Psalms 24. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. The opening of Psalm 23 beautifully shows what we can gain from surrendering and allowing God to lead our lives. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. And all enemies will be gone forever. So, friend, do not worry about the future. Praying will help you as well. I have everything I need now, and everything I need in the future will be provided. No one can rest in mind and heart until the weight of a guilty conscience is removed. Without a shepherd to protect and guide them, sheep are easy targets for predators. ; I shall not want. Remember, the sheep are menare people. 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. I thought this was pretty special, just like YOU!!! For the more we know him, the more we become confident of his love, grace, and blessings. As I read the article, I, "I truly love reading this prayer, and been given insight on what it means. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest! ", Jesus told his disciples to come on and "follow me" now. But then, he quickly switches to phrases like valley, shadow of death, and fear no evil in the following verses. A shepherd describes a more close and devoted relationship. Rest in the green pastures and refreshment by the still waters are to fit us for work. I will fear no evil = Thats Protection! I can rest and be at peace because He is a good Shepherd. Can you trust him to shepherd you through life? I have a friend who is an unbeliever. Psalm 23 Explained A song of abundance. David said I shall not want because God is my Shepherd and will always meet my needs. During much of that time, David was a fugitive, hunted by and hiding from King Saul, who was obsessed with taking his life. David had built his confidence so much in God as a shepherd boy tending his fathers sheep. "Reminder necessary that I should be helping share His word, especially to those who do not have or even know of. Testing! Psalm 23 Explained Beautifully. 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. Even on your worst day, you will see Gods blessings overflowing in your life if you look for them. Then we shall lay aside the pilgrim dress and the sword and we shall put on the royal robe and sit down with Him. He wanted to depict the marvelous work of God in his life and encourage many believers with his testimony. As we embody Psalm 139, we inevitably grow in our self-assurance, God-confidence, and inner contentment. Hospitality included the responsibility of protection. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shalldwellin the house of theLord forever.. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Four Reasons Why S.M.A.R.T. Psalm 23 ends with these words And I shalldwellin the house of theLord forever. May He continue to guide and guard you in Jesus Name. Before David became king of Israel, he was a shepherd. Her passion is to inspire, encourage, support, and build up faith in the heart of moms in their motherhood journey. 4. Thank you. meaning it was his reality and he rested in this truth Gods goodness and mercy were following him through his lifes journey on earth. We were orphanswe did not belong to God's flock, but through the death of His Lamb, we are clothed in the robe of His righteousness and are able to enter the true fold. 4. The devil wants you to feel guilty, but do not listen to him. indeed! He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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). Psalm 23 explained beautifully by Walter Rasmussen. Why do I still feel guilty about my past sins? God bless you and grsnt you more insight into His word in Jesus name, amen. If your world seems chaotic or unfulfilling, ask yourself, Am I allowing God to lead me?. "Lessons From Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd." Download this 11-page ebook on the seven keys to the Lords Prayer by entering your email address below. He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! 6. The inspiring text is often quoted at funeral services and memorial events. May Our Lord Jesus, The Good Shepherd give us more insight of the Word God so that we can share with others. 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. 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. God is not a blind guide; he always leads you on the path of purpose and prosperity. So He began to teach them many things. Obviously, shepherd-less sheep are not a good thing; likewise, we need Jesus to be our Shepherd. Now understandsheep are not the smartest animals, so they need someone to take care of them, protect them, and even correct them. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). thy rod and thy staff--are symbols of a shepherd's office. Here is the picture of that blessed state in Revelation 7:16-17, They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life = Thats Blessing ! Thank you. 93% of people wont forward this, good day! It does not mean that He will provide for every thing we want, but for everything that we need. This article has been viewed 191,942 times. 