Psalms 23 A Devotin Commentray and a message

8/13/2019 Psalms 23 A Devotin Commentray and a message

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The Shepherd Remains Faithful- A Commentary on Psalms 23

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The Shepherd Remains Faithful- A Commentary on Psalms 23This is a short 17 page exposition and deotional !ommentary on Psalms 23" # pray the lord$lesses you " a short read" on one short psalm" %ith mu!h !omfort and truth And Sound &o!trine'

(y )angelist-Pastor &r &anny A$aldo & '*in

Psa 23+1 A Psalm of &aid' The ,R& is my shepherd. # shall not %ant'

Psa /0+1 To the !hief *usi!ian upon Shoshannimeduth" A Psalm of Asaph' ie ear" Shepherdof #srael" thou that leadest oseph lie a flo!. thou that d%ellest $et%een the !heru$ims" shine

forth'

oh 10+11 # am the good shepherd+ the good shepherd gieth his life for the sheep'

oh 10+12 (ut he that is an hireling" and not the shepherd" %hose o%n the sheep are not" seeth

the %olf !oming" and leaeth the sheep" and fleeth+ and the %olf !at!heth them" and s!attereth thesheep'

oh 10+13 The hireling fleeth" $e!ause he is an hireling" and !areth not for the sheep'

oh 10+14 # am the good shepherd" and no% my sheep" and am no%n of mine'

oh 10+15 As the Father no%eth me" een so no% # the Father+ and # lay do%n my life for the

sheep'

oh 10+16 And other sheep # hae" %hi!h are not of this fold+ them also # must $ring" and they

shall hear my oi!e. and there shall $e one fold" and one shepherd'

#sa 40+11 e shall feed his flo! lie a shepherd+ he shall gather the lam$s %ith his arm" and!arry them in his $osom" and shall gently lead those that are %ith young'

The rand Ps 23" let me put the six erses in this page $efore moing on" many of us no% this$y heart" $ut reader" do %e hae it in our heart" $eliee in it $y faith" stand on it' )xamine your

heart 8 fearful" %orried one'

Psa 23+1 A Psalm of &aid' The ,R& is my shepherd. # shall not %ant'

Psa 23+2 e maeth me to lie do%n in green pastures+ he leadeth me $eside the still %aters'

Psa 23+3 e restoreth my soul+ he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name8s sae'

Psa 23+4 9ea" though # %al through the alley of the shado% of death" # %ill fear no eil+ for






thou art %ith me. thy rod and thy staff they !omfort me'

Psa 23+5 Thou preparest a ta$le $efore me in the presen!e of mine enemies+ thou anointest my

head %ith oil. my !up runneth oer'

Psa 23+6 Surely goodness and mer!y shall follo% me all the days of my life+ and # %ill d%ell in the

house of the ,R& for eer'

Ps 23 is %here %e %ill $egin this :ourney into learning to loo to the lord" %aiting on him in trust

and resting in him" een in hard times'

;hat $etter pla!e to start' #n #sa 40+11" this is the erse many times that points to the erses in

ohn !h 10 a$oe" the pit!her %e hae all seen" the lord !arrying the sheep in his arms" it !omes

from #sa 40+11 The ,ord our reat shepherd" full man and fully od' (efore esus $e!ame fleshhe al%ays %as %ith od' #t is one and the same" and in our grand Ps 23" %hat $etter person to

%rite it than a <ing that %as a shepherd=

#n this" %e find more a$out the !hara!ter of our lord" he is our proider" and our prote!tor' As

enry says+

e taes them into his fold" and then taes !are of them" prote!ts them" and proides for them"%ith more !are and !onstan!y than a shepherd !an" that maes it his $usiness to eep the flo!'

The lord maes it #S $usiness to eep the flo!' This eeping is $y %ay of proiding andprote!ting and guiding' The lord %ill lead" he %ill proide" he %ill spea" and it is up to us to

listen to him and him alone" not a stranger" a man" a do!trine of men" $ut the holy shepherd of

our souls' This eeping po%er " eeps us in his $lood" he preseres us until %e out right de!ide toleae the fold' >o matter %hat %e fa!e" no mater %hat sin has it8s grip on you" no% this" if you

de!ide to stay in the fold your delieran!e %ill !ome' ur lord is faithful" een %hen %e are not'

9ou shall not %ant" enry says+

# shall not %ant' ,et not those fear staring that are at od8s finding and hae him for their

feeder' *ore is implied than is expressed" not only" # shall not %ant" $ut" ?# shall $e supplied %ith%hateer # need. and" if # hae not eery thing # desire" # may !on!lude it is either not fit for me

or not good for me or # shall hae it in due time'@

A simple " $ut profound truth' # said in my last ne% e-$oo" %hat to do" ho% to mae it in the

!oming hard times" also %hat do %e do= The response in faith" %e %ait' See that great short $oo"

# no% it is for someone reading een this'

;hen %e do not no% %hat to do" %e are" should" stop eerything and %ait till the lord sho%s us"

%e must not run ahead or lag $ehind" it is easy to $e so $usy" and find our self %ith no dire!tion"

!losed doors and su!h" the %aiting is hard" it is not a >" it may $e :ust a >ot 9)T'

#n the )xodus the e$re%s %ould hae $een finished if it had not $een for the guidan!e of the

!loud $y day' ne thing interesting a$out this !loud" the %ays the lord dire!ts is said %ell in






*yers %ritings" a deotional guide in )-s%ord" not oy!e ,,'

CR#ST R ,#T

B# am the ,ight of the ;orld+ he that follo%eth *e shall not %al in darness" $ut shall hae thelight of life'B-- oh/+12'

#T ;AS the Feast of Ta$erna!les %hen our ,ord uttered the %ords of our text" and it is supposed

they %ere lighting the t%o great !andela$ra" %hi!h !ommemorated the fire-!loud that led the

desert mar!h' #t %as in dire!t allusion to the fiery pillar that our ,ord used this metaphor' ;hat

that %as to #srael" e is to is Chur!h'

