We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. We must dwell in his house as servants, that desired to have their ears bored to the door-post, to serve him for ever. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. On other days, she was on the other side. II. It has poured balm and consolation into the heart of the sick, of captives in dungeons, of widows in their pinching grief's, of orphans in their loneliness. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! Our God leads His people into the green pastures and still waters. So for now, let us follow our Lord where He would lead. Still, David has decided to praise God no matter what happens. A lot of people are suffering mentally, emotionally, and financially. Daily devotional with John Piper. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal! The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. (2.) Forever. Our lives should be a testimony to God Himself. He was refreshed by a head anointed with oil; his cup was over-filled. When God anoints us with His oil, He guards us against the parasites of this world that seek to destroy us. God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids shepherd. Can you say that about your life? I will fear no evil. WebPastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. ( Psalms 27:1-6) is altogether joyous and jubilant. It makes sense. With no one to turn to, we develop true and steadfast love and trust in the Lord. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4a). 4 Ways the Parable of the Sower Encourages Spiritual Growth. Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. But, even in the supposition of the distress, there are four words which lessen the terror:It is death indeed that is before us; but, [1.] So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. We read the last clause as David's covenant with God: "I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (as long as I live), and I will praise him while I have any being." Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. 3,580+ | 2 min. If David penned this psalm before his coming to the crown, though destined to it, he had as much reason to fear wanting as any man. It records, as has been said, "the triumph of a warrior's faith." 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. There is no if nor but, nor even I hope so; but he says, The Lord is my shepherd. (Charles Spurgeon). 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. The word Psalms alludes to a While I am here I will be a child at home with my God; the whole world shall be his house to me; and when I ascend into the upper chamber I shall not change my company, nor even change the house; I shall only go to dwell in the upper story of the house of the Lord for ever. (Spurgeon), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. Here David pictures God as a gracious host who provides all that he needs even in times of apparent difficulty. A shepherd would prepare a table for his sheep by scouting ahead to find good pastureland free from predators and poisonous plants. He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Theses are the paths in which all the saints desire to be led and kept, and never to turn aside out of them. Near death, the saint still calmly walks he does not need to quicken his pace in alarm or panic. Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins. The first time through the dark valley is always scary. Lets look at the meaning and significance of each verse written in Psalm 23. A sheep unoiled is an easy target for the infestations of such pests. [12] You will only be able to say that if you have truly come to know the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd. 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. 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time Psalm 23 was written. I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because The Lord is my shepherd. The wicked always want, but the righteous never; a sinners heart is far from satisfaction, but a gracious spirit dwells in a palace of content.[2]. If God's goodness to us be like the morning light, which shines more and more to the perfect day, let not ours to him be like the morning cloud and the early dew that passeth away. The way of the righteous. Why is Psalm 23 one of the most well-known Psalms and the favorite biblical passage of many? 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! God shines His light into our lives. Obviously this doesn't mean that the track that the shepherd takes is always an easy one. What are these green pastures but the Scriptures of truthalways fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? Bible History: Old Testament by Alfred Edersheim - Hebrew Peace -- for He leads me beside the still waters. [10] We have another source of confidence in our shepherd Jesus that even David didn't have when he wrote this psalm 3000 years ago. Psalm 22 Part 2 - It is finished, He has done it! i. What is characteristic of them? It is by a constancy of the means of grace that the soul is fed. He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. Here the second allegory begins. 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. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. [3.] Now, if you let it and you tended to be a little superstitious, your mind could ponder, and wander, on that a bit. The image exudes a sense of rest, comfort, and care. ), The Complete WordStudy Old Testament (Chattanooga; AMG Publishers, 1994), Baker, Warren and Carpenter, Eugene, The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2003), Bromiley, Geoffrey (General Editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, 4 vols. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. '. (3.) In that culture, people considered a persons name to be more than a simple label to identify that person. (3.) 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? His focus is upon the effects of the Fall in the undoing of creation and the manner in which God rids His creation of Psalm 23 symbolizes the human race as a flock and God as their Shepherd. To be invited to Gods table is the ultimate honor. This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. My cup runs over. The greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who relishes that only in it which pleases the senses; but to a godly man, who tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, and by faith relishes that, though he has but little of the world, it is a green pasture, Ps 37 16; Prov 15 16, 17. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. Are we blessed with the green pastures of the ordinances? 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 writer of Psalm 23 makes an analogy between God and the shepherd. 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! I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v. 4b). The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a royal metaphor. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Gods shepherding care from the previous verse brought restoration to Davids soul. If things are tough, remember this verse. May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. You are mine. 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. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! ii. WebThe MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. Why should it be dreadful when there is nothing in it hurtful? In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. Witamy, zaloguj si. 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. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. They probably are anxious about different things. Psalm 23:3 He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. See here the courage of a dying saint (v. 4): "Having had such experience of God's goodness to me all my days, in six troubles and in seven, I will never distrust him, no, not in the last extremity; the rather because all he has done for me hitherto was not for any merit or desert of mine, but purely for his name's sake, in pursuance of his word, in performance of his promise, and for the glory of his own attributes and relations to his people. Web450K subscribers In early 2016, R.C. WebPsalm 23:4. Koszyk Menu. As the shepherd led the sheep from oasis to oasis, this sometimes meant passing through narrow valleys that had steep cliff faces on each side. It has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. The way of duty is the truly pleasant way. He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. He wanted to depict the marvelous work of God in his life and encourage many believers with his testimony. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. Priests were anointed (Exodus 40:13-15). 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. 2. 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. They know that through all things, Jesus is a good shepherd. Will He never leave me or will something I do cause Him to leave?' They can't run all that fast, don't have the greatest eye sight apparently and, being basically defenceless, are timid and fearful. They will not lie down if they are afraid. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. - Henry Ward Beecher, [2] J Vernon McGee writes 'to put it succinctly, in Psalm 22 we see the cross, in Psalm 23 the crook (the Shepherd's crook), and in Psalm 24 the crown (the King's crown). 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 ). There was no fear involved. [4]. (13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. for his names sake (v. 3c). This is the joy of the Christian! [2.] No, we are not talking here about genuine needs, not greed'! 2. Do you? 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. People need comfort and encouragement. From God's being his shepherd he infers that he shall not want anything that is good for him, v. 1. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. (Spurgeon). 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. (Whew!) WebView all of our resources on the biblical book of Psalms. It leads to burn out, break downs and depression. 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). And those only are led by the still waters of comfort that walk in the paths of righteousness. I. It may portray the straying sheep brought back. 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. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. He is a great shepherd. 1 Samuel 17:35), and the latter for control since discipline is security., iii. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. In Psalm 22 Christ is the Saviour; in Psalm 23 He is the Satisfier; in Psalm 24 He is the Sovereign. 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