psalm 23 commentary john macarthur

The Hebrew word rewayah suggests abundanceeven superabundance. the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! The anointed writer of Psalm 23 was King David. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? Later, rabbis often designated it "The Book of Praises." . The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of a support in the sense of a walking stick. The hosts care and concern doesnt eliminate the presence of my enemies but enables the experience of Gods goodness and bounty even in their midst. [1], It is not only I do not want, but I shall not want. Come what may, if famine should devastate the land, or calamity destroy the city, I shall not want. Old age with its feebleness shall not bring me any lack, and even death with its gloom shall not find me destitute. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. The New Testament speaks of Jesus as anointed (Luke 4:18; John 20:31; Acts 5:42; Hebrews 1:9, etc.). Liberated for Life : Galatians - a Bible Commentary for Laymen by John F. MacArthur and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. He had been chased and pursued as he ran from his enemies who sought to take his life. ii. for his names sake (v. 3c). Which is it? There you have it. Pentateuch What 1 Corinthians 13 is to weddings, Psalm 23 is to funerals. The analogy of a king as a shepherd is common in ancient times and is not unusual. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. In the United States, a signal honor would be an invitation to stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the author's heart and trust in God. God shines His light into our lives. It is a great comfort to know that God will correct us when we need it. He is the source of life and a great provider. He is a great shepherd. The word through is important. Now David wasn't saying here that 'the Lord is my Shepherd, whom I do not want'! 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. I'll close with this for is gives a great summary of the wonderful provision of God as outlined in this Psalm. It is a psalm written by David who grew up as a shepherd. 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). He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. It's not for the goats. And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal! Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. It may portray the straying sheep brought back. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! They can't run all that fast, don't have the greatest eye sight apparently and, being basically defenceless, are timid and fearful. David had had the highs of defeating Goliath to the lows of running for his life and hiding in caves from Saul. I have a lady at my work who, after saying something that she felt may tempt fate, said 'touch wood'. God is. Psalm 19. Forever. Site by Mere. Jesus the Messiah was also a descendant of King David. Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! Psalm 23 Many of David's psalms are full of complaints, but this is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God's great goodness and dependence upon him. Together with goodness it suggests the steady kindness and support that one can count on in the family or between firm friends. (Kidner), ii. In Psalms 23:3, Psalms 23:4 the spiritual meaning shines through the figure, as in Psalms 23:5, Psalms 23:6 it is laid aside altogether; yet still the psalmist speaks of the "rod and staff." "Rod," the shepherd's crook, the received emblem of authority, guidance, and discipline. Now mine was a recent silly example. The shepherd certainly did not remove the presence of evil but removed the fear of evil. Mercy is the covenant-word rendered steadfast love elsewhere. The rod and staff were comforting to the sheep, because both were intended for the sheeps benefit. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Psalm 23 Bible Study - Jesus our Great Shepherd! So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. Minor Prophets Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. The Gospels General Epistles It becomes more personal in this valley! When God anoints us with His oil, He guards us against the parasites of this world that seek to destroy us. This table represents all the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. Shepherd - This imagery of the shepherd and sheep spans the entire Bible but is most prominent in the New Testament where Jesus speaks about His relationship with His people, His sheep. Minor Prophets The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol Summer Psalms. 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! Wisdom Literature Forgiveness -- for He restores my soul. Interactive Bible study with John Piper. Everything in eternity -- for I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. And he awaits the day when the great shepherd will become the chief Shepherd and shall come in the skies. Pastor John MacArthur. People need to know this beautiful Psalm of David to reorient and renew their thinking. d. For You are with me: This emphasizes that it is the presence of the shepherd that eliminated the fear of evil for the sheep. [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. Our God does not withhold anything good from His flock. The Gospels (General Editor), New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology & Exegesis, 5 vol., (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1997), All Rights Reserved | 1997-2023 Richard Niell Donovan. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. 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 a Beginning Point 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLordforever. The MacArthur Bible Commentary. Though not often recited in its entirety, few are unfamiliar with the famous valley of the shadow of death.. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? The New Testament What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. For instance, we would emphasize 'I WILL build my church' or 'I will BUILD my church' etc. Regardless of destitution, famine, storms, and other uncertainties, Gods flock is well-provided for in all seasons. Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. Basically fear tactics. This gives us amazing confidence when we need it most. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. They know that through all things, Jesus is a good shepherd. You prepare a table (Hebrew: sulhan) before me in the presence of my enemies (v. 5a). 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. His past death for His people Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. It could also refer to a piece of furniture like the tables that we know today. Psalm 23:4 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! 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. The other thing to note on this point is that the entire psalm is only valid for those who truly have Jesus as their shepherd. All of John's 3,000 sermons, spanning more than four decades of ministry, are available for free on the Grace to You website. 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). The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. Pauline Epistles 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. The anointing of oil to the sheep isnt just a meaningless ritual. 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! He is utterly trustworthy. 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.

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psalm 23 commentary john macarthur