The %ilderness %as a tra!less %aste to #srael' The people a$solutely depended on the !loud to

sho% their path" and to find a resting-pla!e at night' ;hen it gathered itself up from theTa$erna!le on %hi!h it $rooded" the people must strie their tents and follo%' o%eer desira$le

the site of their !amp" they must leae it. ho%eer diffi!ult the desert paths" they must traerse

them. ho%eer uniniting the spot %here it stopped" they must halt there" and remain as long asit tarried' To linger %as to run the ris of %andering aimlessly in the desert till death superened'

nly %here the !loud rested did the manna fall" the %ater flo%" or the &iine prote!tion aail'

There are resting-times in our lies' od gra!iously arranges green pastures and Duiet %aters"and maes us to lie do%n' is oi!e sounds amid the turmoil of our existen!e" and $ids us !ome

aside and rest a%hile' (ut often %e fret against enfor!ed rest" %e persist in hurrying to and fro"

and gie %ay to $itter repining' ;hen the !loud stays" remain %here you are' ;hen you do notno% %hat to do" stop still until some indi!ation points your path'

There are times for a!tion' The trumpet is heard %ith its summons" to %hi!h %e must gieimmediate attention' ;hen the sleeper refuses to arise instantly at the %hir of the alarm" he soon

$e!omes so a!!ustomed to it that it does not distur$ him' So %e shall gain eenness of hearing

%hen %e a!!ustom ourseles to instant o$edien!e' The pea!e and usefulness of our earthly life%ill $e in dire!t proportion to our appropriation of the ,ord esus for all the demands of our

pilgrim !ondition' >ay" more" for as in the train the ele!tri! light !omes on $efore the dar tunnel

is entered" and lingers after it is passed" so the presen!e of Christ %ill pre!ede and follo% times of

spe!ial need' B# %ill mae darness light $efore them" and !rooed things straightB E#sa42+16'

&id you get that part" %hat a reelation and great truth"

o%eer desira$le the site of their !amp" they must leae it. ho%eer diffi!ult the desert paths"

they must traerse them. ho%eer uniniting the spot %here it stopped" they must halt there" and

remain as long as it tarried' To linger %as to run the ris of %andering aimlessly in the desert tilldeath superened' nly %here the !loud rested did the manna fall" the %ater flo%" or the &iine

prote!tion aail'

#f %e do not follo% %hereer the lord leads" if %e de!ide" 8%o% this is a great pla!e" a great spot" #am not going any%here" # am staying right here8" guess %hat' 9ou are in danger of no manna" that

means manna faith %ill $e of no use" that is daily faith" it %ill $e of no use" $e!ause the lord has

spoen to you a$out moing on" getting out of your !omfort Gone" relo!ating" or something" the






!loud moed and your in a pla!e %ith no !oering' # hae $een there" so hae you' #f not one dayyou may $e' People are funny" people do not lie !hange" $ut things are !hanging eery day at

lighting speed" %ho no%s %hat %e %ill fa!e the next day" %hat other !hange may !ome=

9ou !ould $e in a pla!e" situation and the lord says to your heart" B #t is time to go thereB youloo in the eyes of the flesh and not the spirit" you see a desert %aist land" no hope" no %ater" so it

seems'

9ou may lie %here you are" your old :o$" your house" your to%n et!' The lord may $e !alling you

to tae a step of faith and you are s!ared to death" !hange" it8s not easy for many' ;e may loo at

a situation" an open door and thin 8 9ou hae to $e idding me" # $ind Satan in the name ofesus" # am not going there" or doing that8 ,,'

(ut %hat if indeed it is the lord speaing" and %hat good is it to $ind" re$ue the deil if it is notthe deil" %ill %e $e found trying to re$ue the lord= #f the !loud moes" %e moe" it stops" %e

stop" if %e do not no% %hat to do" stop" and %ait'

This !loud in the )xodus is lie our uiding Shepherd" %hen he %ants to lead us to still %aters"

meet needs" it may %ell $e in the alley of the shado% of death that our diine proision %ill

!ome" not on a lofty mountain top of $lessing'

*any do not %ant to go near that alley" $ut it is in that pla!e the $iggest $lessing and $rea

through !an !ome' # hae found that is exa!tly %here the lord moed" opened doors" in pla!es #

said" B # %ill neer go there" moe there" do this or that" no %ayB uess %hat" the lord had his%ay" and # ended up exa!tly %here # said # %ould neer go' #t is amaGing" our lord no%s %hat he

is doing and %hy" een %hen %e do not'

#t may seem lie a s!ary moie" the dar alley of the shado% of &)AT" the &eil %ants you to

fear it" it is of the lord in that pla!e" %al of faith" a$le to %ait" #-you- shall fear no eil" so %hy do

%e in the alley" %hy do %e fear anything= Fear nothing" the enemy is a lion %ithout teeth" he!omes AS a lion" not A lion" %e hae one lion" and it is the ,#> F T) TR#() F &A H

e alone is the lion'

#n the Proer$s %e read" %e are to $e as $old as a lion" the lion is our lord" the $oldness is theoly Spirit" and yes" it is a !all to manna faith" daily faith" %hen the !loud moes and all you see

is nothing ahead' Tae that road" only on that road" no matter %hat it loos lie" for there you

%ill find the manna is still falling" get off the lord ordained path and moements " you %ill stareto death" in $ody and spirit" $y a famine of the %ord'

ne of the eys reader" is o$edien!e to %hat eer the lord says" %e must do it his %ay" follo% his%ord and his tea!hing' is ordinan!es are life" !on!erning this enry points out+

od8s ordinan!es are the green pastures in %hi!h food is proided for all $elieers. the %ord of

life is the nourishment of the ne% man' #t is mil for $a$es" pasture for sheep" neer $arren"neer eaten $are" neer par!hed" $ut al%ays a green pasture for faith to feed in' od maes his

saints to lie do%n. he gies them Duiet and !ontentment in their o%n minds" %hat eer their lot is.

their souls d%ell at ease in him" and that maes eery pasture green' Are %e $lessed %ith the






green pastures of the ordinan!es=

he gies them Duiet and !ontentment in their o%n minds" %hat eer their lot is.

