We are orphans and need to be brought into the fold of the True Shepherd. He makes me to lie down in green pastures = Thats Rest! He leads me in paths of righteousness for his names sake (vv. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Do you not see it? Shepherds use tools (rod and staff) to lead and guide their sheep. At feasts in Bible times, the heads of the distinguished guests were anointed with perfumed oil. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (English Standard Version)A Psalm of David.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me lie down in green pastures.He leads me beside still waters.He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil, for you are with me;Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! -- That's now and always -- for eternity! 6. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Praise You Jesus Amen. We eat it as the Israelites did in haste, staff in hand, and ready to march on. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5). But here's what we need to understand: we can't see God as Shepherd if we don't see ourselves as sheep. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:4 Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I willfear no evil, foryou are with me, yourrod, and your staff, they comfort me. Titus 1:7 ESV - For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake. It is her desire to reach struggling teenagers and tell them about the transformative power and love of God. hallelujah ! Psalm 23 is one of the most recognizable chapters in the entire Bible. The picture of the divine Shepherd leading His flock fills the first four verses of Psalm 23. These words are rich in their meaning as they speak of peace, comfort, security, guidance, and Gods unfailing love. As I read, three questions came to mind. The devil wants you to feel guilty, but do not listen to him. 1 Peter 5:4 ESV - And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. This article has been viewed 191,942 times. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful statement of declaration by David about who God is to him. When David was still a teenager, God chose him to be king. Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. As the ancient shepherd led his sheep, his two shepherd dogs guarded the rear to keep straying sheep in the path of the shepherd and draw attention to the wounded and lost. We may not always be able to see or understand, but we know that all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). The prophet Samuel anointed him king, but it would be another decade or more before David was recognized by Israel. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures" -- That's splendid contentment -- plenty of rest! Theres not one person on the planet who hasnt experienced some pain, disappointment or grief in their soul. Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and well-loved psalms in the Bible. The Lord is my Shepherd: Psalm 23 Explained, Jesus was the Shepherd who became a sheep, The 7 "I Am" Statements of Jesus Explained, 10 Bible Verses that Have Changed My Life. In the presence of mine enemies Who seeing, envying, and fretting at it, are not able to hinder it. Choose a verse from 'Psalms 23' to begin your 'Verse-by-Verse' study of God's Word using the more than 100 commentaries available on StudyLight.org. Psalm 23 Explained Beautifully. He provides for us here in this world. "Have faith in GOD!" She currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria with her family. David said God prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. The heavenly shepherd does not always keep His sheep from sorrow, but He is with them in sorrow. And they are three: rest, work, and sorrow. ", wants. Equipping Christian Women to Abide in God's Word. Verse 4. If your world seems chaotic or unfulfilling, ask yourself, Am I allowing God to lead me?. Ive been tremendously blessed by this explanation. You may be wondering, "What does Psalm 23 mean? It is in Gods presence that we grow, change, and are transformed forever. John 10:14 ESV - I am the good shepherd. For His name sake = Thats Purpose! As believers, we tend to do the same thing. The next time we sit at the table of the Lord, let us brush aside any thought that it is the table of the church. A father was once holding his little blind daughter on his knee, when a friend who had called took her in his arms. It is a calming assurance that comes with choosing to abide daily in Gods presence. Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd, whether we realize it or not. ; I shall not want. In Deuteronomy 8 Moses told the Israelites that God "let them be hungry" to test them and to teach them (vv. . Even non-Christians have heard it because it seems to be a favorite at funerals, weddings, and other religious events. This speaks of increase and being a blessing because you have more than enough. Whereas a king might do what's best for the majority, a shepherd knows and stewards each one of his sheep. When the three young men of Babylon found themselves in the fire for conscience's sake, the form of the Fourth walked with them in the flames. 3. Moses and the Burning Bush Bible Story Study Guide, The Ultimate List of Christmas Bible Verses to Celebrate Jesus' Birth, General Biblical Studies, Interdenominational Christian Training Center. Someone or something will lead us through life. And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet it's more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza. Listen to this beautiful song titled Psalm 23 by the Zoe Group. Under a metaphor borrowed from scenes of pastoral life, with which David was familiar, he describes God's providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance, and so affording grounds of confidence in His perpetual favor. Her faith in him took away fear. Change). Your cup overflows with blessings and abundance from God. Hebrews 13:20 ESV - Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, Revelation 7:17 ESV - For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like valley, shadow of death, and fear no evil in the following verses. During the valleys of life, you must remember the last two lines of this verse, that God