psalm 23 commentary john macarthur psalm 23 commentary john macarthur

But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. God is the one who looks after our lives. His future return for His people as the King of Glory! As someone who worked as a shepherd before, David knew that shepherds live with their flock and are everything to it: guide, protector, and source of provision. However, Gods care for David doesnt remove the presence of his adversaries. ), 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. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). Learn More | Livestream | Bulletin Servicios en espaol. [7], 5001 North Oak Trafficway If God is our shepherd then we must obey Him wholeheartedly. When flies or parasites annoy them, its hard for them to be at rest. He is not just a 'good shepherd'. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. But if it is an honor to be invited to the Presidents home, it is an infinitely greater honor to be invited to the Lords house. 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. God's Testimony to the Scriptures. Like the Preacher in Ecclesiastes, David might say that all of life is lived under the shadow of death, and it is the conscious presence of the LORD as shepherd that makes it bearable. Now mine was a recent silly example. We need to hear those words as if God intended them for usbecause he did. 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! Because the sheep have this tendency to wander and get lost, a shepherd must always guide them in the right direction. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. This magazine often included an exposition of a psalm, and in the 1866 publication Spurgeon featured Psalm 23. There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. The shepherd image appears not only as part of the Old Testament but as a vital part of the New Testament as well. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Provision -- for Thou prepare a table before me. Notice the following -. John MacArthur (b. Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. General Epistles He is utterly trustworthy. But, God as our shepherd provides peace that transcends all understanding. Sheep are easy targets for parasites, lice, and flies. When things were hard for Joe Christian you would hear the pastor encourage him saying 'Jesus will never leave or forsake you - take heart!' Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Psalm 23:4 I will fear no evil, for you are with me, There is a switch here from 'He' to 'You'. Still, David has decided to praise God no matter what happens. Verses 1-6. You can also change some of your preferences. What are these still waters but the influences and graces of his blessed Spirit? 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. Its evident in this verse how David recognizes Gods lordship over his life. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. Guess I had put my eyes on the problem too much! There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. And David knew that this would carry on all the days of his life. 'Blessed be the day on which that Psalm was born! GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. I'm sure you are smart enough to see the analogy between Jesus and His sheep today. He leads me - Jesus our Shepherd is in the business of leading and bringing you to a place of rest. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us. John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Master's University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. I had good medical care. The MacArthur Bible Commentary treats every passage of the Old and New Testaments phrase by phrase, with hundreds of word studies and sidebars throughout. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Luke-Acts So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. Though the majority of the occurrences of hesed are translated steadfast love, there are undeniable elements of mercy and kindness that underlie each of these occurrences (Renn, 633-634). Pastor and teacher John MacArthur covers the complete Bibleevery passage of the Old and New Testaments, phrase by phrasein this valuable one-volume resource. 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% With joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! When we get tired we take a rest. ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. I need to know you are well.' Play. Companionship -- for you are with me. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). Ouch. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. 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. The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all he snatches a hasty meal, and away he hastens to the fight. However, many scholars believed David wrote it during his kingship (around 1000 BC to 993 BC). 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. What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007), Freedman, David Noel (Ed. David wrote about this in Psalm 25. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4a). You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. On other days, she was on the other side. No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal! Jesus told the Samaritan woman, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water (John 4:10). In the presence of my enemies: This is a striking phrase. Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. Prophets He is. Why is Psalm 23 one of the most well-known Psalms and the favorite biblical passage of many? Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. This also shows us our need of giving Him His rightful place as Lord over our life. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time Psalm 23 was written. Johannine Writings It isnt his destination or dwelling place. John Piper Sep 1, 1980. Pastor John MacArthur. The instruments used by the shepherd comforted David. 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. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). Passwords should have at least 6 characters. But whether our fears are irrational or based on very real circumstances, our need to remember the Lord is the same. The sheep knew that the shepherd was the one who protected them and cared for them. What are these green pastures but the Scriptures of truthalways fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? 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 one-volume commentary on the entire Bible from one of America's foremost Bible expositors offers instead a minilibrary of understandable resources designed to convey the Bible's overarching message with historical and theological clarity. He is the source of life and a great provider. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. The good man has his enemies. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point Most scholars account this Psalm to Davids maturity that contains vivid reminiscence of his youth as a shepherd. Notice however that the Psalmist says he 'walks through' this valley. Text: Psalm 23 Ministry: Anchored. Best known for his expository exegesis of the Bible . The first time through the dark valley is always scary. He is no longer speaking about God, but is instead speaking to God. Pastor John MacArthur. Our God protects His people, and His presence brings comfort to eliminate the fear of evil. Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. I will fear no evil. He will never, ever, leave you! God longs to bless and prosper His people. He had known famine. Please see our Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! 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. We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. Fortunately, I had insurance that would allow my family to weather the storm financially. Grace Community Church 13248 Roscoe Blvd. 'Is something bad going to happen to 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. It is what the Apostle Paul knew when he wrote: Philippians 4:11-13 I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. [5] We need to make sure that we have a Middle Eastern understanding of the Shepherd. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. When I was serving in Vietnam as a chaplain, I visited soldiers in the A Shau Valley near Laos. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. Pauline Epistles i. In Psalm 22 He dies; in Psalm 23 He is living; in Psalm 24 He is coming. Psalm 23 symbolizes the human race as a flock and God as their Shepherd. Psalms 23. Just like the sheep, its difficult for us to be at rest when life throws a lot of problems. But mostly, they were comforting because they were in the hands of a caring shepherd. Almost everyone, whether religious or not, has heard Psalm 23 because it is quoted so frequently. We may request cookies to be set on your device. They are times, as the Psalm says, when He restores your soul spiritually. God is. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Historical Books He had known feast. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD It is a valley of the shadow of death, facing what seemed to David as the ultimate defeat and evil. The light shines the brightest in the dark. The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him. See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. People need comfort and encouragement. When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. 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). And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. It leads to burn out, break downs and depression. (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1979-1988), Brown, Francis; Driver, S.R. He rammed it home so much that come lunch time we were saying 'I WILL eat my lunch', 'I will EAT my lunch.' It could also refer to a piece of furniture like the tables that we know today. He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. We are smart enough to do this in the physical. Please visit: https://www.bestbiblecommentaries.comPlease visit: www.bestbiblecommentaries.comBrowse John MacArthur's bible commentaries on Amazon:https://am. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.' What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. April 17, 2011. When people die, we think of them as having entered the valley of the shadow of death, but the same is true for their loved ones. Now David wasn't saying here that 'the Lord is my Shepherd, whom I do not want'! You anoint my head with oil. 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. For I am Yahweh your God, [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. Forgiveness -- for He restores my soul. Play. John Piper Sep 8, 1980 John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible 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. Giving without a Whisper by C. H. Spurgeon, Know, Known, Knowledge, Unknown - Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, David Guzik :: Hechos 9 La Conversin de Saulo de Tarso, David Guzik :: Mateo 4 La Tentacin de Jess y Su Primer Ministerio en Galilea, David Guzik :: Hechos 2 El Espritu Santo Es Derramado Sobre la Iglesia, David Guzik :: Apocalipsis 20 Satans, el Pecado y la Muerte son Finalmente Eliminados, David Guzik :: 2 Timoteo 3 Los Tiempos Peligrosos y la Preciosa Verdad, David Guzik :: Apocalipsis 12 La Mujer, el Nio, y el Dragn, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jesus and the Holy Trinity (Walter Martin), Matthew 18-19 (1982-85 Audio) (Chuck Smith), Genesis 1:1-8 (1979-82 Audio) (Chuck Smith), John 12 - Sir, We Would See Jesus (Chuck Missler), Genesis 2-3 (1979-82 Audio) (Chuck Smith). Make sure your view of the 'Good Shepherd' Jesus is the right one! They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. He is a great shepherd. Jesus took this name for Himself when He said 'Before Abraham was born, I AM!' That was a question that was once sent to me. 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. Each chapter begins with several questions under the title "PREPARE TO MEET GOD." . Major Prophets With family of say, a mother, a father, 3 or four children, and only one in the family working and bringing in 3 dollars (a day), it would takes ages before one can afford to buy anything extra, even clothes or even a blanket. 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. Comfort -- for your rod and Thy staff comfort me. Minor Prophets It is a great comfort to know that God will correct us when we need it. When God anoints us with His oil, He guards us against the parasites of this world that seek to destroy us. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Though not often recited in its entirety, few are unfamiliar with the famous valley of the shadow of death.. He is in control. 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! John MacArthur, Pastor-Teacher. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. David could confidently write the second phrase because he experienced the provision and providence of God in his life. God as our shepherd not only leads but restores as well. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLordforever. Wisdom Literature I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. But it is still the path that leads to righteousness. In either case, the sulhan represented an intimate table fellowship, just as a dinner table does today. When faced with destitution, famine, pressures, financial difficulty, and depression, its hard to remain calm and tranquil. All of John's 3,000 sermons, spanning more than four decades of ministry, are available for free on the Grace to You website. Nothing is outside of His control. Historical Books [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. i. You anoint my head with oil; The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. He is the Shepherd that tends to His flock. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Historical Books Was it where you thought you would go? Most importantly, I understood that God is with us in life and in deathand so I can truly say that I was not frightened. . In this context, it suggests blessings that will help the psalmist. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. 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.