mh_parser/vol_split/19 - Psalms/Chapter 23.xml

<div2 id="Ps.xxiv" n="xxiv" next="Ps.xxv" prev="Ps.xxiii" progress="28.92%" title="Chapter XXIII">
<h2 id="Ps.xxiv-p0.1">P S A L M S</h2>
<h3 id="Ps.xxiv-p0.2">PSALM XXIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ps.xxiv-p1">Many of David's psalms are full of complaints, but
this is full of comforts, and the expressions of delight in God's
great goodness and dependence upon him. It is a psalm which has
been sung by good Christians, and will be while the world stands,
with a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. I. The psalmist
here claims relation to God, as his shepherd, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.1" parsed="|Ps|23|1|0|0" passage="Ps 23:1">ver. 1</scripRef>. II. He recounts his experience of the
kind things God had done for him as his shepherd, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.2-Ps.23.3 Bible:Ps.23.5" parsed="|Ps|23|2|23|3;|Ps|23|5|0|0" passage="Ps 23:2,3,5">ver. 2, 3, 5</scripRef>. III. Hence he infers
that he should want no good (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.1" parsed="|Ps|23|1|0|0" passage="Ps 23:1">ver.
1</scripRef>), that he needed to fear no evil (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.4" parsed="|Ps|23|4|0|0" passage="Ps 23:4">ver. 4</scripRef>), that God would never leave nor
forsake him in a way of mercy; and therefore he resolves never to
leave nor forsake God in a way of duty, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.6" parsed="|Ps|23|6|0|0" passage="Ps 23:6">ver. 6</scripRef>. In this he had certainly an eye, not
only to the blessings of God's providence, which made his outward
condition prosperous, but to the communications of God's grace,
received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which
filled his soul with joy unspeakable. And, as in the foregoing
psalm he represented Christ dying for his sheep, so here he
represents Christians receiving the benefit of all the care and
tenderness of that great and good shepherd.</p>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxiv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23" parsed="|Ps|23|0|0|0" passage="Ps 23" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ps.xxiv-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.1-Ps.23.6" parsed="|Ps|23|1|23|6" passage="Ps 23:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Ps.23.1-Ps.23.6">
<h4 id="Ps.xxiv-p1.8">The Divine Shepherd.</h4>
<div class="Center" id="Ps.xxiv-p1.9">
<p id="Ps.xxiv-p2">A psalm of David.</p>
</div>
<p class="passage" id="Ps.xxiv-p3">1 The <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxiv-p3.1">Lord</span>
<i>is</i> my shepherd; I shall not want.   2 He maketh me to
lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
  3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of
righteousness for his name's sake.   4 Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for
thou <i>art</i> with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
  5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
  6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of
my life: and I will dwell in the house of the <span class="smallcaps" id="Ps.xxiv-p3.2">Lord</span> for ever.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p4">From three very comfortable premises David,
in this psalm, draws three very comfortable conclusions, and
teaches us to do so too. We are saved by hope, and that hope will
not make us ashamed, because it is well grounded. It is the duty of
Christians to encourage themselves in the Lord their God; and we
are here directed to take that encouragement both from the relation
wherein he stands to us and from the experience we have had of his
goodness according to that relation.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p5">I. From God's being his shepherd he infers
that he shall not want anything that is good for him, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.1" parsed="|Ps|23|1|0|0" passage="Ps 23:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. See here, 1. The great
care that God takes of believers. He is their shepherd, and they
may call him so. Time was when David was himself a shepherd; he was
taken from following the ewes great with young (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.78.70-Ps.78.71" parsed="|Ps|78|70|78|71" passage="Ps 78:70,71">Ps. lxxviii. 70, 71</scripRef>), and so he knew by
experience the cares and tender affections of a good shepherd
towards his flock. He remembered what need they had of a shepherd,
and what a kindness it was to them to have one that was skilful and
faithful; he once ventured his life to rescue a lamb. By this
therefore he illustrates God's care of his people; and to this our
Saviour seems to refer when he says, <i>I am the shepherd of the
sheep; the good shepherd,</i> <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:John.10.11" parsed="|John|10|11|0|0" passage="Joh 10:11">John x.
11</scripRef>. He that is the shepherd of Israel, of the whole
church in general (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p5.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.80.1" parsed="|Ps|80|1|0|0" passage="Ps 80:1">Ps. lxxx.
