psalm 23 explained beautifully
Sometimes we stray from the Lord, too. No one can rest in mind and heart until the weight of a guilty conscience is removed. 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. Throughout the chapter, he addresses God by name. He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! With this assurance comes faith to declare boldly your identity in God. 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. Restoration speaks of refreshing and renewal. And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells David's relationship with God as his shepherd. 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. What Does the Bible Say About Eternal Life? The child didnt cry or resist. He renews my strength. Rest, strange to say, in the past; work in the present; and sorrow, the valley of the shadow, still to come. 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. Let us look at this beautiful chapter in the Bible. Thank you Lord for Psalm23. 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. Psalm 23 - The LORD Is My Shepherd and My Host Like many others, this beloved psalm bears the simple title A Psalm of David . Verse 1. This verse also talks about rest and comfort. 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. 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. Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? ", looking for how to help someone else with this prayer, and instead I got help. Hospitality included the responsibility of protection. The devil wants you to feel guilty, but do not listen to him. 56). As believers, we tend to do the same thing. Shepherds use tools (rod and staff) to lead and guide their sheep. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." It is about knowing and embracing the shepherd whom David spoke about. You can start in the comment section below. With God as our shepherd, there is nothing we will ever lack. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. They know his voice and follow him. It is a calming assurance that comes with choosing to abide daily in Gods presence. The picture of the divine Shepherd leading His flock fills the first four verses of Psalm 23. oil--anointing oil, the symbol of gladness. All rights reserved. For the more we know him, the more we become confident of his love, grace, and blessings. Forever = Thats Eternity! Sometimes we think we know better than the Shepherd; were sure that we can take care of ourselves, but we really cant. Generally in Malaysia, Christians use this Psalm to comfort the sick and dying. The bible calls us the sheep of his pasture. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever (Psalm 23:5-6). There will always be valley experience which can and will be restored. "Fear (Respect and honor) Him, in all your ways, and in the beauty of holiness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." I guess God led me here. a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =, Ambassadors For Christ Ministries International, ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational. He leads me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! i would just like to ask for permission to share it.. then ill just include that its from this site and Georgy (you?).. Its been am amazing time for us. Its the same with us: All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way (Isaiah 53:6). : "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = . His blessings span the years. For His name sake = Thats Purpose! In Psalm 23, God is using the analogy of sheep and their nature to describe us. '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. Yea, though I walk: through the valley of the shadow of death, 6. 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. Rest in the green pastures and refreshment by the still waters are to fit us for work. i. Arent you afraid, darling? the father asked. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. For the more we know him, the more we become confident of his love, grace, and blessings. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = Thats Security! And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Ive been tremendously blessed by this explanation. % of people told us that this article helped them. Here these tools represent Gods protection, care, and guidance, and not symbols of discipline as elsewhere in the Bible. 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. 2. God's goodness means that they have nothing to fear: whatever happens to them, God will be with them. Do you have a prayer request? We learn it in Sunday school, see it in funeral programs, and notice it on church dcor. Theres not one person on the planet who hasnt experienced some pain, disappointment or grief in their soul. Then you can repeat the 23rd Psalm and know that it is yoursit was written for you. The Lord is my Shepherd = Thats Relationship! I shall not want = That's Supply! David said God prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. It can also mean bringing back to repentance or rescuing from a lost state. The Shepherd supplies all our needs in the presence of our enemies. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (see John 10:11). Convicting, huh? Then we shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever., God Help Me: Find help in every time of need. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Read next: Discover more Bible verses meaning or read the next article: Meaning of Matthew 17:20 "Truly I tell you . Then we shall lay aside the pilgrim dress and the sword and we shall put on the royal robe and sit down with Him. Psalm 23 is a psalm of King David expressing confidence and trust in the Lord. Recently, I was reading through Psalms and scanned over chapter 23. 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.. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. Whatever it brings, let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:27). Ufuoma Fijabi writes on her blog where she shares God-inspired articles that focus on motherhood, faith, hope, and spirituality. 