The Longing / Psalm 42 It has poured balm and consolation into the heart of the sick, of captives in dungeons, of widows in their pinching griefs, of orphans in their loneliness. -------------------- (Horne). 23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Prophets David found comfort and security in the thought that God cared for him like a shepherd cares for his sheep. Although the presence of the LORD does not eliminate fear and the presence of evil, it certainly banishes the fear of evil. a. In the same way, the LORD not only equips believers to become effective in their ministry; He also anoints them with oil. God was like a shepherd to David, and David was like a sheep to God. READ: PSALM 23 REVIEW: Last week we saw all that the Lord as our Shepherd does for us as His sheep in verses 1-3. i. We do not have to struggle to make ends meet. ii. iv. Poetical Books All the days of my life; -------------------- The great God of the universe has stooped to take just such care of you and me." 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. "These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. Poetical Books "It may picture the straying sheep brought back, as in Isaiah 49:5, or perhaps Psalm 60:1 (Hebrew 60:3), which use the same verb, whose intransitive sense is often 'repent' or 'be converted' (eg. -------------------- Instead of worrying, why not trust God for what only He can provide? 3. Required fields are marked *, © 2020 Biblical Christianity | Powered by, All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. He leads me: The shepherd was a guide. The in-text colors make the page look better and organized. I would guess if you asked most believers they could quote the first line. We might say that the shepherd's presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. 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. Just like David who is so confident that he will never lack God’s leading in his life, we can also be confident of God’s leading in our life not only because He is our Shepherd but also because His name is on the line. Overwhelmingly, the idea behind God's role as shepherd is a loving care and concern. Historical Books i. Restores may picture the rescue of a lost one. The 2nd and 3rd lines tell us that as a shepherd leads his flock, so God guides His people in the right paths – the paths of righteousness. The Protector / Psalm 141. David enjoyed the richness of the LORD’s goodness as his host and he was also refreshed by a head that was anointed with oil. The LORD our Shepherd also has His rod and staff which He uses to protect, guide or at times push us on the right path. (Psa 23:4) The gift of the Shepherd's presence. ", iii. We must understand that sheep are not the smartest animals; they need someone to guide, protect, correct and take care of them. A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point By proceeding, you consent to our cookie usage. One of the greatest lessons we learn from Psalm 23 is that every person who belongs to God’s flock (by trusting in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior) is individually cared for as one of God’s sheep. The New Testament Hosea 14:1f. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever: 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. conveys David’s thought that God will sustain and renew his life by supplying him with the necessary provisions of food and water that sheep require. When David said, “The Lord is my shepherd,” he’s saying that the LORD was a real, personal shepherd for him and not just for others in a theoretical sense. Satisfaction comes only as a result of the provision and peace that comes from our sheep/shepherd relationship with God. He had been a shepherd, and he was not ashamed of his former occupation. But when their stomachs are full they will find a quiet place and lie down. Like many others, this beloved Psalm bears the simple title, A Psalm of David. Significantly, it is at the dangerous moment pictured in the Psalm that the "He" of Psalm 23:1-3 changes to "You." b. - Zechariah 13:7 speaks of the Messiah as the Shepherd who will be struck, and the sheep scattered (quoted in Matthew 26:31). Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: The host's care brought the goodness and mercy of God to David, and he lived in the faithful expectation of it continuing all the days of his life. The Gospels Archived Questions. (Morgan). Only if we walk in paths of righteousness can we uphold the reputation of the Good Shepherd. b. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point "While I am here I will be a child at home with my God; the whole world shall be his house to me; and when I ascend into the upper chamber I shall not change my company, nor even change the house; I shall only go to dwell in the upper storey of the house of the Lord for ever." Let us now explore and study the passage phrase by phrase: The use of the present tense verb “is” means “The Lord is shepherding me,” indicating an ongoing relationship. Death stands by the side of the highway in which we have to travel, and the light of heaven shining upon him throws a shadow across our path; let us then rejoice that there is a light beyond. 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 Whole Bible c. I shall not want: For David, the fact of God's shepherd-like care was the end of dissatisfied need. Psalm 15. God’s Faithfulness / Psalm 146. The Old Testament Today’s article is a Bible study on Psalm 23, also called the “Shepherd’s Psalm.” What is this psalm all about and what principles can be applied in the lives of believers in the 21st century? Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year. Some one has said that when there is a shadow there must be light somewhere, and so there is. amzn_assoc_title = "My Amazon Picks"; Psalm 5. "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. Error: Passwords should have at least 6 characters, Error: Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. (For some possible ideas, see the following... 