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.. There is no if nor but, nor even I hope so; but he says, The Lord is my shepherd. (Charles Spurgeon). It has comforted the noble host of the poor. The wonder of wonders is that through the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives we can actually go through these times without fear! We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. When I asked the oncologist how serious it was, he said, Stage threemaybe Stage three and a half. My chances of survival were less than 50-50. The image portrays that God has the power to feed and protect David. Davids guidance from God has a moral component. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. These instruments (or instrument) of guidance were a comfort to David. Can you say that about your life? It offers a broad overview of each Bible book and the internal consistency that results from having a single commentator. Scripture: Psalm 23. It included the most highlighted passage in the Bible which turned out to be this passage: Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Psalm 23 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. Readers benefit from the coherence a single commentator provides, finding faithful, understandable, and . He wrote: Unlike in the west where people get multiple jobs, here the jobs are very rare. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. b. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: This line from the psalm and the psalm as a whole has proven itself precious to many a dying saint through the ages. The word through is important. What confidence for this life this should give us as we believe it in faith! 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. [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. Passwords should have at least 6 characters. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point But it is alluded to such as in Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water." With no one to turn to, we develop true and steadfast love and trust in the Lord. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. Every word in it has a wealth of meaning. The idea is of a sturdy walking stick, used to gently (as much as possible) guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. In New Zealand (where I live) all of our farms and fields seem to be 'green pastures' and the sheep tend to munch all day! The instruments used by the shepherd comforted David. 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) 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. God is like a shepherd to David. John Piper Sep 8, 1980 My cup runs over.
Psalms 23 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - StudyLight.org David knew all about this. April 17, 2011. Psalm 107. In Psalms 23:3, Psalms 23:4 the spiritual meaning shines through the figure, as in Psalms 23:5, Psalms 23:6 it is laid aside altogether; yet still the psalmist speaks of the "rod and staff." "Rod," the shepherd's crook, the received emblem of authority, guidance, and discipline. 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. They are well placed, well laid: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids shepherd. David's song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. However, the oil does not just protect the sheep from nuisance. John MacArthur brings you a complete Bible commentary in one volume. However, Gods care for David doesnt remove the presence of his adversaries. One where 'the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. Sounds like a nice place to be for a defenceless sheep now doesn't it? General Epistles They also enjoy the enthusiastic company of their fifteen grandchildren. 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. Verse 1. Everyone knows this psalm even non-Christians have heard it because it seems to be a favourite at their funerals. The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. Our God protects His people, and His presence brings comfort to eliminate the fear of evil. the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). daq) is life lived in accord with ethical principleslife lived in accord with Gods law and Gods will. Verses 1-6. [6]. It talks about humanity, our experiences, and even our emotions. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. A sheep is an object of property, not a wild animal; its owner sets great store by it, and frequently it is bought with a great price. You anoint my head with oil (v. 5b). 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). 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. Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. The MacArthur Bible Commentary treats every passage of the Old and New Testaments phrase by phrase, with hundreds of word studies and sidebars throughout. One can rightly say that we face only the shadow of death because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place. She is a lady that is unfortunately into the New Age and has spirit guides etc She doesn't agree with what I believe nor do I agree with her beliefs. 'Do I need to be extra careful?' He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 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! Yea, prosperity not only so intoxicates many, as to carry them . The intimate portrayal of God as a shepherd is what makes Psalm 23 unique and unforgettable. ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. Kansas City, Missouri 64118, 2017 The Spurgeon Center and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. How would it be with you if God had filled your cup in proportion to your faith? And let's not forget they are prone to wander. 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. Nothing is outside of His control. I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. 6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahwehs house forever. Published by Thomas Nelson, 2005. The Old Testament I remember a woman who grieved every year on anniversary of the death of her infant child. Is it Messianic? In my experience I have never seen a visible manifestation of God going before me at a fork in the road. The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. Thank God for such times! Psalm 23 brings encouragement and a great reminder that God is our shepherd and He will never abandon us. Its evident in this verse how David recognizes Gods lordship over his life. Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. 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! Grace Community Church 13248 Roscoe Blvd. Lets look at the meaning and significance of each verse written in Psalm 23. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. Everything will be ok. Surely goodness (Hebrew: tob) and loving kindness (Hebrew: hesed) shall follow me all the days of my life (v. 6a). 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. i. Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. Nov. 10, 2012. 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. In this context, it suggests blessings that will help the psalmist. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. All the days of my life; No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! . Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. [5] We need to make sure that we have a Middle Eastern understanding of the Shepherd. 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. John MacArthur (b. [6] As a silly example, a few weeks back I got an email from a past work colleague that I hadn't heard from for some time. type 23-6 in the address bar in place of 1-1 so that . It is a treasure chest filled with spiritual truths that encourage many. 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. The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. Minor Prophets Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. b. [4] I read in a John Hunter book that as well as being able to say 'The Lord is my shepherd' we should be able to say 'The shepherd is my Lord.' Ethan Collins November 17, 2020, Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. But do we believe it? Our children were still quite young. [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. Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Sep 8, 1980. Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. But Jesus is the good Shepherd. 'Blessed be the day on which that Psalm was born! Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. Giving without a Whisper by C. H. Spurgeon, Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, David Guzik :: Hechos 9 La Conversin de Saulo de Tarso, David Guzik :: Mateo 4 La Tentacin de Jess y Su Primer Ministerio en Galilea, David Guzik :: Hechos 2 El Espritu Santo Es Derramado Sobre la Iglesia, David Guzik :: Apocalipsis 20 Satans, el Pecado y la Muerte son Finalmente Eliminados, David Guzik :: 2 Timoteo 3 Los Tiempos Peligrosos y la Preciosa Verdad, David Guzik :: Apocalipsis 12 La Mujer, el Nio, y el Dragn, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus and the Holy Trinity (Walter Martin), Matthew 18-19 (1982-85 Audio) (Chuck Smith), Genesis 1:1-8 (1979-82 Audio) (Chuck Smith), John 12 - Sir, We Would See Jesus (Chuck Missler), Genesis 2-3 (1979-82 Audio) (Chuck Smith). Which is it? But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. i. In all of those things he was also being pursued the goodness and loving kindness of his great Shepherd. Do you? Let us not, therefore, be afraid. It is true that in extreme cases the shepherd would break the leg of the lamb. The Old Testament It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. 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. It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. We may request cookies to be set on your device. In the presence of my enemies: This is a striking phrase. For a shepherd, the healing purpose would be significant.
Psalms Commentaries & Sermons | Precept Austin Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. 1TheLordis my shepherd; I shall not want. But he also knew, through many highs and lows, throughout his life, that he too was but a sheep with a far greater Shepherd. [13] And His goodness and kindness will always follow you. Pastor John MacArthur. What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. 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. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? Johannine Writings That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! As the shepherd led the sheep from oasis to oasis, this sometimes meant passing through narrow valleys that had steep cliff faces on each side. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. i.
PDF Psalm 23 - Verse 5 Minor Prophets When faced with destitution, famine, pressures, financial difficulty, and depression, its hard to remain calm and tranquil. It's not somewhere that you set up camp thinking that is all you will ever know. Poetical Books
Bible Introductions - Hebrews by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible 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. 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). They can't run all that fast, don't have the greatest eye sight apparently and, being basically defenceless, are timid and fearful.