PSALM 23:1, 2 The LORD, the God of covenant is my shepherd.
The covenant that God makes with us guarantees us certain privileges including redemption, righteousness, protection, provision, peace, vindication and healing.
The most comprehensive expression of covenant benefits is found in the word shepherd.
The divine shepherd does all the above for His sheep.
God is a personal shepherd to us.
We can all claim Him as "my shepherd.
" God has an intimate knowledge of me.
His interest in others does not detract from His interest in me.
Because He is my shepherd, He is familiar with what I need.
He understands that my needs are somewhat different from the needs of others.
The LORD, my shepherd takes care of all my needs.
I do not have to be anxious about anything.
I do not have to worry about the state of the economy or the security of my job.
Worrying is not only counterproductive it also is a lack of faith.
It intimates that God either does not love us enough or is impotent to do anything about our situation.
Matthew 6:25 - 34 assures believers of God's provision.
Verse 33 explicates that when we first seek God's kingdom and His righteousness all these things (anything we need) will be given to us as well.
God never fails to reward those who are faithful to Him.
Verse one expresses supreme confidence in God.
It is an absolute declaration of God's faithfulness and lovingkindness.
Green pastures are symbolic of God's abundant provision.
The psalmist places the initiative on God.
It is God who makes him to lie down in green pastures.
His desire is to bless His people.
By virtue of His covenant with us, He is committed to providing for us.
Lying down has the connotation of rest and security.
God never wants His saints stressed out in an effort to take care of their needs.
Leading speaks of gentle guiding.
God does not drag us even when He is taking us to a place for our benefit.
We have to be submissive in order to be led.
If we allow ourselves to be led, we will end up in a place of blessing.
However if we rebel, we forfeit God's provision and expose ourselves to danger.
The waters that God leads us to are quiet not turbulent, a picture of serenity.
We know the power of water to destroy but here the water has a calming, peaceful effect.
Water is essential to physical life and represents all that we need.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
PSALM 23:3 God restores my soul, bringing about spiritual and emotional renewal in my life.
We could look at this from two perspectives.
The problems in life and daily rigors often deplete our strength.
But also, it refers to God building up the life of the Christian.
We constantly need to be refreshed in order to maintain vital communion with God.
The believer walks along different paths in life.
He could choose the paths of wickedness and depravity or he could choose the paths of righteousness, doing those things that please God.
Joshua told the Israelites, "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness...
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...
(Joshua 24:14, 15).
" God will always guide us in doing the right.
He always makes us aware of which paths in life are His will.
If I listen to His voice, He will show me the ways that I need to take.
Life is not about one choice but about multiple choices that either take us to or away from God.
The NIV Study Bible says, "As a shepherd leads his sheep in paths that offer safety and well-being, so David's Shepherd-King guides him in ways that cause him to be secure and prosperous.
" This kind of security and prosperity comes to those who walk the paths of righteousness.
The primary source of righteousness is the Word of God by which a person can make his way successful (Joshua 1:7, 8).
Jesus used the analogy of two men, one building his house on sand, the other on rock.
His point was that those who heard His words and put them into practice were like that wise man who built his house on the rock.
Because God has made a covenant with us His reputation is at stake.
That was the reasoning behind Moses' intercession for the people of Israel (Exodus 32:11 - 14).
Not only does God honor His covenant but He receives glory from guiding believers along paths of righteousness.
The highest purpose in life is that God be glorified.
God is glorified when people get saved, healed and filled with the Holy Spirit.
God is glorified when people get delivered from satanic oppression.
God is glorified as He works in the life of the believer.
Whatever He does is secondarily for us but primarily for His glory.
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.
PSALM 23:4 Sheep faced actual dangers as do we.
Our adversary prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Ephesians 6:12 points out our struggle with demonic entities.
Persecution is a reality in many countries.
The world, in any case, can be a dangerous place.
Murder, rape, assault, accidents and other crimes and calamities are all potential dangers.
We may also have to deal with terminal sicknesses.
Knowing that we are healed by His stripes does not prevent us from coming to the brink of death.
Many people have been brought back from the edge of death by God's healing power.
Also, in this life, we lose loved ones.
Death may be around us but there is someone greater that surrounds us.
Because God is with us, we do not need to fear evil.
Fear is the absence of faith.
Fear blinds us from seeing an omnipotent and loving God.
As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need God to work in our hearts to replace any fear with faith.
Jesus Christ gave us the victory over evil.
His victory through His death and resurrection was a devastating blow to the enemy.
Satan cannot afflict the believer unless God allows it.
Evil becomes impotent when we confront it with faith.
We do not have to be afraid of evil regardless of what form it takes.
God is with us irrespective of what we go through.
God does not abandon us when we are in the valley.
Jesus is not like the hired hand who when he sees the wolf coming abandons the sheep and runs away (John 10:11 - 13).
Because God cares for the sheep, He will not allow the wolf to attack and scatter the flock or the thief to steal, kill and destroy.
God's ability to protect us ought to be a source of comfort.
