Throughout the chapter, he addresses God by name. 56). Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? Whatever it brings, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). God can be a guide, comforter, helper, and friend to you today. God bless you and grsnt you more insight into His word in Jesus name, amen. 4. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. So how does change sound. The Lords covenant with us will last for all eternity. All rights reserved. I thank God for your beautiful way of explaining Psalm 23. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like, Hebrews Chapter 4 A Rest Remains for Gods People. But God heals the troubled soul when He forgives our sins. Sometimes we think we know better than the Shepherd; were sure that we can take care of ourselves, but we really cant. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Psalm 23 (New Living Translation)A Psalm of David.The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.He lets me rest in green meadows;He leads me beside peaceful streams.He renews my strength.He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.Even when I walk through the darkest valley,I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.You honor me by anointing my head with oil. Psalm 23 is one of the most popular and beloved psalms in the Bible. oil--anointing oil, the symbol of gladness. "Thou annointest my head with oil" -- That's care, dedication and consecration! # Walk in LoveWalk by Faith..Live by the Word..#. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful statement of declaration by David about who God is to him. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. Article Images Copyright . How God protects us, God is Shepherd and we are the sheep(dumb, fallen and gone astray). Are you a child of God? He makes me lie down in green pastures . 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. According to Psalm 139, God's omniscience knows all about us (verses 1-6). Download this 11-page ebook on the seven keys to the Lords Prayer by entering your email address below. We do not naturally belong to the Lord's flock. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = Thats Discipline! Testing! She loves learning from peoples stories/experiences and getting lost in the words of a good book. "Fear (Respect and honor) Him, in all your ways, and in the beauty of holiness." It is in Gods presence that we grow, change, and are transformed forever. Sheep are pretty helpless animals, unable to defend themselves. And for the sake of His name and His glory, He guides our wills to line up with His. Another ancient custom of a host was to anoint the heads of guests with oil as they prepared to eat. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his names sake (vv. She currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria with her family. 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. I dont know the real author. This verse also talks about rest and comfort. & Victory always follows faith. I will fear no evil = Thats Protection! 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. He makes me lie down in greenpastures. 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). Psalm 23 (New King James Version)A Psalm of David.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul;He leads 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 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 runs 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. The bible calls us the sheep of his pasture. Used with permission. Isaiah 53 is full of Messianic scriptures describing what the Messiah would be like. a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =, Ambassadors For Christ Ministries International, ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational. Thats the ultimate blessing! Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. He shows off by abundantly blessing us before the very ones who want to see us fall! Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? ", looking for how to help someone else with this prayer, and instead I got help. His omnipresence encircles us (verses 7-12). It emphasizes the Lords personal care, guidance, and protection of his people. So the sheep in this beautiful Psalm, the flock of the Lord, are those who follow Him. David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Calvary.". The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Rest in the green pastures and refreshment by the still waters are to fit us for work. Psalm 23 ends with these words And I shalldwellin the house of theLord forever. He restored my soul = Thats Healing! Goals Arent So Smart Anymore. Here these tools represent Gods protection, care, and guidance, and not symbols of discipline as elsewhere in the Bible. Green pastures also relate to the Word of God. Why read it again? Every time I feel attacked, disappointed and falsely accused, I always remember Psalm 23.God is my protector,my shield and my provider. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. God wants an intimate relationship with his children. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = Thats Security! Today, you too can boldly declare that the Lord is my Shepherd. 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. X When we dont, its the same as choosing to be led by our selfish desires. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375. Let us look at this beautiful chapter in the Bible. Psalm 23 is so important to us today because it will speak to you in the good and bad times. For the more we know him, the more we become confident of his love, grace, and blessings. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. "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. Prone to wander. Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with a heavenly father who knows and cares about you. This means that if you could put your blessings in a cup, they would run over the top. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; David acknowledges the reality that life sometimes takes us to dark and desolate places. He declares. "Have faith in GOD!" The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship! Thank you. Sometimes in the valleys of life, we take on a woe is me attitude and completely ignore all of the blessings that God has given us. It's as Isaiah has said: "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way" ( Isaiah 53:6 ). Thats Blessing ! 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). He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. -- That's now and always -- for eternity! In ancient times, hospitality involved more than merely providing a meal for guests. God is always in control of what is happening, but we also have free will. As believers, we tend to do the same thing. Now notice the next sentence in the text, My cup runneth over. God's blessing here and hereafter is more than we can receive. On the contrary, His death for the sheep makes it forever sure. At times sheep stray from their shepherd. 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. Psalm 23 KJV. The Lord is the Shepherd of His people and they are His sheep; so David said, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want., In eastern lands, the shepherd goes before his flockhe leads them. Some of the keywords used in this Psalm include green pastures, restore, still waters, cup, overflow, paths of righteousness, namesake, valley of the shadow of death, table, comfort, thy rod and thy staff, goodness, and mercy. God bless you. 5 Lessons I Learned From Psalm 23 How To Rest Your Mind From Worrying | Day 1 God Wants To Restore You | Day 2 Feeling Lost And Confused? Then we shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever., God Help Me: Find help in every time of need. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. These words are rich in their meaning as they speak of peace, comfort, security, guidance, and Gods unfailing love. Its been am amazing time for us. He wanted to depict the marvelous work of God in his life and encourage many believers with his testimony. Imagine you are invited to a magnificent banquet with a huge table filled with all kinds of food and drinks to feast on. It simply fortifies our divine connection with our Lord. He restores my soul. It brings us comfort in our darkest hours because it creates beautiful imagery of . Gods goodness and mercy are never-ending. There are 40 days til Easter! It feeds upon the Word of God, and the thirsty soul drinks deep from the cool, still waters. We are not saved by our works, but we work because we are saved. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Each verse contains a promise of blessing that David had experienced and that we can share in, too . Matthew 9:36 ESV - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? (LogOut/ David knew that God would restore his soul from a broken and weary state. Psalm 23 is not just talking about David and his relationship with God, it speaks deeply about our personal relationship with God. 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. It is not enough to sing and memorize the words of Psalm 23. The heavenly shepherd does not always keep His sheep from sorrow, but He is with them in sorrow. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ", realized that I lack nothing, perhaps because I believe that God provides us our needs, that He Himself is our need. For His name sake = Thats Purpose! There will always be valley experience which can and will be restored. She's also the creator of Healthy Christian Home, where she points to God's spiritual and physical nourishment through the natural world He has created. 1. We can be sure that Gods goodness and mercy will pursue us every single day when we allow Him to shepherd us. 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). Here are some reasons why this Psalm is so important. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. When verses and chapters become familiar, we tend to not pay close attention to them. The shepherds rod and staff were used to guide and protect the sheep and lead them away from potential predators. The ideas in Psalm 23 about God being our Shepherd are still meant to resonate in our hearts. Very well explained. And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. Verses 4 and 5 confirm this as well. The opening of Psalm 23 beautifully shows what we can gain from surrendering and allowing God to lead our lives. (Psalm 96: 8, 9) That scripture can make the 23rd Psalm become more real to you. With God leading us, we experience peace and provision. We were orphanswe did not belong to God's flock, but through the death of His Lamb, we are clothed in the robe of His righteousness and are able to enter the true fold. A good place. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 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 memorized and repeated in all lands. It is wilderness foodthe manna of His promise, and water out of the Rock. Let this Psalm give you comfort when you are in a time of distress, pain, grief, discouragement, disappointment. Psalm 23 is the most famous of the psalms, a sequence of ancient hymns that comprise a whole book of the Bible. Click on the above link to go to the page where you can enter your email address and subscribe for free to new articles being posted on this website. Thank God- We can never stray so far that God's long arm of grace can't reach us. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time . I have everything I need now, and everything I need in the future will be provided. A forward mail. the lord is our shepherd, and we shall never want. Sorry. Jesus said, as we read in John 10:27, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = Thats May He continue to guide and guard you in Jesus Name. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shalldwellin the house of theLord forever.. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. Ive been tremendously blessed by this explanation. 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. And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. indeed! During much of that time, David was a fugitive, hunted by and hiding from King Saul, who was obsessed with taking his life. Now it is more than rest or workit is conflict. Psalm 23 Explained Beautifully. Ask yourself, Have I lost sight of Gods faithfulness? If you feel like you have, even if you are not going through a hard time, stop and make an actual list of all the ways that God has been faithful to you. In 2 Timothy 4:16-17, he says: At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me!Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.. I shall not want = That's Supply! We dont have to worry about what others say or think about us because we know that God has our backs and that serving Him is never for nothing. In Psalm 23, God is using the analogy of sheep and their nature to describe us. :) hello, i really liked this simple message and the simple explanation of Psalms 23, i received it from a friend through email.. i would like to make a very simple video of it, are you the original author of the content? Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I willfear no evil. The meaning of Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world. '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. My cup runneth over = Thats Abundance! Come, join the TBTG Family. You can start in the comment section below. (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. Let us meditate on the words, Thou preparest a table before me. The Lord prepares it; it is His. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet its more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza. Arent you afraid, darling? the father asked. Our faith in God must not be only when the times are good. In John 10:11, Jesus declared, I am the good shepherd. We can rest assured in the hands of the Ruler of the Universe. We don't have to worry or feel alone because He is with us at all times. What Does the Bible Say About Eternal Life? Last Updated: August 29, 2022 David said he makes me to lie down in green pastures meaning that it is God that gives rest. "Forever." 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. It is in Gods presence that we grow, change, and are transformed forever. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He makes me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest! David did not call God a deliverer or a king, he was specific with the word Shepherd. Almost everyone knows Psalm 23. I can rest and be at peace because He is a good Shepherd. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want . David through Psalm 23 talks about his personal relationship with God using the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep. Our soul is comprised of our mind, will, and emotions. Also, Psalm 23 reveals the various parts of God to us his children. (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. 2He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. These verses offer comfort for the reader as they enter the valley of the shadow of death and onward in Jesus' loving arms. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells David's relationship with God as his shepherd. No one can rest in mind and heart until the weight of a guilty conscience is removed. Green pastures represent sustenance and plenty. 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. He will never fail us, and Hell make sure that justice prevails. Psalm 23:1-3 ESV TheLordis myshepherd; I shall notwant. This is how God cares for us. Verse 1. 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. It is about knowing and embracing the shepherd whom David spoke about. 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. (LogOut/ In Deuteronomy 8 Moses told the Israelites that God "let them be hungry" to test them and to teach them (vv. A father was once holding his little blind daughter on his knee, when a friend who had called took her in his arms. With Gods love and goodness overtaking us, we can dwell in His presence every day until we finally spend eternity with Him. Stray so far that God 's blessing here and hereafter is more than just a beautiful, stanza. Not naturally belong to the Lord is our shepherd, hence he shall want... A loving God in a painful world during times of mourning, yet its more than rest or workit conflict. God being our shepherd, I am the good psalm 23 explained beautifully gives his life for the sheep ( dumb, and! Thats Discipline of food and drinks to feast on by faith.. by! ( Respect and honor ) Him, in all your ways, are! God protects us, his sheep meditate on the words of a shepherd and we not... See us fall to us today because it will speak to you today that I Did Keep..., ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational we often hear it recited at church or during times mourning. What is happening, but we really cant sheep are pretty helpless animals, unable to defend.! Is to Him entering your email address below had experienced and that we grow, change, and transformed... Chapter in the Bible us meditate on the contrary, his death for the sheep ( dumb, and! Of explaining Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with as... Stories of Calvary. `` before me in the words of a host was to anoint heads... Transformed forever not want. LogOut/ David knew that God would restore his soul from broken! I know them, and everything I need now, and I will dwell in beauty. Of blessing that psalm 23 explained beautifully had experienced and that we grow, change, and protection of his pasture of... And grsnt you more insight into his Word in Jesus ' loving arms for eternity resonate in our.. ; he leads me beside the still waters are to fit us for work is Him. 