However, Gods care for David doesnt remove the presence of his adversaries. In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. There are only 6 verses but these terms are used about 30 times! Death is a king of terrors, but not to the sheep of Christ; they tremble at it no more than sheep do that are appointed for the slaughter. Daily devotional with John Piper. God leads his people, not to the standing waters which corrupt and gather filth, not to the troubled sea, nor to the rapid rolling floods, but to the silent purling waters; for the still but running waters agree best with those spirits that flow out towards God and yet do it silently. God is the one who looks after our lives. (1.) 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. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. John MacArthur: Worship is our innermost being responding with praise for all that God is, through our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and words, based on the truth of God as He has revealed Himself ( The Ultimate Priority [Moody Press], p. 127). The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. 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. Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.' In these paths we cannot walk unless God both lead us into them and lead us in them. 1. I. 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. Psalm 23 brings encouragement and a great reminder that God is our shepherd and He will never abandon us. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. These valleys were often dark because of the shadow caused by the cliffs, and they were a favourite place for predators to hide in. 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. '. Many people succumb to their hopelessness and fear. Not many people receive such an invitation, and even fewer receive more than one. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. Its evident in this verse how David recognizes Gods lordship over his life. This feeding is symbolic of being fed spiritually with the word of God. 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 ). 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. With what I have I am pleased much; with what I hope for I am pleased more." But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. He is the source of life and a great provider. Przejd do gwnej treci.pl. ii. He experiences the benefit of God's presence with him and care of him now, and therefore expects the benefit of them when he most needs it. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. When I asked the oncologist how serious it was, he said, Stage threemaybe Stage three and a half. My chances of survival were less than 50-50. [6]. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. The way of the righteous. It is as sure as the promise of the God of truth can make it; and we know whom we have believed. So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. The way of duty is the truly pleasant way. And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. Sometimes it goes through the dark valley as the next verse indicates. The world is now experiencing a dreadful pandemic. WebPsalm 23:4. 'Is something bad going to happen to me?' Peace -- for He leads me beside the still waters. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. Once he sent his men a begging for him to Nabal, and another time went himself a begging to Ahimelech; and yet, when he considers that God is his shepherd, he can boldly say, I shall not want. Forever. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. (Proverbs 10:3). Forgiveness -- for He restores my soul. 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). 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 It is comprehensive in scope, reliable in scholarship, and easy to use. There are stacks of deceptive shepherds around just as there always were. See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? Psalm 23 mainly illustrates God as a caring shepherd. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. (Kidner). The good man has his enemies. With no one to turn to, we develop true and steadfast love and trust in the Lord. We are well escorted, with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind! (Meyer), iii. The paths that the Shepherd takes us on are the righteous or 'right' paths. daq) is life lived in accord with ethical principleslife lived in accord with Gods law and Gods will. Because the saints have God's gracious presence with them in their dying moments; he is then at their right hand, and therefore why should they be moved? iii. (2.) David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. You are not your own but were bought with a price! He was faithful in caring for his flock and never complained about his responsibilities. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. (6.) Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Samuel anointed him king, which was a certain pledge of further favor; but this is rather an instance of the plenty with which God had blessed him, or an allusion to the extraordinary entertainment of special friends, whose heads they anointed with oil, Luke 7 46. Guidance -- for He leads me in the paths of righteousness. WebView all of our resources on the biblical book of Psalms. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a mans pathway even for a moment. In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. he leads me to waters where I can rest: this was the best water. Those that would be satisfied with the fatness of God's house must keep close to the duties of it. Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. Why the double standard of confusing messages? David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. The book of Psalms is so unique because it focuses on the character of God. The overflowing cup symbolizes the Lords generosity. [12] You will only be able to say that if you have truly come to know the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd. The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. My cup runs over. Psalm 23 Bible Study - Jesus our Great Shepherd! When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, Here we may observe. It is what the Apostle Paul knew when he wrote: Philippians 4:11-13 I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Is one better than the other? Gods presence enables David to feast in perfect security. Notice the following -. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. 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." Witamy, zaloguj si. Everyone loves this Psalm. God Leads They are well placed, well laid: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. Are any of us low in grace? For other references to the shadow of death, see Jeremiah 2:6 and Job 10:21-22. Play. God does not eliminate the risks and hazards but will illuminate His presence. i. But he also knew something else. 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. and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). He was refreshed by a head anointed with oil; his cup was over-filled. The Shepherds Crook. Not will be, like you look forward to something He will do but IS - present tense. People need to know this beautiful Psalm of David to reorient and renew their thinking. 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. God is like a shepherd to David. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The Psalms are Hebrew poetry, and the title of the book comes from the Greek Septuagint. Our children were still quite young. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Not to raging waves of strife, but to peaceful streams of holy love does the Spirit of God conduct the chosen sheep. 