The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. 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. When I was serving in Vietnam as a chaplain, I visited soldiers in the A Shau Valley near Laos. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. Now mine was a recent silly example. Major Prophets He first spoke them for Israels sake, but he caused Isaiah to record them for our sake. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ii. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. John MacArthur brings you a complete Bible commentary in one volume. Luke-Acts Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. Pauline Epistles I remember a woman who grieved every year on anniversary of the death of her infant child. [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. The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. To experience the care and guidance of God as a shepherd, we must identify ourselves as His sheep. . Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New . Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. Topical Series; DVD Series; Bible Series; Flash Drives; Bundles . The word PSALM literally means praise and it features works of various characters the majority of which were written by David. Here David pictures God as a gracious host who provides all that he needs even in times of apparent difficulty. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. [1] As I mentioned, this is one famous Psalm. How marvellous it is that weak, fearful people can be given such confidence through a simple trust in the ability of their shepherd! (13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too. The Old Testament 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. b. [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. It means to actively pursue, to chase, and normally in a negative sense as when Pharaoh chased Israel at the exodus. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. of Scripture. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. The rod and staff were comforting to the sheep, because both were intended for the sheeps benefit. The good man has his enemies. Fortunately, I had insurance that would allow my family to weather the storm financially. This is seen in the following table: [2]. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. Nothing is outside of His control. 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. This verse doesn't mean that there will not be times of drought, valleys, difficulties and need--- far from it God loves you too much to just make things always easy! The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. 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. Everyone loves this Psalm. Verses 1-6. And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. 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. Every Christian is a priest, but he cannot execute the priestly office without unction, and hence we must go day by day to God the Holy Ghost, that we may have our heads anointed with oil. There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. The Whole Bible King David, who wrote this Psalm, obviously knew all about being a shepherd. The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc. 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. The Believer's Confession of Sin. There was no fear involved. They know that it will be ok. 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?' He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. Included in the "better" provisions are: a better hope . 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! 1TheLordis my shepherd; I shall not want. There is no fear of biting the bare ground where the grass is long enough for the flock to lie down in it. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. That is some revelation! If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. Johannine Writings Psalm 23 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. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. Wisdom Literature They also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. My - This is probably the best thing about this psalm it is so personal! 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 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. In that culture, people considered a persons name to be more than a simple label to identify that person. He was faithful in caring for his flock and never complained about his responsibilities. You prepare a table (Hebrew: sulhan) before me in the presence of my enemies (v. 5a). The sheep didnt know where the green pastures and still waters were. We are smart enough to do this in the physical. We need to hear those words as if God intended them for usbecause he did. Notice the following -. The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. They will lead us to places of rest and provision. A number of our soldiers died there. Had a very strange dream last night and you were in it. I need to know you are well.' The book of Psalms is so unique because it focuses on the character of God. Commentaries; Sermons. You are being chased (but don't fret - it's a good thing! Pastor John MacArthur. The subsequent trips through the valley become progressively easier as trust increases. To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. The Kings crown, Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. Minor Prophets 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. conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him His present care and provision for His people ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. 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. [6] As a silly example, a few weeks back I got an email from a past work colleague that I hadn't heard from for some time. Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 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! The mercy here comes from the Hebrew word Hesed which depicts Gods covenant faithfulness. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. April 17, 2011. The New Testament Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. It is for His name's sake and His glory that this is done! Learn More | Livestream | Bulletin Servicios en espaol. Believe with the same confidence David had. Psalm 107. This is the joy of the Christian! Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' Historical Books Founded in 1969, Grace to You is the nonprofit organization responsible for developing, producing, and distributing Johns books, audio resources, and the Grace to You radio and television programs. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. God longs to bless and prosper His people. It is a great comfort to know that God will correct us when we need it. David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! What is also interesting, even before we get into the actual verses, is that this Psalm is part two of what we could call a Messianic trilogy. The epistle to the Hebrews is a study in contrast, between the imperfect and incomplete provisions of the Old Covenant, given under Moses, and the infinitely better provisions of the New Covenant offered by the perfect High-Priest, God's only Son and the Messiah, Jesus Christ. 'Blessed be the day on which that Psalm was born! Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, Psalm 2 Bible Study The Current Rebellion & The Coming King, Psalm 8 Bible Study The wonder of God and the second man, Psalm 16 Part 1: Testing's in the journey through life and death, Psalm 16 Part 2 - Hope in the journey through life and death, Psalm 22 Part 1 - Prophecy of the crucifixion and the wrath of man. Our God leads His people into the green pastures and still waters. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. 