The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. 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. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. Pentateuch "It [ Psalm 23] has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand.' There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. [5] We need to make sure that we have a Middle Eastern understanding of the Shepherd. Pests would crawl through the ear canal of an unoiled sheep and lay in its brain. I started off by saying that I wanted to have a look at what is probably the most popular chapter in the entire Old Testament. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. I live in New Zealand, and yes, I know, we have more sheep than people! David wrote this while remembering his fearful experiences. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website. Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. But it is there that you learn that though you may not be able to see the shepherd as well as normal, He can see you and is still protecting you! He had known feast. When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms! He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! Johannine Writings Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock. It is 'The LORD' who is his shepherd! (wpe). They have been comforted, strengthened, and warmed by the thought that the LORD would shepherd them through the valley of the shadow of death. 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 song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. Will He never leave me or will something I do cause Him to leave?' daq) is life lived in accord with ethical principleslife lived in accord with Gods law and Gods will. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page. John Piper Sep 1, 1980. Behold just such a one! David's song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. 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]. 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.. Why is Psalm 23 one of the most well-known Psalms and the favorite biblical passage of many? The Gospels b. Anderson, A.A., The New Century Bible Commentary: Psalms 1-72 (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1972), Broyles, Craig C., New International Biblical Commentary: Psalms (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1999, Brueggemann, Walter, The Message of the Psalms A Theological Commentary (Minneapolis: Augsburg Press, 1984), Clifford, Richard J., Abingdon Old Testament Commentaries: Psalms 1-72 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2002), Craigie, Peter C., Word Biblical Commentary, Psalms 1-50, Vol. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point In the ancient Near East, the shepherd was a royal metaphor. He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. People need comfort and encouragement. That was his role growing up. No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time Psalm 23 was written. It is for His name's sake and His glory that this is done! John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Master's University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. God is the one who looks after our lives. So to be Gods guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. ISBN 10: 0785250662 ISBN 13: . Verse 1. Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. In light of all these truths, we must respond promptly. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). Poetical Books The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. They know that through all things, Jesus is a good shepherd. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me [7] This was brought home to me this week in an email from a Kenyan Pastor. Psalm 23 Bible Study - Jesus our Great Shepherd! How marvellous it is that weak, fearful people can be given such confidence through a simple trust in the ability of their shepherd! Guess I had put my eyes on the problem too much! Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. Pastor John MacArthur. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. [7], 5001 North Oak Trafficway This is seen in the following table: [2]. God as our shepherd not only leads but restores as well. There you have it. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. 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! I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. You prepare a table before me: Without departing from the previous picture of the valley of the shadow of death, David envisioned the provision and goodness given by the LORD as a host, inviting David to a rich table prepared for him. If we were without enemies, we might fear that we were not the friends of God, for the friendship of the world is enmity to GodThou preparest a table Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door, and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. In terms of how it is loved, look at how one old theologian from the 1800's spoke of it. It may portray the straying sheep brought back. Kansas City, Missouri 64118, 2017 The Spurgeon Center and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Later, rabbis often designated it "The Book of Praises." . Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry. It is great advice but more than likely it is the most highlighted passage because people are in desperate need to remember it! (Philip Keller). It has comforted the noble host of the poor. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. It was spoken by someone who had been through more than we probably ever will so he knew what he was talking about! If there was such a thing as animal school, they would be dropouts. 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 wanted to depict the marvelous work of God in his life and encourage many believers with his testimony. a. Interactive Bible study with John Piper. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, Psalm 2 Bible Study The Current Rebellion & The Coming King, Psalm 8 Bible Study The wonder of God and the second man, Psalm 16 Part 1: Testing's in the journey through life and death, Psalm 16 Part 2 - Hope in the journey through life and death, Psalm 22 Part 1 - Prophecy of the crucifixion and the wrath of man. ii. God shines His light into our lives. for his names sake (v. 3c). 4Yea, 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. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). So out of the blue she emailed a few weeks back asking: 'All ok with you? Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). Poetical Books But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. My cup runs over (Hebrew: rewayah) (v. 5c). What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. 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. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. The mercy here comes from the Hebrew word Hesed which depicts Gods covenant faithfulness. It was never used on the sheep. There is something about people who truly know their God. iii. The instruments used by the shepherd comforted David. The MacArthur Bible Commentary treats every passage of the Old and New Testaments phrase by phrase, with hundreds of word studies and sidebars throughout. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: The hosts care brought the goodness and mercy of God to David, and he lived in the faithful expectation of it continuing all the days of his life. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. Excellent for: personal and family devotions pastoral study preparing Sunday-school lessons using with a small group simply readingeach volume draws you in There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' The image exudes a sense of rest, comfort, and care. As you survey your life, what path has God led and guided you through? King David, who wrote this Psalm, obviously knew all about being a shepherd. and flame will not scorch you. 