i. 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. It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. They would travel from oasis to oasis. The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. 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. 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. 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. It is true that in extreme cases the shepherd would break the leg of the lamb. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. And when the days of this life are over, then we shall enter into that which we can only partly imagine, for, 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.'. Published by Thomas Nelson, 2005. (wpe). You are being chased (but don't fret - it's a good thing! Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New . We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. David could confidently write the second phrase because he experienced the provision and providence of God in his life. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. 'Blessed be the day on which that Psalm was born! [5] We need to make sure that we have a Middle Eastern understanding of the Shepherd. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. Luke-Acts He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 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. It has not made the dying Christian slave freer than his masterNor is its work done. Prophets The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.. But there is a greater provision and far greater blessing still to come. When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. Prophets He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.. For instance, we would emphasize 'I WILL build my church' or 'I will BUILD my church' etc. 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). God's eternal desire is that He would have many sons and daughters who display His glory and light within them.
Psalm 23 Commentary: The Lord Is My Shepherd Explained 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. God saved (Israel) for his names sake, that he might make his mighty power known (Psalm 106:8). This sentence may be read, only goodness and mercy, for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. 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. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. Dying soldiers have died easier as it was read to them; ghastly hospitals have been illuminated; it has visited the prisoner, and broken his chains, and, like Peter's angel, led him forth in imagination, and sung him back to his home again. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. The rest of the Psalm exhibits the shepherding care of God that is essential to life. Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. It wasn't a nice dream at all '. 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! '. The anointing of oil to the sheep isnt just a meaningless ritual. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. God is like a shepherd to David. 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. God was the one providing for him, God was the one anointing his head with oil (which was what gracious hosts did for their guests in Israel) so he knew that he would have more than enough! It could also refer to a piece of furniture like the tables that we know today. 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. It is 'The LORD' who is his shepherd! Pastor John MacArthur. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. 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). 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. 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. So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. Rest -- for He makes me to lie down in green pastures. 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. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. 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). If God is our shepherd then we must obey Him wholeheartedly. A sheep unoiled is an easy target for the infestations of such pests. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. Joy -- You anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. Wisdom Literature It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. The Kings crown, Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Psalms for the Anxious - Grace To You It isnt his destination or dwelling place. i. Poetical Books He was refreshed by a head anointed with oil; his cup was over-filled. This feeding is symbolic of being fed spiritually with the word of God. Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. Companionship -- for you are with me. He will never, ever, leave you! Our lives should be a testimony to God Himself. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, (Hebrew/Greek Search by English Definition), * 'Number Delimiters' only apply to 'Paragraph Order', Search verses, phrases, and topics (e.g. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. One where 'the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006-2009), VanGemeren, Willem A. Obviously this doesn't mean that the track that the shepherd takes is always an easy one. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. So for now, let us follow our Lord where He would lead. To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. This psalm is taken completely from the sheep's (David) point of view, as he talks about his shepherd. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. There are stacks of deceptive shepherds around just as there always were. 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. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. General Epistles There was no fear involved. Pentateuch
Psalm 23 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible Play. The sheep may crack their skull just to ease the suffering to get rid of the brain-eating parasites. 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. Anointing with oil was used for various purposes (healing, burial, expressing grief or joy). It is for His name's sake and His glory that this is done! 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) David wrote about this in Psalm 25. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) It is getting harder to live on this planet - from a health point of view, from a financial point of view, from a spiritual and moral point of view, from a fear and anxiety point of view - there is much that a person could be concerned about. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. No, press on knowing that if there are shadows, there must be light around the corner causing them! The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us.
Report an Issue Sermon Correction/Question . Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd.
The Analogy of God and the Shepherd in Psalm 23, The Lord As A Shepherd Who Provides (Verse 1), The Lord As A Shepherd Who Guides (Verses 2-3), The Protection And Comfort From Gods Presence (Verse 4), The Blessings of God Amidst Danger (Verse 5), Faith-Filled Content Delivered To Your Inbox, Best NASB Study Bibles Ranked & Reviewed, The Best Bible for Young Adults: Buyers Guide. He had the honour of being King over all Israel, yet seen the lows of having his own son, Absalom, rise up against him and take the throne. I started off by saying that I wanted to have a look at what is probably the most popular chapter in the entire Old Testament. (1.) He is not just a 'good shepherd'. Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me. For a shepherd, the healing purpose would be significant. Johannine Writings Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab.
John MacArthur: The Lord Is My Salvation - YouTube The Whole Bible 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 gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. When faced with destitution, famine, pressures, financial difficulty, and depression, its hard to remain calm and tranquil. [12] Must admit that I have been dealing with a few trials lately and when I read this verse it kind of caught me by surprise! 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). Topical Series; DVD Series; Bible Series; Flash Drives; Bundles . Psalm 40 - The Pit and the Pierced Ear in the Paths of God, Psalm 41: The pattern of betrayal - Past, present and future (P1), Psalm 55: The pattern of betrayal: Past, present and future (P2), Psalm 69 - The restoration and the zeal of the Lord, Psalm 102 - Change and the Unchangeable One, Psalm 110: Jesus the Messiah - Our Lord and King, Psalm 110: Jesus our priest in the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 22 Part 2 - It is finished, He has done it! The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. April 17, 2011. David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. Pauline Epistles Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? But do we believe it? See here, 1. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored.
