psalm 23 commentary john macarthur

i. A sheep is an object of property, not a wild animal; its owner sets great store by it, and frequently it is bought with a great price. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. So life here for our sheep is one of continual green pastures. 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. Nov. 10, 2012. Readers benefit from the coherence a single commentator provides, finding faithful, understandable, and . He leads me - Jesus our Shepherd is in the business of leading and bringing you to a place of rest. Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. Are any of us low in grace? Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Enemies may surround David but he is saying that the provision and grace of God gives him such confidence that in a time when he should be fearful and anxious (like while in the very presence of his enemies), he is still able to sit, relax and eat! 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. Its also of paramount importance to recognize that the shepherd in this psalm connotes more than someone who merely herds the flock. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Minor Prophets David found him so, and so have we. God is like a shepherd to David. The sheep may crack their skull just to ease the suffering to get rid of the brain-eating parasites. ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. What is characteristic of them? 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! He will never, ever, leave you! When I was serving in Vietnam as a chaplain, I visited soldiers in the A Shau Valley near Laos. But we need to learn to lie down. Minor Prophets GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible ii. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point The Whole Bible 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. [13] And His goodness and kindness will always follow you. He guides us and leads us along the right and true paths. [8] If you are someone that God has placed in a position of leadership or teaching then you should also remember that you are called shepherds and are called to feed the flock of God. It becomes more personal in this valley! The comforts of a living saint. But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. Johannine Writings ii. Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . There you have it. This table represents all the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. Historical Books He leads me beside still waters. What would you say of a pilgrim commissioned of God to travel up and down the earth singing a strange melody, which, when one heard, caused him to forget whatever sorrow he had? All of John's 3,000 sermons, spanning more than four decades of ministry, are available for free on the Grace to You website. 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). To be invited to a persons table was an honor. Verses 1-6. Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him. Notice the following -. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. The Saviours Cross. The MacArthur Bible Commentary treats every passage of the Old and New Testaments phrase by phrase, with hundreds of word studies and sidebars throughout. Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. This is seen in the following table: [2]. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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 Believer's Confession of Sin. Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. This sentence may be read, only goodness and mercy, for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. What are these green pastures but the Scriptures of truthalways fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? 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. The paths that the Shepherd takes us on are the righteous or 'right' paths. can be seen as comforting for it is a sign that He loves us scripture says (Heb 12:6). Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Johannine Writings 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. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. So I started checking myself - heart was still pumping, ears were attached, nose still worked, yes, everything seemed to be in order. It was spoken by someone who had been through more than we probably ever will so he knew what he was talking about! Believe with the same confidence David had. The New Testament Still, David has decided to praise God no matter what happens. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow. 27:1). I. The Gospels However, Gods care for David doesnt remove the presence of his adversaries. The Old Testament He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. [5] We need to make sure that we have a Middle Eastern understanding of the Shepherd. In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. On still other days, she found herself walking through the middle of the valley. 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. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point He had not only enough, a cup full, but more than enough, a cup which overflowed. He is. In Psalm 22 Christ is the Saviour; in Psalm 23 He is the Satisfier; in Psalm 24 He is the Sovereign. When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all he snatches a hasty meal, and away he hastens to the fight. The sheep didnt know where the green pastures and still waters were. Solid Joys. Historical Books 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. 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. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. i. Please read and believe! 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. No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. It is a psalm which has been sung by good Christians, and will be while the world stands, with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. God's eternal desire is that He would have many sons and daughters who display His glory and light within them. Psalm 23 is an explicit metaphor that displays the relationship between God and His people. I will believe that thou reignest still. The image portrays that God has the power to feed and protect David. 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! And, then, it is not the valley of death, but the valley of the shadow of death, for death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a mans pathway even for a moment. 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." The other thing to note on this point is that the entire psalm is only valid for those who truly have Jesus as their shepherd. Though not often recited in its entirety, few are unfamiliar with the famous valley of the shadow of death.. The good man has his enemies. I need to know you are well.' The New Testament The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? It talks about humanity, our experiences, and even our emotions. They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the authors heart and trust in God. Topical Series; DVD Series; Bible Series; Flash Drives; Bundles . [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! Lord's Day Services. Changes will take effect once you reload the page. But mostly, they were comforting because they were in the hands of a caring shepherd. 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. 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. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. General Epistles Joy -- You anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over. This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. The light shines the brightest in the dark. The New Testament But despite this I got on with her pretty well. It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). Grace Community Church 13248 Roscoe Blvd. ), which the WEB has updated. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. He wrote: Unlike in the west where people get multiple jobs, here the jobs are very rare. So to be Gods guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. - 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). He first spoke them for Israels sake, but he caused Isaiah to record them for our sake. 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. This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. iv. Poetical Books They probably are anxious about different things. Provision -- for Thou prepare a table before me. We seek more of God and depend on Him further when we encounter problems. And when the days of this life are over, then we shall enter into that which we can only partly imagine, for, 'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.'. 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). Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. Basically fear tactics. Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. Not to raging waves of strife, but to peaceful streams of holy love does the Spirit of God conduct the chosen sheep. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! They will lead us to places of rest and provision. The image exudes a sense of rest, comfort, and care. In all of those things he was also being pursued the goodness and loving kindness of his great Shepherd. David wrote about this in Psalm 25. Please visit: https://www.bestbiblecommentaries.comPlease visit: www.bestbiblecommentaries.comBrowse John MacArthur's bible commentaries on Amazon:https://am. This psalm is taken completely from the sheep's (David) point of view, as he talks about his shepherd. Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. Pauline Epistles 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]. (Philip Keller). 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. . To be invited to Gods table is the ultimate honor. God does not eliminate the risks and hazards but will illuminate His presence. Major Prophets The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.. 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. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. He is the source of life and a great provider. 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! David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection.

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