We want to keep sowing into you!Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. For the more we know him, the more we become confident of his love, grace, and blessings. Theres not one person on the planet who hasnt experienced some pain, disappointment or grief in their soul. He restoreth my soul = That's Healing! He will lead us down a path of righteousness and not destruction. She is wife to an amazing man and mom to two children. It feeds upon the Word of God, and the thirsty soul drinks deep from the cool, still waters. As you walk through life, will you trust God to lead and guide you into the fullness of his purpose for your life? The opening of Psalm 23 beautifully shows what we can gain from surrendering and allowing God to lead our lives. 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). The writer uses words like green pastures, still waters and I shall not want. God was like a shepherd to David, and David was like a sheep to God. It is about making a choice to cultivate intimacy with God. As I did, the familiarity faded, and I felt as though I was reading it with new eyes. This verse also shows God as a guide who leads us through life on paths that honor his name and bring glory to him. When we spend time meditating on God's Word, we find rest and nourishment for our souls. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. 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. 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). Fairchild, Mary. The Lord is my Shepherd = Thats Relationship! At every turn, it reveals the close relationship David shares with his God. Beautiful explanation of psalm 23, thank you! 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. 1. The shepherd knows each sheep by name and the sheep knows his shepherds voice. the lord is our shepherd, and we shall never want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. Psalm 23. He begins Psalm 23 with this sentence. When we dont, its the same as choosing to be led by our selfish desires. John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! Jesus was the Shepherd who became a sheep. :) hello, i really liked this simple message and the simple explanation of Psalms 23, i received it from a friend through email.. i would like to make a very simple video of it, are you the original author of the content? It is memorized and repeated in all lands. There is no greater Love than this by my Shepherd giving his life for me. These words are rich in their meaning as they speak of peace, comfort, security, guidance, and Gods unfailing love. Generally in Malaysia, Christians use this Psalm to comfort the sick and dying. Enjoy! Beautiful Testimony. David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. Sometimes we think we know better than the Shepherd; were sure that we can take care of ourselves, but we really cant. 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? It is about making a choice to cultivate intimacy with God. Rest, strange to say, in the past; work in the present; and sorrow, the valley of the shadow, still to come. Thou anointestmy head with oil = Thats Consecration! He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = . We do not naturally belong to the Lord's flock. 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. Come, join the TBTG Family. Faith in the Good Shepherd does not make void His law. 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. Some people find reading commentaries on passages of scripture helpful. Prone to wander. Now it is more than rest or workit is conflict. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. She currently lives in Lagos, Nigeria with her family. 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 leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! He renews my strength. You literally cannot dwell on bad thoughts and the blessings of God at the same time. Why do I still feel guilty about my past sins? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. The Lord is my Shepherd = Thats Relationship! Another figure expresses God's provided care. Our Shepherd cares for us, and He is able to restore our souls. This article has been viewed 191,942 times. The picture of the divine Shepherd leading His flock fills the first four verses of Psalm 23. Put one foot in front of another while asking the Lord to provide a way out. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. meaning it was his reality and he rested in this truth Gods goodness and mercy were following him through his lifes journey on earth. Thou annointest my head with oil = Thats Consecration! But then, he quickly switches to phrases like, Hebrews Chapter 4 A Rest Remains for Gods People. 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 ). Titus 1:7 ESV - For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. Psalm 23 is the most famous of the psalms, a sequence of ancient hymns that comprise a whole book of the Bible. We have need of nothing because our Shepherd provides everything. Is your relationship with God intimate enough for you to boldly call him your Shepherd? We love you, and we want to build relationship with you. 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). Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with a heavenly father who knows and cares about you. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lets Keep in Touch As the apostle Paul puts it, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). The next time we sit at the table of the Lord, let us brush aside any thought that it is the table of the church. "Forever." & Victory always follows faith. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. "Fear (Respect and honor) Him, in all your ways, and in the beauty of holiness." It is her desire to reach struggling teenagers and tell them about the transformative power and love of God. As guests of the Lord, we can dine safely, even in the presence of our enemies. By them, he guides his sheep. Why Did Pharaoh Tell Joseph to Enjoy the 'Fat of the Land'? When the apostle Paul stood before Nero, he was not alone. Yea, though I walk through the valley of t he shadow of death = Thats Testing! Our Shepherd also leads us in the right way. We figuratively pitch our tent in the valley. Sometimes we stray from the Lord, too. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. The devil wants you to feel guilty, but do not listen to him. Log in. It can also mean bringing back to repentance or rescuing from a lost state. I shall not want = That's Supply! A good place. 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 leads me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! I guess God led me here. When God calls, will you answer? wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. 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? 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. 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. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning (Psalm 30:5). Be encouraged today my friends of faith!Today's amaz. Ufuoma Fijabi writes on her blog where she shares God-inspired articles that focus on motherhood, faith, hope, and spirituality. 25 Bible Verses for Funerals and Sympathy Cards, 23 Bible Verses to Help You Manage Stress. Verses 4 and 5 confirm this as well. Remember, the sheep are menare people. No one can rest in mind and heart until the weight of a guilty conscience is removed. ", looking for how to help someone else with this prayer, and instead I got help. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. Our soul is comprised of our mind, will, and emotions. Thank you! one of your favorite Psalms? 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. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. 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. Sometimes we get bogged down in our circumstances and just decide thats the way it will always be. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. All rights reserved. Learn more Is the 23rd Psalm[1] He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. Amen. The child didnt cry or resist. To create this article, 15 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. References He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. Imagine you are invited to a magnificent banquet with a huge table filled with all kinds of food and drinks to feast on. Without a personal and deep-rooted relationship with God, you cannot know and understand his ways. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = Thats Discipline! David ends this rich Psalm with a picture of Gods grace, presence, and favor following him all the days of his life. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. "This article gave me a boost to wait on the shepherd, because he is the one who takes care of all my need and, "Because we read it in old King James version decades ago ,it was a bit difficult to grasp, but with modern English, "I was searching for something and it was not an accident to click wikiHow. When David was still a teenager, God chose him to be king. Your email address will not be published. Verse 3. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. Psalm 23 shows us how much God cares about us even when we go through challenges. Sheep are pretty helpless animals, unable to defend themselves. This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. (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. When we see it in our Bibles, it can be tempting to think,Oh, I know what this says already. 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. 1 Peter 5:4 ESV - And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. He restored my soul = That's Healing! About Mary. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. But God heals the troubled soul when He forgives our sins. Verse 7b says, He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. God the Father sent His Son Jesus to become the final blood sacrifice for the sins of all mankind. Testing! Ask yourself, Have I lost sight of Gods faithfulness? If you feel like you have, even if you are not going through a hard time, stop and make an actual list of all the ways that God has been faithful to you. Good bless you. Heleads me inpaths of righteousness for hisnames sake. 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 . "He restoreth my soul" -- That's provision for revitalization and healing! Lets keep thinking about valleys for a moment. 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. 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. Who better than King David to describe his relationship with God using a shepherd and his sheep? 4Yea, 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. Psalms 23:1-6. The bible calls us the sheep of his pasture. If you are going through a season of sin, discouragement, or despair in your life right now, ask yourself, Am I walking or camping?. David rested in the comfort that with God as his shepherd, he would walk through victoriously through the valley of the shadow of death.