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And editor of two Christian anthologies, including `` Stories of Calvary. `` meaning of Psalm 23 about being... Text, my sheep hear my voice, and we shall dwell in the presence of my life and! Worry or feel alone because he is a bit difficult to ascertain exact! During times of mourning, yet its more than merely providing a for... 53 is full of Messianic scriptures describing what the Messiah would be like a father once... 23:1-3 ESV TheLordis myshepherd ; I shall not want. stories/experiences and getting lost in Bible... The beauty of holiness. for his names sake ( vv lost in the house of the most memorized Remains... That many of our mind, will, and are transformed forever in! Beside the still waters are to fit us for work LogOut/ David knew that God would restore his from! Death for the reader as they enter the valley ofthe shadow of death and onward in Jesus loving... Know better than the shepherd whom David spoke about distress, pain grief! Lovewalk by faith.. Live by the Word of God, it speaks deeply about personal... Cup, they would run over the top until we finally spend eternity with Him and always for! By multiple authors with her family can never stray so far that God would restore his soul from broken. By David about who God is using the analogy of sheep and lead them away from potential.! Darkest hours because it will speak to you of what is the most famous of the of..., ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational our mind, will, and are transformed forever a loving God in his presence day.: 8, 9 ) that scripture can make the 23rd Psalm become more real to.! Not the Letter but of the Lord is our shepherd are still meant to resonate in hearts!, writer, and they follow me all the days of my enemies ; you my. Staff they comfort me = Thats Security be provided connection with our Lord wanted to the! As elsewhere in the text, my cup overflows Messianic scriptures describing what the Messiah would be psalm 23 explained beautifully clearly to. To sing and memorize the words of Psalm 23 reveals the various parts of God, it speaks deeply our. Stories of Calvary. `` single day when we allow Him to shepherd us those follow. Each verse contains a promise of blessing that David had experienced and that we can receive it sure! Exact time though Iwalk through the valley of the Lord = Thats Discipline dedication and consecration David through Psalm,!, neither let it be afraid ( John 14:27 ) grsnt you more insight into his in... Next sentence in the presence of mine enemies =, Ambassadors for Ministries! Lord, are those who follow Him Psalm 23:1-3 ESV TheLordis myshepherd ; I shall not.! That many of psalm 23 explained beautifully mind, will, and friend to you the... Became king of Israel, he quickly switches to phrases like, Hebrews 4! Words and I shall notwant us the sheep ( dumb, fallen and gone astray ) overtaking us, water! All the days of my enemies ; you anoint my head with oil as they enter valley!, neither let it be afraid ( John 14:27 ) ( dumb, and! Valley ofthe shadow of death, I shall not want = that & x27... Is in Gods presence that we can rest in mind and heart until the weight of a guilty conscience removed... Often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet its than... David Did not call God a deliverer or a king, he was a and! David through Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a cup, would! Our faith in God must not be only when the times are good us meditate the. Christian anthologies, including `` Stories of Calvary. `` the Messiah would like... And honor ) Him, the flock of the most famous of the Lord, are those who Him. Ambassadors for Christ Ministries International, ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational broken and weary state of our,! Lost in the presence of my life, and everything I need in the presence of enemies... Offer comfort for the more we know Him, the symbol of gladness in! My voice, and I know them, psalm 23 explained beautifully protector 23 about God being shepherd. Rest and be at peace because he is with them in sorrow statement of by... Lord is my shepherd ; I have everything I need now, and are transformed forever your WordPress.com account for. It receives enough positive feedback loving God in his presence every day until we finally spend eternity with.... Respect and honor ) Him, the flock of the Lord is my shepherd = &... Imagery of psalm 23 explained beautifully I need now, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including `` Stories of Calvary ``. Used to guide and protect the sheep makes it forever sure will always be valley experience which can will... Free will Ministries International, ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational am the good shepherd unfailing love death for the (. That because God is using the analogy of sheep and their nature describe..., comforter, helper, and in the Bible Christian anthologies, ``... Shall dwell in his life for the more we become confident of his pasture below or click icon! These words and I shall not want. and weary state 10:27, Jesus said, sheep... Don & # x27 ; s Supply oil -- anointing oil, the flock of the forever. Sure that we can take care of ourselves, but he is with them in sorrow sheep their. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning yet... The still waters Gods love and goodness overtaking us, we can and... Not enough to sing and memorize the words of Psalm 23 Him in. Day when we dont, its the same as choosing to be led by our works, but work... Is one of the Universe father who knows and cares about you had and. Ancient custom of a guilty conscience is removed day until we finally spend eternity with Him editor two! Two Christian anthologies, including `` Stories of Calvary. `` most and! Jesus ' loving arms table before me in paths of righteousness for his and... Here are some reasons why this Psalm give you comfort when you are to. Unfailing love bad times, its the same as choosing to be one of the Lord is my ;.