Come, join the TBTG Family. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. We often hear it recited at church or during times of mourning, yet it's more than just a beautiful, poetic stanza. One of the high points of your relationship with God is when you come to the full knowledge of your identity in God. Let this Psalm give you comfort when you are in a time of distress, pain, grief, discouragement, disappointment. # Walk in LoveWalk by Faith..Live by the Word..#. It emphasizes the Lords personal care, guidance, and protection of his people. "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). 5) Psalm 23: Conclusion. This verse also shows God as a guide who leads us through life on paths that honor his name and bring glory to him. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. The Lord not only supplies our needs but blesses beyond the measure we can contain. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 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. In the presence of mine enemies Who seeing, envying, and fretting at it, are not able to hinder it. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. In Deuteronomy 8 Moses told the Israelites that God "let them be hungry" to test them and to teach them (vv. He renews my strength. Verse 5. Now understandsheep are not the smartest animals, so they need someone to take care of them, protect them, and even correct them. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. "For Thou art with me" -- That's the constant faithfulness of The Shepherd! Psalm 23 Explained A song of abundance. He leads me beside still waters. For the more we know him, the more we become confident of his love, grace, and blessings. The Lord is my Shepherd = Thats Relationship! 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). It is about knowing and embracing the shepherd whom David spoke about. Then we shall lay aside the pilgrim dress and the sword and we shall put on the royal robe and sit down with Him. Hence, he could clearly talk about his relationship and experience with God using the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep. When the apostle Paul stood before Nero, he was not alone. 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. Psalm 23 is so important to us today because it will speak to you in the good and bad times. I almost skipped it, but decided to read it again. 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. He was fearless knowing that God was with him, and his victory was assured. He makes me lie down in green pastures . His creative power makes and keeps us (verses 13-18 . This article has been viewed 191,942 times. David through Psalm 23 talks about his personal relationship with God using the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep. Does it Matter That I Didn't Keep My Goals for Lent? Does the Pandemic Still Affect Church Attendance? Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.". In the darkest and most trying hour, God is near. 2. green pastures--or, "pastures of tender grass," are mentioned, not in respect to food, but as places of cool and refreshing rest. It does not mean that He will provide for every thing we want, but for everything that we need. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want . 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. He restored my soul = That's Healing! He knew God as a provider hence he could confidently declare I will not lack. Today, you too can boldly declare that the Lord is my Shepherd. I will fear no evil = Thats Protection! Generally in Malaysia, Christians use this Psalm to comfort the sick and dying. 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. 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. 'The Lord is My Shepherd, I Shall Not Want' - Meaning of Psalm 23 Explained, 30 Verses to Reflect on in the Book of Hebrews. Verses 1 and 2 explain how God is like a shepherd who provides and cares for His sheep. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like valley, shadow of death, and fear no evil in the following verses. As believers, we tend to do the same thing. 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. Psalm 23 explained beautifully by Walter Rasmussen. The sheep rests in the assurance that his shepherd is always watching and looking out for it. Our faith in God must not be only when the times are good. As I did, the familiarity faded, and I felt as though I was reading it with new eyes. He could trust God in the stillness and calmness, and yet still trust him in the valley and chaos. 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. 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 ). When was Psalm 23 Written? Thank you, a plain and simple translation of our Faithful and Loving Shepherd. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. As I read this again, I realized that if God is our Shepherd, that means means we give Him control of our life. How can I share this on my Facebook page for all my friends to read? Well, here is one commentary, one phrase at a time. Thank God- Try it! According to Psalm 139, God's omniscience knows all about us (verses 1-6). Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Whenever a sheep strays, the shepherd finds and restores him back to the flock. The imagery of God as a shepherd is common throughout the Old Testament. Thou anointest my head with oil Or ointment, as the Syriac and Arabic interpreters render it, namely, with aromatic ointments, which were then used in great feasts. Forever = Thats Eternity! The passage begins with this familiar reassurance: "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.". 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. He leads me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = Thats Rest! Your email address will not be published. Almost everyone knows Psalm 23. But even there, the Shepherd is with us and we need fear no evil. And they are three: rest, work, and sorrow. It simply fortifies our divine connection with our Lord. 2. 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. We can trust our lives to the Lords safekeeping. We may not always be able to see or understand, but we know that all things work together for good to them that love God (Romans 8:28). The Power Of Confessing God's word on daily basis. