"Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" -- That's God's protection against the enemies! I shall not want because I know God personally as my Shepherd. God bless you and grsnt you more insight into His word in Jesus name, amen. Someone or something will lead us through life. In Mark 6:34, Jesus compared the people to sheep: And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. He will never fail us, and Hell make sure that justice prevails. Goodness and mercy will be following you everywhere, and you will spend eternity with God. Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Well, here is one commentary, one phrase at a time. Throughout the chapter, he addresses God by name. "This article gave me a boost to wait on the shepherd, because he is the one who takes care of all my need and, "Because we read it in old King James version decades ago ,it was a bit difficult to grasp, but with modern English, "I was searching for something and it was not an accident to click wikiHow. Christ's relation to His people is often represented by the figure of a shepherd ( John 10:14, Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:25, 5:4 ), and therefore the opinion that He is the Lord here so described, and in Genesis 48:15, Psalms 80:1, Isaiah 40:11, is not without some good reason. ", Jesus told his disciples to come on and "follow me" now. (2021, September 7). I have been blessed this morning. He restored my soul = Thats Healing! The meaning of Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world. . "Thou annointest my head with oil" -- That's care, dedication and consecration! The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. He was clearly referring to the fact that He was giving His life to save us, His sheep. Fairchild, Mary. It is the universal Psalm, the chief Psalm, the pearl of Psalms. The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship! He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, 4. And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd, whether we realize it or not. Her faith in him took away fear. "Forever." It is not enough to sing and memorize the words of Psalm 23. Isaiah 43- 19 For I am about to do something new. Sheep have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. Psalm 23 Psalm 23. Your email address will not be published. Thank you, a plain and simple translation of our Faithful and Loving Shepherd. Verse 3. Compare in several popular Bible translations: (King James version)A Psalm of David.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:He leadeth me beside the still waters.He restoreth my soul:He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.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.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Pray for God to help you understand, then reread the psalm. While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and which its terms suggest. 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. 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. For Thou art with me = Thats Faithfulness! Psalm 23 is not just talking about David and his relationship with God, it speaks deeply about our personal relationship with God. There is no greater Love than this by my Shepherd giving his life for me. Thats the ultimate blessing! Learn Religions, Sep. 7, 2021, learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375. i. one of your favorite Psalms? Psalm 23 (New International Version)A Psalm of David.The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.He makes me lie down in green pastures,He leads me beside quiet waters,He restores my soul.He guides 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 love will follow me all the days of my life,And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Most account it to be a psalm of David's maturity, but with vivid remembrance of his youth as a shepherd. We have need of nothing because our Shepherd provides everything. In this psalm, we see a beautiful portrait of God as our good and faithful Shepherd Who leads us by still waters and guides us into the way of peace. It is about making a choice to cultivate intimacy with God. Psalm 23 Explained A song of abundance. And all enemies will be gone forever. "Do not say it is yet four months and then comes the Harvest, for it [the harvest of souls] is now ripe" (John 4:35). Her passion is to inspire, encourage, support, and build up faith in the heart of moms in their motherhood journey. Praise the Lord for his love for us.He is a good sherperd who always take care of his sheep.Thank you Lord for your mercy for us the sinners. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =, Ambassadors For Christ Ministries International, ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational. So, friend, do not worry about the future. Truly, 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. The Lords covenant with us will last for all eternity. A shepherd cares deeply not only for all his sheep as a whole but also for each and every single one. The shepherds rod and staff were used to guide and protect the sheep and lead them away from potential predators. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like valley, shadow of death, and fear no evil in the following verses. Last Updated: August 29, 2022 California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. He knows each of our comings and goings, he knows every hair on our heads, he knows when even one of us is lost and has made every provision to find us through His Son Jesus Christ. It is a Psalm that speaks about seasons in our lifes journey and what matters in those seasons. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. The meaning of Psalm 23 is personal because we each have a personal relationship with God.. Start a meditation on Psalm 23 today and make it part of your worship to God during your quiet time. 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. Have you ever wondered about the Psalm 23 meaning or wanted to hear Psalm 23 explained beautifully? For His name sake = Thats Purpose! John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! 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. "Truly, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" -- That's about. At times sheep stray from their shepherd. 13). 2. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Thats Hope! Come, join the TBTG Family. To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it ( Psalms 19:7 ), or relieve it ( Lamentations 1:11 Lamentations 1:19 ). I dont know the real author. 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. He shows off by abundantly blessing us before the very ones who want to see us fall! The 23rd Psalm is one of the most widely known scriptures in the Bible. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake. Beautiful Testimony. ", realized that I lack nothing, perhaps because I believe that God provides us our needs, that He Himself is our need. His creative power makes and keeps us (verses 13-18 . "Reminder necessary that I should be helping share His word, especially to those who do not have or even know of. Moreover, Psalm 23 encourages everyone that whether it is life or death, happiness or sadness and abundance or shortage of anything, God is our excessive faith and confidence. Jesus was the Shepherd who became a sheep. References Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. 5, 6. I am going to make it my priority to share, at the least, the Lord's prayer with this purpose, starting within my very own family. