psalm 23 commentary john macarthurpsalm 23 commentary john macarthur

), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. The good man has his enemies. Articles Messages Books Podcasts Filter Resources By Ask Pastor John. In these paths we cannot walk unless God both lead us into them and lead us in them. How would you describe sheep? Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. (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. Solid Joys. Because the saints have God's gracious presence with them in their dying moments; he is then at their right hand, and therefore why should they be moved? That was his role growing up. The comforts of a living saint. He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. Priests were anointed (Exodus 40:13-15). [1.] David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. 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. Obviously this doesn't mean that the track that the shepherd takes is always an easy one. WebPsalms 23 David reflected on Gods many blessings to him and concluded that God would continue to be faithful to him and grant him fellowship in the future. [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. I live in New Zealand, and yes, I know, we have more sheep than people! Przejd do gwnej treci.pl. 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. His presence shall comfort them: Thou art with me. In the end, in whatever it is that places you in fear or unease, you have to come back to this very thought we are speaking of here - 'The Lord is my shepherd' - He is in control of all things. But, even in the supposition of the distress, there are four words which lessen the terror:It is death indeed that is before us; but, [1.] This is the joy of the Christian! They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. 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. Although God, by his benefits, gently allures us to himself, as it were by a taste of his fatherly sweetness, yet there is nothing into which we more easily fall than into a forgetfulness of him, when we are in the enjoyment of peace and comfort. How would it be with you if God had filled your cup in proportion to your faith? Blessed is the man. 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. That he had it carefully and readily provided for him. Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. Now mine was a recent silly example. Companionship -- for you are with me. He is currently 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. WebPREVIOUS John 20:22 NEXT John 20:24. And there is ground enough for this confidence, [1.] Psalm 23 distinctively stands out compared to other chapters in the Book of Psalms and receives a larger magnitude of respect. Jesus the Messiah was also a descendant of King David. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. It is true that in extreme cases the shepherd would break the leg of the lamb. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Please read and believe! The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. (Spurgeon), iii. We understand that a shadow is not tangible but is cast by something that is. 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. ii. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. and flame will not scorch you. In this he had certainly an eye, not only to the blessings of God's providence, which made his outward condition prosperous, but to the communications of God's grace, received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which filled his soul with joy unspeakable. a. The paths that the Shepherd takes us on are the righteous or 'right' paths. He is. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Basically fear tactics. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. In the presence of my enemies: This is a striking phrase. 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. How highly he magnifies God's gracious vouchsafements to him (v. 5): "Thou preparest a table before me; thou hast provided for me all things pertaining both to life and godliness, all things requisite both for body and soul, for time and eternity:" such a bountiful benefactor is God to all his people; and it becomes them abundantly to utter his great goodness, as David here, who acknowledges, (1.) Sometimes it goes through the dark valley as the next verse indicates. 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. And, as in the foregoing psalm he represented Christ dying for his sheep, so here he represents Christians receiving the benefit of all the care and tenderness of that great and good shepherd. 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. The writer of Psalm 23 makes an analogy between God and the shepherd. The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. God's eternal desire is that He would have many sons and daughters who display His glory and light within them. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. In light of all these truths, we must respond promptly. He is the source of life and a great provider. Play. What he promises himselfgoodness and mercy, all the streams of mercy flowing from the fountain, pardoning mercy, protecting mercy, sustaining mercy, supplying mercy. 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.. WebThe backdrop for the Psalms is twofold: 1) the acts of God in creation and history, and 2) the history of Israel. Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. His past death for His people He had the honour of being King over all Israel, yet seen the lows of having his own son, Absalom, rise up against him and take the throne. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. One of the Psalms quoted in all four Gospels is Psalm 118:26(a), which says, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! (Matthew 21:9; 23:39; Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35; John 12:13). 3 He His future return for His people as the King of Glory! It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. 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. The psalmist has been talking about God in the third person (he). This immediately gives to us the indication that this is one of those Messianic psalms. It has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. Scripture: 1. (2.) What are these green pastures but the Scriptures of truthalways fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? 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. Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 'Was it just a silly dream or something more spiritual?' The LORD is 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). Here David pictures God as a gracious host who provides all that he needs even in times of apparent difficulty. The greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who relishes that only in it which pleases the senses; but to a godly man, who tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, and by faith relishes that, though he has but little of the world, it is a green pasture, Ps 37 16; Prov 15 16, 17. 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. John MacArthur. 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! (5.) Near death, the saint does not walk in the valley, but through the valley. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. So some take the latter clause: "Goodness and mercy having followed me all the days of my life on this earth, when that is ended I shall remove to a better world, to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, in our Father's house above, where there are many mansions. Like the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, David might say that all of life is lived under the shadow of death, and it is the conscious presence of the LORD as shepherd that makes it bearable. Not will be, like you look forward to something He will do but IS - present tense. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. The Defender's Study Bible : King James Version by Morris, Henry M. Excellent notes for well known creationist. For a shepherd, the healing purpose would be significant. Historically, the psalms range in time from the origin of life to the the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! He was refreshed by a head anointed with oil; his cup was over-filled. The light shines the brightest in the dark. He recounts his experience of the kind things God had done for him as his shepherd, ver 2, 3, 5. 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. 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. It is a great comfort to know that God will correct us when we need it. 5 Things You Should Know about the ESV Bible Translation. Will He never leave me or will something I do cause Him to leave?' 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?' Ouch. 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! Therefore, when the shepherd started heading off on another journey the sheep followed wherever he went! God's ordinances are the green pastures in which food is provided for all believers; the word of life is the nourishment of the new man. Can you say that about your life? 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. Is - Can you say that? We have to learn to sit back and thank Him once again. 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! He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. My cup runs over. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! The shepherd recognizes when the sheep require green pastures and when they require still waters. All this, and heaven too! See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. WebView all of our resources on the biblical book of Psalms. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.. WebThou hast relieved me in my distress; be gracious to me and hear my prayer. He got us to say the sentence emphasizing each word. 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. My cup runs over. He rammed it home so much that come lunch time we were saying 'I WILL eat my lunch', 'I will EAT my lunch.' The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. 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). It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. Konto i listy Zwroty i zamwienia. He will never, ever, leave you! 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. (Spurgeon). On the one hand it is not quoted in the New Testament directly concerning Jesus. Rest -- for He makes me to lie down in green pastures. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. None of these things move me." II. Amazon, in the last couple of weeks (Nov 2014) released the most highlighted passages in their most popular books downloaded onto Kindle, their electronic book reader. The way of the righteous. He has been the pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California since February 9, 1969. WebPastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. ), The Complete WordStudy Old Testament (Chattanooga; AMG Publishers, 1994), Baker, Warren and Carpenter, Eugene, The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2003), Bromiley, Geoffrey (General Editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, 4 vols. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. You anoint my head with oil. A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. Then we serve a good Master. If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. 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. David knew the uniqueness and intimacy of this metaphor. 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. (6.) Psalm 23 brings encouragement and a great reminder that God is our shepherd and He will never abandon us. In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. I will fear no evil. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) [3.] 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. 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. Have this tendency to wander and get lost, a non-denominational Church in Sun,! Still be over me as the King of glory King James Version Morris. The sheep of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ.. Cause Him to leave? this confidence, [ 1. and lead us into them and lead us them. 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