Near death, the saint still calmly walks he does not need to quicken his pace in alarm or panic. Can you say that about your life? Believe with the same confidence David had. 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! In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v. 4b). And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. They probably are anxious about different things. Most scholars account this Psalm to Davids maturity that contains vivid reminiscence of his youth as a shepherd. Major Prophets It works. Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! John MacArthur Bible Commentaries | Review - YouTube Many people succumb to their hopelessness and fear. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. Fortunately, I had insurance that would allow my family to weather the storm financially. These valleys were often dark because of the shadow caused by the cliffs, and they were a favourite place for predators to hide in. [9] As Jesus Himself said, 'You are the light of the world. John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. He had known famine. In this article, well be talking about the commentary of Psalm 23 and explore more about its meaning. Bible Commentary by John Macarthur - AbeBooks The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. It means to actively pursue, to chase, and normally in a negative sense as when Pharaoh chased Israel at the exodus. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. [12] You will only be able to say that if you have truly come to know the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd. Nor have I ever heard an audible voice that was clearly God's telling me which decisions to make. He wants to genuinely bless His people and live in the abundance of His grace. Title: 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 X 2.75 (inches) Weight: 3 pounds 11 ounces ISBN: 0785250662 ISBN-13: 9780785250661 Stock No: WW250662 Related Products The Jesus You Can't Ignore: Study $7.49 $9.99 Save 25% Psalms Commentaries & Sermons | Precept Austin 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.. 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. (23) Seller Location . Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. He was faithful in caring for his flock and never complained about his responsibilities. But observe: Thou preparest a table, just as a servant does when she unfolds the damask cloth and displays the ornaments of the feast on an ordinary peaceful occasion. Thank you for registering. Oh! These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. (Heb 5:12-14) [8]. God saved (Israel) for his names sake, that he might make his mighty power known (Psalm 106:8). You anoint my head with oil; Pastor John MacArthur. Ethan Collins November 17, 2020, Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. There are only 6 verses but these terms are used about 30 times! No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! God longs to bless and prosper His people. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. David gives a beautiful picture: table suggests bounty; prepare suggests foresight and care; before me suggests the personal connection. David could say God is my shepherd because of his personal experience. The concept dates back to the Book of Genesis when Jacob referred to the LORD as the Shepherd and the Rock of Israel (Genesis 49:24). Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey Share. He was the son of Jesse and a direct descendant of Abraham. (Kidner). And David knew that this would carry on all the days of his life. We are smart enough to do this in the physical. 'Was it just a silly dream or something more spiritual?' Prophets Regardless of destitution, famine, storms, and other uncertainties, Gods flock is well-provided for in all seasons. The word restore implies the notion of a rescued one. Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. 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 you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a The good man has his enemies. 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! The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. Beloved, I will ask you now a question. Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. The Whole Bible ), Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. 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! Major Prophets Taking the Lord's Supper in an Unworthy Manner. 'You are with me' the Psalmist says and that is all that he needs to know. Psalms 23 - The Pulpit Commentaries - StudyLight.org Psalm 23 distinctively stands out compared to other chapters in the Book of Psalms and receives a larger magnitude of respect. The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol | Desiring God The rod and staff were comforting to the sheep, because both were intended for the sheeps benefit. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. "Depth and strength underlie the simplicity of this psalm. [13] And His goodness and kindness will always follow you. Basically fear tactics. With joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). 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] . This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or surely is set as a seal upon it. Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. 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. [7] This was brought home to me this week in an email from a Kenyan Pastor. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. God ultimately protects and provides for His flock and does everything in His power to care for them. If we could be saved from wrath, and yet remain unregenerate, impenitent sinners, we should not be saved as we desire, for we mainly and chiefly pant to be saved from sin and led in the way of holiness.[4]. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. 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. ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. Guidance -- for He leads me in the paths of righteousness. But he would then carry that lamb while its leg mended and apparently, once healed, that lamb would never wander off from the shepherd again. He leads me. Gods motivations for treating His people rightly stem from the perfection and goodness of His nature. Jesus honored his disciples by inviting them to a table where he served them bread, saying, I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God (Luke 22:15-16). 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. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. 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. ), The Complete WordStudy Old Testament (Chattanooga; AMG Publishers, 1994), Baker, Warren and Carpenter, Eugene, The Complete WordStudy Dictionary: Old Testament (Chattanooga: AMG Publishers, 2003), Bromiley, Geoffrey (General Editor), The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, 4 vols. You can find a family who have brought up children to being young adults and have never owned a bed. General Epistles These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. [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. He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. We need to hear those words as if God intended them for usbecause he did. How marvellous it is that weak, fearful people can be given such confidence through a simple trust in the ability of their shepherd! The rest of the Psalm exhibits the shepherding care of God that is essential to life. Are any of us low in grace? It is for 'His name's sake' that He does this. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. We may request cookies to be set on your device. 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! Cookie Notice: The Middle Eastern shepherds in Israel didn't drive their sheep their sheep followed them. I started off by saying that I wanted to have a look at what is probably the most popular chapter in the entire Old Testament. Ouch. 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. He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. It is to live with Him. (Kidner), ii. Historical Books i. It makes sense. Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. Enduring Word Bible Commentary Psalm 23 Psalm 23 Bible Study - Jesus our Great Shepherd! - Jesus Plus Nothing I live in New Zealand, and yes, I know, we have more sheep than people! (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2006-2009), VanGemeren, Willem A. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. It's not for the goats. John MacArthur (b. It is a psalm which has been sung by good Christians, and will be while the world stands, with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. His future return for His people as the King of Glory!