The word hesed also has a variety of meanings kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. 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 The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. [3.] (5.) God's eternal desire is that He would have many sons and daughters who display His glory and light within them. Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him. They also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals. God is like a shepherd to David. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. You are not your own but were bought with a price! This line is especially suggestive when we read this psalm with an eye toward Jesus, the Great Shepherd. It is the valley of the shadow, deep indeed, and dark, and dirty; but the valleys are fruitful, and so is death itself fruitful of comforts to God's people. 1. This is seen in the following table: [2]. He was faithful in caring for his flock and never complained about his responsibilities. Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. He had known famine. (Proverbs 10:3). Do we not gain comfort from the fact that it is Almighty God who is our Shepherd? This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. With joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. 'What happened exactly to me in the dream?' [6]. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. As the shepherd led the sheep from oasis to oasis, this sometimes meant passing through narrow valleys that had steep cliff faces on each side. The continuance of it: It shall follow me all my life long, even to the last; for whom God loves he loves to the end. Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. When God anoints us with His oil, He guards us against the parasites of this world that seek to destroy us. The overflowing cup symbolizes the Lords generosity. (3.) It is a Psalm of life, rest and peace. We have to learn to sit back and thank Him once again. The divine guidance they are under is stripped of its metaphor (v. 3): He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, in the way of my duty; in that he instructs me by his word and directs me by conscience and providence. 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. WebIs an okay to good Bible commentary but sometimes John MacArthur explains some things which seems to be that he has never studied the topic of the verse and WebJohn Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (born June 19, 1939) is an American Protestant pastor and author known for his internationally syndicated Christian teaching radio and television program Grace to You. Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. Was it where you thought you would go? The hosts care and concern doesnt eliminate the presence of my enemies but enables the experience of Gods goodness and bounty even in their midst. Whose soever sins ye remit. Konto i listy Zwroty i zamwienia. David knew all about this. The first time through the dark valley is always scary. Is it Messianic? That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. ), Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. I think if we could just grasp this first verse alone our hearts could then rest. WebInteractive Bible study with John Piper. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. 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. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. The book of Psalms is so unique because it focuses on the character of God. He had known feast. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. 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. Countless experts also argued that David wrote it during the later years of his kingship because of its nostalgic and tranquil tone. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. God longs to bless and prosper His people. Yea, though I walk, as if the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly walked with God. Pests would crawl through the ear canal of an unoiled sheep and lay in its brain. The intimate portrayal of God as a shepherd is what makes Psalm 23 unique and unforgettable. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. Every word in it has a wealth of meaning. Koszyk Menu. Psalm 23 mainly illustrates God as a caring shepherd. The greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who relishes that only in it which pleases the senses; but to a godly man, who tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, and by faith relishes that, though he has but little of the world, it is a green pasture, Ps 37 16; Prov 15 16, 17. It included the most highlighted passage in the Bible which turned out to be this passage: Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Likewise, we also need God to guide us to the right places and opportunities. 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. It has not made the dying Christian slave freer than his masterNor is its work done. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. 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. There is no if nor but, nor even I hope so; but he says, The Lord is my shepherd. (Charles Spurgeon). No, we are not talking here about genuine needs, not greed'! Our lives should be a testimony to God Himself. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. It is a walk through it; they shall not be lost in this valley, but get safely to the mountain of spices on the other side of it. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. David found him so, and so have we. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. 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! Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.. 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! The sheep didnt know where the green pastures and still waters were. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. It is for His name's sake and His glory that this is done! The great confidence which believers have in God: "If the Lord is my shepherd, my feeder, I may conclude I shall not want any thing that is really necessary and good for me." WebPsalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. This is a psalm of trust and confidence in Gods goodness in the present and in the future. 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. It is 'The LORD' who is his shepherd! If God's goodness to us be like the morning light, which shines more and more to the perfect day, let not ours to him be like the morning cloud and the early dew that passeth away. It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. 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. 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. To experience the care and guidance of God as a shepherd, we must identify ourselves as His sheep. 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. God shines His light into our lives. (Heb 5:12-14) [8]. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. What confidence for this life this should give us as we believe it in faith! Another such honor would be an invitation for dinner at the White Housepreferably dinner with the President and a small group of his key people although a large state dinner would also be interesting. Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. Sproul shared how the Lord used Psalm 23 to bring him daily comfort as he dealt with various health challenges. Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me. Depression and other illnesses can enshroud us in darkness and threaten us with death. He is currently The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.. 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). 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. (2.) Wow! 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. God's ordinances are the green pastures in which food is provided for all believers; the word of life is the nourishment of the new man. So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. 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). It's not for the goats. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. (5) Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. The way of the righteous. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. It's not somewhere that you set up camp thinking that is all you will ever know. can be seen as comforting for it is a sign that He loves us scripture says (Heb 12:6). Ok, I'm being naughty. Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. 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. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. With this verse, he begins to use the second person (you and your). Peace -- for He leads me beside the still waters. He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. 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. Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. On other days, she was on the other side. Kidner notes: The rod (a cudgel worn at the belt) and staff (to walk with, and to round up the flock) were the shepherds weapon and implement: the former for defence (cf. WebPastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. WebVerses 1-7. 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. We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. It was spoken by someone who had been through more than we probably ever will so he knew what he was talking about! To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. Behold just such a one! A shepherd would prepare a table for his sheep by scouting ahead to find good pastureland free from predators and poisonous plants. David had it right in placing his trust in the one true God who controls all things. They know that through all things, Jesus is a good shepherd. God saved (Israel) for his names sake, that he might make his mighty power known (Psalm 106:8). They are times, as the Psalm says, when He restores your soul spiritually. We may request cookies to be set on your device. 5 Things You Should Know about the ESV Bible Translation. This name is 'Yahweh', the sovereign, almighty, delivering 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. I will believe that thou reignest still. Can you say that about your life? I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because The Lord is my shepherd. The wicked always want, but the righteous never; a sinners heart is far from satisfaction, but a gracious spirit dwells in a palace of content.[2]. WebThe MacArthur Bible Studies provide intriguing examinations of the whole of Scripture. But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! 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. If David penned this psalm before his coming to the crown, though destined to it, he had as much reason to fear wanting as any man. 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. Its authors are Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. The light shines the brightest in the dark. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. 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. Proud member Ethan Collins November 17, 2020, Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Had a very strange dream last night and you were in it. 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. and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). But, what makes it so compelling? THE LORD AS SHEPHERD 1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Web450K subscribers In early 2016, R.C. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. WebMark 9-16 MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Volume 6 : Macarthur, John: Amazon.pl: Ksiki. He does not say there shall not be any evil; he had got beyond even that high assurance, and knew that Jesus had put all evil away; but I will fear no evil; not even the Evil One himself; I will not dread the last enemy, I will look upon him as a conquered foe, an enemy to be destroyed, For thou art with me. The word through is important. Who display his glory that will psalm 23 commentary john macarthur fade away aware of Gods servant always conflict, but always a table! Eat ; this is done, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, love! Shepherd also how he loved the sheep didnt know where the green pastures still. Your shepherd right now he begins to use the second person ( you and your ) different... Our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details illustrates God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet verse! Even I hope so ; but he says, when he restores my soul death in! 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