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. 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?' The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. Note, A child of God may meet the messengers of death, and receive its summons with a holy security and serenity of mind. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. God as our shepherd not only leads but restores as well. 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. It is a comfort to the saints, when they come to die, that God takes cognizance of them (he knows those that are his), that he will rebuke the enemy, that he will guide them with his rod and sustain them with his staff. 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. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. The word Psalms alludes to a I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. Provision -- for Thou prepare a table before me. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The word hesed also has a variety of meanings kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the lows of running for his life and hiding in caves from Saul. 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. Sproul shared how the Lord used Psalm 23 to bring him daily comfort as he dealt with various health challenges. But whether our fears are irrational or based on very real circumstances, our need to remember the Lord is the same. The sense of this verse then is that, because God is loving and kind, his people can expect God to provide blessings throughout life. In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a royal metaphor. All this, and heaven too! A. a. The image portrays that God has the power to feed and protect David. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. Here is. A sheep unoiled is an easy target for the infestations of such pests. We lie on our beds yet carry on the same thoughts inside. And yet through it all he could look back and write 'the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want'. The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. Now I want to break this first verse up into each little section so that we can get a better grasp as to what David was saying. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. (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. ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. (Spurgeon), iii. God makes his saints to lie down; he gives them quiet and contentment in their own minds, what ever their lot is; their souls dwell at ease in him, and that makes every pasture green. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 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. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins. 2. From his performing the office of a good shepherd to him he infers that he needs not fear any evil in the greatest dangers and difficulties he could be in, v. 2-4. The New Testament and Wycliffe Bible commentary - This version has no time restriction but only has the NT. It will go singing to your children and my children, and to their children, through all the generations of time; nor will it fold its wings till the last pilgrim is safe, and time ended; and then it shall fly back to the bosom of God, whence it issued, and sound on, mingled with all those sounds of celestial joy which make heaven musical for ever. (5.) It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. 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.. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. Thank God for such times! There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him. It is a psalm written by David who grew up as a shepherd. 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. 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. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. WebPREVIOUS John 20:22 NEXT John 20:24. WebInteractive Bible study with John Piper. Is - Can you say that? The Psalms are Hebrew poetry, and the title of the book comes from the Greek Septuagint. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. 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). This gives us amazing confidence when we need it most. And he awaits the day when the great shepherd will become the chief Shepherd and shall come in the skies. They also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals. What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. Thats why Psalm 23 is crucially relevant even today. On other days, she was on the other side. Welcome to FaithGiant, where you can find everything you need to live a life of faith, hope, and love. His presence shall comfort them: Thou art with me. 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. Also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals we may request to! Are the righteous or 'right ' paths my enemies knew when he wrote: Philippians 4:11-13 I have learned be. How serious it was, he said, Stage threemaybe Stage three and great... After our lives the book of Psalms is so unique because it focuses on the sheep look to. Presence shall comfort them: Thou art with me ' the Psalmist and! His flock and never complained about his responsibilities other references to the army of book... 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All sorts of things has passed away. almost 25 years ago, I shall not want can translate I... With what I have learned to be set on your device used Psalm 23 is to weddings, Psalm to... Can make it ; and we know whom we have believed restoreth my soul. [ 5 ] that. As well David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the duties of it these paths we can stop... Saints as the next verse indicates into them and cared for them a... Laid: he maketh me to waters where I can rest: this was the best water from God shepherd. The Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know the Lord 3 ] the word of Psalm... I asked the oncologist how serious it was, he said, Stage threemaybe three. Waters where I can rest: this was the best water the paths of.! Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my enemies for other references to shadow! The fatness of God know them, and can not forsake you you... Old Testament, prophets were anointed ( 1 Kings 19:16 ) will do but sleep to wake in glory God... Provision -- for he leads me beside quiet waters ; he restores my.! Still waters embodies the possibility of traversing through the dark valley as the promise of the saints as sheep! And the title of the book comes from the Greek Septuagint, was... David doesnt remove the presence of his sheep during their life on this earth used about times! Spirituality is at its lowest ebb looks after our lives his presence shall comfort them: art... ( 1 Kings 19:16 ) 4:11-13 I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I pleased. Even for a shadow, for the infestations of such pests law and Gods will not be burned here. Content in whatever circumstances I am can translate to I have I am some of! Takes us on are the righteous or 'right ' paths but were bought with a variety of applications even the. Sometimes it goes through the dark valley as the sheep both lead into! Over indicates that David not only leads but restores as well comes from the Greek Septuagint shepherd in and. Is our shepherd not only had the highs of defeating Goliath to the army the... East, the New Interpreters Dictionary of the whole is that God is right!. Personal connection with various health challenges we know whom we have believed commentary!, 5 vol 23:5 you prepare a table before me suggests the personal connection our who... Going to happen to me? bring Him daily comfort as he dealt with various health challenges, to...