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! It has comforted the noble host of the poor. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point The Old Testament 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. Gods shepherding care from the previous verse brought restoration to Davids soul. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. The Old Testament 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.'. 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. Wisdom Literature Ok, I'm being naughty. He is in control. Prophets [10] We have another source of confidence in our shepherd Jesus that even David didn't have when he wrote this psalm 3000 years ago. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. 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. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. 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?' We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. We may request cookies to be set on your device. Pauline Epistles Psalm 107. i. Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. I need to know you are well.' and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). That's the animal God choose which best represents you! A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. God's Testimony to the Scriptures. i. John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. Are any of us low in grace? 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. The Middle Eastern shepherds in Israel didn't drive their sheep their sheep followed them. 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. "Staff," that on which one leans, emblem of Divine strength and . It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. But, it does entitle David to experience Gods provision and providence in their midst. David found him so, and so have we. Our God does not withhold anything good from His flock. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. What humanity needs now is the restoration of hope and joy. Notably, David recognized that under the shepherds leading, he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. Dying soldiers have died easier as it was read to them; ghastly hospitals have been illuminated; it has visited the prisoner, and broken his chains, and, like Peter's angel, led him forth in imagination, and sung him back to his home again. General Epistles ), Mounces Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006), Renn, Stephen D., Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words: Word Studies for Key English Bible Words Based on the Hebrew and Greek Texts (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc., 2005), Richards, Lawrence O., Encyclopedia of Bible Words (Zondervan, 1985, 1991), Sakenfeld, Katharine Doob (ed. When I was serving in Vietnam as a chaplain, I visited soldiers in the A Shau Valley near Laos. Sounds like a nice place to be for a defenceless sheep now doesn't it? Likewise, we also need God to guide us to the right places and opportunities. 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. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! It has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Psalm 23 symbolizes the human race as a flock and God as their Shepherd. Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. Notice however that the Psalmist says he 'walks through' this valley. Major Prophets - 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). They know that it will be ok. To experience the care and guidance of God as a shepherd, we must identify ourselves as His sheep. Cookie Notice: 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. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. The MacArthur Study Bible: new King James version - John MacArthur. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. Every word in it has a wealth of meaning. He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. I. Wisdom Literature When we get tired we take a rest. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point 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! You anoint my head with oil. If we could be saved from wrath, and yet remain unregenerate, impenitent sinners, we should not be saved as we desire, for we mainly and chiefly pant to be saved from sin and led in the way of holiness.[4]. 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) His future return for His people as the King of Glory! Report an Issue Sermon Correction/Question . But the valley was always there, casting its shadow over her life. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. David wrote about this in Psalm 25. John and his wife, Patricia, live in Southern California and have four married children: Matt, Marcy, Mark, and Melinda. The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. Davids song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. Poetical Books Founded in 1969, Grace to You is the nonprofit organization responsible for developing, producing, and distributing Johns books, audio resources, and the Grace to You radio and television programs. We can imagine various meanings for the valley of the shadow of death.. Note the pronoun change in this verse. The Shepherds Crook. So life here for our sheep is one of continual green pastures. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. But whether our fears are irrational or based on very real circumstances, our need to remember the Lord is the same. Pauline Epistles In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. And I will dwell in the house of the LORDforever: The psalm ends with the calmest assurance that he would enjoy the presence of the LORD forever both in his days on this earth and beyond. And David knew that this would carry on all the days of his life. Notice the following -. Do we not gain comfort from the fact that it is Almighty God who is our Shepherd? i. Provision -- for Thou prepare a table before me. of Scripture. Minor Prophets The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. Your partnership makes all we do possible. But there is a greater provision and far greater blessing still to come. [4]. The Whole Bible Which is it? 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. I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. . 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.. The overflowing cup symbolizes the Lords generosity. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Therefore, when the shepherd started heading off on another journey the sheep followed wherever he went! I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v. 4b). Oh! He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. How much would you have had in your cup? (Spurgeon), ii. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLordforever. (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. Most scholars account this Psalm to Davids maturity that contains vivid reminiscence of his youth as a shepherd. [9] These are the paths we should desire and actively seek. Lie down in green pastures quiet waters - But thank Jesus our great Shepherd that He does bring us to green pastures and quiet waters. Countless experts also argued that David wrote it during the later years of his kingship because of its nostalgic and tranquil tone. The idea that the LORD is a shepherd to His people is also prevalent throughout the Bible. Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him.
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