Sermons from the Book of Psalms | Grace to You - SermonAudio He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters., God as a shepherd knows where to lead His flock to rest. These instruments (or instrument) of guidance were a comfort to David. They also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals. He had not only enough, a cup full, but more than enough, a cup which overflowed. And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' Pentateuch The Old Testament 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. Title: The MacArthur Bible Commentary By: John MacArthur Format: Hardcover Number of Pages: 2040 Vendor: Thomas Nelson Publication Date: 2005 Dimensions: 9.75 X 6.75 X 2.75 (inches) Weight: 3 pounds 11 ounces ISBN: 0785250662 ISBN-13: 9780785250661 Stock No: WW250662 Related Products The Jesus You Can't Ignore: Study $7.49 $9.99 Save 25% Our God leads His people into the green pastures and still waters. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, Now this place of rest is, first and foremost spiritually speaking, right in the midst of the problem. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. This word follow in the Hebrew does not just mean tag along at some distance behind. i. They are times, as the Psalm says, when He restores your soul spiritually. When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' It is expressed in this verse - Rom We often try to work things out in our little minds and end up working ourselves into a place of nervous exhaustion!
People need comfort and encouragement. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. type 23-6 in the address bar in place of 1-1 so that . Poetical Books Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. There is no fear of biting the bare ground where the grass is long enough for the flock to lie down in it. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. b. It implies that the Lord is the only thing needed in life and that Gods shepherding care provides all of our necessities. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. The MacArthur Bible Commentary treats every passage of the Old and New Testaments phrase by phrase, with hundreds of word studies and sidebars throughout. Wow! In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a royal metaphor. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. Sheep are easy targets for parasites, lice, and flies. They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.' Johannine Writings This name is 'Yahweh', the sovereign, almighty, delivering God. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. He had been chased and pursued as he ran from his enemies who sought to take his life. The image portrays that God has the power to feed and protect David. 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. I will believe that thou reignest still. Prophets The Believer's Confession of Sin. The Old Testament ii. However, many scholars believed David wrote it during his kingship (around 1000 BC to 993 BC). Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. John Piper Sep 8, 1980 He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. Nor have I ever heard an audible voice that was clearly God's telling me which decisions to make. Prophets - 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).
The MacArthur Bible Commentary | Logos Bible Software And we know the Jesus Himself took upon this title of 'the good Shepherd'.
Bible Introductions - Psalms by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock.
PDF Psalm 23 - Verse 5 So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. His future return for His people as the King of Glory! The instruments used by the shepherd comforted David. Each chapter begins with several questions under the title "PREPARE TO MEET GOD." . John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Masters University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. Major Prophets Peace -- for He leads me beside the still waters. ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. We understand that a shadow is not tangible but is cast by something that is. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. Someone said they are the most stupid animal on the face of the earth. God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids shepherd. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. Not to raging waves of strife, but to peaceful streams of holy love does the Spirit of God conduct the chosen sheep. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. With no one to turn to, we develop true and steadfast love and trust in the Lord. Will He never leave me or will something I do cause Him to leave?' Ethan Collins November 17, 2020, Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. There you have it. But the valley was always there, casting its shadow over her life. iii. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. In fact, he thought quite highly of it, as is evident by this especially generous compliment: Of this delightful song it may be affirmed that its piety and its poetry are equal, its sweetness and its spirituality are unsurpassed. Spurgeon once referred to Psalm 23 as the Pearl of the Psalms in his monthly magazine, The Sword and the Trowel. 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. and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). He has also served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. Everyone loves this Psalm. It works. We need to hear those words as if God intended them for usbecause he did. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm!
Psalms 23 - The Pulpit Commentaries - StudyLight.org Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. Notice however that the Psalmist says he 'walks through' this valley. He wrote: Unlike in the west where people get multiple jobs, here the jobs are very rare. Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey Articles Messages Books Podcasts Filter Resources By Ask Pastor John. Likewise, we also need God to guide us to the right places and opportunities. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. He is a popular conference speaker and the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. Just like the sheep, its difficult for us to be at rest when life throws a lot of problems. The Gospels The light shines the brightest in the dark. When we get tired we take a rest. 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. This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. ii. No, we are not talking here about genuine needs, not greed'! It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. What great confidence! In terms of how it is loved, look at how one old theologian from the 1800's spoke of it. All the days of my life; However, Gods care for David doesnt remove the presence of his adversaries. He leads me beside still waters. He talks about going through it, showing that he expects to emerge from its shadows into the light on the other side. They probably are anxious about different things.
Psalms - Grace To You I live in New Zealand, and yes, I know, we have more sheep than people! . 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. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' It is for 'His name's sake' that He does this. (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan.
Psalms 23 - Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - StudyLight.org Which is it? The rod and staff were comforting to the sheep, because both were intended for the sheeps benefit. And he awaits the day when the great shepherd will become the chief Shepherd and shall come in the skies. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Be assured! People need to know this beautiful Psalm of David to reorient and renew their thinking. Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. 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.