psalm 23 commentary john macarthur psalm 23 commentary john macarthur

You anoint my head with oil. It doesn't mean that anything outwardly has to change. Pauline Epistles Nov. 10, 2012. There is no if nor but, nor even I hope so; but he says, The Lord is my shepherd. (Charles Spurgeon). The MacArthur Bible Commentary by John F. MacArthur - Google Play Poetical Books The MacArthur Bible Commentary: John MacArthur: 9780785250661 It means to actively pursue, to chase, and normally in a negative sense as when Pharaoh chased Israel at the exodus. Though not often recited in its entirety, few are unfamiliar with the famous valley of the shadow of death.. Psalms 23 - The Pulpit Commentaries - StudyLight.org But we have the testimony from the Shepherd also how he loved the sheep and would never let them go! A poor man may say this as well as those in higher circumstances, What, all this, and Jesus Christ too?[6]. Play. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD a. When the psalmist says that God has anointed his head with oil, he means that God has marked him as specialhas set him apart for a significant role. The shepherd would use his staff to guide sheep and to pull them back from dangerous places. Psalm 23 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (complete) - Christianity In describing the Lord as a shepherd, David wrote out of his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep. He had the honour of being King over all Israel, yet seen the lows of having his own son, Absalom, rise up against him and take the throne. 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. SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS are from the World English Bible (WEB), a public domain (no copyright) modern English translation of the Holy Bible. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of theLordforever. But how does God do this? The Old Testament 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. Gods presence removed the fear in David and comforted him. GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation. Then from the pulpit you would hear the same person say that if you didn't do this, this, and this you could lose your salvation or the Holy Spirit would leave you etc. You will have much more pressing concerns. Alex is a family man and entrepreneur based in Los Angeles. He first spoke them for Israels sake, but he caused Isaiah to record them for our sake. David envisioned God as a benevolent host who prepared a grand banquet. Messages on Psalm 23 | Desiring God The sheep may crack their skull just to ease the suffering to get rid of the brain-eating parasites. It is for 'His name's sake' that He does this. Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness. Under Johns leadership, Grace Community Church's two morning worship services fill the 3,500-seat auditorium to capacity. (Philip Keller). GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Use semicolons to separate groups: 'Gen;Jdg;Psa-Mal' or 'Rom 3-12;Mat 1:15;Mat 5:12-22', There are options set in 'Advanced Options', The Whole Bible It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! It becomes more personal in this valley! It has not made the dying Christian slave freer than his masterNor is its work done. Site by Mere. Psalm 107. This psalm is taken completely from the sheep's (David) point of view, as he talks about his shepherd. I had good medical care. So here is a man who has had to depend upon His Shepherd and is finding Him faithful even in trying times. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. Prophets The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. But it is alluded to such as in Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water." The primary responsibility of a shepherd is to ensure the well-being and safety of the flock. Click on the different category headings to find out more. Pentateuch (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 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). The image exudes a sense of rest, comfort, and care. [7] Do you have this same confidence that David had? Nederlandstalige Bijbelstudies door Stan Marinussen, Copyright - Enduring Word       |      . John MacArthur (b. b. There is something about people who truly know their God. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Nor have I ever heard an audible voice that was clearly God's telling me which decisions to make. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He had known famine. Everything will be ok. In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. To be invited to Gods table is the ultimate honor. Grab your Bible and read this Psalm noting down the times 'I, my, me, he, his, you' etc are used. For them, it truly was the valley of the shadow of death. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned, It is 'The LORD' who is his shepherd! 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.. The Gospels He is the shepherd that provides and His people will lack no good thing. (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. What is characteristic of them? iv. And it is in these times that it starts getting a lot more personal! Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. of Scripture. Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. Likewise, we also need God to guide us to the right places and opportunities. The sense of this verse then is that, because God is loving and kind, his people can expect God to provide blessings throughout life. It is expressed in this verse - Rom Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. So though 3000 years old it is extremely relevant for our lives today! i. Commentaries; Sermons. The Whole Bible Title: The MacArthur Bible Commentary By: John MacArthur Format: Hardcover Number of Pages: 2040 Vendor: Thomas Nelson Publication Date: 2005 Dimensions: 9.75 X 6.75 X 2.75 (inches) Weight: 3 pounds 11 ounces ISBN: 0785250662 ISBN-13: 9780785250661 Stock No: WW250662 Related Products The Jesus You Can't Ignore: Study $7.49 $9.99 Save 25% Johannine Writings Priests were anointed (Exodus 40:13-15). These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. He had a sidekick with him who spoke on 'I will build my church'. Obviously it means that with the Lord protecting and providing for us then we shall not lack that which He knows we need. He will never, ever, leave you! The writer of Psalm 23 makes an analogy between God and the shepherd. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. (Spurgeon). 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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.. Psalm 23 is undoubtedly one of the most well-known passages in Scripture. The Gospels On the one hand it is not quoted in the New Testament directly concerning Jesus. 3 He restores my soul. