psalm 23 commentary john macarthur

I will fear no evil. Psalm 22 Part 2 - It is finished, He has done it! His future return for His people as the King of Glory! [4.] I had good medical care. This magazine often included an exposition of a psalm, and in the 1866 publication Spurgeon featured Psalm 23. Gods shepherding care from the previous verse brought restoration to Davids soul. God refuses to let the godly go hungry. I will sanctify my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am Yahweh, says the Lord Yahweh, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes (Ezekiel 36:22-23). They know that it will be ok. a. 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. In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. 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. In this context, it suggests blessings that will help the psalmist. The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. Przejd do gwnej treci.pl. 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). 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. 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. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. 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 found him so, and so have we. The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. So for now, let us follow our Lord where He would lead. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. With what I have I am pleased much; with what I hope for I am pleased more." Anointing with oil was used for various purposes (healing, burial, expressing grief or joy). 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]. 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.'. When, after one sin, David's heart smote him, and, after another, Nathan was sent to tell him, Thou art the man, God restored his soul. [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. Near death, the saint still calmly walks he does not need to quicken his pace in alarm or panic. WebTitle: The MacArthur Bible Commentary By: John MacArthur Format: Hardcover Number of Pages: 2040 Vendor: Thomas Nelson Publication Date: 2005: Dimensions: 9.75 X 6.75 He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. WebVerse six presents a key to understanding Psalm 1: For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.. (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006-2009), VanGemeren, Willem A. 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. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. 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. The LORD is The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. This word follow in the Hebrew does not just mean tag along at some distance behind. Joy -- You anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over. More is implied than is expressed, not only, I shall not want, but, "I shall be supplied with whatever I need; and, if I have not every thing I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me or I shall have it in due time.". Psalm 23 brings encouragement and a great reminder that God is our shepherd and He will never abandon us. It becomes more personal in this valley! Still, David has decided to praise God no matter what happens. [4] I read in a John Hunter book that as well as being able to say 'The Lord is my shepherd' we should be able to say 'The shepherd is my Lord.' The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. He is not just a 'good shepherd'. Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' This table represents all the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. 2. Here is. The good shepherd will not only conduct, but convoy, his sheep through the valley, where they are in danger of being set upon by the beasts of prey, the ravening wolves; he will not only convoy them, but comfort then when they most need comfort. The way of duty is the truly pleasant way. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 3. The analogy of a king as a shepherd is common in ancient times and is not unusual. 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. The mercy here comes from the Hebrew word Hesed which depicts Gods covenant faithfulness. WebPastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. David knew the uniqueness and intimacy of this metaphor. i. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. The light shines the brightest in the dark. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. King David, who wrote this Psalm, obviously knew all about being a shepherd. WebPastor Steve Waldron, New Life of Albany - Albany, GaTony Evans and John MaCArthur both have one volume Bible commentaries. (Kidner). In the United States, a signal honor would be an invitation to stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House. He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock. 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. Is It Ok for Christians to Follow Zodiac Signs? 1TheLordis my shepherd; I shall not want. 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. The image exudes a sense of rest, comfort, and care. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God (Psalm 42:1). a. Those that feed on God's goodness must follow his direction; he leads them by his providence, by his word, by his Spirit, disposes of their affairs for the best, according to his counsel, disposes their affections and actions according to his command, directs their eye, their way, and their heart, into his love. It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. 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! In these paths we cannot walk unless God both lead us into them and lead us in them. There are no halfway measures when it comes to the Lords provision for our lives. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. The intimate portrayal of God as a shepherd is what makes Psalm 23 unique and unforgettable. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. The manner of the conveyance of it: It shall follow me, as the water out of the rock followed the camp of Israel through the wilderness; it shall follow into all places and all conditions, shall be always ready. For instance, we would emphasize 'I WILL build my church' or 'I will BUILD my church' etc. I will believe that thou reignest still. No, we are not talking here about genuine needs, not greed'! This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. Are any of us low in grace? Theses are the paths in which all the saints desire to be led and kept, and never to turn aside out of them. His past death for His people Or a psalm concerning the Messiah that has its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Together with goodness it suggests the steady kindness and support that one can count on in the family or between firm friends. (Kidner), ii. We are saved by hope, and that hope will not make us ashamed, because it is well grounded. And those only are led by the still waters of comfort that walk in the paths of righteousness. ), 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. This line is especially suggestive when we read this psalm with an eye toward Jesus, the Great Shepherd. