That is some revelation! i. The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. The great confidence which believers have in God: "If the Lord is my shepherd, my feeder, I may conclude I shall not want any thing that is really necessary and good for me." 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. 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. Thank God for such times! They are well helped when any thing ails them: He restoreth my soul. The shepherd of Israel guides Joseph like a flock; and every believer is under the same guidance: He leadeth me beside the still waters. We are so invited and not just occasionally but foreverthe honor that exceeds all other honors. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. They are well guided, well led. The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. His future return for His people as the King of Glory! [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. 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. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the authors heart and trust in God. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. A lot of people are suffering mentally, emotionally, and financially. He is not just a 'good shepherd'. He is that interested in each of His sheep! Davids guidance from God has a moral component. Here is a prospect of the perfection of bliss in the future state. To be invited to a persons table was an honor. This is a Psalm of David and David was a shepherd. We lie on our beds yet carry on the same thoughts inside. A servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the son abideth ever. 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 forever. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. And those only are led by the still waters of comfort that walk in the paths of righteousness. How confidently he counts upon the continuance of God's favours, v. 6. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. The consolations of God, the joys of the Holy Ghost, are these still waters, by which the saints are led, streams which flow from the fountain of living waters and make glad the city of our God. They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. However, the oil does not just protect the sheep from nuisance. WebLiberated 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. Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. 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. 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. It isnt his destination or dwelling place. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. It is by a constancy of the means of grace that the soul is fed. Jesus the Messiah was also a descendant of King David. That he had it carefully and readily provided for him. This gives us amazing confidence when we need it most. That was all it said. He got us to say the sentence emphasizing each word. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. 3 He But it is still the path that leads to righteousness. 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. 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. The Middle Eastern shepherds in Israel didn't drive their sheep their sheep followed them. 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. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. He will never, ever, leave you! Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (Whew!) Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him His present care and provision for His people See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. The wonderful discovery is that the Lord is not just a shepherd who looks after the entire flock, but He is cares for me as well. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. Nothing is outside of His control. They are well placed, well laid: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. John MacArthur. 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. By this therefore he illustrates God's care of his people; and to this our Saviour seems to refer when he says, I am the shepherd of the sheep; the good shepherd, John 10 11. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. (1.) But despite this I got on with her pretty well. With what I have I am pleased much; with what I hope for I am pleased more." 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. [7] Do you have this same confidence that David had? II. What are these still waters but the influences and graces of his blessed Spirit? Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). They would travel from oasis to oasis. 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.] The divine guidance they are under is stripped of its metaphor (v. 3): He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, in the way of my duty; in that he instructs me by his word and directs me by conscience and providence. [12] You will only be able to say that if you have truly come to know the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd. Note the pronoun change in this verse. What is characteristic of them? 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. God's ordinances are the green pastures in which food is provided for all believers; the word of life is the nourishment of the new man. The sense of this verse then is that, because God is loving and kind, his people can expect God to provide blessings throughout life. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. He is in control. In Psalm 22 He gives His life for the sheep; in Psalm 23 He gives His love to the sheep; in Psalm 24 He gives us light when He shall appear. (Jer 23:1-4, Ezek 34:1-10) Work to be a faithful shepherd realising that it is God's own sheep that He has placed in your care. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. So out of the blue she emailed a few weeks back asking: 'All ok with you? But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! All this, and heaven too! We need 2 cookies to store this setting. 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. Its authors are You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. WebView all of our resources on the biblical book of Psalms. (6.) I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. He guides us and leads us along the right and true paths. It talks about humanity, our experiences, and even our emotions. Believe with the same confidence David had. On still other days, she found herself walking through the middle of the valley. The word hesed also has a variety of meanings kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. (Kidner). The word PSALM literally means praise and it features works of various characters the majority of which were written by David. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. He understood the special relationship and care a shepherd has with the sheep. What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. When people die, we think of them as having entered the valley of the shadow of death, but the same is true for their loved ones. Here is one word indeed which sounds terrible; it is death, which we must all count upon; there is no discharge in that war. You prepare a table (Hebrew: sulhan) before me in the presence of my enemies (v. 5a). The rod and staff were comforting to the sheep, because both were intended for the sheeps benefit. 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. 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 was no fear involved. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? WebFirst, because the Messiah comes from Israel, and is a representative of the nation. and flame will not scorch you. WebIs an okay to good Bible commentary but sometimes John MacArthur explains some things which seems to be that he has never studied the topic of the verse and Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. 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. The light shines the brightest in the dark. And we know the Jesus Himself took upon this title of 'the good Shepherd'. David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. i. Witamy Wybierz adres dostawy Wszystkie kategorie Wyszukaj Amazon.pl. '. David claimed that the same God who faithfully rescued the Israelites from Egypt and provided guidance and provision in the wilderness is the same faithful God he served. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. Part 1. for his names sake (v. 3c). The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. However, he was confident that God is with him all the time. Gods motivations for treating His people rightly stem from the perfection and goodness of His nature. [3], The LORD - The first thing to note is the source of David's comfort. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. So to be Gods guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. You anoint my head with oil; It becomes more personal in this valley! It is as sure as the promise of the God of truth can make it; and we know whom we have believed. God does not eliminate the risks and hazards but will illuminate His presence. WebPREVIOUS John 20:22 NEXT John 20:24. i. 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. In New Zealand (where I live) all of our farms and fields seem to be WebPsalm 23:4. [1] It is a Psalm that encompasses our live here and even extends into eternity future. Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. III. 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). Every word in it has a wealth of meaning. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. Though God may suffer his people to fall into sin, he will not suffer them to lie still in it. 6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahwehs house forever. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal! For a shepherd, the healing purpose would be significant. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Psalm's 22, 23 and 24 give different glimpses of this wonderful Shepherd. He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. David knew all about this. Many people were praying for me. In this he had certainly an eye, not only to the blessings of God's providence, which made his outward condition prosperous, but to the communications of God's grace, received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which filled his soul with joy unspeakable. And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. The word Psalms alludes to a In all of those things he was also being pursued the goodness and loving kindness of his great Shepherd. When the end of the Babylonian Exile and Israels salvation was nigh, God told Israel: Dont be afraid, for I have redeemed you. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD How marvellous it is that weak, fearful people can be given such confidence through a simple trust in the ability of their shepherd! Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. [1] As I mentioned, this is one famous Psalm. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. It wasn't a nice dream at all '. But he also knew something else. He leads me - Jesus our Shepherd is in the business of leading and bringing you to a place of rest. WebGod used both the educational system of Egypt and his exile in Midian to prepare Moses to represent his people before a powerful pharaoh and to guide his people through the wilderness of the Sinai peninsula during his final 40 years ( Acts 7:36 ). It makes sense. We must dwell in his house as servants, that desired to have their ears bored to the door-post, to serve him for ever. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Through a dark and dismal valley, full of terrors and dangers, as this phrase signifies, Job 24:17; Psalm These valleys were often dark because of the shadow caused by the cliffs, and they were a favourite place for predators to hide in. Which is it? We are smart enough to do this in the physical. Those that feed on God's goodness must follow his direction; he leads them by his providence, by his word, by his Spirit, disposes of their affairs for the best, according to his counsel, disposes their affections and actions according to his command, directs their eye, their way, and their heart, into his love. No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! But whether our fears are irrational or based on very real circumstances, our need to remember the Lord is the same. Koszyk Menu. The certainty of it: Surely it shall. What he promises himselfgoodness and mercy, all the streams of mercy flowing from the fountain, pardoning mercy, protecting mercy, sustaining mercy, supplying mercy. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' But, what makes it so compelling? WebMark 9-16 MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Volume 6 : Macarthur, John: Amazon.pl: Ksiki. He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. 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. Extends into eternity future the word Psalm literally means praise and it features works of various the... Foundation ; in Psalm 23 is that the soul is fed this wonderful shepherd the means of grace the. The hurricane. [ 3 ] personal data like your IP address we allow you a! ] do you have truly come to know the Jesus Himself took upon title. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so can. Or based on his experiences with God guest is to be invited to a place of.! 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