Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. ), 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. ), Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000), Mounce, William D., (ed. Email / username or password was incorrect! By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. I recently did a study on this psalm for a home group church meeting. God's eternal desire is that He would have many sons and daughters who display His glory and light within them. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. ii. i. Nothing is outside of His control. 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. In my experience I have never seen a visible manifestation of God going before me at a fork in the road. Share. It implies that the Lord is the only thing needed in life and that Gods shepherding care provides all of our necessities. 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. 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. i. i. The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. Prophets What are these green pastures but the Scriptures of truthalways fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year. I will believe that thou reignest still. 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. and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. 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. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979-1988), Brown, Francis; Driver, S.R. This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! Its also of paramount importance to recognize that the shepherd in this psalm connotes more than someone who merely herds the flock. Psalm 23 Commentary - Sermon Writer Sometimes it goes through the dark valley as the next verse indicates. Beloved, I will ask you now a question. John MacArthur: The Lord Is My Salvation - YouTube GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God (Psalm 42:1). 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. Bible Commentary by John Macarthur - AbeBooks David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! The New Testament Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It isnt his destination or dwelling place. Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New . We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. His past death for His people To be invited to a persons table was an honor. Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible 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 New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. Notice however that the Psalmist says he 'walks through' this valley. 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." The writer of Psalm 23 makes an analogy between God and the shepherd. Verse 1. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. Surely goodness (Hebrew: tob) and loving kindness (Hebrew: hesed) shall follow me all the days of my life (v. 6a). Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. The subsequent trips through the valley become progressively easier as trust increases. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. Still, David has decided to praise God no matter what happens. 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! 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. Your partnership makes all we do possible. This is the joy of the Christian! Text: Psalm 23 Ministry: Anchored. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. We often try to work things out in our little minds and end up working ourselves into a place of nervous exhaustion! Its evident in this verse how David recognizes Gods lordship over his life. [6]. [7], 5001 North Oak Trafficway In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too. The sweetest word of the whole is that monosyllable, My. He does not say, The Lord is the shepherd of the world at large, and leadeth forth the multitude as his flock, but The Lord is my shepherd; if he be a Shepherd to no one else, he is a Shepherd to me; he cares for me, watches over me, and preserves me. The words are in the present tense. The intimate portrayal of God as a shepherd is what makes Psalm 23 unique and unforgettable. 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 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. "It [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. i. John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Master's University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. If we were without enemies, we might fear that we were not the friends of God, for the friendship of the world is enmity to GodThou preparest a table Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door, and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. 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.. Psalm 23 brings encouragement and a great reminder that God is our shepherd and He will never abandon us. God ultimately protects and provides for His flock and does everything in His power to care for them. Pauline Epistles The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point Together with goodness it suggests the steady kindness and support that one can count on in the family or between firm friends. (Kidner), ii. '. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. 1TheLordis my shepherd; I shall not want. Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. Historical Books Not was, like He helped you in the past. So life here for our sheep is one of continual green pastures. (Whew!) He leads me - Jesus our Shepherd is in the business of leading and bringing you to a place of rest. Major Prophets "Depth and strength underlie the simplicity of this psalm. I. (1.) Best known for his expository exegesis of the Bible . God anoints His people with oil just like how shepherds anoint their sheep with oil. Johannine Writings 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. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time Psalm 23 was written. It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Lie down in green pastures quiet waters - But thank Jesus our great Shepherd that He does bring us to green pastures and quiet waters. God longs to bless and prosper His people. 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? If things are tough, remember this verse. The Old Testament The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. He talks about going through it, showing that he expects to emerge from its shadows into the light on the other side. The Whole Bible The word restore implies the notion of a rescued one. (Philip Keller). Play. conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy Regardless of destitution, famine, storms, and other uncertainties, Gods flock is well-provided for in all seasons. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point 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). ), Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23 symbolizes the human race as a flock and God as their Shepherd. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. He had known feast. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. 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! Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. The little child out at sea in the storm is not frightened like all the other passengers on board the vessel, it sleeps in its mothers bosom; it is enough for it that its mother is with it; and it should be enough for the believer to know that Christ is with him Thy rod and thy staff, by which you govern and rule your flock, the ensigns of your sovereignty and of your gracious carethey comfort me. No, we are not talking here about genuine needs, not greed'! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: The hosts care brought the goodness and mercy of God to David, and he lived in the faithful expectation of it continuing all the days of his life. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. His Spirit attends us in various operations, like watersin the pluralto cleanse, to refresh, to fertilize, to cherish. Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? It is great advice but more than likely it is the most highlighted passage because people are in desperate need to remember it! Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. This one-volume commentary on the entire Bible from one of America's foremost Bible expositors offers instead a minilibrary of understandable resources designed to convey the Bible's overarching message with historical and theological clarity. So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. David wrote this while remembering his fearful experiences. i. I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. Johannine Writings 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). You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. He had a sidekick with him who spoke on 'I will build my church'. Notice the following -. (5) Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. The world is now experiencing a dreadful pandemic. You anoint my head with oil. [1] It is a Psalm that encompasses our live here and even extends into eternity future. Poetical Books Psalm 19. The New Testament speaks of Jesus as anointed (Luke 4:18; John 20:31; Acts 5:42; Hebrews 1:9, etc.). Psalms for the Anxious - Grace To You Like the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, David might say that all of life is lived under the shadow of death, and it is the conscious presence of the LORD as shepherd that makes it bearable. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. The word PSALM literally means praise and it features works of various characters the majority of which were written by David. ii. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. It has not made the dying Christian slave freer than his masterNor is its work done. David could confidently write the second phrase because he experienced the provision and providence of God in his life. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. For a shepherd, the healing purpose would be significant. Each chapter begins with several questions under the title "PREPARE TO MEET GOD." . They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. 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. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, When faced with destitution, famine, pressures, financial difficulty, and depression, its hard to remain calm and tranquil. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. b. God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids shepherd. It is a Psalm of life, rest and peace. Poetical Books 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.. The anointing of oil to the sheep isnt just a meaningless ritual. 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. One where 'the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. The MacArthur Bible Commentary: John MacArthur: 9780785250661 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). A number of our soldiers died there. 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 Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, If we could be saved from wrath, and yet remain unregenerate, impenitent sinners, we should not be saved as we desire, for we mainly and chiefly pant to be saved from sin and led in the way of holiness.[4]. In that culture, people considered a persons name to be more than a simple label to identify that person. It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. (Spurgeon). I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v. 4b). So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. People need comfort and encouragement. There are no halfway measures when it comes to the Lords provision for our lives. Prophets Published by Thomas Nelson, 2005. Kansas City, Missouri 64118, 2017 The Spurgeon Center and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Johannine Writings Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. MON 10/20/2014. Wow! i. Wisdom Literature 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! For other references to the shadow of death, see Jeremiah 2:6 and Job 10:21-22. 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. April 17, 2011. Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' Be assured! In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. Comfort -- for your rod and Thy staff comfort me. I will fear no evil. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. 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. You anoint my head with oil; In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. 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 MacArthur Bible Commentary | Logos Bible Software Articles Messages Books Podcasts Filter Resources By Ask Pastor John. Was it where you thought you would go? They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. One can rightly say that we face only the shadow of death because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place. Sermon.