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Sproul shared how the Lord used Psalm 23 to bring him daily comfort as he dealt with various health challenges. When explaining why he was restoring Israel, God said, I dont do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went. Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.. 3 He (2.) I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v. 4b). Oils and ointments can salve wounds and insect bites. Everyone loves this Psalm. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. He rammed it home so much that come lunch time we were saying 'I WILL eat my lunch', 'I will EAT my lunch.' 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! They have been comforted, strengthened, and warmed by the thought that the LORD would shepherd them through the valley of the shadow of death. And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. God is his shepherd and his Goda God all-sufficient to all intents and purposes. 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.. This psalm is so personal, with the pronoun I or My, being used commonly. We have to learn to sit back and thank Him once again. b. ( Psalms 27:7-14) is sad and plaintive. It has poured balm and consolation into the heart of the sick, of captives in dungeons, of widows in their pinching grief's, of orphans in their loneliness. David wrote this while remembering his fearful experiences. No, press on knowing that if there are shadows, there must be light around the corner causing them! It is for His name's sake and His glory that this is done! John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The word Psalms alludes to a God Leads Do we not gain comfort from the fact that it is Almighty God who is our Shepherd? (Heb 5:12-14) [8]. i. How much would you have had in your cup? (Spurgeon), ii. Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. 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. 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. There you have it. This is a psalm of trust and confidence in Gods goodness in the present and in the future. We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. That was a question that was once sent to me. WebPsalm 23:4. 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." Psalm 23 is an explicit metaphor that displays the relationship between God and His people. 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). This immediately gives to us the indication that this is one of those Messianic psalms. We are smart enough to do this in the physical. But mentally and spiritually we can get really tired trying to work out all our problems and we don't rest. That he had not only for necessity, but for ornament and delight: Thou anointest my head with oil. and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the authors heart and trust in God. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death Through a dark and dismal valley, full of terrors and dangers, as this phrase signifies, Job 24:17; Psalm THE LORD AS SHEPHERD 1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. 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. You anoint my head with oil. (Philip Keller). Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. This is the joy of the Christian! "He restores me when I wander." Webby John Calvin: Commentaries on Psalms by many authors : Commentaries on various Psalms: Read & listen to many hymns linked to specific Psalms: EasyEnglish Bible Commentary on Psalms: Explaining the Psalms to children & those new to English : Overview of Psalm 23 : Psalm 51 in-depth study : In-depth studies in the Book of Psalms 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. He is the Lord our God that heals us, Exod 15 26. The great confidence which believers have in God: "If the Lord is my shepherd, my feeder, I may conclude I shall not want any thing that is really necessary and good for me." He had known famine. But the shepherds here use dogs and fences to drive and control the sheep. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. It is a comfort to the saints, when they come to die, that God takes cognizance of them (he knows those that are his), that he will rebuke the enemy, that he will guide them with his rod and sustain them with his staff. (3.) In verse 1, David expresses his thoughts about God. Everyone knows this psalm even non-Christians have heard it because it seems to be a favourite at their funerals. So to be Gods guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. This also shows us our need of giving Him His rightful place as Lord over our life. It is for 'His name's sake' that He does this. This is seen in the following table: [2]. 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. Note, A child of God may meet the messengers of death, and receive its summons with a holy security and serenity of mind. (1.) Maclaren writes: The rod and the staff seem to be two names for one instrument, which was used both to beat off predatory animals and to direct the sheep.. To be invited to Gods table is the ultimate honor. This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. All this, and heaven too! Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. God makes his saints to lie down; he gives them quiet and contentment in their own minds, what ever their lot is; their souls dwell at ease in him, and that makes every pasture green. 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). Its authors are 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.] On still other days, she found herself walking through the middle of the valley. I live in New Zealand, and yes, I know, we have more sheep than people! And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. So out of the blue she emailed a few weeks back asking: 'All ok with you? It may portray the straying sheep brought back. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). Here is one word indeed which sounds terrible; it is death, which we must all count upon; there is no discharge in that war. When the end of the Babylonian Exile and Israels salvation was nigh, God told Israel: Dont be afraid, for I have redeemed you. You anoint my head with oil (v. 5b). This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! Brief but well done notes 1,275 ratings 45 ratings The MacArthur study Bible - John MacArthur. David could say God is my shepherd because of his personal experience. - 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).

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