May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving With joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. Site by Mere. Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. Konto i listy Zwroty i zamwienia. Time was when David was himself a shepherd; he was taken from following the ewes great with young (Ps 78 70, 71), and so he knew by experience the cares and tender affections of a good shepherd towards his flock. 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 is for His name's sake and His glory that this is done! Is it a terrible thing that even though God is sovereign and controls the entire universe, we don't want to let go of the reigns! Almost 25 years ago, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. God as our shepherd not only leads but restores as well. God saved (Israel) for his names sake, that he might make his mighty power known (Psalm 106:8). ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. But mentally and spiritually we can get really tired trying to work out all our problems and we don't rest. Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. $10.00 USD. He was faithful in caring for his flock and never complained about his responsibilities. You are mine. He wrote: Unlike in the west where people get multiple jobs, here the jobs are very rare. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. [10]. Though God may suffer his people to fall into sin, he will not suffer them to lie still in it. Comfort -- for your rod and Thy staff comfort me. 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. Not many people receive such an invitation, and even fewer receive more than one. He was afraid and worried to go back into bed on his own. After talking with him, I asked him to read Psalm 23. After he read it, he said, Dad, this is really helpful. Even when I walk in a dark valley God will be with me and protect me. Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. In this psalm, the way of the righteous and the way of the ungodly are contrasted. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. "Depth and strength underlie the simplicity of this psalm. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. (Whew!) It is a Psalm of but 6 verses but countless sermons and entire books have been written on it. 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! That he had it carefully and readily provided for him. Notably, David recognized that under the shepherds leading, he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. People need to know this beautiful Psalm of David to reorient and renew their thinking. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. I will believe that thou reignest still. 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. On other days, she was on the other side. The idea that the LORD is a shepherd to His people is also prevalent throughout the Bible. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. Psalm 40 - The Pit and the Pierced Ear in the Paths of God, Psalm 41: The pattern of betrayal - Past, present and future (P1), Psalm 55: The pattern of betrayal: Past, present and future (P2), Psalm 69 - The restoration and the zeal of the Lord, Psalm 102 - Change and the Unchangeable One, Psalm 110: Jesus the Messiah - Our Lord and King, Psalm 110: Jesus our priest in the order of Melchizedek. There are no halfway measures when it comes to the Lords provision for our lives. You can also change some of your preferences. How confidently he counts upon the continuance of God's favours, v. 6. No, press on knowing that if there are shadows, there must be light around the corner causing them! No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! A number of our soldiers died there. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. Przejd do gwnej treci.pl. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! What are these still waters but the influences and graces of his blessed Spirit? (Kidner). Kings were anointed (1 Samuel 10:1; 16:3, 12-13; 2 Samuel 23:1; 1 Kings 1:39). i. He had a sidekick with him who spoke on 'I will build my church'. However, he was confident that God is with him all the time. May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. for his names sake (v. 3c). This immediately gives to us the indication that this is one of those Messianic 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. 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). Do this in remembrance of me. Paul affirms the importance of this table ministry when he says, For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes (1 Corinthians 11:24, 26). Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. The word Psalms alludes to a When the end of the Babylonian Exile and Israels salvation was nigh, God told Israel: Dont be afraid, for I have redeemed 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. 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 wanted to depict the marvelous work of God in his life and encourage many believers with his testimony. He has been the pastor of Grace Community Church, a non-denominational church in Sun Valley, California since February 9, 1969. a. The word Psalms alludes to a But the shepherds here use dogs and fences to drive and control the sheep. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. (Spurgeon), iii. 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.. We must dwell in his house as servants, that desired to have their ears bored to the door-post, to serve him for ever. But it is still the path that leads to righteousness. [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. 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! When faced with destitution, famine, pressures, financial difficulty, and depression, its hard to remain calm and tranquil. Proud member If there is a wire fence, they'll get caught in it. He had known famine. Lie down in green pastures quiet waters - But thank Jesus our great Shepherd that He does bring us to green pastures and quiet waters. In this context, it suggests blessings that will help the psalmist. Imminent danger supposed: "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, that is, though I am in peril of death, though in the midst of dangers, deep as a valley, dark as a shadow, and dreadful as death itself," or rather, "though I am under the arrests of death, have received the sentence of death within myself, and have all the reason in the world to look upon myself as a dying man, yet I am easy." 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. That he had not only for necessity, but for ornament and delight: Thou anointest my head with oil. 2. Not will be, like you look forward to something He will do but IS - present tense. 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. Sproul shared how the Lord used Psalm 23 to bring him daily comfort as he dealt with various health challenges. So I started checking myself - heart was still pumping, ears were attached, nose still worked, yes, everything seemed to be in order. In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. Excellent for: The mercy here comes from the Hebrew word Hesed which depicts Gods covenant faithfulness. The sheep may crack their skull just to ease the suffering to get rid of the brain-eating parasites. 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. 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. [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! 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 If God's goodness to us be like the morning light, which shines more and more to the perfect day, let not ours to him be like the morning cloud and the early dew that passeth away. That was all it said. 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! And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. WebVerses 1-7. It included the most highlighted passage in the Bible which turned out to be this passage: Philippians 4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 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. - 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). 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]. Why should it be dreadful when there is nothing in it hurtful? In the United States, a signal honor would be an invitation to stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House. Once he sent his men a begging for him to Nabal, and another time went himself a begging to Ahimelech; and yet, when he considers that God is his shepherd, he can boldly say, I shall not want. You can check these in your browser security settings. A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. "He restores me when I wander." 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.. God provides for his people not only food and rest, but refreshment also and pleasure. He is the source of life and a great provider. The Saviours Cross. This is a psalm of trust and confidence in Gods goodness in the present and in the future. 'Was it just a silly dream or something more spiritual?' They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. 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. But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him. 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. It is getting harder to live on this planet - from a health point of view, from a financial point of view, from a spiritual and moral point of view, from a fear and anxiety point of view - there is much that a person could be concerned about.