And ho% is this= (y faith'

''''al%ays a green pasture for faith to feed in'

;hat feeds our faith= The %ord" Faith !ometh $y hearing" and hearing the %ord' ohn says" 8this

faith ena$les to oer!ome this %orld" This is the i!tory that oer!ometh the %orld" een ourfaith8' #t is faith" faith" faith' (y the (i$le" The $lood of esus" the authority of the $elieer and

the po%er of the holy spirit' Faith is not an option to us" it is a must' This %ill Duiet our minds"

fears" restless thoughts" it %ill deal %ith iants" alleys of the shado% of death" and it eDuals >F)AR" no matter %hat' Feed on the %ord" lie a sheep feeds on grass" the analogy is there" it is

%hat sheep do" young ones *il" older ones meat" $ut it8s all the %ord" the mil and meat'

'''e leadeth me $eside the still %aters' # loe %hat enry say on this" so %ill you'

Those that feed on od8s goodness must follo% his dire!tion. he leads them $y his proiden!e" $y

his %ord" $y his Spirit" disposes of their affairs for the $est" a!!ording to his !ounsel" disposestheir affe!tions and a!tions a!!ording to his !ommand" dire!ts their eye" their %ay" and their

heart" into his loe' The still %aters $y %hi!h he leads them yield them" not only a pleasant

prospe!t" $ut many a !ooling draught" many a reiing !ordial" %hen they are thirsty and %eary'od proides for his people not only food and rest" $ut refreshment also and pleasure'

>ote+ ;e must follo% his dire!tion" and the manna %ill fall" if it has not fallen" you may haemissed something" or you may $e $eing taught a lesson" and yet again" it !ould $e $e!ause of A

lo$al Finan!ial meltdo%n' e feeds his $eloed in Famine" and gies those that fear is name

%ater to drin' The $i$le says this" and it sounds lie the )xodus to me'

The lord esus is still the same today" yesterday and foreer' >o matter %hat" # do not no% ho%"

$ut the lord %ill meet the need for food and %ater" een in another great depression" and this is

!oming reader" yes hard days are on us" and !oming' The message of this short e-$oo is to $uildyour faith and to help you stand " the last $oo %as similar" this is on faith" feeding your faith"

$eliee manna %ill fall and %ater from a ro!" # do not no% ho% the lord %ill do it" $ut # no%

he %ill' e !hanges not'

;hen they are thirsty and %eary' od proides for his people not only food and rest" $ut

refreshment also and pleasure'

;hat is your pleasure= #s it the diine presen!e of the lord" his %ord" if it is things" your in for a

hard ride !oming' ur affe!tions and our mind must $e set on heaenly things" not things of the

%orld" if you stay in that frame of mind your heaenly pleasures %ill $e meet' The lord %illsho%er his presen!e" his glory" his pea!e" een in a storm" no matter %hat" the lord %ill satisfy the

hungry" thirsty soul' ;e must get priories strate" %hat matters" %hat are you seeing" %hat are

your am$itions" your !all= ae you fallen for do!trines of men= #f so you need to return to the






%ord" it alone %ill feed your faith" and feed your soul " een in a time of famine of the %ord to the%orld" and a famine of food' The lord %ill lead" he %ill dire!t" he %ill prote!t" he %ill tell you do

this" do that" do not do this" do not do that' oly guidan!e is the only guidan!e and %hen the

!loud moes" moe %ith it" %hen it stops" stop and rest" %ait" trust'

Ready for the next part= Read on

Part 2

?thers" far %ealthier and %iser than #" may %ant" $ut # shall not'@ Spurgen'

Con!erning more insight on erse one" Spurgen in the Psalms f &aid Commentary says+

The young lions do la!" and suffer hunger $ut they that see the ,ord shall not %ant any goodthing'@ #t is not only ?# do not %ant"@ $ut ?# shall not %ant'@ Come %hat may" if famine shoulddeastate the land" or !alamity destroy the !ity" ?# shall not %ant'@ ld age %ith its fee$leness

shall not $ring me any la!" and een death %ith its gloom shall not find me destitute' # hae all

things and a$ound. not $e!ause # hae a good store of money in the $an" not $e!ause # hae sill

and %it %ith %hi!h to %in my $read" $ut $e!ause ?The ,ord is my Shepherd'@ The %i!edal%ays %ant" $ut the righteous neer. a sinner8s heart is far from satisfa!tion" $ut a gra!ious

spirit d%ells in the pala!e of !ontent'

Come %hat may" this should $e our holy attitude" as 8 #f # perish # perish" so $e it8" also 8 For su!h

a time as thisB " %e read these %ords in the 'T" from t%o odly %omen" # did a message !alled"B

8#f a man %ill not do it" a %omen %ill8'

#t is a truth" %omen seem to $e a $it more of the %orrying type" $ut also mu!h stronger" sensitie

to the spirit" the man should $e the priest of the house" no% days the %omen is' # loe the simple "

po%erful" %illing faith of %omen' ;hen # %as Pastoring different Chur!hes" it %as al%ays the%omen %ho sho%ed up at prayer meetings" the first to olunteer for almost anything' *en of

od are ordained to $e the $a! $one of the $ody of Christ" $ut they are not' This is another

$oo ,,'

ne part that Spurgen said really stu! out and is a gem'

?# do not %ant"@ $ut ?# shall not %ant'@ Come %hat may" if famine should deastate the land" or!alamity destroy the !ity'

