Psalm Chapter 23

A Psalm of David.

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

We know that a shepherd is one who cares for a flock of sheep. The Lord is compared here to a shepherd. When we make the Lord our shepherd we are recognizing that we can't make our way in life alone and we need a shepherd.

I shall not want means that we shall not be in want or in need of necessary things. Surely God supplies all things necessary for us to live godly lives.

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

To be in want is to lack necessary things. The meaning is different than what we think of as want. We may want many things but that doesn't make them necessary to live. A deeper meaning of I shall not be in want concerns the inner person, the spiritual need of a person. When we are walking with God and He is our shepherd, we will not be in want of anything spiritual. We are satisfied and happy when we walk with the Lord.

Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

This symbolizes a life of peace and serenity. This is comfort and stability. To walk with the Lord is to walk in peace. In His presence is peace and comfort. He is joy and love. There will be times of trouble trying to break the peace we have with God but after resisting evil and cleaving to the Lord, peace returns. We can live constantly with the joy of the Lord if our hearts continually reach out to Him.

Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Our soul is restored when we turn from sin and come to Jesus Christ. The new birth in Jesus Christ restores our soul into a right relationship with God. From then on He leads us in the paths of His righteousness and our soul is restored daily when we abide faithfully in His fellowship and be not moved away from Him.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The shadow of death here could be when someone we love dies and God is there to comfort us through the heartache. It also would refer to our own time of death when we are assured that we are right with God and have no need to fear what awaits us in eternity.

Psalm 23: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

The faithful in Christ Jesus will be exalted by the Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of their enemies. We may sometimes think the wicked ones are prevailing but God sees the end and what happens to all who do not obey the gospel.

We are to faithfully follow the Lord and let God take care of the enemies. We are never to have an attitude of vengeance. We are to spread the gospel not to take vengeance or use force on those who refuse salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

True conversion cannot be forced upon anyone. Anyone who uses force is not obeying the call of God to preach the gospel into all the world. Also the use of force robs a person of receiving the Lord with his or her heart and their own free choice. We must never take that away from anyone with threats and harshness. True salvation cannot be forced anyway. It takes place between God and the one receiving salvation. It is impossible for someone to force another one to become a Christian or any other religion. True religion comes from within us receiving the salvation that comes from Jesus.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Goodness and mercy shall follow those that follow the Lord. If we stop following the Lord, goodness and mercy will keep following the Lord and we will be left out of the picture.

2Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Our hope and joy is not in this life only. In the here and now we have only part of our inheritance. We now can have the kingdom of God within us but there is much more to come. Eye has not seen neither the ear heard what God is preparing for those that love Him.

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

We are to pursue peace. I'm talking of inner peace mostly, not world peace. It is a peace that can't be forced. Some people resist peace and want control. We do our part but not all will agree with us. We are to seek and work for true peace.

Holiness is living apart from the evil and bondage of the world around us and instead seek to live in fellowship with the Lord in obedience to His word. God always has a better way than those that live apart from God have. DC

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Psalm 24

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