Psalm 23 Commentary: The Lord Is My Shepherd Explained Pauline Epistles 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 Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. You anoint my head with oil; THE LORD AS SHEPHERD 1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. [4] I read in a John Hunter book that as well as being able to say 'The Lord is my shepherd' we should be able to say 'The shepherd is my Lord.' Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. i. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Scripture: Psalm 23. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. Believe with the same confidence David had. Psalms 23. (Philip Keller). Minor Prophets We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. [7], 5001 North Oak Trafficway Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! Do you? ), Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. 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! Verses 1-6. They also enjoy the enthusiastic company of their fifteen grandchildren. The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Had a very strange dream last night and you were in it. Sermon. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. How much would you have had in your cup? (Spurgeon), ii. God's Testimony to the Scriptures. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, General Epistles Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.. 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. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? - 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 Gospels You can check these in your browser security settings. Regardless of destitution, famine, storms, and other uncertainties, Gods flock is well-provided for in all seasons. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. It's not for the goats. Davids song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. 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. 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! 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. Luke-Acts Companionship -- for you are with me. It helped him even in the valley of the shadow of death to know that God guided him, even through correction. b) John MacArthur; MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Ephesians 5:18 - "Be filled" translates the present passive imperative of "pleroo", and is more literally rendered as "be being kept filled." We are "indwelt" by the Holy Spirit at the moment of justification (professing our faith in Christ). ISBN 10: 0785250662 ISBN 13: . Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New . However, the oil does not just protect the sheep from nuisance. 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. To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. . In describing the Lord as a shepherd, David wrote out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. Luke-Acts 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 New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. In that culture, people considered a persons name to be more than a simple label to identify that person. I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. Pentateuch 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. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. The image exudes a sense of rest, comfort, and care. When faced with destitution, famine, pressures, financial difficulty, and depression, its hard to remain calm and tranquil. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. You will have much more pressing concerns. "It [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. If there was such a thing as animal school, they would be dropouts. of Scripture. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLordforever. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. 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. Follow John MacArthur: Contact Information: Phone: 800-55-GRACE Fax: 661-295-5871 Email: [email protected] . So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. 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). But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. (1.) This table represents all the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.' Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. Pentateuch Notice however that the Psalmist says he 'walks through' this valley. [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . 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 this context, it suggests blessings that will help the psalmist. There was no fear involved. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. Site by Mere. The idea that the LORD is a shepherd to His people is also prevalent throughout the Bible. range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed 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. This sentence may be read, only goodness and mercy, for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. i. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. (13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 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! Lets look at the meaning and significance of each verse written in Psalm 23. Behold just such a one! The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. (Spurgeon), iii. [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. That is some revelation! 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. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. I think if we could just grasp this first verse alone our hearts could then rest. The Old Testament 1939) is a Calvinist theologian, author, editor, and teacher. Passwords should have at least 6 characters. But the shepherds here use dogs and fences to drive and control the sheep. David wrote this while remembering his fearful experiences. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. One can rightly say that we face only the shadow of death because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place. Cookie Notice: That was a question that was once sent to me. The noteworthiness of Psalm 23 was not lost on Spurgeon. The book of Psalms is so unique because it focuses on the character of God. Is - Can you say that? Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. Gods motivations for treating His people rightly stem from the perfection and goodness of His nature. In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the author's heart and trust in God. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. They have been comforted, strengthened, and warmed by the thought that the LORD would shepherd them through the valley of the shadow of death. Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. It leads to burn out, break downs and depression. David knew all about this. In Psalm 23, God has answered this prayer God has led him in paths of righteousness. Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. They know that it will be ok.
psalm 23 commentary john macarthur