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck Goodness and mercy follow him alwaysall the days of his life the black days as well as the bright days, the days of fasting as well as the days of feasting, the dreary days of winter as well as the bright days of summer. There are few experiences in life that would be more satisfying. Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? No robber, predator or enemy ever takes Him by surprise! Notice how in times of trials, we become more aware of Gods presence. He is not just a 'good shepherd'. 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 GenesisExodusLeviticusNumbersDeuteronomyJoshuaJudgesRuth1 Samuel2 Samuel1 Kings2 Kings1 Chronicles2 ChroniclesEzraNehemiahEstherJobPsalmsProverbsEcclesiastesSong of SongsIsaiahJeremiahLamentationsEzekielDanielHoseaJoelAmosObadiahJonahMicahNahumHabakkukZephaniahHaggaiZechariahMalachiMatthewMarkLukeJohnActsRomans1 Corinthians2 CorinthiansGalatiansEphesiansPhilippiansColossians1 Thessalonians2 Thessalonians1 Timothy2 TimothyTitusPhilemonHebrewsJames1 Peter2 Peter1 John2 John3 JohnJudeRevelation, Select an Ending Point When applied to Yahweh, hesed is fundamentally the expression of his loyalty and devotion to the solemn promises attached to the covenant. Individual instructors or editors may still require the use of URLs. The New Testament With this verse, he begins to use the second person (you and your). Psalm 23 is written by David who grew up as a shepherd. '. Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters; he restores my soul. A verification email has been sent to the address you provided. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. This is the condition of Gods servant always conflict, but always a spread table. (Maclaren), ii. Psalm 19. So I started checking myself - heart was still pumping, ears were attached, nose still worked, yes, everything seemed to be in order. He is. Pauline Epistles This is the joy of the Christian! There is some debate among commentators as to whether David had the idea of two separate instruments (the rod and the staff) or one instrument used two ways. The Shepherd, the Host, and the Highway Patrol | Desiring God If there is a ditch, they will fall in and need to be rescued. As a deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants after you, God (Psalm 42:1). John and his wife, Patricia, live in Southern California and have four married children: Matt, Marcy, Mark, and Melinda. My cup runs over. Guess I had put my eyes on the problem too much! Usernames should only contain letters, numbers, dots, dashes, or underscores. He had been chased and pursued as he ran from his enemies who sought to take his life. My cup runs over. Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Provision -- for Thou prepare a table before me. John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, president of The Master's University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry. That's the animal God choose which best represents you! What He is leading, guiding and teaching us is firstly about the inward change to the circumstance even if outwardly things remain the same. 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 Shepherds Crook. General Epistles The gist of Psalm 23 is that God is our shepherd who always provides and protects. 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. Please see Blue Letter Bible's Privacy Policy for cookie usage details. Shepherds use the rod and staff to guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. The Premiere One-Volume Commentary . It has poured balm and consolation into the heart of the sick, of captives in dungeons, of widows in their pinching grief's, of orphans in their loneliness. There was no fear involved. It is a Psalm of life, rest and peace. His anointing set him apart for his unique role as prophet, priest, and king. In Psalm 23, God has answered this prayer God has led him in paths of righteousness. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. Beloved, I will ask you now a question. The Analogy of God and the Shepherd in Psalm 23, The Lord As A Shepherd Who Provides (Verse 1), The Lord As A Shepherd Who Guides (Verses 2-3), The Protection And Comfort From Gods Presence (Verse 4), The Blessings of God Amidst Danger (Verse 5), Faith-Filled Content Delivered To Your Inbox, Best NASB Study Bibles Ranked & Reviewed, The Best Bible for Young Adults: Buyers Guide. [13] And His goodness and kindness will always follow you. (23) Seller Location . You can check these in your browser security settings. This name is 'Yahweh', the sovereign, almighty, delivering God. Wow! This one-volume commentary on the entire Bible from one of America's foremost Bible expositors offers instead a minilibrary of understandable resources designed to convey the Bible's overarching message with historical and theological clarity. And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! They know that through all things, Jesus is a good shepherd. We understand that a shadow is not tangible but is cast by something that is. Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, Psalm 2 Bible Study The Current Rebellion & The Coming King, Psalm 8 Bible Study The wonder of God and the second man, Psalm 16 Part 1: Testing's in the journey through life and death, Psalm 16 Part 2 - Hope in the journey through life and death, Psalm 22 Part 1 - Prophecy of the crucifixion and the wrath of man. That was his role growing up. He is a great leader who leads people to righteous living. Nor is he saying that 'the LORD is my Shepherd, I get everything I want'. The Hebrew word for rod (shaybet) here seems to simply mean a stick with a variety of applications. 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). He is no longer speaking about God, but is instead speaking to God. He talks about going through it, showing that he expects to emerge from its shadows into the light on the other side. Psalms 23. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. 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. 'What happened exactly to me in the dream?' God was the one providing for him, God was the one anointing his head with oil (which was what gracious hosts did for their guests in Israel) so he knew that he would have more than enough! In 1969, after graduating from Talbot Theological Seminary, John came to Grace Community Church. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane.[3]. A great promise indeed! Rev 21:3-4, 'Forever' is a long time, but this infinitely creative God will never fail to amaze us. Davids song is portrayed in non-religious circles too, making appearances in many secular movies and other entertainment mediums. Was it where you thought you would go? 