Come %hat may" # shall not %ant" %hat faith" famine" deastation" !alamity" %e see it in!reasing

eery day" as the $irth pains and $i$le prophe!y is !oming to pass ery fast' #t seems ea!h year it

gets faster and %orse" $ut !ome %hat may" %e should all not $e in any %ant" so %e !an all" smile

in the storm" Amen" that is shouting stuff' Faith stuff" manna stuff'






e maeth me to lie do%n in green pastures+ he leadeth me $eside the still %aters'

Spurgen+

?e maeth me to lie do%n in green pastures. he leadeth me $eside the still %aters'@

The Christian life has t%o elements in it" the !ontemplatie and the a!tie" and $oth of these areri!hly proided for'

First" the !ontemplatie" ?e maeth me to lie do%n in green pastures'@ ;hat are these ?green

pastures@ $ut the S!riptures of truth - al%ays fresh" al%ays ri!h" and neer exhausted= There isno fear of $iting the $are ground %here the grass is long enough for the flo! to lie do%n in it'

S%eet and full are the do!trines of the gospel. fit food for souls" as tender grass is natural

nutriment for sheep'

;hen $y faith %e are ena$led to find rest in the promises" %e are lie the sheep that lie do%n in

the midst of the pasture. %e find at the same moment $oth proender and pea!e" rest andrefreshment" serenity and satisfa!tion' (ut o$sere+ ?e maeth me to lie do%n'@ #t is the ,ord

%ho gra!iously ena$les us to per!eie the pre!iousness of his truth" and to feed upon it' o%

grateful ought %e to $e for the po%er to appropriate the promisesH There are some distra!ted

souls %ho %ould gie %orlds if they !ould $ut do this' They no% the $lessedness of it" $ut they!annot say that this $lessedness is theirs' They no% the ?green pastures"@ $ut they are not made

to ?lie do%n@ in them' Those $elieers %ho hae for years en:oyed a ?full assuran!e of faith@

should greatly $less their gra!ious od'

The se!ond part of a igorous Christian8s life !onsists in gra!ious a!tiity'

;e not only thin" $ut %e a!t'

;e are not al%ays lying do%n to feed" $ut are :ourneying on%ard to%ard perfe!tion. hen!e %eread" ?he leadeth me $eside the still %aters'@ ;hat are these ?still %aters@ $ut the influen!es and

gra!es of his $lessed Spirit= is Spirit attends us in arious operations" lie %aters - in the plural

to !leanse" to refresh to fertilise" to !herish' They are ?still %aters"@ for the oly host loes

pea!e" and sounds no trumpet of ostentation in his operations' e may flo% into our soul" $ut notinto our neigh$our8s" and therefore our neighhour may not per!eie the diine presen!e. and

though the $lessed Spirit may $e pouring his floods into one heart" yet he that sitteth next to the

faoured one may no% nothing of it'

?#n sa!red silen!e of the mind

*y heaen" and there my od # find'@

Still %ater run deep' >othing more noisy than an empty drum' That silen!e is golden is indeed in

%hi!h the oly Spirit meets %ith the souls of his saints' >ot to raging %aes of strife" $ut to

pea!eful streams of holy loe does the Spirit of od !ondu!t the !hosen sheep' e is a doe" notan eagle. the de%" not the hurri!ane' ur ,ord leads us $eside these ?still %aters.@ %e !ould not

go there of ourseles" %e need his guidan!e" therefore is it said" ?he leadeth me'@ e does not

drie us' *oses dries us $y the la%" $ut esus leads us $y his example" and the gentle dra%ings






of his loe'

#t is hard to find this diine stillness at times' Flesh does not hae it in it to find it" $ut the lord

!omes in and leads us' #f %e are so do%n" so out of sorts" %e find he %ill !arry us' *any times %eall need our lord to lead us $y lit' !arrying us' # hae $een in pla!es %here # did not no% %hat to

do" great trou$le of soul %as on me" if # !ould get dire!tion it %ould $e almost impossi$le' urlord no%s us in su!h times" and in su!h times $eloed he %ill !arry you' ;e are lie little

!hildren" in fa!t" the only %ay to get to heaen is to re!eie as a !hild' Simple trust that our

shepherd has us in his arms' Iuiet" still" %aters" many times these %aters are ery tur$ulent" so

$ad" one !an not thin straight" or pray as %e aught'

# used to lie near su!h a rier" it ran out of the Friant &am into %hat is !alled lost lae in Fresno

Ca' The %aters ran hard after" and %hile the sno% melted from high in the mountains' The riersin all the area are the same in this season' #t is a must it $e so" or there %ould $e no life" no !rops"

een little po%er" as the damn !onerts that rush of %ater into po%er as almost all damns do' The

tur$ulent %ater that !ould %as us a%ay to our death has a !ourse" a plan" a reason' #t isdangerous to get to !lose" many hae died in su!h rapids" $ut they must !ome ea!h year or it is

death'

,oo at the tur$ulent %aters in life lie that' They hae a reason" a :o$" they help us to realiGe" %eare not od" %e %ould $e dead %ith out him' The %aters do %hat the lord intended' #t !an $e

dangerous %hen to mu!h %ater !omes do%n" damns hae almost $roe $e!ause of this flooding'

The %ord says" B the lord sets up a standard against the floodB" it says" B ;hen # go through the

%aters # %ill not dro%n" %hen # go through the fire # %ill not $e $urnedB' The %ord $urned and

the follo%ing %ord means you %ill not een $e tou!hed" not smelling een lie smoe' >o littlesteam !oming off you' ur lord !an" and does do this still' *any times %e do not een no% %hen

he does" other times %e are %ell a%are of this in the trials of life' #f it had not $een for the lord"

%here %ould %e $e'

Still %aters" the %ord says $e still and no% # am od'

#n the e$re% (e Still *eans+

7503

ר

JKLMKMra%-fa%8

A primitie root. to sla!en Ein many appli!ations" literally or figuratiely+ - a$ate" !ease"

