The Hebrew word, sulhan (table), could refer to an animal hide spread on the ground like a picnic blanket. Then we serve a good Master. Therefore, when the shepherd started heading off on another journey the sheep followed wherever he went! The Psalms are Hebrew poetry, and the title of the book comes from the Greek Septuagint. Click to enable/disable Google Analytics tracking. In these verses, the metaphor changes from God as shepherd to God as host at a special banquet. The image portrays that God has the power to feed and protect David. [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. for his names sake (v. 3c). 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. The greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who relishes that only in it which pleases the senses; but to a godly man, who tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, and by faith relishes that, though he has but little of the world, it is a green pasture, Ps 37 16; Prov 15 16, 17. See the happiness of the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. My cup runs over (Hebrew: rewayah) (v. 5c). 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. Those that are sick, those that are old, have reason to look upon themselves as in the valley of the shadow of death. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, Give me a drink, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water (John 4:10). Instead of speaking about his Shepherd, David speaks to Him. Daily devotional with John Piper. The Psalms are Hebrew poetry, and the title of the book comes from the Greek Septuagint. Proud member (4.) i. They are quiet waters times when there are no waves and no troubles and you can feed and are restored. So some take the latter clause: "Goodness and mercy having followed me all the days of my life on this earth, when that is ended I shall remove to a better world, to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever, in our Father's house above, where there are many mansions. Other than the president and family, only a handful of people have been invited to make the White House their homeand then only for a few years. [5], We need to remind ourselves of this all the time. But despite this I got on with her pretty well. Significantly, it is at the dangerous moment pictured in the psalm that the He of Psalm 23:1-3 changes to You. The LORD as Shepherd is now in the second person. Let us not, therefore, be afraid. He recounts his experience of the kind things God had done for him as his shepherd, ver 2, 3, 5. And finally we have the small matter of that which occurs after 'the days of my life'. Why the double standard of confusing messages? They believed that something of the persons identity was tied up in the namethat the name expressed something of the persons essential character. Sometimes those paths lead straight through the valley of the shadow of death. The shepherds rod was a sturdy club for use against wild animals that would otherwise prey on the sheep. But, what makes it so compelling? The divine guidance they are under is stripped of its metaphor (v. 3): He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, in the way of my duty; in that he instructs me by his word and directs me by conscience and providence. WebJohn Fullerton MacArthur Jr. (born June 19, 1939) is an American Protestant pastor and author known for his internationally syndicated Christian teaching radio and television program Grace to You. Part 1. ii. But whether our fears are irrational or based on very real circumstances, our need to remember the Lord is the same. In the Old Testament, prophets were anointed (1 Kings 19:16). He is a great shepherd. And obviously, he would then leave the lamb to die in the wilderness, eaten by its predators! It is by a constancy of the means of grace that the soul is fed. This psalm is taken completely from the sheep's (David) point of view, as he talks about his shepherd. A servant abideth not in the house for ever, but the son abideth ever. 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 forever. The shepherd is also a guide who leads the flock on the right path. It has sung courage to the army of the disappointed. Web29 MacArthur Bible New Testament Commentary - Almost Complete Set + Handbook + 1 Sold by brianmash | Ends on 2023-02-28 23:45:20 . 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. They also keep a vigilant and watchful eye out for poisonous plants and wild animals. When the end of the Babylonian Exile and Israels salvation was nigh, God told Israel: Dont be afraid, for I have redeemed you. What are these green pastures but the Scriptures of truthalways fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? The Shepherd's staff: The staff was used by the Shepherd to direct the sheep in the way in which they should go, and, in the case of a wandering nosey sheep, to pull it back into line [11] . We might say that the shepherds presence did not eliminate the presence of evil, but certainly the fear of evil. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. (2.) It would stick right by the Shepherd's side! Click to enable/disable _ga - Google Analytics Cookie. [4] I read in a John Hunter book that as well as being able to say 'The Lord is my shepherd' we should be able to say 'The shepherd is my Lord.' Site by Mere. Gods presence enables David to feast in perfect security. Is one better than the other? ; and Briggs, Charles A., The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 1906, 2004), Doniach, N.S. Hence he infers that he should want no good (ver 1), that he needed to fear no evil (ver 4), that God would never leave nor forsake him in a way of mercy; and therefore he resolves never to leave nor forsake God in a way of duty, ver 6. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Shepherds feed the flock and herd them to good forage areas. Likewise, we also need God to guide us to the right places and opportunities. This verse doesn't mean that there will not be times of drought, valleys, difficulties and need--- far from it God loves you too much to just make things always easy! This line is especially suggestive when we read this psalm with an eye toward Jesus, the Great Shepherd. The comforts of a living saint. You are not your own but were bought with a price! and I will dwell in Yahwehs (Hebrew: YHWH) house forever (v. 6b). This table represents all the blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus. The center point of this psalm is for you are with me. In the original Hebrew language, there are 26 words before this phrase, and 26 afterwards (Limburg, 74). Here we may observe. From three very comfortable premises David, in this psalm, draws three very comfortable conclusions, and teaches us to do so too. The sweetest word of the whole is that monosyllable, My. He does not say, The Lord is the shepherd of the world at large, and leadeth forth the multitude as his flock, but The Lord is my shepherd; if he be a Shepherd to no one else, he is a Shepherd to me; he cares for me, watches over me, and preserves me. The words are in the present tense. Click to enable/disable Google reCaptcha. More is implied than is expressed, not only, I shall not want, but, "I shall be supplied with whatever I need; and, if I have not every thing I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me or I shall have it in due time.". Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. 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. These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. There you have it. (3.) We have the supports and comforts of this life from God's good hand, our daily bread from him as our Father. The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. See here, 1. It is a Psalm of life, rest and peace. His focus is upon the effects of the Fall in the undoing of creation and the manner in which God rids His creation of It is It isnt his destination or dwelling place. ), Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2000), Mounce, William D., (ed. ( Psalms 27:7-14) is sad and plaintive. 1.Jehovah is my shepherd. The good man has his enemies. 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. He is no longer speaking about God, but is instead speaking to God. Fortunately, I had insurance that would allow my family to weather the storm financially. WebLiberated 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. ii. So out of the blue she emailed a few weeks back asking: 'All ok with you? 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