psalm 23 explained beautifully

All believers can say, "We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3). The Word of God always has something new to teach us, even if its from a familiar passage. It can also mean bringing back to repentance or rescuing from a lost state. "Truly, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" -- That's about. The opening of Psalm 23 beautifully shows what we can gain from surrendering and allowing God to lead our lives. The picture of the divine Shepherd leading His flock fills the first four verses of Psalm 23. Our Shepherd cares for us, and He is able to restore our souls. If you have not already been saved by Jesus Christ, that may help you feel better. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = Thats Security! 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. As guests of the Lord, we can dine safely, even in the presence of our enemies. 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. John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! For the more we know him, the more we become confident of his love, grace, and blessings. Sarah Garrett is a passionate educator and founder of the Transformed4More Ministries that she runs with her identical twin sister. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. 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. When we spend time meditating on God's Word, we find rest and nourishment for our souls. % of people told us that this article helped them. 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. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful statement of declaration by David about who God is to him. In the darkest and most trying hour, God is near. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Calvary.". He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Our faith in God must not be only when the times are good. "Forever." 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? Its the same with us: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). For Thou art with me = Thats Faithfulness! Psalm 23 is a psalm of King David expressing confidence and trust in the Lord. Verse 1. I got this from an email. ", wants. 1 Peter 2:25 ESV - For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Let us now explore Psalm 23 line by line and phrase by phrase: The Lord is my shepherd. As I read, three questions came to mind. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375. 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. I almost skipped it, but decided to read it again. 5, 6. Whatever it brings, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). We love you, and we want to build relationship with you. Amen. (LogOut/ Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. indeed! He makes me to lie down in green pastures = Thats Rest! "My cup runneth over" -- That's His abundance flowing to you and out to others! He restored my soul = Thats Healing! 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. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful statement of declaration by David about who God is to him. We find ourselves in need of God's forgiveness and restoration, which he offers freely to those who repent and return to him. Sometimes we think we know better than the Shepherd; were sure that we can take care of ourselves, but we really cant. I was. Is your relationship with God intimate enough for you to boldly call him your Shepherd? Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? Her faith in him took away fear. King David boldly declares who God is to him as he speaks of his relationship with God borne out of personal knowledge and his experiences with God using a shepherd and his sheep. David did not call God a deliverer or a king, he was specific with the word Shepherd. 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. Pray for God to help you understand, then reread the psalm. When the apostle Paul stood before Nero, he was not alone. 23rd Psalm - The Lord is my shepherd (KJV) Psalm 23:1-6 1. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus says: What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? Here these tools represent Gods protection, care, and guidance, and not symbols of discipline as elsewhere in the Bible. (LogOut/ She currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria with her family. 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.. 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. It is about making a choice to cultivate intimacy with God. We realize God governs both the large and small issues of life. God bless you :). We Are Carriers of God's Presence & Glory!! 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. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Generally in Malaysia, Christians use this Psalm to comfort the sick and dying. The Lord is my Shepherd = Thats Relationship! If you are going through a season of sin, discouragement, or despair in your life right now, ask yourself, Am I walking or camping?. But it is for us. "I will fear no evil" -- That's knowing you are protected even at your lowest hour! 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. 3. Verses 4 and 5 confirm this as well. 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. Jesus said, as we read in John 10:27, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.. God wants an intimate relationship with his children. I shall not want = Thats Supply! Rest, strange to say, in the past; work in the present; and sorrow, the valley of the shadow, still to come. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (vv. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. for his name's sake--or, regard for His perfections pledged for His people's welfare. Some of the keywords used in this Psalm include. Another figure expresses God's provided care. What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? 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 ). The inspiring text is often quoted at funeral services and memorial events. hallelujah ! In spiritual communion with Him, the hungry heart finds food that satisfies. Fairchild, Mary. We can be sure that Gods goodness and mercy will pursue us every single day when we allow Him to shepherd us. Verses 1 and 2 explain how God is like a shepherd who provides and cares for His sheep. Come, join the TBTG Family. Green pastures represent sustenance and plenty. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. Gods goodness and mercy are never-ending. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. It is memorized and repeated in all lands. He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! He declares Surely meaning it was his reality and he rested in this truth Gods goodness and mercy were following him through his lifes journey on earth. Be encouraged today my friends of faith!Today's amaz. With God leading us, we experience peace and provision. So, friend, do not worry about the future. ; I shall not want. Learn Religions. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Each verse contains a promise of blessing that David had experienced and that we can share in, too . "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life" -- That's the blessing and power of grace, through faith remembering "God is Love," not just words! Shepherds use tools (rod and staff) to lead and guide their sheep. Well, here is one commentary, one phrase at a time. 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. Good bless you. (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. Verse 3. 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. Verse 6. 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. 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. It is a calming assurance that comes with choosing to abide daily in Gods presence. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are . Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and well-loved psalms in the Bible. It is the universal Psalm, the chief Psalm, the pearl of Psalms. 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. 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). He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake. Let this Psalm give you comfort when you are in a time of distress, pain, grief, discouragement, disappointment. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Verse 7b says, He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. God the Father sent His Son Jesus to become the final blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5). All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. (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. meaning it was his reality and he rested in this truth Gods goodness and mercy were following him through his lifes journey on earth. Thanks be to the father that he has a place for me forever. He will lead us down a path of righteousness and not destruction. I know my own and my own know me. Psalm 23 Explained Beautifully. It talks about renewal and strength in every area of life. He also protects us from evil. 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. Testing! StudyLght.org. Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with a heavenly father who knows and cares about you. Sheep need guidance to safe pastures, and we too need a Shepherd to guide us to safety and lead us to provision. Only a shepherd could write Psalm 23, and David was a shepherd. . Psalm 23 is not just talking about David and his relationship with God, it speaks deeply about our personal relationship with God. 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 . It brings us comfort in our darkest hours because it creates beautiful imagery of . David rested in the comfort that with God as his shepherd, he would walk through victoriously through the valley of the shadow of death. The writer uses words like green pastures, still waters and I shall not want. Psalm 23 (New Living Translation) A Psalm of David. The Psalmist puts rest and refreshment first because this is the way God deals with us so often. 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. David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. Psalm 23 - The LORD Is My Shepherd and My Host Like many others, this beloved psalm bears the simple title A Psalm of David . -- That's now and always -- for eternity! Learn more Is the 23rd Psalm[1] 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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. He begins Psalm 23 with this sentence. God bless you. The 23rd Psalm is one of the most widely known scriptures in the Bible. David had built his confidence so much in God as a shepherd boy tending his fathers sheep. Tuesday, February 28th, 2023 the First Week of Lent. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 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). Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd, whether we realize it or not. Seriously. 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. It paints a beautiful picture of serenity, peace, and the security that comes with trusting in God. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. The Bible never changes, but it always changes something in us when we read it. Psalm 23 explained beautifully by Walter Rasmussen. 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":"