psalm 23 explained beautifully

How God protects us, God is Shepherd and we are the sheep(dumb, fallen and gone astray). ; I shall not want. In spiritual communion with Him, the hungry heart finds food that satisfies. Thats Blessing ! ", Jesus told his disciples to come on and "follow me" now. Goals Arent So Smart Anymore. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = Thats (LogOut/ To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. It paints a beautiful picture of serenity, peace, and the security that comes with trusting in God. Log in. Come, join the TBTG Family. This is because he had come to understand that the Shepherd was everything to the sheep. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. He leadeth me beside the still waters = Thats Refreshment! As an added bonus, you will feel your spirit lift as you write. 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 of David is loved the world over for its calming and healing wisdom. 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. 2. green pastures--or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest. 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. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. We Are Carriers of God's Presence & Glory!! If your world seems chaotic or unfulfilling, ask yourself, Am I allowing God to lead me?. Remember: the Lord's grace is sufficient -- as you follow Him and Glorify God (Christianity) in your life. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual. God is our Shepherd and like a Good Shepherd, He will provide for His own for every need we will ever have (Philippians 4:19). 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. Sheep are pretty helpless animals, unable to defend themselves. "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. 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. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with a heavenly father who knows and cares about you. The restoration of the soul comes first; then the works of righteousness. He provides for us here in this world. .. Thank you. His omnipresence encircles us (verses 7-12). What Does the Bible Say About Eternal Life? Here is the picture of that blessed state in Revelation 7:16-17, They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to move your Feet, Even though you cant see Him, GOD is there for you, When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you! If you are one of the 7% who will stand up for him, forward this with the title 7%. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like valley, shadow of death, and fear no evil in the following verses. So He began to teach them many things. Obviously, shepherd-less sheep are not a good thing; likewise, we need Jesus to be our Shepherd. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shalldwellin the house of theLord forever.. oil--anointing oil, the symbol of gladness. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Isaiah 43- 19 For I am about to do something new. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = Thats Security! 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. When we dont, its the same as choosing to be led by our selfish desires. David portrays God as a loving shepherd, a role the psalmist would have been deeply familiar with, as much of his boyhood was spent caring for his fathers sheep. Read it as many times as you need to until the meaning begins to sink in. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. This proclaims the metaphor of the psalm, that god is like our shepherd. For Thou art with me = Thats Faithfulness! Whereas a king might do what's best for the majority, a shepherd knows and stewards each one of his sheep. What Does it Mean That Jesus Was Gods Begotten Son? He leads me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! It is the universal Psalm, the chief Psalm, the pearl of Psalms. Without a shepherd to protect and guide them, sheep are easy targets for predators. 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. Some people find reading commentaries on passages of scripture helpful. Psalm 23 Explained Beautifully. Psalm 23 explained beautifully by Walter Rasmussen. And knowing him can only come when you spend time with him in prayer, worship, and through his word. He also knew that God would care for him just like a shepherd will care for his sheep. "I shall not want" -- That's the source for your needs: your Shepherd supplies the way, truth and the life! "Forever." ", and Bible resources, we can enjoy it so much. I shall not want = That's Supply! Fairchild, Mary. But it is for us. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = Thats Hope! Read my full disclosure. Listen to this beautiful song titled Psalm 23 by the Zoe Group. You may be wondering, "What does Psalm 23 mean? David knew that God would restore his soul from a broken and weary state. The enemy cannot stop the blessings of God in your life because God has chosen to bless you abundantly right before their watching eyes. ", wants. This psalm shows us that David did not just tend sheep, but in that moment and season of his life, he could see and feel the hand of God present in his life. When you visit this site, it may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest! This means that no matter how things may look, I will rest in this truth I will lack nothing and all my needs will be met because God will provide what I need when I need it. Will you let God take the lead today in the affairs of your life? Then we shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever., God Help Me: Find help in every time of need. Additionally, because they are dumb, sheep wander off and get lost, putting themselves in great danger. So how does change sound. Psalm 23 is the most famous of the psalms, a sequence of ancient hymns that comprise a whole book of the Bible. They carried a rod and staff to protect and correct their sheep; they beat off any beast trying to attack, and they prodded sheep who were going the wrong way to steer them back to safety. As I read, three questions came to mind. David said I shall not want because God is my Shepherd and will always meet my needs. The meaning of Psalm 23 starts with a beautiful picture of joy, peace, rest, and abundance. I thank God for your inspiration. