psalm 23 commentary john macarthur
Sure enough, someone guessed pretty quickly that it would be Psalm 23. MON 10/20/2014. This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. 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 The promises are for those who have been born again not those who simply like the sound of it for a funeral! He is no longer speaking about God, but is instead speaking to God. Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. One can rightly say that we face only the shadow of death because Jesus took the full reality of death in our place. Play. 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. Davids former occupation was a humble shepherd. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. In Psalm 23, God has answered this prayer God has led him in paths of righteousness. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. Again, there is comfort in the fact that God directs us and even discipline from the Lord (pulling us back into line!) There is no if nor but, nor even I hope so; but he says, The Lord is my shepherd. (Charles Spurgeon). It wasn't a nice dream at all '. It was never used on the sheep. We must surrender our desires and follow where He leads no matter the cost. We may request cookies to be set on your device. iv. If you are truly saved He will never leave you all the days of your life! Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. Pentateuch A number of our soldiers died there. The profound way of weaving Davids testimony to bring glory to God through this Psalm is utterly magnificent. It is for 'His name's sake' that He does this. 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! Best known for his expository exegesis of the Bible . But we need to learn to lie down. God's eternal desire is that He would have many sons and daughters who display His glory and light within them. On still other days, she found herself walking through the middle of the valley. It has remanded to their dungeon more felon thoughts, more black doubts, more thieving sorrows, than there are sands on the sea-shore. Pauline Epistles Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. The paths that the Shepherd takes us on are the righteous or 'right' paths. And then the same thing will happen tomorrow. He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. i. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. The light shines the brightest in the dark. May we live in the daily enjoyment of this blessing, receiving a fresh anointing for every days duties. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. It is getting harder to live on this planet - from a health point of view, from a financial point of view, from a spiritual and moral point of view, from a fear and anxiety point of view - there is much that a person could be concerned about. The shepherds guidance not only comforted and restored David but also led His sheep to righteousness. [10] We have another source of confidence in our shepherd Jesus that even David didn't have when he wrote this psalm 3000 years ago. He is. Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. You may be in a dark place but you must keep walking. That was a question that was once sent to me. David had extreme confidence in who God IS right now! And I used to always think 'Well! No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! The Believer's Confession of Sin. Although God, by his benefits, gently allures us to himself, as it were by a taste of his fatherly sweetness, yet there is nothing into which we more easily fall than into a forgetfulness of him, when we are in the enjoyment of peace and comfort. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. Joy -- You anoint my head with oil and my cup runs over. She is a lady that is unfortunately into the New Age and has spirit guides etc She doesn't agree with what I believe nor do I agree with her beliefs. 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. (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2007), Freedman, David Noel (Ed. This gives us amazing confidence when we need it most. This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! Why the double standard of confusing messages? Guess I had put my eyes on the problem too much! GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, (Hebrew/Greek Search by English Definition), * 'Number Delimiters' only apply to 'Paragraph Order', Search verses, phrases, and topics (e.g. He will not, and cannot forsake you if you are one of His sheep! Psalm 23 | Anchored | Grace Community Church - gracechurch.org Pastor John MacArthur | The MacArthur Commentaries Grace to You. The sheep would experience excruciating pain that they would bash their heads against trees and rocks for relief. Psalm 23 commentary is a holy piece of work that exudes different kinds of emotions. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. [12] You will only be able to say that if you have truly come to know the Lord Jesus as your Shepherd. The psalmist genuinely expressed his understanding and experience with God as his shepherd. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. It is a Psalm of but 6 verses but countless sermons and entire books have been written on it. Included in the "better" provisions are: a better hope . What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms! In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. You can check these in your browser security settings. Psalm 23 symbolizes the human race as a flock and God as their Shepherd. But it is still the path that leads to righteousness. He leads me. Below are some of his most touching and eloquent comments on each verse. Depression and other illnesses can enshroud us in darkness and threaten us with death. It is a song of gratitude that resonates with the author's heart and trust in God. A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. This line is especially suggestive when we read this psalm with an eye toward Jesus, the Great Shepherd. Click to enable/disable _gat_* - Google Analytics Cookie. Verse 4 has a dark tone that embodies the possibility of traversing through the valley of death even in the presence of the shepherd. The word my cup runs over indicates that David not only had the necessities but also enjoyed abundance. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4a). My cup runs over. He lived in the confident hope that it would continue for the rest of his life. Would you prayerfully consider a gift of support today? It makes sense. Kansas City, Missouri 64118, 2017 The Spurgeon Center and Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is a popular conference speaker and the president of both The Master's College and The Master's Seminary. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. Pauline Epistles In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. 20:28 ) If this is you, then please don't starve God's flock and please don't feed them rubbish. The analogy of a king as a shepherd is common in ancient times and is not unusual. i. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John F. MacArthur - Google Play I have called you by your name. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. Notably, David recognized that under the shepherds leading, he may walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The word through is important. He was aware of the potential dangers that may befall him. for his names sake (v. 3c). They will not lie down when there is conflict among the sheep. Poetical Books When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; 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 story of the house of the Lord for ever. (Spurgeon), (c) 2020 The Enduring Word Bible Commentary by David Guzik [email protected]. It is great advice but more than likely it is the most highlighted passage because people are in desperate need to remember it! The idea is of a sturdy walking stick, used to gently (as much as possible) guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. He is the source of life and a great provider. Here David pictures God as a gracious host who provides all that he needs even in times of apparent difficulty. i. Bible Introductions - Psalms by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible can be seen as comforting for it is a sign that He loves us scripture says (Heb 12:6). [11] I have heard of more extreme cases of discipline amongst Middle Eastern Shepherds. We are so invited and not just occasionally but foreverthe honor that exceeds all other honors. There are stacks of deceptive shepherds around just as there always were. Please read and believe! Major Prophets The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. Our God protects His people, and His presence brings comfort to eliminate the fear of evil. He will sustain and provide for all of His peoples needs. And I will dwell in the house of the LORDforever: 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. Priests were anointed (Exodus 40:13-15). Psalm 22 Part 2 - It is finished, He has done it! Even in a fearful place, the presence of the shepherd banished the fear of evil. (Heb 5:12-14) [8]. John and his wife, Patricia, live in Southern California and have four married children: Matt, Marcy, Mark, and Melinda. David wrote about this in Psalm 25. On some days, she was on one side of the valley. Psalm 23 is a wonderful masterpiece of David that contains encouragement and awe-inspiring spiritual truths. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. (Spurgeon). Historical Books And one day He will come in the clouds and troubles of this world will be over. Sheep are easy targets for parasites, lice, and flies. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. He leads me beside still waters. Sounds like a nice place to be for a defenceless sheep now doesn't it? It adorns walls in faithful churches and fills frames in Christian homes. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). I need to know you are well.' ), The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, 6 vol. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. Articles Messages Books Podcasts Filter Resources By Ask Pastor John. The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. 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. However, Gods care for David doesnt remove the presence of his adversaries. The concept dates back to the Book of Genesis when Jacob referred to the LORD as the Shepherd and the Rock of Israel (Genesis 49:24). They also enjoy the enthusiastic company of their fifteen grandchildren. But the shepherds here use dogs and fences to drive and control the sheep.