The enemy may rush in with his sword to cut us down but his sword will meet against the sword of God.
The God of covenant is Jehovah Nissi-the LORD our banner.
He is also Jehovah Sabaoth-the LORD who commands the heavenly armies.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
PSALM 23:5 This verse deals with the issue of provision and protection.
It is God who prepares the table.
The believer is His guest.
Prepare indicates the forethought that God has put in providing for us.
God is never selfish and any table He prepares for us will have all the delicacies that our hearts could desire.
David has absolute security.
The table has been prepared in the presence of his enemies and they are powerless to do anything to him.
God has taken us under His wings and has offered us His protection.
This also speaks of vindication.
Our enemies are put to shame when they realize that we have the favor of God.
In a sense God taunts our enemies showing them His ability to bless us in spite of adversity.
It was customary to anoint an honored guest with oil.
We are not insignificant strangers but honored guests of the King.
The New Testament goes further.
By virtue of Christ's redemption, we are now children of the King entitling us to His covenant blessings.
We now have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God which confirms our favored status.
Jesus said that He came to give life, not an unfulfilling but an abundant life (John 10:10).
The presence of God in a believer's life results in a life that is fully satisfied.
Nothing is lacking even when circumstances are adverse.
God gives both quantity and quality of life.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
PSALM 23:6 The psalmist expresses full confidence in God's goodness and love.
He understood the character and nature of God based on his experience of God and on His revelation.
We typically anticipate that something evil is going to happen.
We live in fear-perhaps the doctor will diagnose me with cancer, perhaps I will get in an accident.
Rather than focus on the contingencies in life, David chose to focus on God.
God is a good God who not only desires to but shows His goodness to His people in tangible ways.
A hymn writer declared, "Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hands have provided.
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me.
" His goodness is inextricably connected to His love or lovingkindness.
Because God loves us, He will be good to us.
Because He is good to us it shows that He loves us.
God's love is not fickle or arbitrary.
We are the apple of His eye, the object of His unfailing affection.
We can be certain that God's goodness and love will be with us, not only on certain occasions but on every day of our lives.
The end part of this verse is particularly meaningful for the New Testament Christian.
We understand that when we die we go to be in the eternal presence of God.
Jesus told His disciples, "In my Father's house are many rooms...
I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).
The apostle Paul told the Corinthians, "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands" (2 Corinthians 5:1).
God is not merely our shepherd in our temporal existence but He will be our shepherd forever.
Our present experience of God is in no way comparable to what we will encounter when we finally stand in the fullness of His glory.
Paul stated it beautifully, "Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18).
The covenant that God makes with us guarantees us certain privileges including redemption, righteousness, protection, provision, peace, vindication and healing.
The most comprehensive expression of covenant benefits is found in the word shepherd.
The divine shepherd does all the above for His sheep.
God is a personal shepherd to us.
We can all claim Him as "my shepherd.
" God has an intimate knowledge of me.
His interest in others does not detract from His interest in me.
Because He is my shepherd, He is familiar with what I need.
He understands that my needs are somewhat different from the needs of others.
The LORD, my shepherd takes care of all my needs.
I do not have to be anxious about anything.
I do not have to worry about the state of the economy or the security of my job.
Worrying is not only counterproductive it also is a lack of faith.
It intimates that God either does not love us enough or is impotent to do anything about our situation.
Matthew 6:25 - 34 assures believers of God's provision.
Verse 33 explicates that when we first seek God's kingdom and His righteousness all these things (anything we need) will be given to us as well.
God never fails to reward those who are faithful to Him.
Verse one expresses supreme confidence in God.
It is an absolute declaration of God's faithfulness and lovingkindness.
Green pastures are symbolic of God's abundant provision.
The psalmist places the initiative on God.
It is God who makes him to lie down in green pastures.
His desire is to bless His people.
By virtue of His covenant with us, He is committed to providing for us.
Lying down has the connotation of rest and security.
God never wants His saints stressed out in an effort to take care of their needs.
Leading speaks of gentle guiding.
God does not drag us even when He is taking us to a place for our benefit.
We have to be submissive in order to be led.
If we allow ourselves to be led, we will end up in a place of blessing.
However if we rebel, we forfeit God's provision and expose ourselves to danger.
The waters that God leads us to are quiet not turbulent, a picture of serenity.
We know the power of water to destroy but here the water has a calming, peaceful effect.
Water is essential to physical life and represents all that we need.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
PSALM 23:3 God restores my soul, bringing about spiritual and emotional renewal in my life.
We could look at this from two perspectives.
The problems in life and daily rigors often deplete our strength.
But also, it refers to God building up the life of the Christian.
We constantly need to be refreshed in order to maintain vital communion with God.
The believer walks along different paths in life.
He could choose the paths of wickedness and depravity or he could choose the paths of righteousness, doing those things that please God.
Joshua told the Israelites, "Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness...
But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve...
(Joshua 24:14, 15).
" God will always guide us in doing the right.
He always makes us aware of which paths in life are His will.
If I listen to His voice, He will show me the ways that I need to take.
