He had known famine. David's song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point ii. 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. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. Historical Books [3]I learnt this when I went to a John Macarthur seminar one time. 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.. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. How much would you have had in your cup? (Spurgeon), ii. The Old Testament A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. Had a very strange dream last night and you were in it. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. (wpe). He will never, ever, leave you! Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can find a family who have brought up children to being young adults and have never owned a bed. God was the one providing for him, God was the one anointing his head with oil (which was what gracious hosts did for their guests in Israel) so he knew that he would have more than enough! The Third Commandment says, You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name (Exodus 20:7). I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. 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. the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! Commentaries; Sermons. Now this place of rest is, first and foremost spiritually speaking, right in the midst of the problem. (Philip Keller). We have to learn to sit back and thank Him once again. type 23-6 in the address bar in place of 1-1 so that . A magnificent banquet is provided by a most liberal and benevolent host; who has not only the bounty to feed me, but power to protect me; and, though surrounded by enemies, I sit down to this table with confidence, knowing that I shall feast in perfect security. (Clarke). He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. Everyone loves this Psalm. With no one to turn to, we develop true and steadfast love and trust in the Lord. Anointing with oil was used for various purposes (healing, burial, expressing grief or joy). He is no longer speaking about God, but is instead speaking to God. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God (Psalm 42:1). The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. Johannine Writings Thats why Psalm 23 is crucially relevant even today. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. What is characteristic of them? 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. The Shepherds Crook. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. Thankfully I didn't go far down that track but it can plant this little seed of fear in your mind if you let it. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Luke-Acts However, the oil does not just protect the sheep from nuisance. What humanity needs now is the restoration of hope and joy. . 'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 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. ), which the WEB has updated. Nothing is outside of His control. It is true that in extreme cases the shepherd would break the leg of the lamb. In Psalm 23, we are compared to sheep who do not have a sense of direction, are hopeless, and are weak who need a Shepherd. He would tend, protect and care for his sheep. It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too. These valleys were often dark because of the shadow caused by the cliffs, and they were a favourite place for predators to hide in. This gives us amazing confidence when we need it most. 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. He is. If there was such a thing as animal school, they would be dropouts. But we need to learn to lie down. Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. 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. But the valley was always there, casting its shadow over her life. Pauline Epistles [7] Do you have this same confidence that David had? Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. John MacArthur brings you a complete Bible commentary in one volume. [9] These are the paths we should desire and actively seek. The New Testament When I was serving in Vietnam as a chaplain, I visited soldiers in the A Shau Valley near Laos. David could confidently write the second phrase because he experienced the provision and providence of God in his life. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. - 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). Poetical Books In either case, the sulhan represented an intimate table fellowship, just as a dinner table does today. i. General Epistles If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. PSALM 23:1-4. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v. 4b). The MacArthur Study Bible: new King James version - John MacArthur. The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. (Kidner). Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Are any of us low in grace? We must surrender our desires and follow where He leads no matter the cost. The Middle Eastern shepherds in Israel didn't drive their sheep their sheep followed them. The Old Testament Liberated for Life : Galatians - a Bible Commentary for Laymen by John F. MacArthur and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. Poetical Books Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 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. It is great advice but more than likely it is the most highlighted passage because people are in desperate need to remember it! Psalm's 22, 23 and 24 give different glimpses of this wonderful Shepherd. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. I have called you by your name. 27:1). He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. 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. The noteworthiness of Psalm 23 was not lost on Spurgeon. The sheep didnt know where the green pastures and still waters were. Pauline Epistles It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the lows of running for his life and hiding in caves from Saul. The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. The psalmist doesnt speak of going into the valley, as if it were a box canyon or a final destination. If things are tough, remember this verse. He leads me. He was refreshed by a head anointed with oil; his cup was over-filled. 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. The epistle to the Hebrews is a study in contrast, between the imperfect and incomplete provisions of the Old Covenant, given under Moses, and the infinitely better provisions of the New Covenant offered by the perfect High-Priest, God's only Son and the Messiah, Jesus Christ. [1] As I mentioned, this is one famous Psalm. 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 What are these green pastures but the Scriptures of truthalways fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? It isnt his destination or dwelling place. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! Minor Prophets iii. The Whole Bible Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. I need to know you are well.' He is the source of life and a great provider. How marvellous it is that weak, fearful people can be given such confidence through a simple trust in the ability of their shepherd! 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. And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. 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. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). 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. It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. Psalm 23 mainly illustrates God as a caring shepherd. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word | . Topical Series; DVD Series; Bible Series; Flash Drives; Bundles . To be invited to a persons table was an honor. Psalm 19. Though not often recited in its entirety, few are unfamiliar with the famous valley of the shadow of death.. c. You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over: Despite the dangers about and the presence of enemies, David enjoyed the richness of his hosts goodness. But it is alluded to such as in Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water." But how does God do this? The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! 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. 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! [4]. 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. But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. ), Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000), Mounce, William D., (ed. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. Historical Books John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. 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.. Near death, the saint still calmly walks he does not need to quicken his pace in alarm or panic. 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). Pastor John MacArthur. That's the animal God choose which best represents you! The shepherd image appears not only as part of the Old Testament but as a vital part of the New Testament as well. [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. (1.) A great promise indeed! It helped him even in the valley of the shadow of death to know that God guided him, even through correction. But observe: Thou preparest a table, just as a servant does when she unfolds the damask cloth and displays the ornaments of the feast on an ordinary peaceful occasion. She is a lady that is unfortunately into the New Age and has spirit guides etc She doesn't agree with what I believe nor do I agree with her beliefs. God is his shepherd and his Goda God all-sufficient to all intents and purposes. Now David wasn't saying here that 'the Lord is my Shepherd, whom I do not want'! The comforts of a living saint. Be assured! What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. You will have much more pressing concerns. My cup runs over. The writer of Psalm 23 makes an analogy between God and the shepherd. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Pastor John MacArthur. And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. The mercy here comes from the Hebrew word Hesed which depicts Gods covenant faithfulness. So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. He guides us and leads us along the right and true paths. Surely goodness (Hebrew: tob) and loving kindness (Hebrew: hesed) shall follow me all the days of my life (v. 6a). John is also president and featured teacher with Grace to You. With joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation.