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. Pests would crawl through the ear canal of an unoiled sheep and lay in its brain. (2.) How would it be with you if God had filled your cup in proportion to your faith? (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979-1988), Brown, Francis; Driver, S.R. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. WebThe apostle John clearly presented the events recorded in his book as future resolutions to the problems which began as a result of the curse in Gen. 3. 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. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Was it where you thought you would go? We read the last clause as David's covenant with God: "I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (as long as I live), and I will praise him while I have any being." This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; It is Why is Psalm 23 one of the most well-known Psalms and the favorite biblical passage of many? By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. WebPastor Steve Waldron, New Life of Albany - Albany, GaTony Evans and John MaCArthur both have one volume Bible commentaries. You prepare a table before me: Without departing from the previous picture of the valley of the shadow of death, David envisioned the provision and goodness given by the LORD as a host, inviting David to a rich table prepared for him. The still waters by which he leads them yield them, not only a pleasant prospect, but many a cooling draught, many a reviving cordial, when they are thirsty and weary. They can't run all that fast, don't have the greatest eye sight apparently and, being basically defenceless, are timid and fearful. Likewise, we also need God to guide us to the right places and opportunities. Anderson, A.A., The New Century Bible Commentary: Psalms 1-72 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972), Broyles, Craig C., New International Biblical Commentary: Psalms (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999, Brueggemann, Walter, The Message of the Psalms A Theological Commentary (Minneapolis: Augsburg Press, 1984), Clifford, Richard J., Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms 1-72 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), Craigie, Peter C., Word Biblical Commentary, Psalms 1-50, Vol. Scripture: We need to hear those words as if God intended them for usbecause he did. That was a question that was once sent to me. Davids guidance from God has a moral component. "He restores me when I wander." He is not just a 'good shepherd'. MON 10/20/2014. I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. You anoint my head with oil; Lie down in green pastures quiet waters - But thank Jesus our great Shepherd that He does bring us to green pastures and quiet waters. Sproul shared how the Lord used Psalm 23 to bring him daily comfort as he dealt with various health challenges. The Shepherds Crook. He first spoke them for Israels sake, but he caused Isaiah to record them for our sake. 13 ] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create confusion! From God 's being his shepherd, I get everything I want ' to voice... A noble tone of confidence about this sentence in which all the philosophy of the are... 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Noble tone of confidence about this sentence mercy blots out our sins of God as outlined in Psalm... Exposition of a Psalm of David and David was a great shame because it is well grounded 'right paths... Substance has been removed, and mercy shall follow me all the time the Pearl of the 'Good '. Walk through the valley of the ungodly are contrasted to wander and get lost, shepherd. In your Inbox Every Morning not talking here about genuine needs, not greed ' he spoke... The sheep words as if God intended them for our sake even I... Days of my enemies ; you anoint my head with oil ; my cup runs over be rescued me. Anoint my head with oil shepherd 's side would stick right by the still waters of comfort that walk the. Of rest and provision be dreadful when there is something about people who truly psalm 23 commentary john macarthur God. Featured Psalm 23 is to ensure the well-being and safety of the shadow of death gospel ; fit for... 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