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. I was. I shall not want = That's Supply! Put one foot in front of another while asking the Lord to provide a way out. 5, 6. We don't have to worry or feel alone because He is with us at all times. "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = Thats Security! Most account it to be a psalm of David's maturity, but with vivid remembrance of his youth as a shepherd. Mary is a minister's wife, mom of two boys, and former missionary to Scotland. Christianity.com is a member of the Salem Web Network of sites including: Copyright 2023, Christianity.com. "For Thou art with me" -- That's the constant faithfulness of The Shepherd! Psalm 23 explained beautifully gives a picture of an intimate relationship with a heavenly father who knows and cares about you. He leads me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment! Beautiful Testimony. The writer uses words like green pastures, still waters and I shall not want. Shepherds often risked their own lives to rescue their sheep. I am going to make it my priority to share, at the least, the Lord's prayer with this purpose, starting within my very own family. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. But the day is coming when the Good Shepherd will call us to the great supper in His kingdom. 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 . Psalm 23 is one of the most popular and beloved psalms in the Bible. Her faith in him took away fear. . He leadeth me beside the still waters = Thats Refreshment! He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake. 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. The Lord not only supplies our needs but blesses beyond the measure we can contain. A shepherd cares deeply not only for all his sheep as a whole but also for each and every single one. 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. That is, he helps us to find food, water, work, love, friends and all that we need. Read it as many times as you need to until the meaning begins to sink in. "He restoreth my soul" -- That's provision for revitalization and healing! We find ourselves in need of God's forgiveness and restoration, which he offers freely to those who repent and return to him. Sheep need guidance to safe pastures, and we too need a Shepherd to guide us to safety and lead us to provision. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. The meaning of Psalm 23 is a song of gratitude to a loving God in a painful world. Isaiah 43- 19 For I am about to do something new. "Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" -- That's God's protection against the enemies! Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/psalm-23-the-lord-is-my-shepherd-700375. Read next: Discover more Bible verses meaning or read the next article: Meaning of Matthew 17:20 "Truly I tell you . Learn more about the meaning and significance of this well-known phrase from Psalms 23. The restoration of the soul comes first; then the works of righteousness. In ancient times, hospitality involved more than merely providing a meal for guests. You may encourage yourself or others with the Word and verify these comments, respecting God and His plan for each of us What should I do if I don't understand the psalm? We are not saved by our works, but we work because we are saved. Thank you, a plain and simple translation of our Faithful and Loving Shepherd. But God heals the troubled soul when He forgives our sins. Imagine you are invited to a magnificent banquet with a huge table filled with all kinds of food and drinks to feast on. The heavenly shepherd does not always keep His sheep from sorrow, but He is with them in sorrow. With Gods love and goodness overtaking us, we can dwell in His presence every day until we finally spend eternity with Him. Jesus is called the good shepherd, and he said my sheep know my voice and a strangers voice they will not follow. Even though Iwalk through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I willfear no evil. In Deuteronomy 8 Moses told the Israelites that God "let them be hungry" to test them and to teach them (vv. I thank God for your inspiration. As an added bonus, you will feel your spirit lift as you write. His gift to us is eternal life, and we will be with him forever. We may not know the why of many of our experiences, but we know that our Shepherd knows, and that is sufficient. I have read this a few times before but this has touched me alot. 1. It shows us how God is a sustainer, a guide, a leader, a provider, the ever-present one, and an amazing host who has prepared a table of abundance before us to feast on. Sarah Garrett is a passionate educator and founder of the Transformed4More Ministries that she runs with her identical twin sister. By using our site, you agree to our. 1 Peter 2:25 ESV - For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Verses 4 and 5 confirm this as well. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 191,942 times. The enemy cannot stop the blessings of God in your life because God has chosen to bless you abundantly right before their watching eyes. The shepherd knows each sheep by name and the sheep knows his shepherds voice. Sheep have a natural tendency to wander off and get lost. It simply fortifies our divine connection with our Lord. 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. Psalm 23 shows us how much God cares about us even when we go through challenges. Read my full disclosure. The Good Shepherd leads His sheep in paths of righteousness to the very gates of the beautiful city itself, and on through the gates into the eternal fold, for it is written in Revelation 22:14, Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.. The passage begins with this familiar reassurance: "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.". Back in the Bible times it was a great honor to get your head anointed with oil and so it's saying that even though we sin and can be really awful people, God still loves us and is ready to treat us like royalty. This psalm shows us that David did not just tend sheep, but in that moment and season of his life, he could see and feel the hand of God present in his life. He is a faithful Shepherd that provides for His sheep (Matthew 6:33). Green pastures also relate to the Word of God. Dont choose to camp out and wallow in your misery. And then goes on to describe God as a guide, provider, sustainer, and protector. 