Bible Studies

Understanding the 23rd Psalm

by John Tyler
06/22/15
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Psalm 23 - What does it mean?

I have to take the King James Version of the 23rd Psalm to break down each paragraph because other versions may not translate as well.

1 - "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

David is telling us that because God is the one leading him (as Jesus said that He is also the 'good shepherd who leads His sheep'), he (or we) shall not suffer for lack of provision. Jesus declares in Matthew 6:33, "If you seek first the kingdom of heaven - God will provide all of your 'Daily Bread Needs".

God will supply all that we need, and He spelled out what those NEEDS are in Matthew 6....Food, clothing, shelter...necessities.

How do we seek the 'Kingdom of Heaven"?

The only way to get into heaven, God says, is through forgiveness and through the blood of sacrifice that His Son, Jesus made for us on the cross.

Once we "seek heaven through salvation and repentance", we are given that promise..."We shall not want".

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

David wants us to know that God is the Creator of us and the earth, and He wants us to enjoy all that He has created.

God wants us to relax - in green pastures....(meaning that He will provide us with the food that we need and the water that we need)...beside the still, quiet lakes.

Jeremiah 29:11 sums this paragraph up. "For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

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

Sometimes, God tests our spirits within to strengthen us, and to teach us - mostly patience.

Our soul is vexed when we have to go through these trials, but God promises never to test us with more than we can handle as a human.

1 Corinthians 10:13 sums ths up: "There hath no temptation (TRIAL OR TEST**) taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 

**The first time TEMPTATION is used is found in Genesia, and it means TEST or TRIAL.

Genesis 22:1 - "And it came to pass after these things, that God did **tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am."

God was TESTING Abraham to see if he would sacrifice his own son, Isaac.

Once Abraham passed the test...and proved that he TRUSTED God with all of his being, God counted it as his righteousness.

God gives us His Son's righteousness once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus exchanges our sin (on the cross) for His righteousness so that we can boldly enter into God's throne room in prayer. -God see us through the righteousness of His Son.

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."

We know that EVERY SPIRIT lives forever somewhere...either in hell or heaven.

Once we are born physically, (saved or lost), we die physically. "The soul that sins shall die" - Ezekiel 18:20. - Here, God tells us that the soul that is a sinner for life shall also die spiritually.

Jesus tells us in John 3:3, that "A man or woman must be born again (spiritually reborn through Christ) to enter the kingdom of heaven." And, in John 14:6 Jesus told us that HE is the way, the truth and the life (eternal life), and that NO MAN OR WOMAN COMES TO THE FATHER ( in heaven) unless we go through Christ."

This means that the spirits of those who trust Christ as Lord and Savior will never die, but we all pass through "the shadow of death" as we travel through this life physically.

Watch this! - - - - The "SHADOW OF DEATH" is exactly that for Christians....a shadow.

A shadow is a faint representation of something.

Eternal death is the something.  - - The shadow of eternal death is the faint representation of eternal death itself.

This is where we walk throughout our lifetime....in that shadow - or representation of eternal death, but never eternal death itself.

David is tellis us, "Although I walk (we all walk this walk)....through this 'shadow of eternal death....(which is hades and two other levels of hell... (hades is the grave, the second level of hell is where the angels are chained until the Great White Throne Judgement, and the lowest or third part of hell is the Lake of Fire).

Nobody is in that Lake of Fire yet.

After God's judgment (Revelation 20:15) - God said, "Anyone whose name was not found in the Book of Life was thrown into the Lake of Fire."

Revelation 20:14 - After the judgment of God, "Then death and Hades were thrown into the Lake of Fire.  - The Lake of Fire is the second death.

David said,  "I will fear no evil."

Why would David or us NOT fear evil?

"Because God is with him - and us, and His rod and staff (sheep prods) comfort David - and should comfort us.

We know what our destiny is - (heaven), so why would we fear evil?

Evil is actually Satan himself. - Add "D" to evil....spells out the name of evil.

God, as our Shepherd, prods us through this "valley of the shadow of death" all the way to the end (of our life) using the rod.

The staff is the one with a crook or hook on the top. That is used by shepherds to reel straying sheep back into the fold....to protect us.

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

David, as king - and PROPHET, always knew of heaven and the great banquet that God is preparing for His saints.

David tells us here that "God is preparing this great banquet in heaven...even while we face our enemies on almost a daily basis while here on the planet.

God annoints David's head (and ours) with oil and his cup and our cup runs over with God's blessings and even His training.

James told us to count TRIALS as teaching blessings.

James 1:2 tells us, "Consider it all PURE JOY, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

He said that because when we face trials, and we all will, we should count it as directly from God who loves us enough to want us to be more like Jesus....

So, God brings theses trials and tests our way to improve the "pottery" that He's molding in His hands.

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."

David (and now us) must realize that God will always be with us throughout the days of our lives....

Deuteronomy 31:6 - "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."

And, God's goodness and His mercy shall be with us throughout our life so that we can handle any problem or situation that comes our way (and they will come).....and David (now us) realized that we shall all dwell in the house of the Lord (Heaven) - how long? FOREVER.!

John Tyler, Author

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