psalm 23 commentary john macarthur

David found him so, and so have we. The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol Summer Psalms. Wisdom Literature the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances! (13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal! In extreme cases where a lamb continually wandered off and wouldn't stick with the pack (causing the Shepherd to repeatedly have to go and bring the lamb back) the Shepherd would sometimes break the lamb's leg! Most importantly, I understood that God is with us in life and in deathand so I can truly say that I was not frightened. It is great advice but more than likely it is the most highlighted passage because people are in desperate need to remember it! Death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains. '. 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. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. Forever. It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too. The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! For other references to the shadow of death, see Jeremiah 2:6 and Job 10:21-22. In the presence of my enemies: This is a striking phrase. Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. I will fear no evil, for you are with me (v. 4b). Sermon. a. They are in need of a good shepherd who will provide, protect, and guide his sheep. Blue Letter Bible study tools make reading, searching and studying the Bible easy and rewarding. 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. Gods motivations for treating His people rightly stem from the perfection and goodness of His nature. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time Psalm 23 was written. In the United States, a signal honor would be an invitation to stay overnight in the Lincoln bedroom in the White House. It makes sense. That was his role growing up. (Heb 5:12-14) [8]. 4 (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996), Waltner, James H., Believers Church Bible Commentary: Psalms (Scottdale, Pennsylvania: Herald Press, 2006, Baker, Warren (ed. 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. Major Prophets And let's not forget they are prone to wander. We are well escorted, with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind! (Meyer), iii. It has comforted the noble host of the poor. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Title The entire collection of Psalms is entitled "Praises" in the Hebrew text. Now mine was a recent silly example. Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. The sheep didnt know where the green pastures and still waters were. General Epistles It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. Behold just such a one! This also shows us our need of giving Him His rightful place as Lord over our life. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. So life here for our sheep is one of continual green pastures. The Gospels (23) Seller Location . Dying soldiers have died easier as it was read to them; ghastly hospitals have been illuminated; it has visited the prisoner, and broken his chains, and, like Peter's angel, led him forth in imagination, and sung him back to his home again. It is a treasure chest filled with spiritual truths that encourage many. Now, if you let it and you tended to be a little superstitious, your mind could ponder, and wander, on that a bit. So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. Its also of paramount importance to recognize that the shepherd in this psalm connotes more than someone who merely herds the flock. The New Testament Someone said they are the most stupid animal on the face of the earth. Sure enough, someone guessed pretty quickly that it would be Psalm 23. David reflected on God's many blessings to him and concluded that God would continue to be faithful to him and grant him fellowship in the future. There you have it. 'Blessed be the day on which that Psalm was born! Believe with the same confidence David had. My cup runs over. As the shepherd led the sheep from oasis to oasis, this sometimes meant passing through narrow valleys that had steep cliff faces on each side. The Hebrew word tob has a variety of meanings, such as good, moral, profitable, or plentiful. 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. John MacArthur: The Lord Is My Salvation 92,638 views Jun 16, 2017 1.3K Dislike Share Save Ligonier Ministries 448K subscribers "The Lord is my light and my salvation" (Ps. There is something about people who truly know their God. ), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. They can't run all that fast, don't have the greatest eye sight apparently and, being basically defenceless, are timid and fearful. Just like the sheep, its difficult for us to be at rest when life throws a lot of problems. b. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death: This line from the psalm and the psalm as a whole has proven itself precious to many a dying saint through the ages. I will fear no evil. But Jesus is the good Shepherd. [3]I learnt this when I went to a John Macarthur seminar one time. "Staff," that on which one leans, emblem of Divine strength and . It's not somewhere that you set up camp thinking that is all you will ever know. To be invited to a persons table was an honor. The light shines the brightest in the dark. 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. You prepare a table before me: Without departing from the previous picture of the valley of the shadow of death, David envisioned the provision and goodness given by the LORD as a host, inviting David to a rich table prepared for him. But despite this I got on with her pretty well. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. The shepherd image appears not only as part of the Old Testament but as a vital part of the New Testament as well. He leads me - Jesus our Shepherd is in the business of leading and bringing you to a place of rest. 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). In the Bible, anointing was used to designate a person for a significant role. Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. [1] As I mentioned, this is one famous Psalm. David could say God is my shepherd because of his personal experience. The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. This name is 'Yahweh', the sovereign, almighty, delivering God. They are still waters, for the Holy Ghost loves peace, and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations. Right paths lead to life rather than death (see Matthew 7:13-14). Prophets Follow John MacArthur: Contact Information: Phone: 800-55-GRACE Fax: 661-295-5871 Email: [email protected] . (Kidner). In Psalm 22 He is the foundation; in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation; in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. So I wrote back and said I had done a thorough check and all was well. It talks about humanity, our experiences, and even our emotions. 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. 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! Johannine Writings Nov. 10, 2012. Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. Why is Psalm 23 one of the most well-known Psalms and the favorite biblical passage of many? Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. 1939) is a Calvinist theologian, author, editor, and teacher. The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, 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. It is a Psalm of but 6 verses but countless sermons and entire books have been written on it. 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). Grace Community Church 13248 Roscoe Blvd. 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. Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. John 3:16, Jesus faith love), The Whole Bible Note: MLA no longer requires the URL as part of their citation standard. 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! The New Testament Whatever be the believers position, he is even now under the pastoral care of Jehovah. Beloved, I will ask you now a question. The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. Yea, prosperity not only so intoxicates many, as to carry them . It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! In describing the Lord as a shepherd, David wrote out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. It is for His name's sake and His glory that this is done! 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 Whole Bible Historical Books [9] As Jesus Himself said, 'You are the light of the world. God is holy, and takes his holy name seriously: Since God is holy, we as Gods people need to insure that we do not tarnish his name by our wrongful words or actions. ii. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. Sep 8, 1980. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. But he also knew something else. The psalmist has been talking about God in the third person (he). i. This psalm is so personal, with the pronoun I or My, being used commonly. So our great Shepherd protects and provides for His sheep during their life on this earth. ), 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. Near death, the saint still calmly walks he does not need to quicken his pace in alarm or panic. Depression and other illnesses can enshroud us in darkness and threaten us with death. Pastor John MacArthur. Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. David had it right in placing his trust in the one true God who controls all things. The Gospels 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. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd.