psalm 23 commentary john macarthur
But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. It leads to burn out, break downs and depression. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007), Freedman, David Noel (Ed. 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! GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point 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.'. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. Gods shepherding care from the previous verse brought restoration to Davids soul. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. b. He talks about going through it, showing that he expects to emerge from its shadows into the light on the other side. His passion is to serve the global Church and bring people of diverse backgrounds together to learn & grow. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ii. 1 Samuel 17:35), and the latter for control since discipline is security., iii. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. The Shepherd's staff: The staff was used by the Shepherd to direct the sheep in the way in which they should go, and, in the case of a wandering nosey sheep, to pull it back into line [11] . But, what makes it so compelling? 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's eternal desire is that He would have many sons and daughters who display His glory and light within them. We are so invited and not just occasionally but foreverthe honor that exceeds all other honors. Nov. 10, 2012. Pentateuch Included in the "better" provisions are: a better hope . Date: 1/31/2021. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. There are no halfway measures when it comes to the Lords provision for our lives. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time Psalm 23 was written. i. He has also served as pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California since 1969. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. Why is Psalm 23 one of the most well-known Psalms and the favorite biblical passage of many? In Psalms 23:3, Psalms 23:4 the spiritual meaning shines through the figure, as in Psalms 23:5, Psalms 23:6 it is laid aside altogether; yet still the psalmist speaks of the "rod and staff." "Rod," the shepherd's crook, the received emblem of authority, guidance, and discipline. So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. Its interesting to note how David used the word shepherd in this psalm instead of a more distant term like a king or a deliverer. In the presence of my enemies: This is a striking phrase. They can't run all that fast, don't have the greatest eye sight apparently and, being basically defenceless, are timid and fearful. If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. How would you describe sheep? The Premiere One-Volume Commentary . Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. (Whew!) 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Johannine Writings He will wipe every tear from their eyes. 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. (13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. It may portray the straying sheep brought back. Prophets It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the author's heart and trust in God. God shines His light into our lives. So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. How marvellous it is that weak, fearful people can be given such confidence through a simple trust in the ability of their shepherd! Click to enable/disable essential site cookies. But he also knew, through many highs and lows, throughout his life, that he too was but a sheep with a far greater Shepherd. ), 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. [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. Sounds like a nice place to be for a defenceless sheep now doesn't it? Davids song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. Poetical Books And we know the Jesus Himself took upon this title of 'the good Shepherd'. Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. 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. conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy 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). In terms of how it is loved, look at how one old theologian from the 1800's spoke of it. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. [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. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Cookie Notice: He is no longer speaking about God, but is instead speaking to God. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? Prophets Pastor John MacArthur. They will lead us to places of rest and provision. However, many scholars believed David wrote it during his kingship (around 1000 BC to 993 BC). 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. 'Blessed be the day on which that Psalm was born! We need to hear those words as if God intended them for usbecause he did. To call God a shepherd is to acknowledge His sovereignty over their lives and submit to His will. How much would you have had in your cup? (Spurgeon), ii. [6] As a silly example, a few weeks back I got an email from a past work colleague that I hadn't heard from for some time. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. 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. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. What is characteristic of them? [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. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. Learn More | Livestream | Bulletin Servicios en espaol. He leads me. It's not somewhere that you set up camp thinking that is all you will ever know. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979-1988), Brown, Francis; Driver, S.R. Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. It implies that the Lord is the only thing needed in life and that Gods shepherding care provides all of our necessities. Pests would crawl through the ear canal of an unoiled sheep and lay in its brain. The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. The paths that the Shepherd takes us on are the righteous or 'right' paths. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. 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). 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 for ever. (Spurgeon), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik ewm@enduringword.com. Davids guidance from God has a moral component. The idea is of a sturdy walking stick, used to gently (as much as possible) guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. This name is 'Yahweh', the sovereign, almighty, delivering God. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point 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. One where 'the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. (Jer 23:1-4, Ezek 34:1-10) Work to be a faithful shepherd realising that it is God's own sheep that He has placed in your care. Minor Prophets To experience the care and guidance of God as a shepherd, we must identify ourselves as His sheep. So for now, let us follow our Lord where He would lead. What great confidence! Topical Series; DVD Series; Bible Series; Flash Drives; Bundles . 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.. 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. What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. It is true that in extreme cases the shepherd would break the leg of the lamb. [3]I learnt this when I went to a John Macarthur seminar one time. Then from the pulpit you would hear the same person say that if you didn't do this, this, and this you could lose your salvation or the Holy Spirit would leave you etc. There are stacks of deceptive shepherds around just as there always were. He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! It becomes more personal in this valley! PSALM 23:1-4. But he also knew something else. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; The overflowing cup symbolizes the Lords generosity. It is a Psalm of life, rest and peace. Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him. John MacArthur: The Lord Is My Salvation 92,638 views Jun 16, 2017 1.3K Dislike Share Save Ligonier Ministries 448K subscribers "The Lord is my light and my salvation" (Ps. Grace Community Church 13248 Roscoe Blvd. Major Prophets Now this place of rest is, first and foremost spiritually speaking, right in the midst of the problem. This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! Each chapter begins with several questions under the title "PREPARE TO MEET GOD." . Scripture: Psalm 23. This also shows us our need of giving Him His rightful place as Lord over our life. Psalm 23:4 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. The Gospels He leads me - Jesus our Shepherd is in the business of leading and bringing you to a place of rest. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. They probably are anxious about different things. 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. You are mine. Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. 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. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'Do I need to be extra careful?' In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven .' The noteworthiness of Psalm 23 was not lost on Spurgeon. David's song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. ii. In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. [12] You will only be able to say that if you have truly come to know the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd. It will go singing to your children and my children, and to their children, through all the generations of time; nor will it fold its wings till the last pilgrim is safe, and time ended; and then it shall fly back to the bosom of God, whence it issued, and sound on, mingled with all those sounds of celestial joy which make heaven musical for ever. But Jesus is the good Shepherd. Our God does not withhold anything good from His flock. When the end of the Babylonian Exile and Israels salvation was nigh, God told Israel: Dont be afraid, for I have redeemed you. Everything will be ok. The New Testament Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. Had a very strange dream last night and you were in it. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. (1.) Oh! It isnt his destination or dwelling place. This sentence may be read, only goodness and mercy, for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. i. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. Depression and other illnesses can enshroud us in darkness and threaten us with death. Major Prophets 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. He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. But we need to learn to lie down. Pauline Epistles [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.' ), which the WEB has updated. God longs to bless and prosper His people. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. David knew the uniqueness and intimacy of this metaphor. [9] These are the paths we should desire and actively seek. There is some debate among commentators as to whether David had the idea of two separate instruments (the rod and the staff) or one instrument used two ways. But that is not how it is in the dry arid lands of the Middle East and we need to read this Psalm with that mindset. b) John MacArthur; MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Ephesians 5:18 - "Be filled" translates the present passive imperative of "pleroo", and is more literally rendered as "be being kept filled." We are "indwelt" by the Holy Spirit at the moment of justification (professing our faith in Christ). The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. What humanity needs now is the restoration of hope and joy. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. The subsequent trips through the valley become progressively easier as trust increases. He is utterly trustworthy. It offers a broad overview of each Bible book and the internal consistency that results from having a single commentator. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, (Hebrew/Greek Search by English Definition), * 'Number Delimiters' only apply to 'Paragraph Order', Search verses, phrases, and topics (e.g. Your partnership makes all we do possible. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. [1] As I mentioned, this is one famous Psalm. 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. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. They also enjoy the enthusiastic company of their fifteen grandchildren. The mercy here comes from the Hebrew word Hesed which depicts Gods covenant faithfulness. Later, rabbis often designated it "The Book of Praises." . Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. Abraham's Bosom, Paradise, and Heaven 1. Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. i. The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. 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) octave subplot main title, elkhorn south high school calendar, tui cabin crew requirements,
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