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. And I used to always think 'Well! (12) I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.' the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! Here David pictures God as a gracious host who provides all that he needs even in times of apparent difficulty. 1TheLordis my shepherd; I shall not want. 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. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD (Heb 5:12-14) [8]. The great care that God takes of believers. 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). the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). can be seen as comforting for it is a sign that He loves us scripture says (Heb 12:6). It is as sure as the promise of the God of truth can make it; and we know whom we have believed. What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms! There is some debate among commentators as to whether David had the idea of two separate instruments (the rod and the staff) or one instrument used two ways. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. Please read and believe! Someone said they are the most stupid animal on the face of the earth. 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. WebLiberated 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. b. The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me. WebView all of our resources on the biblical book of Psalms. What Are the Psalms? The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.. 2. David wrote about this in Psalm 25. Psalm's 22, 23 and 24 give different glimpses of this wonderful Shepherd. I will believe that thou reignest still. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. [13] And His goodness and kindness will always follow you. No creature will lose itself sooner than a sheep, so apt is it to go astray, and then so unapt to find the way back. Well, having said that I should say that you will be free from fear to the degree that you know He is with you - rain, hail and shine. Psalm 22 speaks of the past; Psalm 23 speaks of the present; and Psalm 24 speaks of the future. WebThe backdrop for the Psalms is twofold: 1) the acts of God in creation and history, and 2) the history of Israel. To be invited to the Kings table was a great honor. So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! He had said (v. 1), I shall not want; but now he speaks more positively, more comprehensively: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. 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. 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.. In the Old Testament world, to eat and drink at someones table created a bond of mutual loyalty, and could be the culminated token of a covenant. a. How would you describe sheep? People need comfort and encouragement. The gospel is called the rod of Christ's strength (Ps 110 2), and there is enough in that to comfort the saints when they come to die, and underneath them are the everlasting arms. '. Those that would be satisfied with the fatness of God's house must keep close to the duties of it. If there is a wire fence, they'll get caught in it. Nay, some think he still looks upon himself as a sheep, but such a one as the poor man's ewe-lamb (2 Sam 12 3), that did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom; not only thus nobly, but thus tenderly, are the children of God looked after. You anoint my head with oil. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. Plentiful provision is made for their bodies, for their souls, for the life that now is and for that which is to come. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. When the psalmist says that God has anointed his head with oil, he means that God has marked him as specialhas set him apart for a significant role. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. We can imagine various meanings for the valley of the shadow of death.. WebPsalm 23:4. It has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Do we not gain comfort from the fact that it is Almighty God who is our Shepherd? Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) You are mine. They believed that something of the persons identity was tied up in the namethat the name expressed something of the persons essential character. But whether our fears are irrational or based on very real circumstances, our need to remember the Lord is the same. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. The New Testament and Wycliffe Bible commentary - This version has no time restriction but only has the NT. God Leads (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). i. The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. It works. He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock. The anointing of oil to the sheep isnt just a meaningless ritual. 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. However, the oil does not just protect the sheep from nuisance. David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. He had not only enough, a cup full, but more than enough, a cup which overflowed. Now David wasn't saying here that 'the Lord is my Shepherd, whom I do not want'! You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. One where 'the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. iii. A great promise indeed! We often try to work things out in our little minds and end up working ourselves into a place of nervous exhaustion! The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. No matter his present environment, David could look to the fact of Gods shepherd-like presence and know, You are with me and I will fear no evil.. Site by Mere. (3.) Here is. For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. Web29 MacArthur Bible New Testament Commentary - Almost Complete Set + Handbook + 1 Sold by brianmash | Ends on 2023-02-28 23:45:20 . 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. He remembered what need they had of a shepherd, and what a kindness it was to them to have one that was skilful and faithful; he once ventured his life to rescue a lamb. What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. Now, if you let it and you tended to be a little superstitious, your mind could ponder, and wander, on that a bit. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. The word PSALM literally means praise and it features works of various characters the majority of which were written by David. What is characteristic of them? But do we believe it? 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. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. WebMark 9-16 MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Volume 6 : Macarthur, John: Amazon.pl: Ksiki. We are so invited and not just occasionally but foreverthe honor that exceeds all other honors. But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. Bible History: Old Testament by Alfred Edersheim - Hebrew It is milk for babes, pasture for sheep, never barren, never eaten bare, never parched, but always a green pasture for faith to feed in. Many of David's psalms are full of complaints, but this is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God's great goodness and dependence upon him. This is the joy of the Christian! Thank God for such times! The psalmist has been talking about God in the third person (he). In either case, the sulhan represented an intimate table fellowship, just as a dinner table does today. He is the source of life and a great provider. WebIt [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. 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 Guess I had put my eyes on the problem too much! 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. They will not lie down if they are afraid. Are we blessed with the green pastures of the ordinances? 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). He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. c. I will fear no evil: Despite every dark association with the idea of the valley of the shadow of death, David could resolutely say this because he was under the care of the LORD his shepherd. He experiences the benefit of God's presence with him and care of him now, and therefore expects the benefit of them when he most needs it. iv. (Kidner). When we get tired we take a rest. Most importantly, I understood that God is with us in life and in deathand so I can truly say that I was not frightened. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. It is a Psalm of but 6 verses but countless sermons and entire books have been written on it. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. His table was not spread with any thing that came next to hand, but prepared, and prepared before him. Its evident in this verse how David recognizes Gods lordship over his life. Many people were praying for me. John MacArthur. Oh! His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow. He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. 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! It has comforted the noble host of the poor. 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. Psalm 23 distinctively stands out compared to other chapters in the Book of Psalms and receives a larger magnitude of respect. [1] It is a Psalm that encompasses our live here and even extends into eternity future. Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. I think if we could just grasp this first verse alone our hearts could then rest. The overflowing cup symbolizes the Lords generosity. But the valley was always there, casting its shadow over her life. It isnt his destination or dwelling place. We are saved by hope, and that hope will not make us ashamed, because it is well grounded. You can check these in your browser security settings. The idea that the LORD is a shepherd to His people is also prevalent throughout the Bible. It makes sense. They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. Note the pronoun change in this verse. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! Other than the president and family, only a handful of people have been invited to make the White House their homeand then only for a few years. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. For I am Yahweh your God, I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 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 wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! For other references to the shadow of death, see Jeremiah 2:6 and Job 10:21-22. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. What confidence for this life this should give us as we believe it in faith! 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. So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. (1.) i. ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. 'Blessed be the day on which that Psalm was born! David had it right in placing his trust in the one true God who controls all things. 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. And yet through it all he could look back and write 'the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want'. To be invited to a persons table was an honor. Brief but well done notes 1,275 ratings Gods motivations for treating His people rightly stem from the perfection and goodness of His nature. i. And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. 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. 2. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 45 ratings The MacArthur study Bible - John MacArthur. Published by Thomas Nelson, 2005. He understood the special relationship and care a shepherd has with the sheep. Those that have this happiness must carry their cup upright, and see that it overflows into their poor brethrens emptier vessels. (Trapp). This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. Get caught in it that it overflows into their poor brethrens emptier vessels into the flood can restore. Word Psalm literally means praise and it features works of various characters the majority of were. Praise and it features works of various characters the majority of which were written psalm 23 commentary john macarthur. Had the necessities but also led His sheep have been written on it is my,... 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