!onsume" dra% Nto%ard eeningO" fail" E$e faint" $e E%ax fee$le" forsae" idle" leae" let alone Ego"

do%n" E$e sla!" stay" $e still" $e slothful" E$e %ea E-en' See 745'

F( says+

Psalms 46+10






(e still" et!' Q literally" ?,eae off to oppose *e and ex *y people' # am oer all for their safety'

,eae off" it is similar to %hat %e read in the >'T' 8Cast all your !are and anxieties upon the lord

for he !ares for you8'

Still %aters run deep" ho% deeper !an %e get than in a pla!e of rest" Duietness of soul" pea!e ofmind and heart" faith in proision" stillness' #t is deep indeed' #t is also simple" $ut fe% attain this

true rest in our lord' #t taes haing the heaenly perspe!tie" not looing at %hat %e see" $ut

%hat %e do not' 9ou may $e in a pla!e of tur$ulent %aters " $ut een there you !an find in prayer

and faith" still" !alm %aters'

Psa 23+3 e restoreth my soul+ he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name8s sae'

F(+

Psalms 23+3

To restore the soul is to reie or Dui!en it EPsa1+7" or reliee it E,am1+11" ,am1+1'

paths of righteousness Q those of safety" as dire!ted $y od" and pleasing to im'

for his names sae Q or" regard for is perfe!tions" pledged for is peoples %elfare'

Restore" !an mean" to mae $etter than you %ere" total" !omplete restoration' nly $y the lord

!an %e $e made $etter than %e %ere" after %e are restored' ;e need to $e restored often esp' if

%e fell a%ay and !ame $a!" this is %here !ondemnation of self and the deil tries to steal" illand destroy the holy restoration pro!ess of the lord" do not listen yo your flesh" or the &eil" you

!an $e 100 restored today'

*u!h of the $i$le is on restoration" %e are to help others $e!ome restored $y %hat Paul !alled the

ministry of re!on!iliation" the same %ord almost" same meaning" $eing re!on!iled to the lord" our

lord is all a$out re!on!iling" %e are also to $e all a$out this" not taring do%n others or self " $ut

helping to restore" 8ye %ho are spiritual restore those that are in any temptation" !onsideringthyself lest thy also $e tempted8" so it is to $e done in loe" humility and understanding" $ut for

the gra!e of od" it may not $e you" $ut it !ould $e you next" a !all to hum$le seritude" eeping

in mind our o%n %eaness" and mortality'

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name8s sae'

ur lord leads us as our Shepherd" he no%s %here he is leading us" %e may not understand

%hat is going on" $ut $e sure our shepherd does" and he no%s exa!tly %hat he is doing for his

sheep' The !are and loe for us !an not $e oer looed" it is profound to thin the lord loes us so

mu!h" he does it for his o%n names sae" and is name is a$oe all names" he %ill not let hisname $e defamed or loo at as a father that a$andoneds his !hildren' ae you $een a$andoned

$y a father" mother" family" friends" listen the lord" father od" %ill neer let you go" he %ill

al%ays magnify his name" $e!ause this is atta!hed to this erse you !an no% %ith !ertainty the






lord %ill do it" and he %ill do it for his name sae %e read that many times in the 'T' that thelord restored his fallen !hosen people" not for them" $ut for his name sae' This is a po%erful

truth %e must !ome to understand' ur name means little" our fathers name means eerything'

he has put his name in and on us" %e are his property and od taes !are of those that are his'

# am still learning" after all these years a$out the loe of the lord" it is hard for me to grasp' # am

not the only one' #f %e fully understood the loe of our father it %ould !hange our life" for od soloed the %orld he gae his only son'''that is loe" the loe of od is amaGing' #n the >'T' Paul

says in 1 !or 13" the grand !hapter on loe" 8for these three a$ide" faith" hope and loe" $ut loe is

the greatest8'

ur od is a od of loe" %e must $e people of loe' # do not mean sloppy agape" no" %e must

spea truth in loe" %e must !all to repentan!e" %e must gently !orre!t those that oppose

themseles" in a spirit of meeness' This does not mean %e are not to !onfront sin" apostasy andsu!h" $ut it must $e in and out of a true loe and not looing do%n on others ' The Pharisee" and

the tax !olle!tor" esus taught" the pharisee" entered the temple and prayed " than you lord # am

not lie others" # o$ey your la%" # do this and that" no # am not lie all these others" the tax!olle!tor !ame in" did not een lift his head" he said # am not %orthy" he %as the one that %as

$lessed" E Paraphrase ;e are not to thin higher of ourseles than %e should" %e are not to

!ompare ourseles $y others' Christians hae a $ad ha$it of doing this after they are saed a

%hile" and this is %hy %e must !ome" repent" and return to our first loe" that %ill $ring diinerestoration and to the glory of our lord'

Psa 23+4 9ea" though # %al through the alley of the shado% of death" # %ill fear no eil''''

;e all %al through this alley" the alley of darness the shado% of death" it also means death

itself" also %e %al through life not al%ays no%ing ho% to get out of these alleys" listen" there isa reason for thee alleys" they $ring humility and tea!h faith" they sere a great purpose" %e

!annot %al around them" %e must %al right into them" %e hae no !hoi!e' # hae $een in many

alleys as some of you reading this hae" # !an say" to date" the lord has deliered me from themall" and # %as a $etter Christian after'

the ey to getting through the shado% of death %ith no fear is "

'''''' for thou art %ith me. thy rod and thy staff they !omfort me'

The lord is %ith us" he is %ith us eery%here %e go" he is in us" this is the hope of glory Christ inus' ur shepherd is in that alley to" %hen %e hurt" he hurts" %e hae the lord and his gra!es"

po%er to see us through the hardest" darest" longest alleys %e fa!e' 9ou must mae sure he is

%ith you" this is a must if you mae it through %hat your going through" and %hat your goingthrough" may $e this dar alley in this psalm'

Psa 23+5 Thou preparest a ta$le $efore me in the presen!e of mine enemies''