19 (Dallas: Word Books, 1983), Hartley, J.E., in Bromiley, Geoffrey (General Editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Volume Three: K-P Revised (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986), Keller, W. Phillip, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970, 2007, 2015), Kidner, Derek, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms 1-72, Vol. These valleys were often dark because of the shadow caused by the cliffs, and they were a favourite place for predators to hide in. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. The world is now experiencing a dreadful pandemic. The word hesed also has a variety of meanings kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. It could also refer to a piece of furniture like the tables that we know today. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). I had good medical care. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. Its interesting to note how David used the word shepherd in this psalm instead of a more distant term like a king or a deliverer. ISBN 10: 0785250662 ISBN 13: . 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. The Gospels Follow John MacArthur: Contact Information: Phone: 800-55-GRACE Fax: 661-295-5871 Email: [email protected] . [10]. In light of all these truths, we must respond promptly. Yea, prosperity not only so intoxicates many, as to carry them . Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. The wonder of wonders is that through the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives we can actually go through these times without fear! It was spoken by someone who had been through more than we probably ever will so he knew what he was talking about! In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. This table represents all the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. You are mine. Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. iii. Gods motivations for treating His people rightly stem from the perfection and goodness of His nature. Notably, David recognized that under the shepherds leading, he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. God's eternal desire is that He would have many sons and daughters who display His glory and light within them. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. 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. So I started checking myself - heart was still pumping, ears were attached, nose still worked, yes, everything seemed to be in order. One can rightly say that we face only the shadow of death because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place. It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. (23) Seller Location . It becomes more personal in this valley! PSALM 23:1-4. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. Maclaren writes: The rod and the staff seem to be two names for one instrument, which was used both to beat off predatory animals and to direct the sheep.. Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Davids guidance from God has a moral component. type 23-6 in the address bar in place of 1-1 so that . (1.) God is holy, and takes his holy name seriously: Since God is holy, we as Gods people need to insure that we do not tarnish his name by our wrongful words or actions. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. David knew all about this. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. John Piper Sep 8, 1980 Abraham's Bosom, Paradise, and Heaven 1. It is true that in extreme cases the shepherd would break the leg of the lamb. Pauline Epistles He had been chased and pursued as he ran from his enemies who sought to take his life. Location. Now David wasn't saying here that 'the Lord is my Shepherd, whom I do not want'! But, what makes it so compelling? Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLordforever. This feeding is symbolic of being fed spiritually with the word of God. No, we are not talking here about genuine needs, not greed'! 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. and flame will not scorch you. Many people were praying for me. 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. 1 Samuel 17:35), and the latter for control since discipline is security., iii. (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the author's heart and trust in God. Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. Prophets Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. '. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. They have been comforted, strengthened, and warmed by the thought that the LORD would shepherd them through the valley of the shadow of death. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. When the end of the Babylonian Exile and Israels salvation was nigh, God told Israel: Dont be afraid, for I have redeemed you. We are well escorted, with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind! (Meyer), iii. Giving without a Whisper by C. H. Spurgeon, Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, David Guzik :: Hechos 9 La Conversin de Saulo de Tarso, David Guzik :: Mateo 4 La Tentacin de Jess y Su Primer Ministerio en Galilea, David Guzik :: Hechos 2 El Espritu Santo Es Derramado Sobre la Iglesia, David Guzik :: Apocalipsis 20 Satans, el Pecado y la Muerte son Finalmente Eliminados, David Guzik :: 2 Timoteo 3 Los Tiempos Peligrosos y la Preciosa Verdad, David Guzik :: Apocalipsis 12 La Mujer, el Nio, y el Dragn, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus and the Holy Trinity (Walter Martin), Matthew 18-19 (1982-85 Audio) (Chuck Smith), Genesis 1:1-8 (1979-82 Audio) (Chuck Smith), John 12 - Sir, We Would See Jesus (Chuck Missler), Genesis 2-3 (1979-82 Audio) (Chuck Smith). When faced with destitution, famine, pressures, financial difficulty, and depression, its hard to remain calm and tranquil. Sometimes it goes through the dark valley as the next verse indicates. 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. (Proverbs 10:3). And let's not forget they are prone to wander. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! But do we believe it? In the Old Testament world, to eat and drink at someones table created a bond of mutual loyalty, and could be the culminated token of a covenant. Oils and ointments can salve wounds and insect bites. He served them bread, saying, Take, eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28). 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. Kansas City, Missouri 64118, 2017 The Spurgeon Center and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Poetical Books A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point He doesn't stop, and he doesn't give up hope. The New Testament The Gospels God saved (Israel) for his names sake, that he might make his mighty power known (Psalm 106:8). He wrote: Unlike in the west where people get multiple jobs, here the jobs are very rare. He is in control. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! Forgiveness -- for He restores my soul. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. But whether our fears are irrational or based on very real circumstances, our need to remember the Lord is the same. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. John is also president and featured teacher with Grace to You. However, the oil does not just protect the sheep from nuisance. Note the pronoun change in this verse. May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. Wisdom Literature David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the lows of running for his life and hiding in caves from Saul. Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol Summer Psalms. We understand that a shadow is not tangible but is cast by something that is. 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. It is a Psalm of life, rest and peace. Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. Major Prophets Here the second allegory begins. Gods presence enables David to feast in perfect security. A shepherd would prepare a table for his sheep by scouting ahead to find good pastureland free from predators and poisonous plants. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point That's the animal God choose which best represents you! Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him.