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. David through Psalm 23 talks about his personal relationship with God using the metaphor of a shepherd and his sheep. "Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd." She is wife to an amazing man and mom to two children. But the day is coming when the Good Shepherd will call us to the great supper in His kingdom. Titus 1:7 ESV - For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. David rested in the comfort that with God as his shepherd, he would walk through victoriously through the valley of the shadow of death. Will you let God take the lead today in the affairs of your life? God bless you :). This is how God cares for us. 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 . This tends to rob us of the joy that can come from our relationship with God. As an added bonus, you will feel your spirit lift as you write. Let us now explore Psalm 23 line by line and phrase by phrase: The Lord is my shepherd. If you are going through a season of sin, discouragement, or despair in your life right now, ask yourself, Am I walking or camping?. He is a faithful Shepherd that provides for His sheep (Matthew 6:33). All rights reserved. . Without a shepherd to protect and guide them, sheep are easy targets for predators. the valley of the shadow of death--is a ravine overhung by high precipitous cliffs, filled with dense forests, and well calculated to inspire dread to the timid, and afford a covert to beasts of prey. & Victory always follows faith. 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. There are 40 days til Easter! We can rest assured in the hands of the Ruler of the Universe. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. It talks about renewal and strength in every area of life. When David was still a teenager, God chose him to be king. Psalm 23 (New Living Translation)A Psalm of David.The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.He lets me rest in green meadows;He leads me beside peaceful streams.He renews my strength.He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.Even when I walk through the darkest valley,I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.You honor me by anointing my head with oil. We learn it in Sunday school, see it in funeral programs, and notice it on church dcor. 5. Another ancient custom of a host was to anoint the heads of guests with oil as they prepared to eat. -- That's now and always -- for eternity! 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 leads me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! 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. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. Verse 6. Thank you. We can trust our lives to the Lords safekeeping. 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. How to Feel the Holy Ghosts Presence, According to the Bible, This article uses the New King James Version, but there are, Partially based on an email with two words for each line like: " 'The Lord is my Shepherd' --, this great relationship with Him. In the darkest and most trying hour, God is near. When the apostle Paul stood before Nero, he was not alone. Jesus is called the good shepherd, and he said my sheep know my voice and a strangers voice they will not follow. During much of that time, David was a fugitive, hunted by and hiding from King Saul, who was obsessed with taking his life. My cup runneth over = Thats Abundance! At times sheep stray from their shepherd. The meaning of Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world. They carried a rod and staff to protect and correct their sheep; they beat off any beast trying to attack, and they prodded sheep who were going the wrong way to steer them back to safety. 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. With this assurance comes faith to declare boldly your identity in 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. It is about knowing and embracing the shepherd whom David spoke about. The prophet Samuel anointed him king, but it would be another decade or more before David was recognized by Israel. But here's what we need to understand: we can't see God as Shepherd if we don't see ourselves as sheep. We figuratively pitch our tent in the valley. These words are rich in their meaning as they speak of peace, comfort, security, guidance, and Gods unfailing love. Most account it to be a psalm of David's maturity, but with vivid remembrance of his youth as a shepherd. Verse 3. 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. This post may contain affiliate links, which help keep this content free. The child didnt cry or resist. He begins Psalm 23 with this sentence. This article received 13 testimonials and 97% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful statement of declaration by David about who God is to him. As believers, we tend to do the same thing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lets Keep in Touch Fairchild, Mary. Read my full disclosure. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = Thats Blessing ! So the sheep in this beautiful Psalm, the flock of the Lord, are those who follow Him. Do not ask the Lord to Guide your Footsteps if you are not willing to move your Feet, Even though you cant see Him, GOD is there for you, When Jesus died on the cross, he was thinking of you! If you are one of the 7% who will stand up for him, forward this with the title 7%. 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. Research source Recently, I was reading through Psalms and scanned over chapter 23. This speaks of increase and being a blessing because you have more than enough. Almost everyone knows Psalm 23. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Let us look at this beautiful chapter in the Bible, Psalm 23 meaning and significance. "For His namesake" -- That gives a higher purpose for life! ", 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. When God calls, will you answer? As I did, the familiarity faded, and I felt as though I was reading it with new eyes. A shepherd describes a more close and devoted relationship. paths of righteousness--those of safety, as directed by God, and pleasing to Him. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. Psalm 23 Explained Beautifully. God's goodness means that they have nothing to fear: whatever happens to them, God will be with them. Whenever a sheep strays, the shepherd finds and restores him back to the flock. 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. Psalm 23 KJV. 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. You can start in the comment section below. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. At every turn, it reveals the close relationship David shares with his God. thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. 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. 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. I got this from an email. 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. Psalm 23 The sheep rests in the assurance that his shepherd is always watching and looking out for it. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. But God heals the troubled soul when He forgives our sins. Even non-Christians have heard it because it seems to be a favorite at funerals, weddings, and other religious events. And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. 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. . The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. His omnipresence encircles us (verses 7-12). His blessings span the years. I have read this a few times before but this has touched me alot. Psalms 24. Fairchild, Mary. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." I have been blessed this morning. God is right by your side walking you through life. https://www.learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375 (accessed March 1, 2023). (LogOut/ By using our site, you agree to our. Our faith in God must not be only when the times are good. 1. 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 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. To God be the Glory! Thats Blessing ! The writer uses words like green pastures, still waters and I shall not want. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. And they are three: rest, work, and sorrow. There will always be valley experience which can and will be restored. The LORD is my shepherd: David thought about God, the God of Israel; as he thought about his relationship with God, he made the analogy of a shepherd and his sheep. Very well explained. Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd. This psalm of David is loved the world over for its calming and healing wisdom. 3He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. Last Updated: August 29, 2022 Throughout the chapter, he addresses God by name. Jesus said, as we read in John 10:27, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.. She loves learning from peoples stories/experiences and getting lost in the words of a good book. Thats Hope! David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 23 KJV. For His name sake = Thats Purpose! Ive been tremendously blessed by this explanation. Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'? 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd, whether we realize it or not. Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with a heavenly father who knows and cares about you. 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