The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! In that culture, people considered a persons name to be more than a simple label to identify that person. They probably are anxious about different things. Like the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, David might say that all of life is lived under the shadow of death, and it is the conscious presence of the LORD as shepherd that makes it bearable. And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal! Comfort -- for your rod and Thy staff comfort me. Play. 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]. The Whole Bible 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. John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. It talks about humanity, our experiences, and even our emotions. As I said, it wasn't all easy and plain sailing being a sheep in Israel however. ii. 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 out of the blue she emailed a few weeks back asking: 'All ok with you? [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. ii. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. So to be Gods guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. Psalm 23:4 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Nor have I ever heard an audible voice that was clearly God's telling me which decisions to make. God is the one who looks after our lives. Provision -- for Thou prepare a table before me. The Believer's Confession of Sin. We need to hear those words as if God intended them for usbecause he did. Someone said they are the most stupid animal on the face of the earth. King David, who wrote this Psalm, obviously knew all about being a shepherd. Please read and believe! Our God leads His people into the green pastures and still waters. In my experience I have never seen a visible manifestation of God going before me at a fork in the road. In either case, the sulhan represented an intimate table fellowship, just as a dinner table does today. 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.'. He is. 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). Everyone loves this Psalm. Scripture: Psalm 23. And I will dwell in the house of the LORDforever: The psalm ends with the calmest assurance that he would enjoy the presence of the LORD forever both in his days on this earth and beyond. Excellent for: personal and family devotions pastoral study preparing Sunday-school lessons using with a small group simply readingeach volume draws you in Not to raging waves of strife, but to peaceful streams of holy love does the Spirit of God conduct the chosen sheep. And he awaits the day when the great shepherd will become the chief Shepherd and shall come in the skies. Daily devotional with John Piper. The wonderful discovery is that the Lord is not just a shepherd who looks after the entire flock, but He is cares for me as well. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. 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. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. The New Testament Thats why Psalm 23 is crucially relevant even today. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. God as our shepherd not only leads but restores as well. In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. God refuses to let the godly go hungry. He leads me beside still waters. (13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. Prophets David could say God is my shepherd because of his personal experience. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. I will believe that thou reignest still. There are only 6 verses but these terms are used about 30 times! Email / username or password was incorrect! Follow John MacArthur: Contact Information: Phone: 800-55-GRACE Fax: 661-295-5871 Email: [email protected] . Why the double standard of confusing messages? Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point Its also of paramount importance to recognize that the shepherd in this psalm connotes more than someone who merely herds the flock. Please visit: https://www.bestbiblecommentaries.comPlease visit: www.bestbiblecommentaries.comBrowse John MacArthur's bible commentaries on Amazon:https://am. Date: 1/31/2021. And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. 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. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.. A shepherd would prepare a table for his sheep by scouting ahead to find good pastureland free from predators and poisonous plants. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. There is something about people who truly know their God. Like the Greek word agape (love) in the New Testament, hesed (lovingkindness) involves actionkindness or love expressed through kind or loving actions rather than just feelings. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006-2009), VanGemeren, Willem A. 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. For instance, we would emphasize 'I WILL build my church' or 'I will BUILD my church' etc. This word follow in the Hebrew does not just mean tag along at some distance behind. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the author's heart and trust in God. But that is not how it is in the dry arid lands of the Middle East and we need to read this Psalm with that mindset. He was refreshed by a head anointed with oil; his cup was over-filled. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! John Piper Sep 1, 1980. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. A number of our soldiers died there. I. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. David had it right in placing his trust in the one true God who controls all things. Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. In the United States, a signal honor would be an invitation to stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House. 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. Now, if you let it and you tended to be a little superstitious, your mind could ponder, and wander, on that a bit. 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. When we get tired we take a rest. Historical Books Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 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. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. Jesus the Messiah was also a descendant of King David. a. They believed that something of the persons identity was tied up in the namethat the name expressed something of the persons essential character. Was it where you thought you would go? Notably, David recognized that under the shepherds leading, he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Master's University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. The enemy was strongly entrenched there, and was determined to stay. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! How marvellous it is that weak, fearful people can be given such confidence through a simple trust in the ability of their shepherd! Minor Prophets 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% It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. Many people were praying for me. Likewise, we also need God to guide us to the right places and opportunities. He is a popular conference speaker and the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. The intimate portrayal of God as a shepherd is what makes Psalm 23 unique and unforgettable. All of John's 3,000 sermons, spanning more than four decades of ministry, are available for free on the Grace to You website. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. With this verse, he begins to use the second person (you and your). Pastor John MacArthur. The first time through the dark valley is always scary. I recently did a study on this psalm for a home group church meeting. My - This is probably the best thing about this psalm it is so personal! Poetical Books The image exudes a sense of rest, comfort, and care. It implies that the Lord is the only thing needed in life and that Gods shepherding care provides all of our necessities. and flame will not scorch you. A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. Gods motivations for treating His people rightly stem from the perfection and goodness of His nature. (Kidner). Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. 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 was his role growing up. With no one to turn to, we develop true and steadfast love and trust in the Lord. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. For I am Yahweh your God, Shepherd - This imagery of the shepherd and sheep spans the entire Bible but is most prominent in the New Testament where Jesus speaks about His relationship with His people, His sheep. Behold just such a one! Still, David has decided to praise God no matter what happens. We can imagine various meanings for the valley of the shadow of death.. We have to learn to sit back and thank Him once again. And David knew that this would carry on all the days of his life. 