David knew that God would restore his soul from a broken and weary state. "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). We want to keep sowing into you!Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. God bless you and grsnt you more insight into His word in Jesus name, amen. We realize God governs both the large and small issues of life. He declares. Here are some reasons why this Psalm is so important. God bless you. 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. The Lord is my Shepherd = Thats Relationship! What Is the Significance of Not the Letter but of the Spirit? 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). John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! -- That's now and always -- for eternity! The meaning of Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world. 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. Whenever a sheep strays, the shepherd finds and restores him back to the flock. But here's what we need to understand: we can't see God as Shepherd if we don't see ourselves as sheep. David expresses confidence and trust in the Lord by portraying God as a good "Shepherd" who both guides and blesses them. It is memorized and repeated in all lands. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Psalm 23 ends with these words And I shalldwellin the house of theLord forever. 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. Submit your request and our prayer team will pray for you. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. He is a faithful Shepherd that provides for His sheep (Matthew 6:33). We are orphans and need to be brought into the fold of the True Shepherd. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Equipping Christian Women to Abide in God's Word. Shepherds often risked their own lives to rescue their sheep. "He restoreth my soul" -- That's provision for revitalization and healing! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). The imagery of God as a shepherd is common throughout the Old Testament. 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. This article originally appeared on Revive Our Hearts and LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com. The writer uses words like green pastures, still waters and I shall not want. David through Psalm 23 talks about his personal relationship with God using the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep. 56). On the contrary, His death for the sheep makes it forever sure. I was. Another figure expresses God's provided care. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Jesus was the Shepherd who became a sheep. Gods goodness and mercy are never-ending. 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. Fairchild, Mary. Heleads me inpaths of righteousness for hisnames sake. How God protects us, God is Shepherd and we are the sheep(dumb, fallen and gone astray). He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. This article has been viewed 191,942 times. 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. 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. 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. This post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. He restored my soul = Thats Healing! % of people told us that this article helped them. You may be wondering, "What does Psalm 23 mean? 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. Isaiah 53 is full of Messianic scriptures describing what the Messiah would be like. When the apostle Paul stood before Nero, he was not alone. As you walk through life, will you trust God to lead and guide you into the fullness of his purpose for your life? And all enemies will be gone forever. David said God prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. David knew this because he had come to see God as a personal shepherd to him. He begins Psalm 23 with this sentence. Verse 5. When David was still a teenager, God chose him to be king. 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. You can start in the comment section below. This gave him the confidence to boldly declare those words. Today, you too can boldly declare that the Lord is my Shepherd. He is a God who cares about the state of our well-being spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. God knows how to give his children the rest they need to calm their fears and anxiety. 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. Let us look at this beautiful chapter in the Bible, Psalm 23 meaning and significance. Whereas a king might do what's best for the majority, a shepherd knows and stewards each one of his sheep. I will make a pathway through the wilderness. It can also mean bringing back to repentance or rescuing from a lost state. Learn Religions, Sep. 7, 2021, learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lets Keep in Touch Fairchild, Mary. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = Thats Hope! We can trust our lives to the Lords safekeeping. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." The restored soul is then led on to another stage in God's plan for his lifeHe leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake (Psalm 23:3). Now it is more than rest or workit is conflict. 23rd Psalm - The Lord is my shepherd (KJV) Psalm 23:1-6 1. Thou preparesta table before me in the presence of mine enemies = He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! It emphasizes the Lords personal care, guidance, and protection of his people. "Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd." We may not know the why of many of our experiences, but we know that our Shepherd knows, and that is sufficient. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = Thank you Lord for Psalm23. Lectionary Calendar. God anoints your head with oil speaks of being filled with his presence daily. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland. He leadeth me beside the still waters = Thats Refreshment! Thou preparest a table before me Thou furnishest me with plenty and variety of provisions and comforts. meaning it was his reality and he rested in this truth Gods goodness and mercy were following him through his lifes journey on earth. Then you can repeat the 23rd Psalm and know that it is yoursit was written for you. Additionally, because they are dumb, sheep wander off and get lost, putting themselves in great danger. Her faith in him took away fear. Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I willfear no evil. Psalms 24. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Psalm 23 explained beautifully, strengthens our faith in an eternal existence of the Lord for all. 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. 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. We do not naturally belong to the Lord's flock. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = Thats Discipline! Thank God- This verse also shows God as a guide who leads us through life on paths that honor his name and bring glory to him. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. When was Psalm 23 Written? Who better than King David to describe his relationship with God using a shepherd and his sheep? In John 10:11, Jesus declared, I am the good shepherd. It is a psalm that heals, delivers, comforts, and set free. Our Saviour is not only the Lamb; He is the Shepherd toothe Good Shepherd, who giveth His life for His sheep. The Lord promises to lead us in paths of righteousness, in keeping with everything his name represents: holiness, love, faithfulness, wisdom, and more. 1. Sheep have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = Thats Blessing ! Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.". Read and study the 23rd Psalm-- and Be mindful of God's still small voice: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. The shepherds rod and staff were used to guide and protect the sheep and lead them away from potential predators. That means we can choose to let God lead our lives. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like, Hebrews Chapter 4 A Rest Remains for Gods People. All rights reserved. The prophet Samuel anointed him king, but it would be another decade or more before David was recognized by Israel. And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. 25 Bible Verses for Funerals and Sympathy Cards, 23 Bible Verses to Help You Manage Stress. Now understandsheep are not the smartest animals, so they need someone to take care of them, protect them, and even correct them. Let us meditate on the words, Thou preparest a table before me. The Lord prepares it; it is His. We have need of nothing because our Shepherd provides everything. Now notice the next sentence in the text, My cup runneth over. God's blessing here and hereafter is more than we can receive. 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. 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. What Does it Mean That Jesus Was Gods Begotten Son? "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord" -- That's home and security in the Lord's provision/Heaven! We can be sure that Gods goodness and mercy will pursue us every single day when we allow Him to shepherd us. This means that if you could put your blessings in a cup, they would run over the top. In the darkest and most trying hour, God is near. Sometimes we get bogged down in our circumstances and just decide thats the way it will always be. We can never stray so far that God's long arm of grace can't reach us. 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). "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness" -- That's leadership and guidance in following God's will! He took care of and protected flocks of sheep, and he wrote this psalm describing God as a shepherd and Gods people as His flock. Psalm 23 is one of the most popular and beloved psalms in the Bible. David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. So through life, like two angels of God, goodness and mercy will follow us and encamp round about us. Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. Verses 4 and 5 confirm this as well. The presence of the shepherd eliminated any fear of evil for the sheep. My cup runneth over = Thats Abundance! The 22nd Psalm in the Vulgate and some Catholic bibles Some of the keywords used in this Psalm include. Psalm 23:1-3 ESV TheLordis myshepherd; I shall notwant. Even in the bleakest, blackest times of life, we dont have to fear harm because our God is with us. Green pastures represent sustenance and plenty. Psalm 23 is not just talking about David and his relationship with God, it speaks deeply about our personal relationship with God. He restores my soul. It is a calming assurance that comes with choosing to abide daily in Gods presence. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Are you a child of God? The inspiring text is often quoted at funeral services and memorial events. 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! But God heals the troubled soul when He forgives our sins. Is your relationship with God intimate enough for you to boldly call him your Shepherd? Psalm 23 (New King James Version)A Psalm of David.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul;He leads 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 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 runs 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. Download this 11-page ebook on the seven keys to the Lords Prayer by entering your email address below. And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. By using our site, you agree to our. With God leading us, we experience peace and provision. Thou annointest my head with oil = Thats Consecration! 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. According to Psalm 139, God's omniscience knows all about us (verses 1-6). one of your favorite Psalms? I got this from an email. At times sheep stray from their shepherd. It is her desire to reach struggling teenagers and tell them about the transformative power and love of God. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd, whether we realize it or not. Every time I feel attacked, disappointed and falsely accused, I always remember Psalm 23.God is my protector,my shield and my provider. See, I have already begun! Titus 1:7 ESV - For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. 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. Then we shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever., God Help Me: Find help in every time of need. 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. 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. Read it as many times as you need to until the meaning begins to sink in. 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. Heres whybecause the Bible is a living document. 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