psalm 23 commentary john macarthur

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. Sermon. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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! Kidner notes: The rod (a cudgel worn at the belt) and staff (to walk with, and to round up the flock) were the shepherds weapon and implement: the former for defence (cf. Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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. Pentateuch a. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. All of John's 3,000 sermons, spanning more than four decades of ministry, are available for free on the Grace to You website. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Johannine Writings Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. And he awaits the day when the great shepherd will become the chief Shepherd and shall come in the skies. Most scholars account this Psalm to Davids maturity that contains vivid reminiscence of his youth as a shepherd. David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! 3,580+ | 2 min. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. Psalm 23:4 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, Select an Ending Point They will not lie down when there is conflict among the sheep. Kings were anointed (1 Samuel 10:1; 16:3, 12-13; 2 Samuel 23:1; 1 Kings 1:39). Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. Just like the sheep, its difficult for us to be at rest when life throws a lot of problems. A sheep unoiled is an easy target for the infestations of such pests. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. On the one hand it is not quoted in the New Testament directly concerning Jesus. The word through is important. Sep 8, 1980. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? God is like a shepherd to David. 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. So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. 6 Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahwehs house forever. Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? Wisdom Literature It's not for the goats. I recently did a study on this psalm for a home group church meeting. Luke-Acts Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. Scripture: Psalm 23. 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. If there was such a thing as animal school, they would be dropouts. They are well placed, well laid: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. His Spirit attends us in various operations, like watersin the pluralto cleanse, to refresh, to fertilize, to cherish. It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. It is a Psalm of but 6 verses but countless sermons and entire books have been written on it. Prophets The enemy was strongly entrenched there, and was determined to stay. (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. Maybe this verse should have read 'though I close my eyes and sprint through the valley of the shadow of death' This verse speaks to us of the trying times in our lives where there is darkness, confusion and fear. He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. Everything in time -- for goodness and mercy shall follow me. God anoints His people with oil just like how shepherds anoint their sheep with oil. Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. We may request cookies to be set on your device. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible 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! Yea, prosperity not only so intoxicates many, as to carry them . We are smart enough to do this in the physical. God wasnt just a shepherd to others in a theoretical sense, but He was Davids shepherd. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. (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. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. Peace -- for He leads me beside the still waters. Behold just such a one! Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. That symmetric bracketing was a literary device intended to focus attention on the middle phrase, for you are with me. Gods saving presence is the focal point of this psalm. 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. God (through the prophet Jeremiah) said, For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the spring of living waters, and cut them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water (Jeremiah 2:13). Nor have I ever heard an audible voice that was clearly God's telling me which decisions to make. 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. We are well escorted, with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind! (Meyer), iii. I shall not want can translate to I have no lack. Sure enough, someone guessed pretty quickly that it would be Psalm 23. Luke-Acts Historical Books Our children were still quite young. for his names sake (v. 3c). Surely goodness (Hebrew: tob) and loving kindness (Hebrew: hesed) shall follow me all the days of my life (v. 6a). Passwords should have at least 6 characters. Share. It wasn't a nice dream at all '. It is a psalm written by David who grew up as a shepherd. We often try to work things out in our little minds and end up working ourselves into a place of nervous exhaustion! Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Thats why Psalm 23 is crucially relevant even today. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.. When the sheep are hungry or are anxious about food, they cant lie down peacefully. The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! 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. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. ii. Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. Together with goodness it suggests the steady kindness and support that one can count on in the family or between firm friends. (Kidner), ii. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. It has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world. [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. Rest -- for He makes me to lie down in green pastures. 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. David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the lows of running for his life and hiding in caves from Saul. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. God shines His light into our lives. 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. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. b. Arno C Gaebelin said (with some small modifications): A good way to read this Psalm is by asking the question, 'What shall I not want?' Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. Psalm 23 mainly illustrates God as a caring shepherd. Report an Issue Sermon Correction/Question . The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. Abraham's Bosom, Paradise, and Heaven 1. He rammed it home so much that come lunch time we were saying 'I WILL eat my lunch', 'I will EAT my lunch.' The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. You can also change some of your preferences. ), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one can snatch them out of my hand. Psalm 23 is an explicit metaphor that displays the relationship between God and His people. Was it where you thought you would go? The Old Testament The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. John is also president and featured teacher with Grace to You. David could confidently write the second phrase because he experienced the provision and providence of God in his life. 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. Our God does not withhold anything good from His flock. However, the oil does not just protect the sheep from nuisance. (1.) But we need to learn to lie down. The shepherds staff was the familiar long rod with a crook on one end. Johannine Writings The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. The wonderful discovery is that the Lord is not just a shepherd who looks after the entire flock, but He is cares for me as well. (Philip Keller). The book of Psalms is so unique because it focuses on the character of God. Location. The intimate portrayal of God as a shepherd is what makes Psalm 23 unique and unforgettable. John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. "Staff," that on which one leans, emblem of Divine strength and . It could also refer to a piece of furniture like the tables that we know today. Sheep are easy targets for parasites, lice, and flies. What is also interesting, even before we get into the actual verses, is that this Psalm is part two of what we could call a Messianic trilogy. In Psalm 23, however, the psalmist declares that the Sovereign of the universe, the Creator of all things, can be described using "my," that the Lord attends to me in a personal way. God is the one who looks after our lives. In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. It offers a broad overview of each Bible book and the internal consistency that results from having a single commentator. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. For instance, we would emphasize 'I WILL build my church' or 'I will BUILD my church' etc. Many people were praying for me. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. Thank you for registering. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 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. range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed Its also of paramount importance to recognize that the shepherd in this psalm connotes more than someone who merely herds the flock. Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. Jesus honors us by inviting us to his table, saying, This is my body that is for you. They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. And we know the Jesus Himself took upon this title of 'the good Shepherd'. He had been chased and pursued as he ran from his enemies who sought to take his life. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters., God as a shepherd knows where to lead His flock to rest. Entdecke The Macarthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur (2005, Hardcover) in groer Auswahl Vergleichen Angebote und Preise Online kaufen bei eBay Kostenlose Lieferung fr viele Artikel! Later, rabbis often designated it "The Book of Praises." . Pastor John MacArthur. The analogy of a king as a shepherd is common in ancient times and is not unusual. Pastor John MacArthur. 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! On other days, she was on the other side. He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. 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. The Shepherds Crook. He is a popular conference speaker and the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. April 17, 2011. Every Christian is a priest, but he cannot execute the priestly office without unction, and hence we must go day by day to God the Holy Ghost, that we may have our heads anointed with oil. 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. Now mine was a recent silly example. The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. and flame will not scorch you. They believed that something of the persons identity was tied up in the namethat the name expressed something of the persons essential character. David knew all about this. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. [3], The LORD - The first thing to note is the source of David's comfort. He leads me. Is it Messianic? And let's not forget they are prone to wander. David's song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. You can find a family who have brought up children to being young adults and have never owned a bed. Please read and believe! Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . 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.

13821953d2d515350d039a4182d97bd9aa Demi Lovato Getty Images, Make Potato Chips From Instant Mashed Potatoes, Royal Armoured Corps Phase 2 Training, Tesco Pregnancy Test Positive After 10 Minutes, Articles P

psalm 23 commentary john macarthur