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 The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. 4 Yea, 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. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. can be seen as comforting for it is a sign that He loves us scripture says (Heb 12:6). What is characteristic of them? It is a great comfort to know that God will correct us when we need it. Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. It makes sense. That he had food convenient, a table spread, a cup filled, meat for his hunger, drink for his thirst. The psalmist doesnt speak of going into the valley, as if it were a box canyon or a final destination. They counsel, Seek Yahweh while he may be found (55:6). Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. It isnt his destination or dwelling place. The Analogy of God and the Shepherd in Psalm 23, The Lord As A Shepherd Who Provides (Verse 1), The Lord As A Shepherd Who Guides (Verses 2-3), The Protection And Comfort From Gods Presence (Verse 4), The Blessings of God Amidst Danger (Verse 5), Faith-Filled Content Delivered To Your Inbox, Best NASB Study Bibles Ranked & Reviewed, The Best Bible for Young Adults: Buyers Guide. That he was not stinted, was not straitened, but had abundance: "My cup runs over, enough for myself and my friends too." The still waters by which he leads them yield them, not only a pleasant prospect, but many a cooling draught, many a reviving cordial, when they are thirsty and weary. God is holy, and takes his holy name seriously: Since God is holy, we as Gods people need to insure that we do not tarnish his name by our wrongful words or actions. Copyright 2023, Bible Study Tools. 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 LORD is WebMark 9-16 MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Volume 6 : Macarthur, John: Amazon.pl: Ksiki. Historically, the psalms range in time from the origin of life to the But do we believe it? I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. What humanity needs now is the restoration of hope and joy. 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. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. 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). All this, and heaven too! David experienced the goodness and mercy of God from His tender care. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. [3.] Here is a prospect of the perfection of bliss in the future state. Shepherd - This imagery of the shepherd and sheep spans the entire Bible but is most prominent in the New Testament where Jesus speaks about His relationship with His people, His sheep. Our lives should be a testimony to God Himself. What great confidence! [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. i. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. 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]. A shepherd would prepare a table for his sheep by scouting ahead to find good pastureland free from predators and poisonous plants. [7], 5001 North Oak Trafficway See here. We in turn should allow that light to shine forth towards others so that people may see our lives and praise God. This psalm is taken completely from the sheep's (David) point of view, as he talks about his shepherd. 3 He 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. 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. Those that are sick, those that are old, have reason to look upon themselves as in the valley of the shadow of death. They also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals. Davids guidance from God has a moral component. This word follow in the Hebrew does not just mean tag along at some distance behind. However, many scholars believed David wrote it during his kingship (around 1000 BC to 993 BC). The instruments used by the shepherd comforted David. Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. No, press on knowing that if there are shadows, there must be light around the corner causing them! 3. 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. Get Your Bible Minute in Your Inbox Every Morning. Had a very strange dream last night and you were in it. God is the one who looks after our lives. It is 'The LORD' who is his shepherd! And those only are led by the still waters of comfort that walk in the paths of righteousness. THE LORD AS SHEPHERD 1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. I need to know you are well.' We seek more of God and depend on Him further when we encounter problems. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. 3,580+ | 2 min. John MacArthur: Worship is our innermost being responding with praise for all that God is, through our attitudes, actions, thoughts, and words, based on the truth of God as He has revealed Himself ( The Ultimate Priority [Moody Press], p. 127). It leads to burn out, break downs and depression. 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. I think if we could just grasp this first verse alone our hearts could then rest. 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. [3], The LORD - The first thing to note is the source of David's comfort. Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Here is. ( Psalms 27:7-14) is sad and plaintive. Koszyk Menu. 6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahwehs house forever. They would travel from oasis to oasis. That he had it carefully and readily provided for him. David wrote this while remembering his fearful experiences. [2.] 5 Things You Should Know about the ESV Bible Translation. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. I will fear no evil. Here David pictures God as a gracious host who provides all that he needs even in times of apparent difficulty. It is the valley of the shadow, deep indeed, and dark, and dirty; but the valleys are fruitful, and so is death itself fruitful of comforts to God's people. Obviously this doesn't mean that the track that the shepherd takes is always an easy one. And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms! Here are three points: 1. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. We must dwell in his house as servants, that desired to have their ears bored to the door-post, to serve him for ever. He is the Lord our God that heals us, Exod 15 26. We often try to work things out in our little minds and end up working ourselves into a place of nervous exhaustion! Therefore, when the shepherd started heading off on another journey the sheep followed wherever he went! 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. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! 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! Significantly, it is at the dangerous moment pictured in the psalm that the He of Psalm 23:1-3 changes to You. The LORD as Shepherd is now in the second person. Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. My - This is probably the best thing about this psalm it is so personal! And I used to always think 'Well! 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. Psalm 23:3 He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. The Psalms are Hebrew poetry, and the title of the book comes from the Greek Septuagint. Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. Everyone loves this Psalm. Bible History: Old Testament by Alfred Edersheim - Hebrew So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! "Even in the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. God does not eliminate the risks and hazards but will illuminate His presence. The hosts care and concern doesnt eliminate the presence of my enemies but enables the experience of Gods goodness and bounty even in their midst. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins. God as our shepherd not only leads but restores as well. If Providence do not bestow upon us thus plentifully for our natural life, it is our own fault if it be not made up to us in spiritual blessings. Death is a king of terrors, but not to the sheep of Christ; they tremble at it no more than sheep do that are appointed for the slaughter. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ), which the WEB has updated. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. People need to know this beautiful Psalm of David to reorient and renew their thinking. He takes them into his fold, and then takes care of them, protects them, and provides for them, with more care and constancy than a shepherd can, that makes it his business to keep the flock. Yahwehs ( Hebrew: YHWH ) house forever this is probably the best thing this... Touching and eloquent comments on each verse his purposes and the title of the shadow of death even in second. 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