This has $e!ome" as # said" one of my faorite parts of all the $i$le" the lord prepares a ta$le for

us right in the deils fa!e" 8%e oer!ome the deil $y (lood of the lam$ and the %ord of our

testimony8' # hae had these ta$les prepared" and the enemy hates it" those that do not lie you






hate it" so %hat" in their fa!e the lord prepares this ta$le of proision" :oy" pea!e" happiness"laughter" the people say" B ho% !an this person hae so mu!h :oy and faith" loo" they hae

nothing" they are in $ad straights" and yet they are $oun!ing %it :oy and happiness8" it is the

ta$le'

This ta$le is for the lords people" those that are truly his" it is one of proision" loe and

indi!ation" and in the ery presen!e of your enemies" they !an not tou!h you" they !an not do athing" $e!ause the lord is there as prote!tor" he is looing oer his sheep' ;oles may eye you" $ut

they are silen!ed lie a lam$'

,ie &aniel in the lions den" the angle of the lord" !losed the lions mouth" it is the same %hen %eare $lessed in the presen!e of those %ho mar our steps" %ant us to fall and the ones that say" B

and you !all your self a Christian" loo at %hat you said" did" et!'B" %ell that may $e true" $ut in

this pla!e our soul is restored" %e are made ne%'

;hen you are $orn again you are 100 ne% in esus' 9 are a ne% !reation all things are past"

forgotten $y our lord" man does not forget" $ut our lord does" and he $lesses us" and it !onfounds"and !loses the mouth of human lions to this day amen'

thou anointest my head %ith oil. my !up runneth oer'

F(+

Psalms 23+5-6

Another figure expresses ods proided !are'

a ta$le Q or" ?food"@ anointing

oil Q the sym$ol of gladness" and the oerflo%ing

!up Q %hi!h represents a$undan!e - are prepared for the !hild of od" %ho may feast in spite of

his enemies" !onfident that this faor %ill eer attend him' This $eautiful Psalm most admira$lysets $efore us" in its !hief figure" that of a shepherd" the gentle" ind" and sure !are extended to

ods people" %ho" as a shepherd" $oth rules and feeds them' The !losing erse sho%s that the

$lessings mentioned are spiritual'

;esley+

Psalms 23+5

A ta$le - Thou furnishest me %ith plenty of proisions and !omforts' il - ;ith aromati!

ointments" %hi!h %ere then used at great feasts. thy !omforts delight my soul' Runneth oer -

Thou hast gien me a plentiful portions" signified $y the !up" gien to the guests $y the master ofthe feast'

Clare+






Psalms 23+5

Thou preparest a ta$le $efore me - ere the se!ond allegory $egins' A magnifi!ent $anDuet is

proided $y a most li$eral and $eneolent host. %ho has not only the $ounty to feed me" $utpo%er to prote!t me. and" though surrounded $y enemies" # sit do%n to this ta$le %ith

!onfiden!e" no%ing that # shall feast in perfe!t se!urity' This may refer to the faor od gaethe poor !aptie #sraelites in the sight of the Chaldeans %ho had grieously treated them for

seenty years. and %hose ing" Cyrus" had not only permitted them no% to return to their o%n

land" $ut had also furnished them %ith eery thing reDuisite for their passage" and for repairing

the %alls of erusalem" and re$uilding the temple of the ,ord" %here the sa!rifi!es %ere offeredas usual" and the people of od feasted on them'

Thou anointest my head %ith oil - Perfumed oil %as poured on the heads of distinguished guests"%hen at the feasts of great personages' The %oman in the ospel" %ho poured the $ox of

ointment of spienard on the head of our ,ord Esee *at26+6" *at26+7. *ar14+/. ,u7+46"

only a!ted a!!ording to the !ustom of her o%n !ountry" %hi!h the host" %ho inited our ,ord" hadshamefully negle!ted'

*y !up runneth oer - Thou hast not only gien me a$undan!e of food" $ut hast filled my !up

%ith the $est %ine'

The lord has gien us life and life more a$undantly" this does not mean %e do not suffer" get si!"

that is the %ord of faith do!trine" %e !an8t name something" !laim something" spea the !reatie%ord and mae something happen" only our lord !an do that" man !an not !reate" only od" %e

!an hae Children the only a!t of Pro-!reation" $ut %e had to $e !reated $y od to een pro-

!reate' ;e !an $uild things" mae things" !reate %ors of art" $ut !reation" out of nothing" onlyour lord !an do this and he is ery good at %hat he does" loo up at the stars and see %hat he !an

do'

#n e$re% Runeth er means+

7310

רוי

JUKVKMre-a%-ya%8

From 7301. satisfa!tion+ - runneth oer" %ealthy'

The %ord %ealth again lie many 'T' erses must $e understood" man has !orrupted the truth

of the >'T' the ingdom of od in the 'T' %as %ithout" hen!e there %as real %arfare" and

prosperity %as a sign of the lords faor" the >'T' it is the ingdom of od %ithin" no% it is

spiritual %arfare" for the %eapons of our %arfare are not !arnal E uman $ut mighty" to thepulling do%n of string holds" it is no% spirit %ar" inner %ar' Prosperity is not taught in the >'T'

the 'T" is %hat prosperity tea!hers t%ist" faith" $eliee and the %orld is yours" may$e you hae

$een exposed to this" some may $eliee this" are you %ealthy" are you neer si!" you do not haeenough faith that8s %hat your taught'






The lord esus %as poor" Paul %as" the Apostles %ere" early Chur!h history tea!hes us all the

odly saints %ere poor" many in poerty" this is the >'T' our ri!hes are in heaen not earth'

This does not mean the lord does not $less us" it is spiritual $lessing" there are some %ho are ri!hthat $e!ome saed" $ut esus said" the poor gladly re!eie him" the ri!h rarely do" they are self

suffi!ient and loo at Poor Christians as %ea" it taes a real man and a real %omen to $e a realChristian'