Life is not about one choice but about multiple choices that either take us to or away from God.
The NIV Study Bible says, "As a shepherd leads his sheep in paths that offer safety and well-being, so David's Shepherd-King guides him in ways that cause him to be secure and prosperous.
" This kind of security and prosperity comes to those who walk the paths of righteousness.
The primary source of righteousness is the Word of God by which a person can make his way successful (Joshua 1:7, 8).
Jesus used the analogy of two men, one building his house on sand, the other on rock.
His point was that those who heard His words and put them into practice were like that wise man who built his house on the rock.
Because God has made a covenant with us His reputation is at stake.
That was the reasoning behind Moses' intercession for the people of Israel (Exodus 32:11 - 14).
Not only does God honor His covenant but He receives glory from guiding believers along paths of righteousness.
The highest purpose in life is that God be glorified.
God is glorified when people get saved, healed and filled with the Holy Spirit.
God is glorified when people get delivered from satanic oppression.
God is glorified as He works in the life of the believer.
Whatever He does is secondarily for us but primarily for His glory.
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.
PSALM 23:4 Sheep faced actual dangers as do we.
Our adversary prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).
Ephesians 6:12 points out our struggle with demonic entities.
Persecution is a reality in many countries.
The world, in any case, can be a dangerous place.
Murder, rape, assault, accidents and other crimes and calamities are all potential dangers.
We may also have to deal with terminal sicknesses.
Knowing that we are healed by His stripes does not prevent us from coming to the brink of death.
Many people have been brought back from the edge of death by God's healing power.
Also, in this life, we lose loved ones.
Death may be around us but there is someone greater that surrounds us.
Because God is with us, we do not need to fear evil.
Fear is the absence of faith.
Fear blinds us from seeing an omnipotent and loving God.
As we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need God to work in our hearts to replace any fear with faith.
Jesus Christ gave us the victory over evil.
His victory through His death and resurrection was a devastating blow to the enemy.
Satan cannot afflict the believer unless God allows it.
Evil becomes impotent when we confront it with faith.
We do not have to be afraid of evil regardless of what form it takes.
God is with us irrespective of what we go through.
God does not abandon us when we are in the valley.
Jesus is not like the hired hand who when he sees the wolf coming abandons the sheep and runs away (John 10:11 - 13).
Because God cares for the sheep, He will not allow the wolf to attack and scatter the flock or the thief to steal, kill and destroy.
God's ability to protect us ought to be a source of comfort.
The enemy may rush in with his sword to cut us down but his sword will meet against the sword of God.
The God of covenant is Jehovah Nissi-the LORD our banner.
He is also Jehovah Sabaoth-the LORD who commands the heavenly armies.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
PSALM 23:5 This verse deals with the issue of provision and protection.
It is God who prepares the table.
The believer is His guest.
Prepare indicates the forethought that God has put in providing for us.
God is never selfish and any table He prepares for us will have all the delicacies that our hearts could desire.
David has absolute security.
The table has been prepared in the presence of his enemies and they are powerless to do anything to him.
God has taken us under His wings and has offered us His protection.
This also speaks of vindication.
Our enemies are put to shame when they realize that we have the favor of God.
In a sense God taunts our enemies showing them His ability to bless us in spite of adversity.
It was customary to anoint an honored guest with oil.
We are not insignificant strangers but honored guests of the King.
The New Testament goes further.
By virtue of Christ's redemption, we are now children of the King entitling us to His covenant blessings.
We now have the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the presence of God which confirms our favored status.
Jesus said that He came to give life, not an unfulfilling but an abundant life (John 10:10).
The presence of God in a believer's life results in a life that is fully satisfied.
Nothing is lacking even when circumstances are adverse.
God gives both quantity and quality of life.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
PSALM 23:6 The psalmist expresses full confidence in God's goodness and love.
He understood the character and nature of God based on his experience of God and on His revelation.
We typically anticipate that something evil is going to happen.
We live in fear-perhaps the doctor will diagnose me with cancer, perhaps I will get in an accident.
Rather than focus on the contingencies in life, David chose to focus on God.
God is a good God who not only desires to but shows His goodness to His people in tangible ways.
A hymn writer declared, "Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed thy hands have provided.
Great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me.
" His goodness is inextricably connected to His love or lovingkindness.
Because God loves us, He will be good to us.
Because He is good to us it shows that He loves us.
God's love is not fickle or arbitrary.
We are the apple of His eye, the object of His unfailing affection.
We can be certain that God's goodness and love will be with us, not only on certain occasions but on every day of our lives.
The end part of this verse is particularly meaningful for the New Testament Christian.
We understand that when we die we go to be in the eternal presence of God.
Jesus told His disciples, "In my Father's house are many rooms...
I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2).
The apostle Paul told the Corinthians, "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands" (2 Corinthians 5:1).
God is not merely our shepherd in our temporal existence but He will be our shepherd forever.
Our present experience of God is in no way comparable to what we will encounter when we finally stand in the fullness of His glory.
Paul stated it beautifully, "Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.
For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18).
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