John Piper Sep 8, 1980 Arno C Gaebelin said (with some small modifications): A good way to read this Psalm is by asking the question, 'What shall I not want?' It doesn't mean that anything outwardly has to change. Gods presence enables David to feast in perfect security. 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. It is a psalm written by David who grew up as a shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. There was no fear involved. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. Bible Text Commentaries by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. John and his wife, Patricia, live in Southern California and have four married children: Matt, Marcy, Mark, and Melinda. Articles Messages Books Podcasts Filter Resources By Ask Pastor John. When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. Prophets Oh! He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. The analogy of a king as a shepherd is common in ancient times and is not unusual. A servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the son abideth ever. 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 forever. There you have it. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. They know that it will be ok. So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. That's the animal God choose which best represents you! When the sheep are hungry or are anxious about food, they cant lie down peacefully. The word hesed also has a variety of meanings kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. (Whew!) Pentateuch The Middle Eastern shepherds in Israel didn't drive their sheep their sheep followed them. 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. 1 Samuel 17:35), and the latter for control since discipline is security., iii. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. John MacArthur: The Lord Is My Salvation 92,638 views Jun 16, 2017 1.3K Dislike Share Save Ligonier Ministries 448K subscribers "The Lord is my light and my salvation" (Ps. Psalm 23 mainly illustrates God as a caring shepherd. It may portray the straying sheep brought back. . Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. But how does God do this? However, he was confident that God is with him all the time. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God (Psalm 42:1). It was spoken by someone who had been through more than we probably ever will so he knew what he was talking about! Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. You anoint my head with oil; Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. John Piper Sep 1, 1980. Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. But the valley was always there, casting its shadow over her life. 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. The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979-1988), Brown, Francis; Driver, S.R. Can you say that about your life? The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me. "It [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Be assured! What great confidence! Luke-Acts You can find a family who have brought up children to being young adults and have never owned a bed. in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. He had been chased and pursued as he ran from his enemies who sought to take his life. Luke-Acts This magazine often included an exposition of a psalm, and in the 1866 publication Spurgeon featured Psalm 23. 3 He restores my soul. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. Psalm 23 distinctively stands out compared to other chapters in the Book of Psalms and receives a larger magnitude of respect. A number of our soldiers died there. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. In this context, it suggests blessings that will help the psalmist. Johannine Writings What is also interesting, even before we get into the actual verses, is that this Psalm is part two of what we could call a Messianic trilogy. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! It is for 'His name's sake' that He does this. You are not your own but were bought with a price! i. I had good medical care. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. However, many scholars believed David wrote it during his kingship (around 1000 BC to 993 BC). In describing the Lord as a shepherd, David wrote out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. Follow John MacArthur: Contact Information: Phone: 800-55-GRACE Fax: 661-295-5871 Email: [email protected] . Included in the "better" provisions are: a better hope . The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms! Psalm 107. They probably are anxious about different things. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. Your partnership makes all we do possible. 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! Do we not gain comfort from the fact that it is Almighty God who is our Shepherd? i. 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. Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Psalm 23 Commentary: The Lord Is My Shepherd Explained When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, Our God does not withhold anything good from His flock. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the authors heart and trust in God. But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! With joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). Why is Psalm 23 one of the most well-known Psalms and the favorite biblical passage of many? Was it where you thought you would go? 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. Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. 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! No, press on knowing that if there are shadows, there must be light around the corner causing them! There is no fear of biting the bare ground where the grass is long enough for the flock to lie down in it. ii. What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. Psalms Commentaries & Sermons | Precept Austin Guess I had put my eyes on the problem too much! Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! So I started checking myself - heart was still pumping, ears were attached, nose still worked, yes, everything seemed to be in order. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. How would you describe sheep? In New Zealand (where I live) all of our farms and fields seem to be 'green pastures' and the sheep tend to munch all day! The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. He doesn't stop, and he doesn't give up hope. Countless experts also argued that David wrote it during the later years of his kingship because of its nostalgic and tranquil tone. We are so invited and not just occasionally but foreverthe honor that exceeds all other honors. Forever. Scripture: Psalm 23. 'Was it just a silly dream or something more spiritual?' Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 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! 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. I have called you by your name. Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. But do we believe it? the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! 'What happened exactly to me in the dream?' Psalms 23 - Dr. Constable's Expository Notes - Bible Commentaries When we get tired we take a rest. David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.. He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock. can be seen as comforting for it is a sign that He loves us scripture says (Heb 12:6). There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. 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! 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) i. daq) is life lived in accord with ethical principleslife lived in accord with Gods law and Gods will. i. These valleys were often dark because of the shadow caused by the cliffs, and they were a favourite place for predators to hide in. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a mans pathway even for a moment. Comfort -- for your rod and Thy staff comfort me. 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. I remember a woman who grieved every year on anniversary of the death of her infant child. Pests would crawl through the ear canal of an unoiled sheep and lay in its brain. But Jesus is the good Shepherd. What humanity needs now is the restoration of hope and joy. Commentaries; Sermons. Poetical Books It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. 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. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. On still other days, she found herself walking through the middle of the valley. When I was serving in Vietnam as a chaplain, I visited soldiers in the A Shau Valley near Laos. The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. To experience the care and guidance of God as a shepherd, we must identify ourselves as His sheep. The New Testament In my experience I have never seen a visible manifestation of God going before me at a fork in the road. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. Anointing with oil was used for various purposes (healing, burial, expressing grief or joy). As someone who worked as a shepherd before, David knew that shepherds live with their flock and are everything to it: guide, protector, and source of provision. It implies that the Lord is the only thing needed in life and that Gods shepherding care provides all of our necessities. type 23-6 in the address bar in place of 1-1 so that . You can check these in your browser security settings. Major Prophets Sep 8, 1980. ii. God as our shepherd not only leads but restores as well. The Gospels Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. 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. They will not lie down if they are afraid. They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. This psalm is taken completely from the sheep's (David) point of view, as he talks about his shepherd. 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. I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. So life here for our sheep is one of continual green pastures. In light of all these truths, we must respond promptly. Just like the sheep, its difficult for us to be at rest when life throws a lot of problems. This is the joy of the Christian! I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Lie down in green pastures quiet waters - But thank Jesus our great Shepherd that He does bring us to green pastures and quiet waters. 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.