Read Fox8s (oo f *artyrsB Siler and gold hae # none" %hat # hae # gie to you" rise and $e

healed" %ere they ri!h" no" $lessed yes'

There is an old story # on!e read'

A !ardinal -priest !ame to see the pope" the pope %as sitting and !ounting all the gold in front ofhim" the Pope said" B ,oo my $rother" no longer does the Chur!h hae to say" siler and gold

hae %e none" loo at it all8" the priest said" B yes" true holy father" $ut neither !an the !hur!h say

anymore" rise and $e healedB great story'

Satisfa!tion is the e$re% render in this passage any%ay" the lord satisfies me the most %ith his

presen!e" %hen it !omes in prayer and %orship the spirit falls and the lord !omes lit do%n" #

%ould not trade that for anything in the %orld' The pea!e that surpasses all understanding" this!an not $e $ought %ith siler or old" Simon the sor!erer tried it and he %as $linded $y the

po%er of od" and sharply re$ued' 9ou !an not $uy the anointing" you !an not %rite a !he!

and expe!t the lord %ill gie you 100 $a! on it" this is all false" it is %hy many are !oming outof su!h tea!hings" they no% the only one liing in %ealth is the leader sealing the $oos and

raping the sheep for all the money they hae'

Satisfa!tion is a guarantee %ith esus" Peter said" ,ord you alone hae the %ords of eternal life"

first he said" to %ho shall %e go" so %e go to esus" %e do not see esus" od" the oly Spirit" $ut

%e feel him" %e no% %hen he is there" %e no% it" taste and S)) that the lord is good" %e dosere a good od" %e are gien all our needs" $ut not al%ays our %ants" this is the se!ret of

!ontentment that must $e learned it has great gain' odliness %ith !ontentment is great gain'

Psa 23+6 Surely goodness and mer!y shall follo% me all the days of my life+ and # %ill d%ell in thehouse of the ,R& for eer'

Clare+

Psalms 23+6

oodness and mer!y shall follo% me - As # pass on through the ale of life" thy goodness and

mer!y shall follo% my eery step. as # pro!eed" so shall they' There seems to $e an allusion here to

the %aters of the ro! smitten $y the rod of *oses" %hi!h follo%ed the #sraelites all the %ay

through the %ilderness" till they !ame to the Promised ,and' od neer leaes his true follo%ersproidential mer!ies gra!ious influen!es" and mira!ulous interferen!es" shall neer $e %anting

%hen they are ne!essary' # %ill d%ell in the house" ושב esha$ti" ?and # shall Return to the






house of the ,ord"@ for eer" לארך מ ם leore!h yamim" ?for length of days'@ &uring the rest of

my life" # shall not $e separated from ods house" nor from ods ordinan!es. and shall at lastd%ell %ith him in glory' These t%o last erses seem to $e the language of a priest returned from

!aptiity to lie in the temple" and to sere od the rest of his life'

(arnes+

Psalms 23+6

Surely goodness and mer!y shall follo% me - od %ill $esto% them upon me' This is the ?result@

of %hat is stated in the preious erses' The effe!t of ods mer!iful dealings %ith him had $een

to lead his mind to the assuran!e that od %ould al%ays $e his shepherd and friend. that e%ould neer leae him to %ant'

All the days of my life - Through all its !hanges. in eery ariety of situation. until # rea!h its

!lose' ,ife indeed %ould end" and he does not enture to !on:e!ture %hen that %ould $e. $ut aslong as life should !ontinue" he felt !onfidently assured that eerything needful for him %ould $e

$esto%ed upon him' The language is the utteran!e of a heart oerflo%ing %ith :oy and gratitude

in the re!olle!tion of the past" and full of glad anti!ipation Eas deried from the experien!e of thepast in regard to the future'

And # %ill d%ell in the house of the ,ord for eer - *argin" as in e$re%+ ?to length of days'@The expression" # thin" does not refer to eternity or to heaen" $ut it is parallel %ith the former

expression ?All the days of my life.@ that is" he %ould d%ell in the house of the ,ord as long as he

lied - %ith the idea added here" %hi!h %as not in the former mem$er of the senten!e" that his life%ould $e long" or that he hoped and anti!ipated that he %ould lie long on the earth' The phrase

used here" ?# %ill d%ell in the house of the ,ord"@ is one that is seeral times employed in thePsalms as indi!atie of the %ish of the psalmist' Thus" in Psa27+4" ?ne thing hae # desired of

the ,ord" that %ill # see after. that # may d%ell in the house of the ,ord all the days of my life'@Psa26+/" ?lord" # hae loed the ha$itation of thy house" and the pla!e %here thine honor

d%elleth'@ Psa65+4" ?$lessed is the man %hom thou !hoosest" and !ausest to approa!h unto thee"

that he may d%ell in thy !ourts'@

Psa/4+4" ?$lessed are they that d%ell in thy house'@ ECompare also Psa/7+1" Psa/7+3"10' The

?language@ here is o$iously taen from the employment of those %ho had their ha$itation nearthe ta$erna!le" and after%ard the temple" %hose $usiness it %as to attend !onstantly on the

seri!e of od" and to minister in his !ourts' ;e are not to suppose of &aid that he anti!ipated

su!h a residen!e in or near the ta$erna!le or the house of od. $ut the meaning is" that heanti!ipated and desired a life as if he d%elt there" and as if he %as !onstantly engaged in holy

o!!upations' is life %ould $e spent as if in the !onstant seri!e of od. his :oy and pea!e in

religion %ould $e as if he %ere al%ays %ithin the immediate d%elling-pla!e of the *ost igh'

This expresses the desire of a true !hild of od' e %ishes to lie as if he %ere al%ays engaged in

solemn a!ts of %orship" and o!!upied in holy things. he desires pea!e and :oy in religion as if he