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful statement of declaration by David about who God is to him. At every turn, it reveals the close relationship David shares with his God. The fact that all the Ten Commandmentsnot five or eight of themare repeated in principle in the New Testament and are taught by both Christ and the apostles, sustains the Word of the Psalmist. 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.. We may not know the why of many of our experiences, but we know that our Shepherd knows, and that is sufficient. Psalm 23 KJV. Equipping Christian Women to Abide in God's Word. But the day is coming when the Good Shepherd will call us to the great supper in His kingdom. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. Psalm 23 ends with these words And I shalldwellin the house of theLord forever. With God as our shepherd, there is nothing we will ever lack. It is a calming assurance that comes with choosing to abide daily in Gods presence. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet its more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza. 3He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. The 22nd Psalm in the Vulgate and some Catholic bibles Verse 2. 1. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. 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. i. In the gospel plan, works do not precede but follow rest. (2 Corinthians 12:9), All compliments and praise can be reflected back to him: "Yes, by the power of God, including His grace, I can do all that I must. The heavenly shepherd does not always keep His sheep from sorrow, but He is with them in sorrow. Praise the Lord I want to thank God for his love .He is a good sherpard to all of us who are sinners. How to Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart, How to Grow Spiritually When You Dont Feel Close to God, Trusting God 5 Ways You Try But Fail (+ how to fix it), Another interpretation of Psalm 23 can be found here, , For creating deeper intimacy with Jesus, read my guide on. In John 10:27, Jesus said, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. When we submit to His will and His way, we can be sure that Hell guide us along the path that is best for us. So true..what a beautiful promise that Jesus gave us..He is our Shepherd, we dont have to fear anything for He is with us.Even though we go through the valley of death. This tends to rob us of the joy that can come from our relationship with God. And that is why, he will lead you beside still waters to give peace and comfort amid lifes chaos. That is, he helps us to find food, water, work, love, friends and all that we need. It is a psalm of life, rest, and peace. StudyLght.org. "Fear (Respect and honor) Him, in all your ways, and in the beauty of holiness." The opening of Psalm 23 beautifully shows what we can gain from surrendering and allowing God to lead our lives. It is memorized and repeated in all lands. The Lord is my Shepherd = Thats Relationship! I shall not want = Thats Supply! ", looking for how to help someone else with this prayer, and instead I got help. They gather around the Lord's table here in this world and in the one to come. Its been am amazing time for us. Do we then make void the law through faith? asks the Apostle to the Gentiles; and then he answers his own question: God forbid: yea, we establish the law (Romans 3:31). We realize God governs both the large and small issues of life. Jesus said, as we read in John 10:27, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Calvary.". 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. Fairchild, Mary. paths of righteousness--those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. He makes me lie down in greenpastures. Without a personal and deep-rooted relationship with God, you cannot know and understand his ways. Shepherds use tools (rod and staff) to lead and guide their sheep. Why do I still feel guilty about my past sins? 4Yea, 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. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. 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. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. God is right by your side walking you through life. Sheep need guidance to safe pastures, and we too need a Shepherd to guide us to safety and lead us to provision. The Bible never changes, but it always changes something in us when we read it. Has that ever happened to you? Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? To restore the soul is to revive or quicken it ( Psalms 19:7 ), or relieve it ( Lamentations 1:11 Lamentations 1:19 ). Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. When verses and chapters become familiar, we tend to not pay close attention to them. These verses offer comfort for the reader as they enter the valley of the shadow of death and onward in Jesus' loving arms. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures" -- That's splendid contentment -- plenty of rest! This article has been viewed 191,942 times. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Psalm 23 explained beautifully - title photo. It simply fortifies our divine connection with our Lord. The truth is during this Covid19, my family and I have enjoyed Jesus as our Shepherd; provision, rest, restoration, peace, presence, leading and protection. Well, here is one commentary, one phrase at a time. Green pastures represent sustenance and plenty. His gift to us is eternal life, and we will be with him forever. It emphasizes the Lords personal care, guidance, and protection of his people. Now if the Lord is our Shepherd, that makes us the sheep. John 10:11 ESV - I am the good shepherd. 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. 56). And they are three: rest, work, and sorrow. 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 . Imagine you are invited to a magnificent banquet with a huge table filled with all kinds of food and drinks to feast on. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. In the presence of mine enemies Who seeing, envying, and fretting at it, are not able to hinder it. David did not call God a deliverer or a king, he was specific with the word Shepherd. He makes me to lie down in green pastures = Thats Rest! 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. Throughout the chapter, he addresses God by name. 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":"