I had good medical care. To eat at the Kings table in the presence of your enemies would show your enemies that the king holds you in high regard, and would demonstrate their powerlessness to hurt you. Joy -- You anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? Abraham's Bosom, Paradise, and Heaven 1. The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. The sense of this verse then is that, because God is loving and kind, his people can expect God to provide blessings throughout life. Pastor John MacArthur. I think if we could just grasp this first verse alone our hearts could then rest. It has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. He had known famine. 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. John is also president and featured teacher with Grace to You. 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. Provision -- for Thou prepare a table before me. In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. Notably, David recognized that under the shepherds leading, he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. That was his role growing up. Scripture: Psalm 23. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. [12] You will only be able to say that if you have truly come to know the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd. It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! Historical Books Poetical Books Prophets For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. But mentally and spiritually we can get really tired trying to work out all our problems and we don't rest. 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. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. 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. 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. Can you say that about your life? Its evident in this verse how David recognizes Gods lordship over his life. Luke-Acts 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. Are any of us low in grace? With this verse, he begins to use the second person (you and your). If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! Verses 1-6. It wasn't a nice dream at all '. 'Blessed be the day on which that Psalm was born! You will have much more pressing concerns. God (through the prophet Jeremiah) said, For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13). Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. How would you describe sheep? Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). The overflowing cup symbolizes the Lords generosity. But the shepherds here use dogs and fences to drive and control the sheep. Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. Just like the sheep, its difficult for us to be at rest when life throws a lot of problems. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. ISBN 10: 0785250662 ISBN 13: . The psalmist has been talking about God in the third person (he). That was all it said. In describing the Lord as a shepherd, David wrote out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. Note the pronoun change in this verse. It is 'The LORD' who is his shepherd! Here David pictures God as a gracious host who provides all that he needs even in times of apparent difficulty. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. They would travel from oasis to oasis. 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. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. And I used to always think 'Well! 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. iv. Minor Prophets I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. ), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. Why the double standard of confusing messages? 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 He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. Together with goodness it suggests the steady kindness and support that one can count on in the family or between firm friends. (Kidner), ii. It leads to burn out, break downs and depression. Title: The MacArthur Bible Commentary By: John MacArthur Format: Hardcover Number of Pages: 2040 Vendor: Thomas Nelson Publication Date: 2005 Dimensions: 9.75 X 6.75 X 2.75 (inches) Weight: 3 pounds 11 ounces ISBN: 0785250662 ISBN-13: 9780785250661 Stock No: WW250662 Related Products The Jesus You Can't Ignore: Study $7.49 $9.99 Save 25% It talks about humanity, our experiences, and even our emotions. Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. 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. Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. All the days of my life; 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. So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. The enemy was strongly entrenched there, and was determined to stay. Now mine was a recent silly example. (Whew!) Behold just such a one! The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. General Epistles Sometimes those paths lead straight through the valley of the shadow of death. Nothing is outside of His control. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. In the United States, a signal honor would be an invitation to stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House. Psalm 107. If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. Follow John MacArthur: Contact Information: Phone: 800-55-GRACE Fax: 661-295-5871 Email: [email protected] . It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. The Shepherd's staff: The staff was used by the Shepherd to direct the sheep in the way in which they should go, and, in the case of a wandering nosey sheep, to pull it back into line [11] . In the Old Testament world, to eat and drink at someones table created a bond of mutual loyalty, and could be the culminated token of a covenant. Regardless of destitution, famine, storms, and other uncertainties, Gods flock is well-provided for in all seasons. Share. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. 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. King David, who wrote this Psalm, obviously knew all about being a shepherd. Wisdom Literature As you survey your life, what path has God led and guided you through? It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, 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. 'Do I need to be extra careful?' It is for His name's sake and His glory that this is done! Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. They are times, as the Psalm says, when He restores your soul spiritually. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. It is getting harder to live on this planet - from a health point of view, from a financial point of view, from a spiritual and moral point of view, from a fear and anxiety point of view - there is much that a person could be concerned about. But how does God do this? Scripture: Psalm 23. We often try to work things out in our little minds and end up working ourselves into a place of nervous exhaustion! So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. The shepherd image appears not only as part of the Old Testament but as a vital part of the New Testament as well. It is a treasure chest filled with spiritual truths that encourage many. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' 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?' Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. He had a sidekick with him who spoke on 'I will build my church'. When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Pauline Epistles GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Psalm 40 - The Pit and the Pierced Ear in the Paths of God, Psalm 41: The pattern of betrayal - Past, present and future (P1), Psalm 55: The pattern of betrayal: Past, present and future (P2), Psalm 69 - The restoration and the zeal of the Lord, Psalm 102 - Change and the Unchangeable One, Psalm 110: Jesus the Messiah - Our Lord and King, Psalm 110: Jesus our priest in the order of Melchizedek. Oils and ointments can salve wounds and insect bites. They will lead us to places of rest and provision. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. Beloved, I will ask you now a question. 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! 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. And David knew that this would carry on all the days of his life. They will not lie down when there is conflict among the sheep. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. (Spurgeon). ), which the WEB has updated. The Gospels Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. [7], 5001 North Oak Trafficway Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a The Saviours Cross. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. Kidner notes: The rod (a cudgel worn at the belt) and staff (to walk with, and to round up the flock) were the shepherds weapon and implement: the former for defence (cf. It is great advice but more than likely it is the most highlighted passage because people are in desperate need to remember it! Believe with the same confidence David had. 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]. [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. They know that through all things, Jesus is a good shepherd. Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. Nov. 10, 2012. 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. 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). 1TheLordis my shepherd; I shall not want. A great promise indeed! He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. Sermon. 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. Topical Series; DVD Series; Bible Series; Flash Drives; Bundles . They have been comforted, strengthened, and warmed by the thought that the LORD would shepherd them through the valley of the shadow of death. You are not your own but were bought with a price! 'What happened exactly to me in the dream?' There you have it. But do we believe it? On other days, she was on the other side. He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! David could confidently write the second phrase because he experienced the provision and providence of God in his life. b. Not will be, like you look forward to something He will do but IS - present tense. It doesn't mean that anything outwardly has to change. Notice the following -. The Whole Bible My cup runs over. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. '. Psalm 23:6 And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. Pauline Epistles PSALM 23:1-4. No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! It is true that in extreme cases the shepherd would break the leg of the lamb. a. Every Christian is a priest, but he cannot execute the priestly office without unction, and hence we must go day by day to God the Holy Ghost, that we may have our heads anointed with oil. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4a). Is it Messianic? (1 Pet 5:1-4, Acts You anoint my head with oil; 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). The epistle to the Hebrews is a study in contrast, between the imperfect and incomplete provisions of the Old Covenant, given under Moses, and the infinitely better provisions of the New Covenant offered by the perfect High-Priest, God's only Son and the Messiah, Jesus Christ. How would it be with you if God had filled your cup in proportion to your faith? It was never used on the sheep. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a royal metaphor. 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) Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. God ultimately protects and provides for His flock and does everything in His power to care for them. However, he was confident that God is with him all the time. Excellent for: personal and family devotions pastoral study preparing Sunday-school lessons using with a small group simply readingeach volume draws you in When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all he snatches a hasty meal, and away he hastens to the fight. It isnt his destination or dwelling place. 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! He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. God is. 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. Site by Mere. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. Major Prophets Ethan Collins November 17, 2020, Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! Verse 1. Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. They probably are anxious about different things. 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). God longs to bless and prosper His people. Do you? It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. We have to learn to sit back and thank Him once again. Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. He is a popular conference speaker and the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. This unspeakably delightful verse has been sung on many a dying bed, and has helped to make the dark valley bright times out of mind.

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