We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. He leads me. Jesus honored his disciples by inviting them to a table where he served them bread, saying, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God (Luke 22:15-16). You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If there is a wire fence, they'll get caught in it. 3 He restores my soul. On other days, she was on the other side. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. But we need to learn to lie down. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the author's heart and trust in God. 'Do I need to be extra careful?' The psalmist doesnt speak of going into the valley, as if it were a box canyon or a final destination. 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. "It [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Shepherd - This imagery of the shepherd and sheep spans the entire Bible but is most prominent in the New Testament where Jesus speaks about His relationship with His people, His sheep. 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. John MacArthur. The New Testament In describing the Lord as a shepherd, David wrote out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. 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. He is no longer speaking about God, but is instead speaking to God. He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. Our God leads His people into the green pastures and still waters. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. No, press on knowing that if there are shadows, there must be light around the corner causing them! We can imagine various meanings for the valley of the shadow of death.. When we get tired we take a rest. In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water (John 4:10). They know that it will be ok. But it is there that you learn that though you may not be able to see the shepherd as well as normal, He can see you and is still protecting you! But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. In the presence of my enemies: This is a striking phrase. daq) is life lived in accord with ethical principleslife lived in accord with Gods law and Gods will. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. But mostly, they were comforting because they were in the hands of a caring shepherd. 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. Topical Series; DVD Series; Bible Series; Flash Drives; Bundles . Luke-Acts For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. can be seen as comforting for it is a sign that He loves us scripture says (Heb 12:6). He is. And he awaits the day when the great shepherd will become the chief Shepherd and shall come in the skies. Entdecke The Macarthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur (2005, Hardcover) in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). The image portrays that God has the power to feed and protect David. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' But he also knew, through many highs and lows, throughout his life, that he too was but a sheep with a far greater Shepherd. 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], 5001 North Oak Trafficway They believed that something of the persons identity was tied up in the namethat the name expressed something of the persons essential character. 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! Its evident in this verse how David recognizes Gods lordship over his life. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. (Spurgeon), iii. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. i. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.' He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. 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. David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the lows of running for his life and hiding in caves from Saul. That was a question that was once sent to me. I. With family of say, a mother, a father, 3 or four children, and only one in the family working and bringing in 3 dollars (a day), it would takes ages before one can afford to buy anything extra, even clothes or even a blanket. But he also knew something else. But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! Do we not gain comfort from the fact that it is Almighty God who is our Shepherd? As you survey your life, what path has God led and guided you through? Share. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. Everyone knows this psalm even non-Christians have heard it because it seems to be a favourite at their funerals. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. He is in control. To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. But the shepherds here use dogs and fences to drive and control the sheep. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. Why the double standard of confusing messages? That is what God desires to work into your life. In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. Ethan Collins November 17, 2020, Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a mans pathway even for a moment. The New Testament [13] And His goodness and kindness will always follow you. 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). General Epistles 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. This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. They will not lie down when there is conflict among the sheep. So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! On the one hand it is not quoted in the New Testament directly concerning Jesus. The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol Summer Psalms. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. Be assured! (Whew!) He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. It makes sense. But do we believe it? There is some debate among commentators as to whether David had the idea of two separate instruments (the rod and the staff) or one instrument used two ways. 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. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. This line is especially suggestive when we read this psalm with an eye toward Jesus, the Great Shepherd. (1 Pet 5:1-4, Acts "Staff," that on which one leans, emblem of Divine strength and . Our God does not withhold anything good from His flock. 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. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. This table represents all the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Beloved, I will ask you now a question. "Depth and strength underlie the simplicity of this psalm. However, he was confident that God is with him all the time. The good man has his enemies. He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. It doesn't mean that anything outwardly has to change. Pentateuch The overflowing cup symbolizes the Lords generosity. But the valley was always there, casting its shadow over her life. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. The World English Bible is based on the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Bible, the Biblia Hebraica Stutgartensa Old Testament, and the Greek Majority Text New Testament. The first time through the dark valley is always scary. 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. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. Best known for his expository exegesis of the Bible . He leads me beside still waters. It helped him even in the valley of the shadow of death to know that God guided him, even through correction. The subsequent trips through the valley become progressively easier as trust increases. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. Prophets Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins. In the United States, a signal honor would be an invitation to stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House. It works. This word follow in the Hebrew does not just mean tag along at some distance behind. So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. [10]. Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. David could say God is my shepherd because of his personal experience. Psalm 23 Bible Study - Jesus our Great Shepherd! The anointing of oil to the sheep isnt just a meaningless ritual. The Middle Eastern shepherds in Israel didn't drive their sheep their sheep followed them. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. You will have much more pressing concerns. The intimate portrayal of God as a shepherd is what makes Psalm 23 unique and unforgettable. Our children were still quite young. I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. The noteworthiness of Psalm 23 was not lost on Spurgeon. 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? Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! Nov. 10, 2012. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. 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. b. Davids song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. In Psalm 23, however, the psalmist declares that the Sovereign of the universe, the Creator of all things, can be described using "my," that the Lord attends to me in a personal way. 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. Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. PSALM 23:1-4. 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]. Verse 1. It's not somewhere that you set up camp thinking that is all you will ever know. It is a great comfort to know that God will correct us when we need it.
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