the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. God is like a shepherd to David. Minor Prophets A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. ii. 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) The New Testament He leads me beside still waters. In light of all these truths, we must respond promptly. Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. Luke-Acts On other days, she was on the other side. Topical Series; DVD Series; Bible Series; Flash Drives; Bundles . To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey Pastor John MacArthur. It becomes more personal in this valley! 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God (Psalm 42:1). The comforts of a living saint. 3 He restores my soul. (Whew!) This word follow in the Hebrew does not just mean tag along at some distance behind. What confidence for this life this should give us as we believe it in faith! He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. There are no halfway measures when it comes to the Lords provision for our lives. It talks about humanity, our experiences, and even our emotions. Now this place of rest is, first and foremost spiritually speaking, right in the midst of the problem. Likewise, we also need God to guide us to the right places and opportunities. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. It is a Psalm of but 6 verses but countless sermons and entire books have been written on it. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. General Epistles So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). They know that it will be ok. the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4a). [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. (1.) Lets look at the meaning and significance of each verse written in Psalm 23. To be invited to Gods table is the ultimate honor. Guidance -- for He leads me in the paths of righteousness. Now mine was a recent silly example. Wisdom Literature Pentateuch 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]. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 23 But mostly, they were comforting because they were in the hands of a caring shepherd. The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol Summer Psalms. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' Let us not, therefore, be afraid. God refuses to let the godly go hungry. Wisdom Literature 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. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too. But, what makes it so compelling? Kansas City, Missouri 64118, 2017 The Spurgeon Center and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. Is it Messianic? 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. When the end of the Babylonian Exile and Israels salvation was nigh, God told Israel: Dont be afraid, for I have redeemed you. It doesn't mean that anything outwardly has to change. The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. It has not made the dying Christian slave freer than his masterNor is its work done. Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' On the one hand it is not quoted in the New Testament directly concerning Jesus. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Poetical Books And David knew that this would carry on all the days of his life. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979-1988), Brown, Francis; Driver, S.R. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) i. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. Though not often recited in its entirety, few are unfamiliar with the famous valley of the shadow of death.. What are these green pastures but the Scriptures of truthalways fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! Behold just such a one! i. He was the son of Jesse and a direct descendant of Abraham. I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. This is the joy of the Christian! Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. With no one to turn to, we develop true and steadfast love and trust in the Lord. For other references to the shadow of death, see Jeremiah 2:6 and Job 10:21-22. The world is now experiencing a dreadful pandemic. The green pastures and waters spoken of in this verse were often some distance apart and the shepherd would have to lead his flock to these places. They can't run all that fast, don't have the greatest eye sight apparently and, being basically defenceless, are timid and fearful. When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Psalm 23:6 And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. The psalmist has been talking about God in the third person (he). d. For You are with me: This emphasizes that it is the presence of the shepherd that eliminated the fear of evil for the sheep. 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. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. The idea that the LORD is a shepherd to His people is also prevalent throughout the Bible. [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. Anderson, A.A., The New Century Bible Commentary: Psalms 1-72 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972), Broyles, Craig C., New International Biblical Commentary: Psalms (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999, Brueggemann, Walter, The Message of the Psalms A Theological Commentary (Minneapolis: Augsburg Press, 1984), Clifford, Richard J., Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms 1-72 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), Craigie, Peter C., Word Biblical Commentary, Psalms 1-50, Vol. Excellent for: personal and family devotions pastoral study preparing Sunday-school lessons using with a small group simply readingeach volume draws you in It's not for the goats. For instance, we would emphasize 'I WILL build my church' or 'I will BUILD my church' etc. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. In all of those things he was also being pursued the goodness and loving kindness of his great Shepherd. Bible Introductions - Psalms by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible It could also refer to a piece of furniture like the tables that we know today. Anyway, we might have been being a tad naughty but the principle can be quite helpful and this is what I will do with this first verse. Best known for his expository exegesis of the Bible . Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). The word PSALM literally means praise and it features works of various characters the majority of which were written by David. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. 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. With this verse, he begins to use the second person (you and your). Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 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). It makes sense. He is in control. Peace -- for He leads me beside the still waters. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. 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! And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the lows of running for his life and hiding in caves from Saul. It means to actively pursue, to chase, and normally in a negative sense as when Pharaoh chased Israel at the exodus. [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. 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?' conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. Psalms 23. The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. Johannine Writings When explaining why he was restoring Israel, God said, I dont do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went. And let's not forget they are prone to wander. I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. They are times, as the Psalm says, when He restores your soul spiritually. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Psalm 23 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (complete) - Christianity He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. That was all it said. John MacArthur brings you a complete Bible commentary in one volume. Our children were still quite young. Psalms Commentaries & Sermons | Precept Austin He would tend, protect and care for his sheep. "Staff," that on which one leans, emblem of Divine strength and . The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.. [6]. If there is a wire fence, they'll get caught in it. David wrote this while remembering his fearful experiences. I live in New Zealand, and yes, I know, we have more sheep than people! Lie down in green pastures quiet waters - But thank Jesus our great Shepherd that He does bring us to green pastures and quiet waters. Why the double standard of confusing messages? In Psalm 22 Christ is the Saviour; in Psalm 23 He is the Satisfier; in Psalm 24 He is the Sovereign. The Pearl of the Psalms: Spurgeon on Psalm 23 People need to know this beautiful Psalm of David to reorient and renew their thinking. Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? The word restore implies the notion of a rescued one. Many people were praying for me. I need to know you are well.' I will believe that thou reignest still. Pauline Epistles (1 Pet 5:1-4, Acts Wow! This psalm is taken completely from the sheep's (David) point of view, as he talks about his shepherd. A magnificent banquet is provided by a most liberal and benevolent host; who has not only the bounty to feed me, but power to protect me; and, though surrounded by enemies, I sit down to this table with confidence, knowing that I shall feast in perfect security. (Clarke). The subsequent trips through the valley become progressively easier as trust increases. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007), Freedman, David Noel (Ed. So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. John MacArthur: The Lord Is My Salvation - YouTube So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. 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." It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. They will not lie down when there is conflict among the sheep. Site by Mere. Yea, though I walk, as if the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly walked with God. and flame will not scorch you. Minor Prophets 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! 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. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. i. Historical Books type 23-6 in the address bar in place of 1-1 so that . b. They will not lie down if they are afraid. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. The Macarthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur (2005, Hardcover General Epistles Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New . This is a psalm of trust and confidence in God's goodness in the present and in the future.