1</scripRef>), is the shepherd of every particular believer; the
meanest is not below his cognizance, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p5.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.40.11" parsed="|Isa|40|11|0|0" passage="Isa 40:11">Isa. xl. 11</scripRef>. He takes them into his fold,
and then takes care of them, protects them, and provides for them,
with more care and constancy than a shepherd can, that makes it his
business to keep the flock. If God be as a shepherd to us, we must
be as sheep, inoffensive, meek, and quiet, silent before the
shearers, nay, and before the butcher too, useful and sociable; we
must know the shepherd's voice, and follow him. 2. The great
confidence which believers have in God: "If the Lord is my
shepherd, my feeder, I may conclude I shall not want any thing that
is really necessary and good for me." If David penned this psalm
before his coming to the crown, though destined to it, he had as
much reason to fear wanting as any man. Once he sent his men a
begging for him to Nabal, and another time went himself a begging
to Ahimelech; and yet, when he considers that God is his shepherd,
he can boldly say, <i>I shall not want.</i> Let not those fear
starving that are at God's finding and have him for their feeder.
More is implied than is expressed, not only, <i>I shall not
want,</i> but, "I shall be supplied with whatever I need; and, if I
have not every thing I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit
for me or not good for me or I shall have it in due time."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p6">II. From his performing the office of a
good shepherd to him he infers that he needs not fear any evil in
the greatest dangers and difficulties he could be in, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.2-Ps.23.4" parsed="|Ps|23|2|23|4" passage="Ps 23:2-4"><i>v.</i> 2-4</scripRef>. He experiences the
benefit of God's presence with him and care of him now, and
therefore expects the benefit of them when he most needs it. See
here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p7">1. The comforts of a living saint. God is
his shepherd and his God—a God all-sufficient to all intents and
purposes. David found him so, and so have we. See the happiness of
the saints as the sheep of God's pasture. (1.) They are well
placed, well laid: <i>He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures.</i> We have the supports and comforts of this life from
God's good hand, our daily bread from him as our Father. The
greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who
relishes that only in it which pleases the senses; but to a godly
man, who tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, and by
faith relishes that, though he has but little of the world, it is a
green pasture, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.37.16 Bible:Prov.15.16-Prov.15.17" parsed="|Ps|37|16|0|0;|Prov|15|16|15|17" passage="Ps 37:16,Pr 15:16,17">Ps. xxxvii.
16; Prov. xv. 16, 17</scripRef>. God's ordinances are the green
pastures in which food is provided for all believers; the word of
life is the nourishment of the new man. It is milk for babes,
pasture for sheep, never barren, never eaten bare, never parched,
but always a green pasture for faith to feed in. God makes his
saints to lie down; he gives them quiet and contentment in their
own minds, what ever their lot is; their souls dwell at ease in
him, and that makes every pasture green. Are we blessed with the
green pastures of the ordinances? Let us not think it enough to
pass through them, but let us lie down in them, abide in them; this
is my rest for ever. It is by a constancy of the means of grace
that the soul is fed. (2.) They are well guided, well led. The
shepherd of Israel guides Joseph like a flock; and every believer
is under the same guidance: <i>He leadeth me beside the still
waters.</i> Those that feed on God's goodness must follow his
direction; he leads them by his providence, by his word, by his
Spirit, disposes of their affairs for the best, according to his
counsel, disposes their affections and actions according to his
command, directs their eye, their way, and their heart, into his
love. The still waters by which he leads them yield them, not only
a pleasant prospect, but many a cooling draught, many a reviving
cordial, when they are thirsty and weary. God provides for his
people not only food and rest, but refreshment also and pleasure.
The consolations of God, the joys of the Holy Ghost, are these
still waters, by which the saints are led, streams which flow from
the fountain of living waters and make glad the city of our God.
God leads his people, not to the standing waters which corrupt and
gather filth, not to the troubled sea, nor to the rapid rolling
floods, but to the silent purling waters; for the still but running
waters agree best with those spirits that flow out towards God and
yet do it silently. The divine guidance they are under is stripped
of its metaphor (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.3" parsed="|Ps|23|3|0|0" passage="Ps 23:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>): <i>He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness,</i>
in the way of my duty; in that he instructs me by his word and
directs me by conscience and providence. Theses are the paths in
which all the saints desire to be led and kept, and never to turn
aside out of them. And those only are led by the still waters of
comfort that walk in the paths of righteousness. The way of duty is
the truly pleasant way. It is the work of righteousness that is
peace. In these paths we cannot walk unless God both lead us into
them and lead us in them. (3.) They are well helped when any thing
ails them: <i>He restoreth my soul.</i> [1.] "He restores me when I
wander." No creature will lose itself sooner than a sheep, so apt
is it to go astray, and then so unapt to find the way back. The
best saints are sensible of their proneness to <i>go astray like
lost sheep</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.176" parsed="|Ps|119|176|0|0" passage="Ps 119:176">Ps. cxix.