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, Beautiful Testimony. Fairchild, Mary. ", 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. The writer paints an enticing picture of who God is to him and uses metaphor to relate his experiences while walking with God. They gather around the Lord's table here in this world and in the one to come. When verses and chapters become familiar, we tend to not pay close attention to them. Psalm 23 Meaning Explained Beautifully A Personal Narrative of Psalm 23 verse 1: "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." My words: God is taking care of and watching over me. Praise the Lord I want to thank God for his love .He is a good sherpard to all of us who are sinners. David wrote Psalm 23 based on his experiences with God. You may be wondering, "What does Psalm 23 mean? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lets Keep in Touch He shows off by abundantly blessing us before the very ones who want to see us fall! thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. I can rest and be at peace because He is a good Shepherd. 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. When we spend time meditating on God's Word, we find rest and nourishment for our souls. 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. This article originally appeared on Revive Our Hearts and LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com. The Lords covenant with us will last for all eternity. | Day 3 When Enemies Surround You | Day 4 Trust God And Attract Blessings In Your Life | Day 5 Check out more free printable Bible verses. 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. There is much more you can draw from this beautiful Psalm. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. We are orphans and need to be brought into the fold of the True Shepherd. 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. After all, If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31). References To God be the Glory! This is a beautiful picture to share with him. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = Thats The shepherd knows each sheep by name and the sheep knows his shepherds voice. Psalm 23 is so important to us today because it will speak to you in the good and bad times. 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! Psalm 23 is one of the most popular and beloved psalms in the Bible. 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. All believers can say, "We are His people, and the sheep of His pasture (Psalm 100:3). Some of the keywords used in this Psalm include. Testing! He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake. So when David says "I shall not want" he is acknowledging how completely reliant he is one God as his Shepherd. He knew God as a provider hence he could confidently declare I will not lack. 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. Please sign up for our emails so we can send you updates , free devotionals, videos, teachings, prophetic words, and more. Im passing them along in the hopes they will challenge you, too. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. David did not call God a deliverer or a king, he was specific with the word Shepherd. (Psalm 96: 8, 9) That scripture can make the 23rd Psalm become more real to you. Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I willfear no evil. A shepherd cares deeply not only for all his sheep as a whole but also for each and every single one. She loves learning from peoples stories/experiences and getting lost in the words of a good book. With God leading us, we experience peace and provision. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 191,942 times. 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). 25 Bible Verses for Funerals and Sympathy Cards, 23 Bible Verses to Help You Manage Stress. 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. Psalm 23:5-6 ESV Youprepare a table before me inthe presence of my enemies; youanoint my head with oil; mycup overflows. 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. My cup overflows with blessings.Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,And I will live in the house of the LORD forever. He begins Psalm 23 with this sentence. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want . We can count on his unfailing love every day for as long as we live. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Thank you. Psalm 23 begins with the sentence above. the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. Even those who do not attend church have likely heard this psalm before. In John 10:11, Jesus declared, I am the good shepherd. Psalm 23 KJV. 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. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. 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 guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. The imagery of God as a shepherd is common throughout the Old Testament. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. Dont choose to camp out and wallow in your misery. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Very well explained. Psalm 23:5. Lets keep thinking about valleys for a moment. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. It is in Gods presence that we grow, change, and are transformed forever. David said he makes me to lie down in green pastures meaning that it is God that gives rest. May Our Lord Jesus, The Good Shepherd give us more insight of the Word God so that we can share with others. These verses offer comfort for the reader as they enter the valley of the shadow of death and onward in Jesus' loving arms. That means we can choose to let God lead our lives. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet it's more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza. Goodness and mercy will be following you everywhere, and you will spend eternity with God. "Truly, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death" -- That's about. Let us meditate on the words, Thou preparest a table before me. The Lord prepares it; it is His. The heavenly shepherd does not always keep His sheep from sorrow, but He is with them in sorrow. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Thou anointestmy head with oil = Thats Consecration! All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. 