%ere !onstantly in the pla!e %here od maes his a$ode" and allo%ed to partae of his smilesand friendship' #n a ery important sense it is his priilege so to lie een on earth. it %ill






!ertainly $e his priilege so to lie in heaen+ and" full of grateful exultation and :oy" eery !hildof od may adopt this language as his o%n" and say !onfidently" ?oodness and mer!y %ill follo%

me all the days of my life here" and # shall d%ell in the house of the ,ord foreer"@ for heaen"

%here od d%ells" %ill $e his eternal home'

*er!y" is a $ig ey" mer!y" do a %ord study :ust o that %ord it is amaGing'

oodness #n e$re% means+

2/6

טוב

WXYZto$e

From 2/5. good Eas an ad:e!tie in the %idest sense. used lie%ise as a noun" $oth in the

mas!uline and the feminine" the singular and the plural Egood" a good or good thing" a good man

or %oman. the good" goods or good things" good men or %omen" also as an ader$ E%ell+ -$eautiful" $est" $etter" $ountiful" !heerful" at ease" [ fair E%ord" E$e in faour" fine" glad" good

Edeed" -lier" liest" -ly" -ness" -s" gra!iously" :oyful" indly" indness" lieth E$est" loing" merry" [

most" pleasant" \ pleaseth" pleasure" pre!ious" prosperity" ready" s%eet" %ealth" %elfare" E$e %ellEN-faouredO'

2/5

טוב

WXYZ

to$e

A primitie root" to $e Etransitiely do or mae good Eor %ell in the %idest sense+ - $e Edo$etter" !heer" $e Edo" seem good" Emae" goodly" [ please" E$e" do" go" play %ell'

To $e of good !heer" to $e in a state of pea!e" goodness is the lords faor" gra!e" %e do not desereit" $ut the $lood of esus has made us at pea!e %ith our lord' Pea!e" :oy" !ontentment" happy"

$lessed" satisfied" these are the attri$utes you !an hae een in hard times" no matter %hat"

goodness and mer!y follo% us as long as %e follo% #*'

*er!y in e$re% means+

2617

חסד]M^_^`

heh8-sed

From 2616. indness. $y impli!ation Eto%ards od piety. rarely E$y oppro$rium reproof" orEsu$:e!tiely $eauty+ - faour" good deed E-liness" -ness" indly" Eloing- indness" mer!iful

Eindness" mer!y" pity" reproa!h" %i!ed thing'

2616

חסד






]MK_`ha%-sad8

A primitie root. properly perhaps to $o% Ethe ne! only E!ompare 2603 in !ourtesy to an

eDual" that is" to $e ind. also E$y euphemism E!ompare 12//" $ut rarely to reproe+ - she%

self mer!iful" put to shame'

2603

חנן

]MKbbha%-nan8

A primitie root E!ompare 25/3. properly to $end or stoop in indness to an inferior. to faor"

$esto%. !ausatiely to implore Ethat is" moe to faor $y petition+ - $esee!h" [ fair" E$e" find"she% faour E-a$le" $e Edeal" gie" grant Egra!ious E-ly" intreat" E$e mer!iful" hae Eshe% mer!y

Eon" upon" hae pity upon" pray" mae suppli!ation" [ ery'

;e$sters first edition di!tionary says mer!y is+

*er!y

*)R8C9" n' N,' miseri!ordia'O

1' That $eneolen!e" mildness or tenderness of heart %hi!h disposes a person to oerloo in:uries"

or to treat an offender $etter than he deseres. the disposition that tempers :usti!e" and indu!esan in:ured person to forgie trespasses and in:uries" and to for$ear punishment" or infli!t less

than la% or :usti!e %ill %arrant' #n this sense" there is perhaps no %ord in our language pre!isely

synonymous %ith mer!y' That %hi!h !omes nearest to it is gra!e' #t implies $eneolen!e"tenderness" mildness" pity or !ompassion" and !lemen!y" $ut exer!ised only to%ards offenders'

*er!y is a distinguishing attri$ute of the Supreme (eing'

The ,ord is long-suffering and of great mer!y" forgiing iniDuity and transgression" and $y nomeans !learing the guilty' >um 14'

2' An a!t or exer!ise of mer!y or faor' #t is a mer!y that they es!aped'

# am not %orthy of the least of all thy mer!ies' en 32'

3' Pity. !ompassion manifested to%ards a person in distress'

And he said" he that sho%ed mer!y on him' ,ue 10'

4' Clemen!y and $ounty'

*er!y and truth presere the ing. and his throne is upheld $y mer!y' Pro 2/'

5' Charity" or the duties of !harity and $eneolen!e'

# %ill hae mer!y and not sa!rifi!e' *at '






6' ra!e. faor' 1 Cor 7' ude 2'

7' )ternal life" the fruit of mer!y' 2 Tim 1'

/' Pardon'

# !ry thee mer!y %ith all my heart'

' The a!t of sparing" or the for$earan!e of a iolent a!t expe!ted' The prisoner !ried for mer!y'

To $e or to lie at the mer!y of" to hae no means of self-defense" $ut to $e dependent for safety on

the mer!y or !ompassion of another" or in the po%er of that %hi!h is irresisti$le. as" to $e at the

mer!y of a foe" or of the %aes'

9ou reader" !an dig deeper into these %ord studies" # hope you learned ho% to put together a train

of thought and see ho% %ord studies" and little $oos are put together" using the %ord" your%ords" !ommentaries" di!tionaries" our $i$le helps' # hope you learned something and are

en!ouraged $y the deep truth of this short exposition on the grandest of all Ps- 23" may the lord

$less you and eep you" >o matter %hat your fa!ing" $eloed you %ill mae it" and you %ill rea!h

out to others in that alley' ;hat a loing present Shepherd %e hae" 8# %ill neer leae you" norforsae you8" %e hae ess %ord on it'



Psalms 23 A Devotin Commentray and a message

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Transcript of Psalms 23 A Devotin Commentray and a message