Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. He had not only enough, a cup full, but more than enough, a cup which overflowed. Now this place of rest is, first and foremost spiritually speaking, right in the midst of the problem. They also enjoy the enthusiastic company of their fifteen grandchildren. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; Lets look at the meaning and significance of each verse written in Psalm 23. The emphasis of his pulpit ministry is the careful study and verse-by-verse exposition of the Bible, with special attention devoted to the historical and grammatical background behind each passage. Notably, David recognized that under the shepherds leading, he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The psalmist has been talking about God in the third person (he). It is a Psalm of life, rest and peace. It wasn't a nice dream at all '. He is utterly trustworthy. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory. Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year. Are any of us low in grace? The subsequent trips through the valley become progressively easier as trust increases. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. He was refreshed by a head anointed with oil; his cup was over-filled. However, many scholars believed David wrote it during his kingship (around 1000 BC to 993 BC). 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. 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). And I will dwell in the house of the LORD But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Kansas City, Missouri 64118, 2017 The Spurgeon Center and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Sometimes those paths lead straight through the valley of the shadow of death. That is some revelation! I think if we could just grasp this first verse alone our hearts could then rest. Oh! See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. Welcome to FaithGiant, where you can find everything you need to live a life of faith, hope, and love. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Comfort -- for your rod and Thy staff comfort me. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. Lord's Day Services. 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. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. Here the second allegory begins. (Proverbs 10:3). It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point God is. He wrote: Unlike in the west where people get multiple jobs, here the jobs are very rare. The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! And I used to always think 'Well! That symmetric bracketing was a literary device intended to focus attention on the middle phrase, for you are with me. Gods saving presence is the focal point of this psalm. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. But he also knew, through many highs and lows, throughout his life, that he too was but a sheep with a far greater Shepherd. Surely goodness (Hebrew: tob) and loving kindness (Hebrew: hesed) shall follow me all the days of my life (v. 6a). We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. Articles Messages Books Podcasts Filter Resources By Ask Pastor John. . The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. 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. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. (Spurgeon). 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). 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. He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. Most importantly, I understood that God is with us in life and in deathand so I can truly say that I was not frightened. And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal! Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. Rest -- for He makes me to lie down in green pastures. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. a. 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. Poetical Books Pests would crawl through the ear canal of an unoiled sheep and lay in its brain. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; (1 Pet 5:1-4, Acts The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. So to be Gods guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. Nothing is outside of His control. Psalms 23 - Dr. Constable's Expository Notes - Bible Commentaries 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. Sure enough, someone guessed pretty quickly that it would be Psalm 23. Davids song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. Everything will be ok. 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. Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point Share. This feeding is symbolic of being fed spiritually with the word of God. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. (23) Seller Location . He is the source of life and a great provider. 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 Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. How would you describe sheep? By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol | Desiring God It means to actively pursue, to chase, and normally in a negative sense as when Pharaoh chased Israel at the exodus. a. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. 'Do I need to be extra careful?' These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. 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. April 17, 2011. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' Major Prophets A great promise indeed! (Heb 5:12-14) [8]. You can also change some of your preferences. Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. God does not eliminate the risks and hazards but will illuminate His presence. Obviously this doesn't mean that the track that the shepherd takes is always an easy one. Though not often recited in its entirety, few are unfamiliar with the famous valley of the shadow of death.. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. . Published by Thomas Nelson, 2005. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. You will have much more pressing concerns. Play. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. i. Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. 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.. Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. But he also knew something else. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006-2009), VanGemeren, Willem A. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). b. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: This line from the psalm and the psalm as a whole has proven itself precious to many a dying saint through the ages. Now, if you let it and you tended to be a little superstitious, your mind could ponder, and wander, on that a bit. Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey They will lead us to places of rest and provision. If you are truly one of His sheep (evidenced by hearing his voice and following His ways) then this verse is your verse as well! So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! A number of our soldiers died there. Psalm 23 distinctively stands out compared to other chapters in the Book of Psalms and receives a larger magnitude of respect. The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol Summer Psalms. 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. That is what God desires to work into your life. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. 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. General Epistles The sense of this verse then is that, because God is loving and kind, his people can expect God to provide blessings throughout life. Sermons from the Book of Psalms | Grace to You - SermonAudio My cup runs over (Hebrew: rewayah) (v. 5c). He is that interested in each of His sheep! Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Bible Introductions - Hebrews by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. Prophets Pauline Epistles He leads me beside still waters. 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! A sheep unoiled is an easy target for the infestations of such pests. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. 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. David knew all about this. [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! Although God, by his benefits, gently allures us to himself, as it were by a taste of his fatherly sweetness, yet there is nothing into which we more easily fall than into a forgetfulness of him, when we are in the enjoyment of peace and comfort. the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. He got us to say the sentence emphasizing each word. Forever. The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. Johannine Writings He would tend, protect and care for his sheep. He leads me. Minor Prophets 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. The little child out at sea in the storm is not frightened like all the other passengers on board the vessel, it sleeps in its mothers bosom; it is enough for it that its mother is with it; and it should be enough for the believer to know that Christ is with him Thy rod and thy staff, by which you govern and rule your flock, the ensigns of your sovereignty and of your gracious carethey comfort me. This line is especially suggestive when we read this psalm with an eye toward Jesus, the Great Shepherd. 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. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. David claimed that the same God who faithfully rescued the Israelites from Egypt and provided guidance and provision in the wilderness is the same faithful God he served. They will not lie down when there is conflict among the sheep. 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 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey 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. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. 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. Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. This is a psalm of trust and confidence in God's goodness in the present and in the future. Psalm 23 is an explicit metaphor that displays the relationship between God and His people. Lie down in green pastures quiet waters - But thank Jesus our great Shepherd that He does bring us to green pastures and quiet waters. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. He is a popular conference speaker and the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. If God is our shepherd then we must obey Him wholeheartedly. You anoint my head with oil; There is something about people who truly know their God. I have called you by your name. Fortunately, I had insurance that would allow my family to weather the storm financially. Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me. John MacArthur (b. You anoint my head with oil (v. 5b). These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck Goodness and mercy follow him alwaysall the days of his life the black days as well as the bright days, the days of fasting as well as the days of feasting, the dreary days of winter as well as the bright days of summer. Sometimes it goes through the dark valley as the next verse indicates.