Psalms 23:1-6. We learn it in Sunday school, see it in funeral programs, and notice it on church dcor. David said I shall not want because God is my Shepherd and will always meet my needs. Psalm 23 is the most famous of the psalms, a sequence of ancient hymns that comprise a whole book of the Bible. The picture of the divine Shepherd leading His flock fills the first four verses of Psalm 23. Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd, whether we realize it or not. Seriously. The presence of the shepherd eliminated any fear of evil for the sheep. References He restoreth my soul = That's Healing! Thank God for the Good Shepherd who became the perfect, sacrificial Lamb of God, removing our sin, guilt, and shame and making us right with our Heavenly Father! '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. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. I heard a pastor say that this verse clearly states that the valleys of life are to be walked through, but some people tend to put up a tent and camp there. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Some people find reading commentaries on passages of scripture helpful. She currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria with her family. David said he makes me to lie down in green pastures meaning that it is God that gives rest. Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I willfear no evil. With God as our shepherd, there is nothing we will ever lack. When we go through difficult times, we dont need to be afraid because we know that our Shepherd is with us in the midst of it. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. This tends to rob us of the joy that can come from our relationship with God. He declares. When we spend time meditating on God's Word, we find rest and nourishment for our souls. (2021, September 7). By using our site, you agree to our. 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. Come, join the TBTG Family. 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). When was Psalm 23 Written? He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. The meaning of Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world. We can rest assured in the hands of the Ruler of the Universe. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are . indeed! I shall not want, not because of what I've done or can do but because God loves me. I know my own and my own know me. Equipping Christian Women to Abide in God's Word. Every time I feel attacked, disappointed and falsely accused, I always remember Psalm 23.God is my protector,my shield and my provider. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. All rights reserved. But God heals the troubled soul when He forgives our sins. Face it, the Lord is crazy about you. They know his voice and follow him. To God be the Glory! Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. This article has been viewed 191,942 times. "Fear (Respect and honor) Him, in all your ways, and in the beauty of holiness." The woman in the gospel story poured the box of precious ointment upon the head of our Lord, (Matthew 26:6-7) a custom which the host who had invited Him had shamefully neglected. It may be your fears, insecurities, unbelief, and pride. 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 = Thats Relationship! 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. But the Lord walks with us through seasons of darkness and despair. God bless you and grsnt you more insight into His word in Jesus name, amen. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Throughout the chapter, he addresses God by name. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Sometimes we wander off and get into trouble, but we can trust that God cares for us and will protect and guide us if well allow Him to. Sometimes we think we know better than the Shepherd; were sure that we can take care of ourselves, but we really cant. 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. The 23rd Psalm is one of the most widely known scriptures in 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. When David was still a teenager, God chose him to be king. Here these tools represent Gods protection, care, and guidance, and not symbols of discipline as elsewhere in the Bible. The Lord is my Shepherd = Thats Relationship! There are 40 days til Easter! "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord" -- That's home and security in the Lord's provision/Heaven! His blessings span the years. David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. And they are three: rest, work, and sorrow. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. He is the One Who upholds and protects, Who blesses and comforts, Who bountifully provides good things for us in the presence of our enemies. It does not mean that He will provide for every thing we want, but for everything that we need. 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. Remember, the sheep are menare people. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. This verse also shows God as a guide who leads us through life on paths that honor his name and bring glory to him. 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. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? 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. I was. 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. 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. I got this from an email. Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells David's relationship with God as his shepherd. 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 (Psalm 23:4). Our Saviour is not only the Lamb; He is the Shepherd toothe Good Shepherd, who giveth His life for His sheep. It is a bit difficult to ascertain the exact time . We can be sure that Gods goodness and mercy will pursue us every single day when we allow Him to shepherd us. Now it is more than rest or workit is conflict. Let us meditate on the words, Thou preparest a table before me. The Lord prepares it; it is His. When we see it in our Bibles, it can be tempting to think,Oh, I know what this says already. Let us now explore Psalm 23 line by line and phrase by phrase: The Lord is my shepherd. 1. Why do I still feel guilty about my past sins? Now notice the next sentence in the text, My cup runneth over. God's blessing here and hereafter is more than we can receive. Theres no way around this: God actually honors and blesses us right in front of our enemies! ", and Bible resources, we can enjoy it so much. 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. God anoints your head with oil speaks of being filled with his presence daily. No one can rest in mind and heart until the weight of a guilty conscience is removed. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. Goals Arent So Smart Anymore. God was like a shepherd to David, and David was like a sheep to God. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. 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. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want (Lessons from Psalms 23) -ibelieve.com, Psalms 23 Commentary - biblestudytools.com, How to Find Daily Encouragement from 'the Lord Is My Shepherd' in Psalm 23, The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want (Lessons from Psalms 23). The prophet Samuel anointed him king, but it would be another decade or more before David was recognized by Israel. Download this 11-page ebook on the seven keys to the Lords Prayer by entering your email address below. the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. John 10:14 ESV - I am the good shepherd. 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 . Even non-Christians have heard it because it seems to be a favorite at funerals, weddings, and other religious events. When we look back over life, the trials are out-weighed by His love. Her faith in him took away fear. But here's what we need to understand: we can't see God as Shepherd if we don't see ourselves as sheep. Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with a heavenly father who knows and cares about you. The inspiring text is often quoted at funeral services and memorial events. Praise the Lord I want to thank God for his love .He is a good sherpard to all of us who are sinners. "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). Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.". It is a psalm that heals, delivers, comforts, and set free. The clear implication of David's statement in Psalm 23:1 is that as one of God's sheep he will lack nothing which is necessary for his best interest. Isaiah 43- 19 For I am about to do something new. God wants you to trust him at all times in all seasons of life while resting in the assurance that he is always with you. Psalm 23 - The LORD Is My Shepherd and My Host Like many others, this beloved psalm bears the simple title A Psalm of David . oil--anointing oil, the symbol of gladness. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Calvary.". Log in. You literally cannot dwell on bad thoughts and the blessings of God at the same time. That means we can choose to let God lead our lives. 1 Peter 2:25 ESV - For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Recently, I was reading through Psalms and scanned over chapter 23. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like valley, shadow of death, and fear no evil in the following verses. Your cup overflows with blessings and abundance from God. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other. Is your relationship with God intimate enough for you to boldly call him your Shepherd? He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = . It is a Psalm that speaks about seasons in our lifes journey and what matters in those seasons. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = Thats Security! The enemy cannot stop the blessings of God in your life because God has chosen to bless you abundantly right before their watching eyes. So when David says "I shall not want" he is acknowledging how completely reliant he is one God as his Shepherd. As you walk through life, will you trust God to lead and guide you into the fullness of his purpose for your life? John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! 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. That is, God leads us into work, into service for Him. Thank you! 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. It shows us how God is a sustainer, a guide, a leader, a provider, the ever-present one, and an amazing host who has prepared a table of abundance before us to feast on. Still or quiet waters, represent rest, refuge, safety, and security. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = Thats Rest! The sheep rests in the assurance that his shepherd is always watching and looking out for it. It is the universal Psalm, the chief Psalm, the pearl of Psalms. Father who knows and cares about you sure that we need to understand: we ca n't see God a... 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