3) For a person to claim, “The Lord is my shepherd,” what … amzn_assoc_asins = "1414359810,141855037X,0310517826,0310286700"; This is the most powerful line in this psalm. The Old Testament What can you remember about this Psalm? (Spurgeon), iii. - In Psalm 28:9 David invited the LORD to shepherd the people of Israel, and to bear them up forever. But beyond the literal meaning of physical nourishment and rest, it appears that there is a spiritual meaning implied in this phrase as suggested by David’s use of the same expression to “restore the soul” in Psalm 19:7. Psalm 16. The Creator / Psalm 95. c. He leads me beside the still waters: The shepherd knows when the sheep needs green pastures, and knows when the sheep needs the still waters. Most account it to be a Psalm of David's maturity, but with vivid remembrance of his youth as a shepherd. This is the most powerful line in this psalm. What kind of reputation do you think would God earn for Himself if He were careless with those who belong in His charge? a. Share what Psalm 23 means to you. In this 7-session study by Jennifer Rothschild, gain fresh insight and encouragement from Psalm 23. The Path / Psalm 1. Near death, the saint still calmly walks - he does not need to quicken his pace in alarm or panic. . (See also Ezekiel 34:15.) God is our Shepherd and like a Good Shepherd, He will provide for His own for every need we will ever have (Philippians 4:19). Notice that it says, “He makes me to lie down …,” it implies that the sheep don’t always know what it needs and what is best for itself; it needs help from the shepherd. His Presence / Psalm 84. [A new version of this page can be found here], Like many others, this beloved Psalm bears the simple title, A Psalm of David. he’s saying that the LORD was a real, personal shepherd for him and not just for others in a theoretical sense. 1. Today’s article is a Bible study on Psalm 23, also called the “Shepherd’s Psalm.” What is this psalm all about and what principles can be applied in the lives of believers in the 21st century? There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. In one sense, this was not unusual. -------------------- ii. In the NLT (New Living Translation) the phrase says, “I have all that I need.”. 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 the Lord our God is sufficient and with Him, we need nothing else. We too need a shepherd, the Lord Jesus, who loves, guides, protects, corrects and cares for us. A shepherd provides food and rests for his sheep but God provides His sheep with spiritual nourishment, rest and restoration through His Word. Our Response / Psalm 138. The LORD is my shepherd: David thought about God, the God of Israel; as he thought about his relationship with God, he made the analogy of a Shepherd and his sheep. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. Hebrews 13:20 speaks of Jesus as that great Shepherd of the sheep, and 1 Peter 2:25 calls Jesus the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls and 1 Peter 5:4 calls Jesus the Chief Shepherd. "It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too…The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment." all the questions. David felt that he needed a shepherd. Johannine Writings This reminds us of Jesus who said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The phrase. Ministers have used it to comfort people who are going through severe personal trials, suffering illness, or dying. It wasn't just that the LORD was a shepherd for others in theoretical sense; He was a real, personal shepherd for David himself. What does it mean that my help comes from the Lord (Psalm 121:2)? God not only walks before us and leads us to a place of rest and refreshment, but His goodness follows us as well. The shadow of a dog cannot bite; the shadow of a sword cannot kill; the shadow of death cannot destroy us." Pentateuch Other items you'll need: You’ll need a Bible, a notebook and something to write with. David's soul was restored by the figurative green pastures and still waters the shepherd brought him to. Prophets amzn_assoc_region = "US"; This reminds us of Jesus who said. But when their stomachs are full they will find a quiet place and lie down. Do you know that it is almost impossible to make sheep lie down while they are hungry? amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "alysanna-20"; What a great comfort to know that the LORD will provide for our every need; that He will give us rest when we’re weary, He drives away all fears and will lead us down the path of righteousness for His name’s sake, that He will guide, preserve and protect us, does not withhold any good things from us, and that He will come for us someday and take us to heaven for the wedding banquet (1 Thessalonians 4:13-19; John 14:1-3). i. 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." Minor Prophets We understand that a shadow is not tangible, but is cast by something that is. The story takes a negative turn … Anyway, I will look into this and share with you what I will discover. In the same way, a good father will provide for his child’s every need. "Those that have this happiness must carry their cup upright, and see that it overflows into their poor brethren's emptier vessels." As a shepherd, Phillip Keller shares his insights into the life and character of sheep―and of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for them. He was refreshed by a head anointed with oil; his cup was over-filled. A cup that is running over could be a symbol of abundance, not only in terms of physical provisions but also of spiritual blessings. i. Psalm 14. Psalm 1. God was like a shepherd to David, and David was like a sheep to God. The images are rich with the sense of comfort, care, and rest. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer." Minor Prophets Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. However, Charles Spurgeon said that before one can truly say, “The Lord is my shepherd,” he must first acknowledge and feel in himself that he has the nature of a sheep. Psalm 13. He could say, "my shepherd." And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Historical Books John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible It has comforted the noble host of the poor. - The idea of Jesus as the Good Shepherd was precious to early Christians. He restores my soul; The heart of this Psalm doesn't connect with the self-sufficient. The adequate provision of lush pastureland to which the shepherd has led his sheep will cause them to lie down and res, You cannot drive sheep. i. Should everyone have a quiver full of children (Psalm 127:5)? a. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: This is the first dark note in this beautiful Psalm. Psalm 23 is the psalm of a contented heart. The Confession / Psalm 51. Most account it to be a Psalm of David's maturity, but with vivid remembrance of his youth as a shepherd. Psalm 7. The Hebrew word for staff (mishaynaw) seems to speak of "a support" in the sense of a walking stick. The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. For David, God desired to lead him down the paths of uprightness during his reign as king and enable him to win his battles in order to possess the land God has promised to them. This means that no matter where we are, no matter what we’ve done, and no matter what our circumstances might be, God’s goodness and loving kindness will pursue us to uphold us, care for us, challenge us and forgive us. 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