psalm 23 commentary john macarthur

Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Most scholars account this Psalm to Davids maturity that contains vivid reminiscence of his youth as a shepherd. For I am Yahweh your God, May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm! He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. (Jer 23:1-4, Ezek 34:1-10) Work to be a faithful shepherd realising that it is God's own sheep that He has placed in your care. Guidance -- for He leads me in the paths of righteousness. Psalm 23 - Sermon On the Lord is My Shepherd - Study and Obey It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. i. Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. God is the one who looks after our lives. Major Prophets No matter his present environment, David could look to the fact of Gods shepherd-like presence and know, You are with me and I will fear no evil.. conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy '. So God will always lead us into that which is right and that which is true. But he also knew something else. 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. One can rightly say that we face only the shadow of death because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place. How would it be with you if God had filled your cup in proportion to your faith? The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. It is a great comfort to know that God will correct us when we need it. It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! As I said, it wasn't all easy and plain sailing being a sheep in Israel however. Johannine Writings 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. Do you? The idea that the LORD is a shepherd to His people is also prevalent throughout the Bible. 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. The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. Pentateuch The good man has his enemies. It may portray the straying sheep brought back. He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! Major Prophets Together with goodness it suggests the steady kindness and support that one can count on in the family or between firm friends. (Kidner), ii. However, he was confident that God is with him all the time. And, then, it is not the valley of death, but the valley of the shadow of death, for death in its substance has been removed, and only the shadow of it remains Nobody is afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a mans pathway even for a moment. He had known famine. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. General Epistles They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. 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. When explaining why he was restoring Israel, God said, I dont do this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations, where you went. The emphasis of his pulpit ministry is the careful study and verse-by-verse exposition of the Bible, with special attention devoted to the historical and grammatical background behind each passage. So many people place their trust and hope is all sorts of things. Major Prophets Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. This is a psalm of trust and confidence in God's goodness in the present and in the future. He is that interested in each of His sheep! Pastor John MacArthur. What confidence for this life this should give us as we believe it in faith! Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. "Staff," that on which one leans, emblem of Divine strength and . The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. 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. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. This unspeakably delightful verse has been sung on many a dying bed, and has helped to make the dark valley bright times out of mind. The green pastures and waters spoken of in this verse were often some distance apart and the shepherd would have to lead his flock to these places. The Whole Bible The Macarthur Bible Commentary by John MacArthur (2005, Hardcover It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time Psalm 23 was written. You prepare a table (Hebrew: sulhan) before me in the presence of my enemies (v. 5a). i. [13] And His goodness and kindness will always follow you. (wpe). Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. David knew all about this. and Kahane, Ahuvia, The Oxford English-Hebrew Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 1998), Fohrer, Georg, Hebrew & Aramaic Dictionary of the Old Testament (SCM Press, 2012), Freedman, David Noel (ed. My cup runs over. and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). And yet through it all he could look back and write 'the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want'. Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him His present care and provision for His people Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins. He served them bread, saying, Take, eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28). It has comforted the noble host of the poor. But the valley was always there, casting its shadow over her life. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? In New Zealand (where I live) all of our farms and fields seem to be 'green pastures' and the sheep tend to munch all day! The MacArthur Bible Commentary | Logos Bible Software c. I will fear no evil: Despite every dark association with the idea of the valley of the shadow of death, David could resolutely say this because he was under the care of the LORD his shepherd. We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. But the confidence David had is that the great shepherd will always know what we need and when to provide it. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. (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 an Ending Point iv. THE LORD AS SHEPHERD 1 Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select a Beginning Point It is a Psalm of but 6 verses but countless sermons and entire books have been written on it. [3]I learnt this when I went to a John Macarthur seminar one time. 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. The Gospels Thank God for such times! 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. Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. Psalm 23:4 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 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. David claimed that the same God who faithfully rescued the Israelites from Egypt and provided guidance and provision in the wilderness is the same faithful God he served. Grace Community Church 13248 Roscoe Blvd. Psalm 23 Bible Study - Jesus our Great Shepherd! - Jesus Plus Nothing Let us stick close to Him and thank Him for His wonderful grace. Pentateuch In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. But Jesus is the good Shepherd. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. Psalms 25:4-5 Make me know Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment. (Spurgeon). In my experience I have never seen a visible manifestation of God going before me at a fork in the road. The first time through the dark valley is always scary. Luke-Acts It isnt his destination or dwelling place. And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. Sep 8, 1980. Lord's Day Services. There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. 'Do I need to be extra careful?' When God anoints us with His oil, He guards us against the parasites of this world that seek to destroy us. 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. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. Provision -- for Thou prepare a table before me. 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.. 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. Hundreds of additional study tools complement the commentary, such as. If things are tough, remember this verse. 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). The ASV, which is also in the public domain due to expired copyrights, was a very good translation, but included many archaic words (hast, shineth, etc. It offers a broad overview of each Bible book and the internal consistency that results from having a single commentator. Prophets Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.. The Pearl of the Psalms: Spurgeon on Psalm 23 David could say God is my shepherd because of his personal experience. Psalm 23 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible Scripture: Psalm 23. Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells Davids relationship with God as his shepherd. That was a question that was once sent to me. The word hesed also has a variety of meanings kindness, lovingkindness, mercy, goodness, faithfulness, or love. Every Christian is a priest, but he cannot execute the priestly office without unction, and hence we must go day by day to God the Holy Ghost, that we may have our heads anointed with oil. They also enjoy the enthusiastic company of their fifteen grandchildren. A lot of people are suffering mentally, emotionally, and financially. As you survey your life, what path has God led and guided you through? Arno C Gaebelin said (with some small modifications): A good way to read this Psalm is by asking the question, 'What shall I not want?' range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed Solid Joys. It is a treasure chest filled with spiritual truths that encourage many. Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Though not often recited in its entirety, few are unfamiliar with the famous valley of the shadow of death..