This Psalm happens to be one of the most memorized and remains an all-time favorite chapter of the Bible. The Shepherd supplies all our needs in the presence of our enemies. He restores and heals our minds and emotions, renewing and strengthening our very lives! He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. They are contrasted with boisterous streams on the one hand, and stagnant, offensive pools on the other. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies = Thats Hope! Lets keep thinking about valleys for a moment. With God leading us, we experience peace and provision. However, one thing remained throughout the entire chapter: David trusted that God was always with him, and that he was not alone walking through life. We can rest assured in the hands of the Ruler of the Universe. Psalm 23 begins with a powerful statement of declaration by David about who God is to him. Psalm 23:1-3 ESV TheLordis myshepherd; I shall notwant. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures" -- That's splendid contentment -- plenty of rest! The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Image courtesy:Thinkstock/pamela_d_mcadams, 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 6 Truths about Jesus Coming into the World, Inspiring Mother Breaks Down after Earning Golden Buzzer with Celine Dion Hit, 7 Ways Anxiety Dominates the Christian Mind. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). StudyLght.org. Psalm 23 is one of the most dearly loved, soul-comforting passages of Scripture. Faith in the Good Shepherd does not make void His law. When we dont, its the same as choosing to be led by our selfish desires. 4. 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. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = Thats Guidance! We don't have to worry or feel alone because He is with us at all times. That means we can choose to let God lead our lives. Our soul is comprised of our mind, will, and emotions. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = Thats Discipline! Used with permission. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Shepherds use tools (rod and staff) to lead and guide their sheep. References The 22nd Psalm in the Vulgate and some Catholic bibles Come, join the TBTG Family. Hospitality included the responsibility of protection. Hebrews 13:20 ESV - Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, Revelation 7:17 ESV - For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.. I guess God led me here. In the gospel plan, works do not precede but follow rest. God wants an intimate relationship with his children. For Thou art with me = Thats Faithfulness! 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 . This article originally appeared on Revive Our Hearts and LiesYoungWomenBelieve.com. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Lets Keep in Touch Prone to wander. When we see it in our Bibles, it can be tempting to think,Oh, I know what this says already. Learn Religions. The child didnt cry or resist. A forward mail. a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =, Ambassadors For Christ Ministries International, ambassadorsforchristministriesinternational. God is always in control of what is happening, but we also have free will. David calls God a shepherd and declares that because God is his shepherd, hence he shall not lack any good thing. In one sense, this was not unusual. Still or quiet waters, represent rest, refuge, safety, and security. Psalm 23 is so important to us today because it will speak to you in the good and bad times. "Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" -- That's God's protection against the enemies! : "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.' Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. As we embody Psalm 139, we inevitably grow in our self-assurance, God-confidence, and inner contentment. The 22nd Psalm in the Vulgate and some Catholic bibles, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0a\/Understand-Psalm-23-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Understand-Psalm-23-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0a\/Understand-Psalm-23-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid1070805-v4-728px-Understand-Psalm-23-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"