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. This is how God cares for us. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. His rod and His staff comfort us; His law and His gospel contribute to our correction and support. As believers, we tend to do the same thing. There are 40 days til Easter! 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. In the presence of mine enemies Who seeing, envying, and fretting at it, are not able to hinder it. 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. 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. 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. The closing verse shows that the blessings mentioned are spiritual. And for the sake of His name and His glory, He guides our wills to line up with His. In 2 Timothy 4:16-17, he says: At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me!Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me.. i would just like to ask for permission to share it.. then ill just include that its from this site and Georgy (you?).. Psalm 23 helps us see God as a father who leads his children on paths of righteousness, progress, and victory. 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. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? 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. Goals Arent So Smart Anymore. David said he makes me to lie down in green pastures meaning that it is God that gives rest. | Day 3 When Enemies Surround You | Day 4 Trust God And Attract Blessings In Your Life | Day 5 Check out more free printable Bible verses. Is your relationship with God intimate enough for you to boldly call him your Shepherd? 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 ). the still waters--are, literally, "waters of "stillness," whose quiet flow invites to repose. This makes you know that you are not alone, even when you dont feel like it. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = Thats Rest! One of the high points of your relationship with God is when you come to the full knowledge of your identity in God. Rest, strange to say, in the past; work in the present; and sorrow, the valley of the shadow, still to come. 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. 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. For His name sake = Thats Purpose! He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. 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. Gods goodness and mercy are never-ending. Come, join the TBTG Family. The writer paints an enticing picture of who God is to him and uses metaphor to relate his experiences while walking with God. Equipping Christian Women to Abide in God's Word. John [the Baptist] saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! 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! It is about making a choice to cultivate intimacy with God. While expressive of any great danger or cause of terror, it does not exclude the greatest of all, to which it is most popularly applied, and which its terms suggest. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Verse 4. Thats the ultimate blessing! References Yea, though I walk: through the valley of the shadow of death, 6. Your email address will not be published. Then we shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever., God Help Me: Find help in every time of need. Verse 5. Used with permission. Whenever a sheep strays, the shepherd finds and restores him back to the flock. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake. For Thou art with me = Thats Faithfulness! Seriously. The truth is during this Covid19, my family and I have enjoyed Jesus as our Shepherd; provision, rest, restoration, peace, presence, leading and protection. Copyright 2023 Megan Allen Ministries | Powered by Astra WordPress Theme. But the good news is this: our Shepherd cares for us, and He is able to restore our souls. The presence of the shepherd eliminated any fear of evil for the sheep. It paints a beautiful picture of serenity, peace, and the security that comes with trusting in God. Our Saviour is not only the Lamb; He is the Shepherd toothe Good Shepherd, who giveth His life for His sheep. Shepherd finds and restores him back to the Shepherd and will always my! That gives rest faithfulness of the high points of your identity in God fill in your psalm 23 explained beautifully! 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Need guidance to safe pastures, he quickly switches to phrases like,... Sheep knows his shepherds voice Security that comes with trusting in God,! `` follow me all the days of my life = Thats rest by entering email! He guides our wills to line up with his testimony we are not good... Into his Word, especially to those who repent and return to and. Walk: through the valley ofthe shadow of death, I do n't know, but not! You dont feel like it rescue their sheep find Help in every time of need, Jesus told disciples... To line up with his you more insight into his Word, especially to those who and...