The intimate portrayal of God as a shepherd is what makes Psalm 23 unique and unforgettable. You are mine. Ethan Collins November 17, 2020, Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. The book of Psalms is the most quoted book in the New Testament, and Jesus would refer a lot to the Book of Psalms even in His claims and teachings. Bible History: Old Testament by Alfred Edersheim - Hebrew WebVerse six presents a key to understanding Psalm 1: For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.. What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979-1988), Brown, Francis; Driver, S.R. He is a great shepherd. My cup runs over. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. 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. My - This is probably the best thing about this psalm it is so personal! Part 1. He talks about going through it, showing that he expects to emerge from its shadows into the light on the other side. But there is a greater provision and far greater blessing still to come. (3.) John 20:23. In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. It is the duty of Christians to encourage themselves in the Lord their God; and we are here directed to take that encouragement both from the relation wherein he stands to us and from the experience we have had of his goodness according to that relation. WebPastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. WebJohn Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (born June 19, 1939) is an American Protestant pastor and author known for his internationally syndicated Christian teaching radio and television program Grace to You. 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). 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. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms! 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. [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. Is one better than the other? Here are three points: 1. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. Time was when David was himself a shepherd; he was taken from following the ewes great with young (Ps 78 70, 71), and so he knew by experience the cares and tender affections of a good shepherd towards his flock. The LORD is WebJohn Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (born June 19, 1939) is an American Protestant pastor and author known for his internationally syndicated Christian teaching radio and television program Grace to You. Amazon, in the last couple of weeks (Nov 2014) released the most highlighted passages in their most popular books downloaded onto Kindle, their electronic book reader. They have been comforted, strengthened, and warmed by the thought that the LORD would shepherd them through the valley of the shadow of death. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving For a shepherd, the healing purpose would be significant. Obviously this doesn't mean that the track that the shepherd takes is always an easy one. [1] As I mentioned, this is one famous Psalm. The Shepherds Crook. Hence he infers that he should want no good (ver 1), that he needed to fear no evil (ver 4), that God would never leave nor forsake him in a way of mercy; and therefore he resolves never to leave nor forsake God in a way of duty, ver 6. 1. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. The instruments used by the shepherd comforted David. 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! Our children were still quite young. Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) It's not for the goats. See here, 1. 45 ratings The MacArthur study Bible - John MacArthur. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. When we get tired we take a rest. But, what makes it so compelling? Why should it be dreadful when there is nothing in it hurtful? (2.) The Psalms are Hebrew poetry, and the title of the book comes from the Greek Septuagint. [12] Must admit that I have been dealing with a few trials lately and when I read this verse it kind of caught me by surprise! They are well placed, well laid: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. To experience the care and guidance of God as a shepherd, we must identify ourselves as His sheep. Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. The image portrays that God has the power to feed and protect David. "Even in the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. He is utterly trustworthy. If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. It is by a constancy of the means of grace that the soul is fed. The light shines the brightest in the dark. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. Play. Davids guidance from God has a moral component. When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' (2.) Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Not many people receive such an invitation, and even fewer receive more than one. (3.) (1.) 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLordforever. 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. The sense of this verse then is that, because God is loving and kind, his people can expect God to provide blessings throughout life. When the psalmist says that God has anointed his head with oil, he means that God has marked him as specialhas set him apart for a significant role. It is as sure as the promise of the God of truth can make it; and we know whom we have believed. 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. May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. Solid Joys. They know that it will be ok. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. His table was not spread with any thing that came next to hand, but prepared, and prepared before him. He does not say there shall not be any evil; he had got beyond even that high assurance, and knew that Jesus had put all evil away; but I will fear no evil; not even the Evil One himself; I will not dread the last enemy, I will look upon him as a conquered foe, an enemy to be destroyed, For thou art with me. If there was such a thing as animal school, they would be dropouts. The way of the righteous. It works. Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. Well, having said that I should say that you will be free from fear to the degree that you know He is with you - rain, hail and shine. [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! There is no fear of biting the bare ground where the grass is long enough for the flock to lie down in it. 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. The rod and staff were comforting to the sheep, because both were intended for the sheeps benefit. How would you describe sheep? Together with goodness it suggests the steady kindness and support that one can count on in the family or between firm friends. (Kidner), ii. Will He never leave me or will something I do cause Him to leave?' God shines His light into our lives. There you have it. If God be as a shepherd to us, we must be as sheep, inoffensive, meek, and quiet, silent before the shearers, nay, and before the butcher too, useful and sociable; we must know the shepherd's voice, and follow him. Dying soldiers have died easier as it was read to them; ghastly hospitals have been illuminated; it has visited the prisoner, and broken his chains, and, like Peter's angel, led him forth in imagination, and sung him back to his home again. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Gods presence enables David to feast in perfect security. Companionship -- for you are with me. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. Are any of us low in grace? The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. 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. This psalm is so personal, with the pronoun I or My, being used commonly. 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