is with you and will comfort you as you walk. As I dwelt on how God has been so good to us, my mind went to Psalm 23 and thats how I landed on your page. 4. He is a faithful Shepherd that provides for His sheep (Matthew 6:33). (2021, September 7). This beautiful Psalm most admirably sets before us, in its chief figure, that of a shepherd, the gentle, kind, and sure care extended to God's people, who, as a shepherd, both rules and feeds them. Isaiah 40:11 ESV - He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. How to Feel the Holy Ghosts Presence, According to the Bible, This article uses the New King James Version, but there are, Partially based on an email with two words for each line like: " 'The Lord is my Shepherd' --, this great relationship with Him. ", and Bible resources, we can enjoy it so much. But even there, the Shepherd is with us and we need fear no evil. We can count on his unfailing love every day for as long as we live. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like, Hebrews Chapter 4 A Rest Remains for Gods People. Fairchild, Mary. foryou are with me, yourrod, and your staff, The Lord is My Shepherd Blessings, Provision, and Abundance, David ends this rich Psalm with a picture of Gods grace, presence, and favor following him all the days of his life. "My cup runneth over" -- That's His abundance flowing to you and out to others! And for the sake of His name and His glory, He guides our wills to line up with His. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. ", 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.", John 4:35 - "Do not say 'yet four months and then comes the Harvest', for it [the harvest of souls. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are . He will lead us down a path of righteousness and not destruction. paths of righteousness--those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want . The Bible never changes, but it always changes something in us when we read it. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord tor ever. This verse also shows God as a guide who leads us through life on paths that honor his name and bring glory to him. I will fear no evil = Thats Protection! The psalms were originally written in Hebrew; the translation we're using here comes from the King James Bible, an influential 17th-century English translation in the Protestant Christian tradition. It is no wonder that this Psalm has been a great source of comfort and hope to many in trying times, difficult seasons of life, and even in the face of death. Imagine you are invited to a magnificent banquet with a huge table filled with all kinds of food and drinks to feast on. Praying will help you as well. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = Thats Discipline! This is a beautiful picture to share with him. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lets Keep in Touch Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (Psalm 23:5-6). Here these tools represent Gods protection, care, and guidance, and not symbols of discipline as elsewhere in the Bible. We realize God governs both the large and small issues of life. God cared for the children of Israel with manna in the desert, and we can lie down and rest knowing God will provide abundant nourishment for us as well. When the apostle Paul stood before Nero, he was not alone. By them, he guides his sheep. Thank you Lord for Psalm23. 'You Raise Me Up' Duet Earns A Standing Ovation From The Judges, 7 Tests to See if Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan, 3 Bad Church Approaches to Good Money Stewardship, 5 Critical Rules to Teach Your Kids to Help Them Stay Safe, 4 Things You Should Know about Jesus Revolution, Jesus on Adultery: Its More Controversial Than You Think, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Sometimes we stray from the Lord, too. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He will never fail us, and Hell make sure that justice prevails. He restores my soul. Generally in Malaysia, Christians use this Psalm to comfort the sick and dying. Enjoy! We can take comfort that he protects and guides us with His rod and staff, walking with us in the darkest of valleys. Thank you. That is, God leads us into work, into service for Him. A shepherd cares deeply not only for all his sheep as a whole but also for each and every single one. May Our Lord Jesus, The Good Shepherd give us more insight of the Word God so that we can share with others. Thou anointest my head with oil Or ointment, as the Syriac and Arabic interpreters render it, namely, with aromatic ointments, which were then used in great feasts. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. So when David says "I shall not want" he is acknowledging how completely reliant he is one God as his Shepherd. Psalm 23 ends with these words And I shalldwellin the house of theLord forever. This psalm of David is loved the world over for its calming and healing wisdom. All believers can say, "We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3). In one sense, this was not unusual. No one can rest in mind and heart until the weight of a guilty conscience is removed. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Only a shepherd could write Psalm 23, and David was a shepherd. Psalm 23, beautifully explained. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375. 3He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. A good place. Our Shepherd also leads us in the right way. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. The 23rd Psalm is one of the most widely known scriptures in the Bible. Thou preparesta table before me in the presence of mine enemies = He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalm 23 begins with the sentence above. Thank you. Beautiful explanation of psalm 23, thank you! Fairchild, Mary. The 22nd Psalm in the Vulgate and some Catholic bibles, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0a\/Understand-Psalm-23-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Understand-Psalm-23-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0a\/Understand-Psalm-23-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1070805-v4-728px-Understand-Psalm-23-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"