Green pastures represent sustenance and plenty. 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. With Gods love and goodness overtaking us, we can dwell in His presence every day until we finally spend eternity with Him. The Psalmist puts rest and refreshment first because this is the way God deals with us so often. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? 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). Jesus was the Shepherd who became a sheep. : "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' By using our site, you agree to our. I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU!!! Praise the Lord I want to thank God for his love .He is a good sherpard to all of us who are sinners. Recently, I was reading through Psalms and scanned over chapter 23. He renews my strength. 1. In ancient times, hospitality involved more than merely providing a meal for guests. 5) Psalm 23: Conclusion. After all, If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (Romans 8:31). 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. 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. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet its more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza. & Victory always follows faith. Additionally, because they are dumb, sheep wander off and get lost, putting themselves in great danger. Sometimes we get bogged down in our circumstances and just decide thats the way it will always be. That is, he helps us to find food, water, work, love, friends and all that we need. "The Lord is my shepherd" is one of the most quoted passages in all of Scripture. Today, you too can boldly declare that the Lord is my Shepherd. John 10:14 ESV - I am the good shepherd. I thank God for your inspiration. Convicting, huh? The Shepherd supplies all our needs in the presence of our enemies. '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. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lets Keep in Touch 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.. This proclaims the metaphor of the psalm, that god is like our shepherd. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet it's more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza. Fairchild, Mary. David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are . "Forever." Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd. But the good news is this: our Shepherd cares for us, and He is able to restore our souls. Shepherds often risked their own lives to rescue their sheep. 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. Even those who do not attend church have likely heard this psalm before. Our faith in God must not be only when the times are good. Psalm 23 explained beautifully - title photo. I have read this a few times before but this has touched me alot. 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, 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. You literally cannot dwell on bad thoughts and the blessings of God at the same time. It is about making a choice to cultivate intimacy with God. If your world seems chaotic or unfulfilling, ask yourself, Am I allowing God to lead me?. I guess God led me here. Thank God- Change). 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. A shepherd cares deeply not only for all his sheep as a whole but also for each and every single one. Amen. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his names sake (vv. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 191,942 times. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! https://www.learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375 (accessed March 1, 2023). . Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. She is wife to an amazing man and mom to two children. Heleads me inpaths of righteousness for hisnames sake. Psalm 23 I know my own and my own know me. When was Psalm 23 Written? 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. 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. Psalm 23 is one of the most well-known and well-loved psalms in the Bible. Face it, the Lord is crazy about you. Her passion is to inspire, encourage, support, and build up faith in the heart of moms in their motherhood journey. We find ourselves in need of God's forgiveness and restoration, which he offers freely to those who repent and return to him. (Psalm 96: 8, 9) That scripture can make the 23rd Psalm become more real to you. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD 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? Generally in Malaysia, Christians use this Psalm to comfort the sick and dying. 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.. 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. 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. Psalm 23 begins with the sentence above. And for the sake of His name and His glory, He guides our wills to line up with His. David said God prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. God is right by your side walking you through life. -- That's now and always -- for eternity! 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. God can be a guide, comforter, helper, and friend to you today. Psalm 23 helps us see God as a father who leads his children on paths of righteousness, progress, and victory. ", realized that I lack nothing, perhaps because I believe that God provides us our needs, that He Himself is our need. "He leadeth me beside the still waters" -- That's cool, peaceful refreshment! . 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. cup (which represents abundance)--are prepared for the child of God, who may feast in spite of his enemies, confident that this favor will ever attend him. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual. 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. 4. In spiritual communion with Him, the hungry heart finds food that satisfies. The 23rd Psalm is one of the most widely known scriptures in the Bible. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. He is, indeed, worthy of our worship and praise. 2. The prophet Samuel anointed him king, but it would be another decade or more before David was recognized by Israel. 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. His omnipresence encircles us (verses 7-12). On the contrary, His death for the sheep makes it forever sure. However, one thing remained throughout the entire chapter: David trusted that God was always with him, and that he was not alone walking through life. There are 40 days til Easter! Our soul is comprised of our mind, will, and emotions. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful statement of declaration by David about who God is to him. His creative power makes and keeps us (verses 13-18 . Thank you, a plain and simple translation of our Faithful and Loving Shepherd. The meaning of Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world. 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. Psalm 23 - The LORD Is My Shepherd and My Host Like many others, this beloved psalm bears the simple title A Psalm of David . Sometimes we stray from the Lord, too. It is her desire to reach struggling teenagers and tell them about the transformative power and love of God. 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 shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (vv. (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. Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. 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. Pray for God to help you understand, then reread the psalm. StudyLght.org. His gift to us is eternal life, and we will be with him forever. Most account it to be a psalm of David's maturity, but with vivid remembrance of his youth as a shepherd. Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude that tells David's relationship with God as his shepherd. I shall not want because I know God personally as my Shepherd. It is memorized and repeated in all lands. The shepherds rod and staff were used to guide and protect the sheep and lead them away from potential predators. The 22nd Psalm in the Vulgate and some Catholic bibles 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! Log in. This makes you know that you are not alone, even when you dont feel like it. meaning it was his reality and he rested in this truth Gods goodness and mercy were following him through his lifes journey on earth. Thank you! It is about knowing and embracing the shepherd whom David spoke about. 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. ", looking for how to help someone else with this prayer, and instead I got help. He leadeth me beside the still waters = Thats Refreshment! David rested in the comfort that with God as his shepherd, he would walk through victoriously through the valley of the shadow of death. Thou annointest my head with oil = Thats Consecration! And how does it relate to us as children of God today?". - Luke 15:4 (ESV). Is it just: "What you have" in your life? And now the Shepherd leads on, not only beside the still waters of rest and the righteous paths of service, but through trouble and sorrow. Sorry. Jesus is called the good shepherd, and he said my sheep know my voice and a strangers voice they will not follow. The other part of the picture in these four verses gives the different methods that God uses in leading His flock; or, we might say, the various regions through which He leads them are described in order. Sometimes, you may even be led by culture, traditions, and the worlds way of doing things. He restores my soul. 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