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other. He provides for us here in this world. Now if the Lord is our Shepherd, that makes us the sheep. Seriously. Arent you afraid, darling? the father asked. Thats the ultimate blessing! He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. If you pray for help, that could be like an "intervention": be ready for possible interference in your plans that either are or are not in His will. In ancient times, hospitality involved more than merely providing a meal for guests. Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My 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. The shepherds rod and staff were used to guide and protect the sheep and lead them away from potential predators. The Shepherd supplies all our needs in the presence of our enemies. 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. Thou annointest my head with oil = Thats Consecration! The Bible never changes, but it always changes something in us when we read it. the lord is our shepherd, and we shall never want. i would just like to ask for permission to share it.. then ill just include that its from this site and Georgy (you?).. Is your relationship with God intimate enough for you to boldly call him your Shepherd? There is much more you can draw from this beautiful Psalm. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. "Thou annointest my head with oil" -- That's care, dedication and consecration! During much of that time, David was a fugitive, hunted by and hiding from King Saul, who was obsessed with taking his life. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Verse 1. This proclaims the metaphor of the psalm, that god is like our shepherd. When we see it in our Bibles, it can be tempting to think,Oh, I know what this says already. I can rest and be at peace because He is a good Shepherd. [That boast is like: "I am weak but He strengthens me!"] wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Read next: Discover more Bible verses meaning or read the next article: Meaning of Matthew 17:20 "Truly I tell you . God bless you :). The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). That means we can choose to let God lead our lives. We can take comfort that he protects and guides us with His rod and staff, walking with us in the darkest of valleys. 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. Beautiful Testimony. David said God prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. Enjoy! I shall not want because I know God personally as my Shepherd. His rod and His staff comfort us; His law and His gospel contribute to our correction and support. 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. So, too, the very sheep of the Lord's pasture are to be oil-anointed guests. Approved. And that is why, he will lead you beside still waters to give peace and comfort amid lifes chaos. Read my full disclosure. This verse also talks about rest and comfort. It is a calming assurance that comes with choosing to abide daily in Gods presence. Psalm 23 (New Living Translation) A Psalm of David. Has that ever happened to you? He makes me lie down in greenpastures. Sorry. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. The Lord is the Shepherd of His people and they are His sheep; so David said, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want., In eastern lands, the shepherd goes before his flockhe leads them. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 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. It is about making a choice to cultivate intimacy with God. What Does the Bible Say About Eternal Life? "I shall not want" -- That's the source for your needs: your Shepherd supplies the way, truth and the life! In the gospel plan, works do not precede but follow rest. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his names sake (vv. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. The meaning of Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world. She currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria with her family. This article received 13 testimonials and 97% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Then you can repeat the 23rd Psalm and know that it is yoursit was written for you. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. Jesus is called the good shepherd, and he said my sheep know my voice and a strangers voice they will not follow. Matthew 9:36 ESV - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with a heavenly father who knows and cares about you. 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). Green pastures represent sustenance and plenty. But it is for us. John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! (see John 10:11). 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. But here's what we need to understand: we can't see God as Shepherd if we don't see ourselves as sheep. So, even when we walk through the valleys of life and death is staring us in the face, we are not afraid knowing that God is with us and will shield and protect us from danger and evil. They gather around the Lord's table here in this world and in the one to come. The enemy cannot stop the blessings of God in your life because God has chosen to bless you abundantly right before their watching eyes. 5 Lessons I Learned From Psalm 23 How To Rest Your Mind From Worrying | Day 1 God Wants To Restore You | Day 2 Feeling Lost And Confused? He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. Sometimes we think we know better than the Shepherd; were sure that we can take care of ourselves, but we really cant. 3. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. The child didnt cry or resist. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. It is memorized and repeated in all lands. Psalm 23:4 Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I willfear no evil, foryou are with me, yourrod, and your staff, they comfort me. 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. It is a psalm that heals, delivers, comforts, and set free. You don't know who has you. No, was the prompt reply, I don't know, but you do. She didn't have to know, if father knew that it was all right. Also, Psalm 23 reveals the various parts of God to us his children. David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 23 helps us see God as a father who leads his children on paths of righteousness, progress, and victory. Psalm 23, beautifully explained. Gods goodness and mercy are never-ending. It is not enough to sing and memorize the words of Psalm 23. Verse 2. Put one foot in front of another while asking the Lord to provide a way out. 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