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. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. Psalm 107. Beloved, I will ask you now a question. I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v. 4b). 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. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. (Jer 23:1-4, Ezek 34:1-10) Work to be a faithful shepherd realising that it is God's own sheep that He has placed in your care. Many people succumb to their hopelessness and fear. It is a treasure chest filled with spiritual truths that encourage many. Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water (John 4:10). Oh! And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! April 17, 2011. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. When the sheep are hungry or are anxious about food, they cant lie down peacefully. John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. In the end, in whatever it is that places you in fear or unease, you have to come back to this very thought we are speaking of here - 'The Lord is my shepherd' - He is in control of all things. Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. ISBN 10: 0785250662 ISBN 13: . Joy -- You anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over. However, many scholars believed David wrote it during his kingship (around 1000 BC to 993 BC). They are well placed, well laid: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. Here the second allegory begins. range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed If things are tough, remember this verse. The paths that the Shepherd takes us on are the righteous or 'right' paths. It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! In Psalm 23, God has answered this prayer God has led him in paths of righteousness. If there is a wire fence, they'll get caught in it. The Gospels Minor Prophets My cup runs over (Hebrew: rewayah) (v. 5c). When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. Gods shepherding care from the previous verse brought restoration to Davids soul. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. (Spurgeon). John MacArthur. For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. You will have much more pressing concerns. God does not eliminate the risks and hazards but will illuminate His presence. But we need to learn to lie down. Interactive Bible study with John Piper. b. Ouch. It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. [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 center point of this psalm is for you are with me. In the original Hebrew language, there are 26 words before this phrase, and 26 afterwards (Limburg, 74). Johannine Writings Ok, I'm being naughty. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. can be seen as comforting for it is a sign that He loves us scripture says (Heb 12:6). In light of all these truths, we must respond promptly. Is - Can you say that? No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! 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. [10]. Poetical Books The New Testament Text: Psalm 23 Ministry: Anchored. Death is not the house but the porch, not the goal but the passage to it Many a saint has reaped more joy and knowledge when he came to die than he ever knew while he lived. Pastor John MacArthur. But do we believe it? daq) is life lived in accord with ethical principleslife lived in accord with Gods law and Gods will. This also shows us our need of giving Him His rightful place as Lord over our life. [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. 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). This magazine often included an exposition of a psalm, and in the 1866 publication Spurgeon featured Psalm 23. 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. Pray to him, then, for the blessingRestore thou me, thou Shepherd of my soul!, Some Christians overlook the blessing of sanctification, and yet to a thoroughly renewed heart this is one of the sweetest gifts of the covenant. Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. Taking the Lord's Supper in an Unworthy Manner. Not will be, like you look forward to something He will do but IS - present tense. 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. i. I remember a woman who grieved every year on anniversary of the death of her infant child. His future return for His people as the King of Glory! The New Testament Which is it? He had known feast. This is a psalm of trust and confidence in God's goodness in the present and in the future. It was never used on the sheep. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. As you survey your life, what path has God led and guided you through? '. ), 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. It helped him even in the valley of the shadow of death to know that God guided him, even through correction. I think if we could just grasp this first verse alone our hearts could then rest. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. Published by Thomas Nelson, 2005. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. 3 He restores my soul. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. He is no longer speaking about God, but is instead speaking to God. He is not just a 'good shepherd'. Lord's Day Services. 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. 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. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. People need to know this beautiful Psalm of David to reorient and renew their thinking. Major Prophets Now David wasn't saying here that 'the Lord is my Shepherd, whom I do not want'! It doesn't mean that anything outwardly has to change. Your partnership makes all we do possible. Psalm 23:3 He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007), Freedman, David Noel (Ed. (Philip Keller). He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. b. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. No, we are not talking here about genuine needs, not greed'! He leads me - Jesus our Shepherd is in the business of leading and bringing you to a place of rest. Grace Community Church 13248 Roscoe Blvd. Psalm 19. Wisdom Literature 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 will wipe every tear from their eyes. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Those that have this happiness must carry their cup upright, and see that it overflows into their poor brethrens emptier vessels. (Trapp). You can check these in your browser security settings. Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. You anoint my head with oil (v. 5b). I will fear no evil. 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. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. A great promise indeed! [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! But it is still the path that leads to righteousness. Every word in it has a wealth of meaning. David found him so, and so have we. Then from the pulpit you would hear the same person say that if you didn't do this, this, and this you could lose your salvation or the Holy Spirit would leave you etc. 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. He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.. The psalmist has been talking about God in the third person (he). The Gospels They also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals. He rammed it home so much that come lunch time we were saying 'I WILL eat my lunch', 'I will EAT my lunch.' [5] We need to make sure that we have a Middle Eastern understanding of the Shepherd. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. 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. Site by Mere. [1] As I mentioned, this is one famous Psalm. Wow! God is. The overflowing cup symbolizes the Lords generosity. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. So life here for our sheep is one of continual green pastures. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. Learn More | Livestream | Bulletin Servicios en espaol. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). (23) Seller Location . PSALM 23:1-4. Major Prophets What are these still waters but the influences and graces of his blessed Spirit? On the one hand it is not quoted in the New Testament directly concerning Jesus. 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. He was faithful in caring for his flock and never complained about his responsibilities. The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. 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!
psalm 23 commentary john macarthur