Can you trust him to shepherd you through life? He restores my soul. This gave him the confidence to boldly declare those words. Psalm 23:5. Dont choose to camp out and wallow in your misery. 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 leads me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! The sheep often goes where the shepherd leads. Green pastures also relate to the Word of God. meaning it was his reality and he rested in this truth Gods goodness and mercy were following him through his lifes journey on earth. At every turn, it reveals the close relationship David shares with his God. This means that if you could put your blessings in a cup, they would run over the top. Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I willfear no evil. But the loving shepherd will leave the fold to find even one lost sheep. For Thou art with me = Thats Faithfulness! We are not justified by works, but for works. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23 is the most famous of the psalms, a sequence of ancient hymns that comprise a whole book of the Bible. That the good Shepherd protects us and saves us by diying on the cross. We love you, and we want to build relationship with you. This verse also talks about rest and comfort. Still or quiet waters, represent rest, refuge, safety, and security. .. This speaks of blessings and abundance that are visible for all to see. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375. Sheep are pretty helpless animals, unable to defend themselves. 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 been am amazing time for us. Psalm 23 is one of the most recognizable chapters in the entire Bible. I can rest and be at peace because He is a good Shepherd. indeed! This article received 13 testimonials and 97% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. As we embody Psalm 139, we inevitably grow in our self-assurance, God-confidence, and inner contentment. According to Psalm 139, God's omniscience knows all about us (verses 1-6). David said God prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. May He continue to guide and guard you in Jesus Name. God's goodness means that they have nothing to fear: whatever happens to them, God will be with them. David knew this because he had come to see God as a personal shepherd 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. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet it's more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza. Let this Psalm give you comfort when you are in a time of distress, pain, grief, discouragement, disappointment. "Have faith in GOD!" "Forever." He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. In the last two verses of the 23rd Psalm we read: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. All rights reserved. Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd. Four Reasons Why S.M.A.R.T. It is a Psalm that speaks about seasons in our lifes journey and what matters in those seasons. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. I shall not want, not because of what I've done or can do but because God loves me. Generally in Malaysia, Christians use this Psalm to comfort the sick and dying. Try it! the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. With God as our shepherd, there is nothing we will ever lack. This is a beautiful picture to share with him. This article has been viewed 191,942 times. Do you not see it? He also protects us from evil. Whereas a king might do what's best for the majority, a shepherd knows and stewards each one of his sheep. 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). He renews my strength. Jesus said, as we read in John 10:27, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = . Psalm 23, beautifully explained. It simply fortifies our divine connection with our Lord. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 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.. Then we shall lay aside the pilgrim dress and the sword and we shall put on the royal robe and sit down with Him. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. ", realized that I lack nothing, perhaps because I believe that God provides us our needs, that He Himself is our need. Psalm 23 explained beautifully - title photo. Praise the Lord I want to thank God for his love .He is a good sherpard to all of us who are sinners. 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. Now it is more than rest or workit is conflict. 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. 3He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. The psalms were originally written in Hebrew; the translation we're using here comes from the King James Bible, an influential 17th-century English translation in the Protestant Christian tradition. We eat it as the Israelites did in haste, staff in hand, and ready to march on. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul = That's Healing! God was like a shepherd to David, and David was like a sheep to God. This proclaims the metaphor of the psalm, that god is like our shepherd. "Fear (Respect and honor) Him, in all your ways, and in the beauty of holiness." 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. 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. It is in Gods presence that we grow, change, and are transformed forever. Her passion is to inspire, encourage, support, and build up faith in the heart of moms in their motherhood journey. Pray for God to help you understand, then reread the psalm. We have need of nothing because our Shepherd provides everything. % of people told us that this article helped them. Are you a child of God? thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. But here's what we need to understand: we can't see God as Shepherd if we don't see ourselves as sheep. Sarah Garrett is a passionate educator and founder of the Transformed4More Ministries that she runs with her identical twin sister. Thank you! He is, indeed, worthy of our worship and praise. And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. In John 10:11, Jesus declared, I am the good shepherd. David said he makes me to lie down in green pastures meaning that it is God that gives rest. 1 Peter 5:4 ESV - And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. If your world seems chaotic or unfulfilling, ask yourself, Am I allowing God to lead me?. Amen. Goodness and mercy will be following you everywhere, and you will spend eternity with God. 3. Fairchild, Mary. 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 . 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. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death = Thats Learn more Is the 23rd Psalm[1] hallelujah ! When God calls, will you answer? Come, join the TBTG Family. The Lord promises to lead us in paths of righteousness, in keeping with everything his name represents: holiness, love, faithfulness, wisdom, and more. I shall not want because I know God personally as my Shepherd. Some people find reading commentaries on passages of scripture helpful. Hence, he could clearly talk about his relationship and experience with God using the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep. (2021, September 7). Then you can repeat the 23rd Psalm and know that it is yoursit was written for you. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. But even there, the Shepherd is with us and we need fear no evil. 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. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." The shepherd knows each sheep by name and the sheep knows his shepherds voice. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = Thats Security! All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. By using our site, you agree to our. (LogOut/ We can rest and relax knowing that God is taking care of us. I will fear no evil = Thats Protection! Shepherds use tools (rod and staff) to lead and guide their sheep. 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. They challenged me. Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. I will make a pathway through the wilderness. By them, he guides his sheep. "For Thou art with me" -- That's the constant faithfulness of The Shepherd! I dont know the real author. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. 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? For the more we know him, the more we become confident of his love, grace, and blessings. The Lords covenant with us will last for all eternity. It is a calming assurance that comes with choosing to abide daily in Gods presence. 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 provides for us here in this world. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. We figuratively pitch our tent in the valley. 2He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. This article originally appeared on Revive Our Hearts and LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com. Let us look at this beautiful chapter in the Bible, Psalm 23 meaning and significance. His blessings span the years. I shall not want = That's Supply! Learn Religions, Sep. 7, 2021, learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375. 56). Sheep have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. The picture of the divine Shepherd leading His flock fills the first four verses of Psalm 23. Your email address will not be published. When was Psalm 23 Written? However bright our path, somewhere along the wayperhaps around the next turnsits the shadow feared of man. Unexpectedly, we may come to the deepest, darkest valley of allthe valley of the shadow of death. 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