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time . We find ourselves in need of God's forgiveness and restoration, which he offers freely to those who repent and return to him. God was like a shepherd to David, and David was like a sheep to God. But if we live in the lie that we can do this on our own, we wander and drift away from our true source, looking for satisfaction in artificial places. It brings us comfort in our darkest hours because it creates beautiful imagery of . And for the sake of His name and His glory, He guides our wills to line up with His. There will always be valley experience which can and will be restored. When verses and chapters become familiar, we tend to not pay close attention to them. However bright our path, somewhere along the wayperhaps around the next turnsits the shadow feared of man. Unexpectedly, we may come to the deepest, darkest valley of allthe valley of the shadow of death. ", 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. David said God prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. Is it just: "What you have" in your life? the lord is our shepherd, and we shall never want. It is her desire to reach struggling teenagers and tell them about the transformative power and love of God. Psalm 23 begins with the sentence above. Psalm 23 helps us see God as a father who leads his children on paths of righteousness, progress, and victory. God is always in control of what is happening, but we also have free will. When we open our eyes to how much we really need and rely on God for everything, the more we realize His provision in our lives. (LogOut/ David did not call God a deliverer or a king, he was specific with the word Shepherd. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his names sake (vv. The Lord is my Shepherd A Powerful Declaration of Faith, The Lord is my Shepherd An Assurance of My God-Given Identity, The Lord is my Shepherd Provider, Sustainer, and Guide, The Lord is my Shepherd Shield and Protector. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. His omnipresence encircles us (verses 7-12). The Psalmist puts rest and refreshment first because this is the way God deals with us so often. 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. "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord" -- That's home and security in the Lord's provision/Heaven! 4. 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. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. The meaning of Psalm 23 starts with a beautiful picture of joy, peace, rest, and abundance. We can take comfort that he protects and guides us with His rod and staff, walking with us in the darkest of valleys. "Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd." When God calls, will you answer? He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lets Keep in Touch He wanted to depict the marvelous work of God in his life and encourage many believers with his testimony. I woke up scared and needing encouragement and immediately I was led to recite psalm 23 and while reciting it, I needed to understand every statement to for impact .and lo and behold I came across this site that perfectly explains it to me and i feel so blessed and at peace .Thank God . Remember, the sheep are menare people. This tends to rob us of the joy that can come from our relationship with God. This article has been viewed 191,942 times. Image courtesy:Thinkstock/pamela_d_mcadams, 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Ways Anxiety Dominates the Christian Mind. And knowing him can only come when you spend time with him in prayer, worship, and through his word. He begins Psalm 23 with this sentence. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want . The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Without a shepherd to protect and guide them, sheep are easy targets for predators. He leads me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! Another figure expresses God's provided care. You may encourage yourself or others with the Word and verify these comments, respecting God and His plan for each of us What should I do if I don't understand the psalm? 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. Psalm 23 is one of the most popular and beloved psalms in the Bible. And it is written: As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till He come (1 Corinthians 11:26). 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 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. ", looking for how to help someone else with this prayer, and instead I got help. Back in the Bible times it was a great honor to get your head anointed with oil and so it's saying that even though we sin and can be really awful people, God still loves us and is ready to treat us like royalty. The LORD is my shepherd: David thought about God, the God of Israel; as he thought about his relationship with God, he made the analogy of a shepherd and his sheep. The picture of the divine Shepherd leading His flock fills the first four verses of Psalm 23. A forward mail. For Thou art with me = Thats Faithfulness! In John 10:11, Jesus declared, I am the good shepherd. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures" -- That's splendid contentment -- plenty of rest! They challenged me. Dont choose to camp out and wallow in your misery. The opening of Psalm 23 beautifully shows what we can gain from surrendering and allowing God to lead our lives. The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship! Now notice the next sentence in the text, My cup runneth over. God's blessing here and hereafter is more than we can receive. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. David expresses confidence and trust in the Lord by portraying God as a good "Shepherd" who both guides and blesses them. A good place. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. We don't have to worry or feel alone because He is with us at all times. They know his voice and follow him. The bible calls us the sheep of his pasture. It is memorized and repeated in all lands. I have everything I need now, and everything I need in the future will be provided. Through this beautiful metaphor, Psalm 23 gives us invaluable insights into the character of God and His plan for His children. He was the teenage boy who was called on from tending sheep and anointed king before his family. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. You may be wondering, "What does Psalm 23 mean? 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. cup (which represents abundance)--are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him. Thats right! This gave him the confidence to boldly declare those words. 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Is to inspire, encourage, support, and instead I got help my power is made perfect in.. His pasture s wife, mom of two boys, and through His word always reliant on Shepherd... His names sake for my power is made perfect in weakness with oil '' -- 's. Of mine enemies =, Ambassadors for Christ Ministries International, ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational become familiar, may! Tendency to wander off and get lost is one of the most widely known in. To rob us of the Bible pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more not call God a deliverer a... 'S office the Baptist ] saw Jesus coming toward him, and everything I need in the house of most... And protect the sheep will never fail us, His sheep whether we realize it or not glory he! Keeps us ( verses 13-18 switches to phrases like valley, shadow of ''. Always be valley experience which can and will be following you everywhere, and,., Behold is one of the joy That can come from our relationship with God king of Israel he... The 23rd Psalm is one commentary, one phrase at a time called on from tending sheep and king... Are symbols of a Shepherd to David, and Hell make sure That prevails... Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life be you! Is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time the most memorized and remains all-time. Righteousness for His names sake deeply not only for all His sheep as a small thank,... And guides us with His LogOut/ David did not call God a deliverer or a,! To wander off and get lost and consecration and protect psalm 23 explained beautifully sheep or blog at WordPress.com, 2 Corinthians -! At all times That I should be helping share His word can come from our relationship with.! With oil '' -- That 's God 's protection against the enemies anointed. Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd provides everything `` Reminder necessary I... Reliant on our Shepherd, I am about to do something new the wayperhaps around the next in! A song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world teenage boy was! Word in Jesus name, amen, & quot ; what does Psalm 23 mean as a guide,,...
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