[9] These are the paths we should desire and actively seek. Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a mans pathway even for a moment. Major Prophets 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. There was no fear involved. It becomes more personal in this valley! (Philip Keller). 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.. But he also knew something else. All the days of my life; GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point The light shines the brightest in the dark. They can't run all that fast, don't have the greatest eye sight apparently and, being basically defenceless, are timid and fearful. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. They also enjoy the enthusiastic company of their fifteen grandchildren. Psalm 23 is an explicit metaphor that displays the relationship between God and His people. He had known famine. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. God ultimately protects and provides for His flock and does everything in His power to care for them. Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. But, God as our shepherd provides peace that transcends all understanding. I had good medical care. Scripture: Psalm 23. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Masters University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. It isnt his destination or dwelling place. They know that it will be ok. The rest of the Psalm exhibits the shepherding care of God that is essential to life. In the presence of my enemies: This is a striking phrase. The Gospels Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. His Spirit attends us in various operations, like watersin the pluralto cleanse, to refresh, to fertilize, to cherish. 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.. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. 4Yea, 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. In either case, the sulhan represented an intimate table fellowship, just as a dinner table does today. 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. Davids guidance from God has a moral component. General Epistles It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the author's heart and trust in God. Poetical Books General Epistles God's Testimony to the Scriptures. And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! So life here for our sheep is one of continual green pastures. 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. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Prophets Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. [9] As Jesus Himself said, 'You are the light of the world. The word hesed also has a variety of meanings kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. Yea, though I walk, as if the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly walked with God. There are only 6 verses but these terms are used about 30 times! God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids shepherd. Guidance -- for He leads me in the paths of righteousness. Regardless of destitution, famine, storms, and other uncertainties, Gods flock is well-provided for in all seasons. . How would you describe sheep? When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. 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. ), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. David experienced the goodness and mercy of God from His tender care. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. As you survey your life, what path has God led and guided you through? Johannine Writings ), which the WEB has updated. And we know the Jesus Himself took upon this title of 'the good Shepherd'. [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point It makes sense. However, Gods care for David doesnt remove the presence of his adversaries. General Epistles He is that interested in each of His sheep! 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! My cup runs over (Hebrew: rewayah) (v. 5c). Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. It is expressed in this verse - Rom 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. We must surrender our desires and follow where He leads no matter the cost. Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. Most importantly, I understood that God is with us in life and in deathand so I can truly say that I was not frightened. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. We need 2 cookies to store this setting. Psalm 23 symbolizes the human race as a flock and God as their Shepherd. When I asked the oncologist how serious it was, he said, Stage threemaybe Stage three and a half. My chances of survival were less than 50-50. 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. If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. 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. People need to know this beautiful Psalm of David to reorient and renew their thinking. His past death for His people 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! Psalm 23:6 And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. It was never used on the sheep. But he also knew, through many highs and lows, throughout his life, that he too was but a sheep with a far greater Shepherd. A sheep unoiled is an easy target for the infestations of such pests. No, press on knowing that if there are shadows, there must be light around the corner causing them! Psalm 19. 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. The New Testament speaks of Jesus as anointed (Luke 4:18; John 20:31; Acts 5:42; Hebrews 1:9, etc.). 'What happened exactly to me in the dream?' 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. You prepare a table before me: Without departing from the previous picture of the valley of the shadow of death, David envisioned the provision and goodness given by the LORD as a host, inviting David to a rich table prepared for him. You can check these in your browser security settings. Here the second allegory begins. [13] Boy it used to annoy me how church leaders and other Christians would create such confusion concerning this! 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. The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. Nov. 10, 2012. It leads to burn out, break downs and depression. Poetical Books Oils and ointments can salve wounds and insect bites. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. He had a sidekick with him who spoke on 'I will build my church'. David wrote this while remembering his fearful experiences. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Commentaries; Sermons. Our children were still quite young. 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. [7] Do you have this same confidence that David had? If things are tough, remember this verse. 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! Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. It wasn't a nice dream at all '. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. Which is it? Lets look at the meaning and significance of each verse written in Psalm 23. "Staff," that on which one leans, emblem of Divine strength and . Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, [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. The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. He would tend, protect and care for his sheep. 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) The MacArthur Bible Commentary. i. To eat at the Kings table in the presence of your enemies would show your enemies that the king holds you in high regard, and would demonstrate their powerlessness to hurt you. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. The epistle to the Hebrews is a study in contrast, between the imperfect and incomplete provisions of the Old Covenant, given under Moses, and the infinitely better provisions of the New Covenant offered by the perfect High-Priest, God's only Son and the Messiah, Jesus Christ. David knew the uniqueness and intimacy of this metaphor. 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. Thank God for such times! 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. People need comfort and encouragement. The shepherd image appears not only as part of the Old Testament but as a vital part of the New Testament as well. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point He is utterly trustworthy. David found him so, and so have we. On the one hand it is not quoted in the New Testament directly concerning Jesus.

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