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. the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:1-3). The book of Psalms is the most quoted book in the New Testament, and Jesus would refer a lot to the Book of Psalms even in His claims and teachings. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. David knew all about this. The word restore implies the notion of a rescued one. Every word in it has a wealth of meaning. The Old Testament John MacArthur. Please visit: https://www.bestbiblecommentaries.comPlease visit: www.bestbiblecommentaries.comBrowse John MacArthur's bible commentaries on Amazon:https://am. But the valley was always there, casting its shadow over her life. Email / username or password was incorrect! Your rod and your staff, they comfort me (v. 4c). (13) I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.. John is also president and featured teacher with Grace to You. King David, who wrote this Psalm, obviously knew all about being a shepherd. The Experiencing God Study Bible : the Bible for knowing and doing the will of God - Blackaby, Henry (1996) 1968 pages - CHECK THIS ONE! Now I want to break this first verse up into each little section so that we can get a better grasp as to what David was saying. Receive uplifting scriptures, inspiring articles & helpful guides to encourage your faith. [6] As a silly example, a few weeks back I got an email from a past work colleague that I hadn't heard from for some time. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. [5] We need to make sure that we have a Middle Eastern understanding of the Shepherd. His past death for His people They are dumb, dirty, defenceless and dependant. I remember a woman who grieved every year on anniversary of the death of her infant child. Psalm 23 Commentary - Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible i. In terms of how it is loved, look at how one old theologian from the 1800's spoke of it. What confidence for this life this should give us as we believe it in faith! Our website uses cookies to store user preferences. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary is now completethirty-three volumes that take you through the whole New Testament, detail by detail, verse by verse. That seldom accomplishes His purposes and the rest of the Psalm show that these things do occur. How would you describe sheep? Sometimes it goes through the dark valley as the next verse indicates. Its interesting to note how David used the word shepherd in this psalm instead of a more distant term like a king or a deliverer. [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. Oh! [6]. God does not eliminate the risks and hazards but will illuminate His presence. e. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me: The rod and the staff were instruments used by a shepherd. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in. He is that interested in each of His sheep! What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three psalms! 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. Companionship -- for you are with me. Death is not the house but the porch, not the goal but the passage to it Many a saint has reaped more joy and knowledge when he came to die than he ever knew while he lived. Sheep are easy targets for parasites, lice, and flies. Its also of paramount importance to recognize that the shepherd in this psalm connotes more than someone who merely herds the flock. 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. [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. [9] As Jesus Himself said, 'You are the light of the world. God anoints His people with oil just like how shepherds anoint their sheep with oil. Passwords should have at least 6 characters. Scripture: Psalm 23. However, the sheep do not easily lie down. This is a great shame because it is not a psalm of death! Prophets Included in the "better" provisions are: a better hope . Basically fear tactics. But whether our fears are irrational or based on very real circumstances, our need to remember the Lord is the same. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. The writer asserts their faith in God amidst trials and tribulations through this Psalm. Poetical Books What is also interesting, even before we get into the actual verses, is that this Psalm is part two of what we could call a Messianic trilogy. ), The New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, 5 vol. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters., God as a shepherd knows where to lead His flock to rest. This sentence may be read, only goodness and mercy, for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. The rod of Jesse shall still be over me as the sovereign succor of my soul.[5]. General Epistles 3,580+ | 2 min. David could say God is my shepherd because of his personal experience. It makes sense. b) John MacArthur; MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Ephesians 5:18 - "Be filled" translates the present passive imperative of "pleroo", and is more literally rendered as "be being kept filled." We are "indwelt" by the Holy Spirit at the moment of justification (professing our faith in Christ). April 17, 2011. Our God does not withhold anything good from His flock. Luke-Acts The anointing of oil to the sheep isnt just a meaningless ritual. The Shepherd's rod: The rod which the Shepherd carried was for protecting the sheep from predators. It may portray the straying sheep brought back. The idea is of a sturdy walking stick, used to gently (as much as possible) guide the sheep and protect them from potential predators. Bible Introductions - Hebrews by John MacArthur - Blue Letter Bible And let's not forget they are prone to wander. i. But the love for our Saviour is great, with us waiting patiently for a time all these woes will come to an end. If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here: We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Amazon, in the last couple of weeks (Nov 2014) released the most highlighted passages in their most popular books downloaded onto Kindle, their electronic book reader. The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. It is a necessary method to protect the sheep. Do you have the confidence to say that the almighty God IS your Shepherd right now? Blue Letter Bible is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Thank God for such times! Countless experts also argued that David wrote it during the later years of his kingship because of its nostalgic and tranquil tone. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. Like the Greek word agape (love) in the New Testament, hesed (lovingkindness) involves actionkindness or love expressed through kind or loving actions rather than just feelings. He leads me beside still waters. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. God saved (Israel) for his names sake, that he might make his mighty power known (Psalm 106:8).