176</scripRef>); they miss their way, and turn aside into by-paths;
but when God shows them their error, gives them repentance, and
brings them back to their duty again, he restores the soul; and, if
he did not do so, they would wander endlessly and be undone. When,
after one sin, David's heart smote him, and, after another, Nathan
was sent to tell him, <i>Thou art the man,</i> God restored his
soul. Though God may suffer his people to fall into sin, he will
not suffer them to lie still in it. [2.] "He recovers me when I am
sick, and revives me when I am faint, and so restores the soul
which was ready to depart." He is the Lord our God that heals us,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.15.26" parsed="|Exod|15|26|0|0" passage="Ex 15:26">Exod. xv. 26</scripRef>. Many a time
we should have fainted unless we had believed; and it was the good
shepherd that kept us from fainting.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p8">2. See here the courage of a dying saint
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.4" parsed="|Ps|23|4|0|0" passage="Ps 23:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>): "Having had
such experience of God's goodness to me all my days, in six
troubles and in seven, I will never distrust him, no, not in the
last extremity; the rather because all he has done for me hitherto
was not for any merit or desert of mine, but purely for his name's
sake, in pursuance of his word, in performance of his promise, and
for the glory of his own attributes and relations to his people.
That name therefore shall still be my strong tower, and shall
assure me that he who has led me, and fed me, all my life long,
will not leave me at last." Here is,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p9">(1.) Imminent danger supposed: "<i>Though I
walk through the valley of the shadow of death,</i> that is, though
I am in peril of death, though in the midst of dangers, deep as a
valley, dark as a shadow, and dreadful as death itself," or rather,
"though I am under the arrests of death, have received the sentence
of death within myself, and have all the reason in the world to
look upon myself as a dying man, yet I am easy." Those that are
sick, those that are old, have reason to look upon themselves as in
the valley of the shadow of death. Here is one word indeed which
sounds terrible; it is <i>death,</i> which we must all count upon;
<i>there is no discharge in that war.</i> But, even in the
supposition of the distress, there are four words which lessen the
terror:—It is death indeed that is before us; but, [1.] It is but
the <i>shadow</i> of death; there is no substantial evil in it; the
shadow of a serpent will not sting nor the shadow of a sword kill.
[2.] It is the <i>valley</i> of the shadow, deep indeed, and dark,
and dirty; but the valleys are fruitful, and so is death itself
fruitful of comforts to God's people. [3.] It is but a <i>walk</i>
in this valley, a gentle pleasant walk. The wicked are chased out
of the world, and their souls are required; but the saints take a
walk to another world as cheerfully as they take their leave of
this. [4.] It is a walk <i>through</i> it; they shall not be lost
in this valley, but get safely to the mountain of spices on the
other side of it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p10">(2.) This danger made light of, and
triumphed over, upon good grounds. Death is a king of terrors, but
not to the sheep of Christ; they tremble at it no more than sheep
do that are appointed for the slaughter. "Even in <i>the valley of
the shadow of death I will fear no evil. None of these things move
me.</i>" Note, A child of God may meet the messengers of death, and
receive its summons with a holy security and serenity of mind. The
sucking child may play upon the hole of this asp; and the weaned
child, that, through grace, is weaned from this world, may put his
hand upon this cockatrice's den, bidding a holy defiance to death,
as Paul, <i>O death! where is thy sting?</i> And there is ground
enough for this confidence, [1.] Because there is no evil in it to
a child of God; death cannot separate us from the love of God, and
therefore it can do us no real harm; it kills the body, but cannot
touch the soul. Why should it be dreadful when there is nothing in
it hurtful? [2.] Because the saints have God's gracious presence
with them in their dying moments; he is then at their right hand,
and therefore why should they be moved? The good shepherd will not
only conduct, but convoy, his sheep through the valley, where they
are in danger of being set upon by the beasts of prey, the ravening
wolves; he will not only convoy them, but comfort then when they
most need comfort. His presence shall comfort them: <i>Thou art
with me.</i> His word and Spirit shall comfort them—<i>his rod and
staff,</i> alluding to the shepherd's crook, or the rod under which
the sheep passed when they were counted (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Lev.27.32" parsed="|Lev|27|32|0|0" passage="Le 27:32">Lev. xxvii. 32</scripRef>), or the staff with which the
shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the
sheep. It is a comfort to the saints, when they come to die, that
God takes cognizance of them (<i>he knows those that are his</i>),
that he will rebuke the enemy, that he will guide them with his rod
and sustain them with his staff. The gospel is called <i>the rod of
Christ's strength</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.110.2" parsed="|Ps|110|2|0|0" passage="Ps 110:2">Ps. cx.
2</scripRef>), and there is enough in that to comfort the saints
when they come to die, and <i>underneath</i> them are <i>the
everlasting arms.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p11">III. From the good gifts of God's bounty to
him now he infers the constancy and perpetuity of his mercy,
<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.5-Ps.23.6" parsed="|Ps|23|5|23|6" passage="Ps 23:5,6"><i>v.</i> 5, 6</scripRef>. Here we
may observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p12">1. How highly he magnifies God's gracious
vouchsafements to him (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.5" parsed="|Ps|23|5|0|0" passage="Ps 23:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>): "<i>Thou preparest a table before me;</i> thou hast
provided for me all things pertaining both to life and godliness,
all things requisite both for body and soul, for time and
eternity:" such a bountiful benefactor is God to all his people;
and it becomes them abundantly to utter his great goodness, as
David here, who acknowledges, (1.) That he had food convenient, a
table spread, a cup filled, meat for his hunger, drink for his
thirst. (2.) That he had it carefully and readily provided for him.
His table was not spread with any thing that came next to hand, but
prepared, and prepared <i>before him.</i> (3.) That he was not
stinted, was not straitened, but had abundance: "<i>My cup runs
over,</i> enough for myself and my friends too." (4.) That he had
not only for necessity, but for ornament and delight: <i>Thou
anointest my head with oil.</i> Samuel anointed him king, which was
a certain pledge of further favor; but this is rather an instance
of the plenty with which God had blessed him, or an allusion to the
extraordinary entertainment of special friends, whose heads they
anointed with oil, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Luke.7.46" parsed="|Luke|7|46|0|0" passage="Lu 7:46">Luke vii.
46</scripRef>. Nay, some think he still looks upon himself as a
sheep, but such a one as the <i>poor man's ewe-lamb</i> (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:2Sam.12.3" parsed="|2Sam|12|3|0|0" passage="2Sa 12:3">2 Sam. xii. 3</scripRef>), that did eat of his
own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom; not only
thus nobly, but thus tenderly, are the children of God looked
after. Plentiful provision is made for their bodies, for their
souls, for the life that now is and for that which is to come. If
Providence do not bestow upon us thus plentifully for our natural
life, it is our own fault if it be not made up to us in spiritual
blessings.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p13">2. How confidently he counts upon the
continuance of God's favours, <scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.6" parsed="|Ps|23|6|0|0" passage="Ps 23:6"><i>v.</i>
6</scripRef>. He had said (<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.23.1" parsed="|Ps|23|1|0|0" passage="Ps 23:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>), <i>I shall not want;</i> but now he speaks more
positively, more comprehensively: <i>Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life.</i> His hope rises, and
his faith is strengthened, by being exercised. Observe, (1.) What
he promises himself—goodness and mercy, all the streams of mercy
flowing from the fountain, pardoning mercy, protecting mercy,
sustaining mercy, supplying mercy. (2.) The manner of the
conveyance of it: It shall <i>follow</i> me, as the water out of
the rock followed the camp of Israel through the wilderness; it
shall follow into all places and all conditions, shall be always
ready. (3.) The continuance of it: It shall follow me <i>all my
life long,</i> even to the last; for whom God loves he loves to the
end. (4.) The constancy of it: <i>All the days of my life,</i> as
duly as the day comes; it shall be <i>new every morning</i>
(<scripRef id="Ps.xxiv-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Lam.3.22-Lam.3.23" parsed="|Lam|3|22|3|23" passage="La 3:22,23">Lam. iii. 22, 23</scripRef>) like
the manna that was given to the Israelites daily. (5.) The
certainty of it: <i>Surely</i> it shall. It is as sure as the
promise of the God of truth can make it; and we know whom we have
believed. (6.) Here is a prospect of the perfection of bliss in the
future state. So some take the latter clause: "Goodness and mercy
having followed me all the days of my life on this earth, when that
is ended I shall remove to a better world, to <i>dwell in the house
of the Lord for ever,</i> in our Father's house above, where there
are many mansions. <i>With what I have I am pleased much; with what
I hope for I am pleased more.</i>" All this, and heaven too! Then
we serve a good Master.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ps.xxiv-p14">3. How resolutely he determines to cleave
to God and to his duty. We read the last clause as David's covenant
with God: "<i>I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever</i>
(as long as I live), and I will praise him while I have any being."
We must dwell in his house as servants, that desired to have their
ears bored to the door-post, to serve him for ever. If God's
goodness to us be like the morning light, which shines more and
more to the perfect day, let not ours to him be like the morning
cloud and the early dew that passeth away. Those that would be
satisfied with the fatness of God's house must keep close to the
duties of it.</p>
</div></div2>