As his shepherd, God provided David with spiritual rest and nourishment. Food for the soul is the Word of God (Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:2) that the Lord’s under-shepherds are responsible to give His people (Ezekiel 34:1-10; John 21:15-17; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). read more
The Lord also provides spiritual refreshment and restoration. These benefits come to us as we take advantage of God’s provision of the water of life, which is the living and written Word of God (John 4:10-14; Ephesians 5:26). God renews our strength and cleanses us through these instruments. read more
This is a Ps. of simple and unclouded confidence in God, who is described first as a shepherd (Psalms 23:1-4) and next as an host (Psalms 23:5-6). The beautiful imagery of the first part would be natural on the lips of the king who was a shepherd in his youth. The reference to ’the house of the Lord’ in Psalms 23:6 may be a continuation of the figure of the host, and need not indicate a date after the building of the Temple.3. Leadeth] RV ’guideth.’ An Eastern shepherd goes before his flock.... read more
(1) Shepherd.—This image, as applied to God, appears in Hebrew literature first (Genesis 48:15; Genesis 49:24) of his relation to the individual (comp. Psalms 119:176); as the shepherd of His people the image is much more frequent (Psalms 78:52; Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 40:11; Isaiah 63:11; Ezekiel 34:0; Micah 7:14). read more
(2) The verbs in these verses are not to be understood as futures, but as presents, describing the customary condition of the poet. “The psalmist describes himself as one of Jehovah’s flock, safe under His care, absolved from all anxieties by the sense of this protection, and gaining from this confidence of safety the leisure to enjoy, without satiety, all the simple pleasures which make up life—the freshness of the meadow, the coolness of the stream. It is the most complete picture of... read more
Psalms 23:4 We have always associated the word 'rod' with chastisement. Herein we have deprived ourselves grievously of great comfort. Will the preachers collate the passages in which the word 'rod' occurs? they will find material there for a never-ending course of lectures, full of sap and encouragement and profitable gladness. I. 'And the Lord said unto Moses, Take the rod.' Even Moses was nothing without the sign; Moses, greatest, strongest of lion-hearts, was only a layman when he had no... read more
Psalms 23:1-6THE world could spare many a large book better than this sunny little psalm. It has dried many tears and supplied the mould into which many hearts have poured their peaceful faith. To suppose that the speaker is the personified nation chills the whole. The tone is too intense not to be the outcome of personal experience, however admissible the application to the nation may be as secondary. No doubt Jehovah is the Shepherd of Israel in several Asaphite psalms and in Jeremiah; but,... read more
Psalms 23:0 Christ, the Great Shepherd 1. Assurance (Psalms 23:1-3 ) 2. Comfort (Psalms 23:4-6 ) Psalms 1:1-6 ; Psalms 2:1-12 ; Psalms 3:1-8 . Well has it been said “without Psalms 22:1-31 , there could be no Twenty-third Psalm.” While the former Psalm reveals Christ as the good Shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep, this Psalm makes Him known as the great Shepherd of the sheep, whom the God of Peace hath brought again from the dead, through the blood of the everlasting covenant... read more
23:1 [A Psalm of David.] The LORD [is] my shepherd; {a} I shall not want.(a) He has care over me and ministers all things to me. read more
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Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Psalms 23:1-6
Psalms 23David reflected on God’s many blessings to him and concluded that God would continue to be faithful to him and grant him fellowship in the future. This is a psalm of trust and confidence in God’s goodness in the present and in the future."Depth and strength underlie the simplicity of this psalm. Its peace is not escape; its contentment is not complacency: there is readiness to face deep darkness and imminent attack, and the climax reveals a love which homes towards no material goal but... read more