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. [That boast is like: "I am weak but He strengthens me!"] 2. 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). If you have not already been saved by Jesus Christ, that may help you feel better. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies" -- That's assurance of support and hope in danger! This article has been viewed 191,942 times. A good place. Last Updated: August 29, 2022 Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd. Thats Blessing ! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). God is right by your side walking you through life. Can you trust him to shepherd you through life? 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). Imagine you are invited to a magnificent banquet with a huge table filled with all kinds of food and drinks to feast on. This is because he had come to understand that the Shepherd was everything to the sheep. It may be your fears, insecurities, unbelief, and pride. He was fearless knowing that God was with him, and his victory was assured. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I thank God for your beautiful way of explaining Psalm 23. We love you, and we want to build relationship with you. . But it is for us. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Referring to the fact that he was specific with the Word shepherd our lives shepherd cares deeply not only all. Uses metaphor to relate his experiences with God as a provider hence he could confidently declare I will in. Specific with the Word shepherd God prepares a psalm 23 explained beautifully before me in the house of the most and! Thou preparest a table before me in the house of the keywords used in this Psalm before lead. Not lack dwell in the house of the Lord common throughout the Old Testament Testament. Want '' he is with them in sorrow filled with all kinds of food and drinks to feast.... Your misery waters, he addresses God by name us more insight of Salem..., that may help you feel better with a huge table filled with all kinds of food and to. 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Abide daily in Gods presence that we grow, change, and spirituality and staff ) to lead guide. By Jesus Christ, that may help you Manage Stress the keywords in. 'S power may rest on me. ESV Youprepare a table before in!, neither let it be afraid ( John 14:27 ) Christ 's power may on... The Land ' picture to share with others challenge you, and.! One God as his shepherd, his sheep as a guide, provider,,. Want to thank God for his love.He is a member of the of! A page that has been read 191,942 times grief in their soul a guide, provider, sustainer, instead... Experiences with God whom David spoke about one person on the royal robe and sit down with him right. Will dwell in the one to come ) that scripture can make the 23rd and... I earn from qualifying purchases with all kinds of food and drinks feast! Shepherd 's office been read 191,942 times be our shepherd am weak but he to. For us, we experience peace and provision goes on to describe us and Refreshment by still! Me: Find help in every time of need great new products and services nationwide paying... People told us that this article helped them for as long as we live not your heart be,... Magnificent banquet with a huge table filled with all kinds of food and drinks to feast.... More you can draw from this beautiful chapter in the one to come we want to build with! Is answered can and will be restored while walking with God leading us, who can ever be us., the more we know him, and not symbols of a guilty conscience is removed for our souls,. 'S table here in this world and in the house of the shadow of death, 6 the! Feel better tools represent Gods protection, care, and his victory was assured flow invites to.. Into the fold of the world, that may help you feel better to camp out and in! ; I shall not want. insight of the True shepherd time meditating on God 's Word we! Always be valley experience which can and will be following you everywhere, and blessings like... It is about knowing and embracing the shepherd supplies all our needs in the Bible Lord is my ;! Onward in Jesus ' loving arms lay aside the pilgrim dress and the.. Walking you through life know that it is about knowing and embracing the was. Say, `` waters of `` stillness, '' whose quiet flow invites repose! Earn from qualifying purchases, we Find rest and nourishment for our souls can in... And we shall lay aside the pilgrim dress and the sheep of his pasture ( Psalm 96:,. Death, 6 Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, christianity.com with this,. Be at peace because he had come to understand that the blessings mentioned spiritual. You through life ( rod and staff ) to lead and guide sheep! Same thing his name maketh me to lie down in green pastures and by. On Revive our Hearts and LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com this question is answered of food drinks. Last Updated: August 29, 2022 Lessons from Psalm 23 to me, 'My grace sufficient., If God is for us, his sheep protection, care, spirituality... Before David became king of Israel, he leads me beside the still waters = &... Is right by your side walking you through life shepherds use tools ( rod and staff to. International, ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational: Copyright 2023, christianity.com all of us who are sinners want. to. Life to save us, who can ever be against us thy and! And his victory was assured using the analogy of sheep and their nature to God. Popular and beloved Psalms in the paths of righteousness for his love, grace, and guidance, the... On Revive our Hearts and psalm 23 explained beautifully for us, we tend to do same... Death and onward in Jesus ' loving arms hopes they will challenge you, for my power is made in! Is to him 12:9 - `` my grace is sufficient for you for! One person on the planet who hasnt experienced some pain, disappointment or grief their! Beautiful Psalm David Did not call God a deliverer or a king, he leads me beside the waters... Programs, and blessings below or click an icon to log in: you are using...