Part 3 - Psalm 23 Verse by Verse
| This Article is part of a multi-part Study Series called Psalm 23 Explained. |
As we’ve seen, Psalm 23 is a Prophetic Psalm of Israel’s King David written concerning the Lord as Israel’s “Great Shepherd” who will provide for Israel’s believing remnant during their Tribulation trials. Recall from Part 1 of this study series that Psalm 22 refers to the Lord’s 1st coming and His crucifixion and resurrection after Israel had rejected Him.
As I wrote earlier, today’s Gentile age of “the dispensation of the grace of God,” though not mentioned in the Psalms text, is implicit in the timeline of the Bible as seen in Paul’s epistles as “the Apostle to the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13). We today live in the time that is set between Psalms 22 and Psalm 23. In Psalm 23 the time of the Tribulation will have already come upon Israel. Only non-believers will have entered the Tribulation period … but many will receive and believe the Kingdom gospel preached by the 144,000 witnesses (Rev. 7 and 14) and the Two witnesses of Israel (Rev. 11:1-14).
In the time between Psalm 22 and 23 is today’s Gentile age of “the dispensation of the grace of God,” which will end with the Rapture of “the body of Christ” to heaven. The Rapture of “His body,” removing it from planet earth, simultaneously initiates the Tribulation period on earth. For we of “the body of Christ” are “not appointed to wrath” since Christ took that “wrath of God” upon Himself - for us. Paul writes;
“For God hath not appointed us [‘the members of the body of Christ’) to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9 (KJV)
So, in the wonderful words of Psalm 23 we see how that the Lord will help His believing remnant of the Nation Israel while they endure faithful in the prophesied trials of 7-year Tribulation period. Then, upon Jesus Christ’s return at the end of the Tribulation period to save these Kingdom believers, He will lead His flock into co-reigning with Him in the Millennial Kingdom on earth (Rev. 5:10, 20:6).
Thus, the words of Psalm 23 are not applicable to the members of “the church, the body of Christ” who have a different relationship and a different destiny than Israel. We have a different expectation of the Lord as to how He works in our lives by His grace according to our heavenly dispensational calling.
In Psalm 23 below we have the Lord’s words pertaining to the believing remnant of Israel during the time of “Jacob’s trouble.” Let’s now look and note key words that are in contrast with our grace age relationship.
“1 The LORD is my shepherd;”
Christ is the “Shepherd” of His flock, Israel.
Today Christ is not our “shepherd,” but rather “the head” of “the body of Christ.”
“And he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18 (KJV)
Today Christ is Our life, not our shepherd.
“When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:4)
“I shall not want.”
Today He uses “All things” (the good and the bad) to work for the eternal good.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:28-29)
“2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
Today He is working in our lives through both the good and the bad – for not all is promised to be green pastures and still waters for grace age believers of this age… but we endure by trusting Him in us.
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)
“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ [the Rapture]:” (Philippians 1:6)
“3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”
Thus, the Lord of Israel will impart His Holy Spirit to the believers of Israel and cause them to walk in His statutes’… to dwell in the land of Israel.
27 And I [The Lord] will put my spirit within you [Israel’s believers], and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. 29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you. Ezekiel 36:27-29)
Today, we of the Gentile “body of Christ” are called to exercise our liberty to ‘renew our minds’ day by day, to know and trust in the truth of Paul’s glorious mystery gospel.
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
“… But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16 (KJV)
“Let this mind [mind-set or attitude of mind] be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” (Philip. 2:5 (KJV)
As the many “Sons of God,’ we have the indwelling “Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” leading us into the revelation of the truth, which has brought us peace with God and into the way of right living.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)
“4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death [under the Anti-Christ’s rule], I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Today we have Paul’s words saying we are not appointed to the “vengeance” and “the wrath to come” of God through Anti-Christ’s evil rule and what he brings upon Israel and the whole world.
Today we have Christ IN US! (not just ‘with us’) and we are “ONE SPIRIT” with Christ’ Spirit.
“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery [secret] among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory:” (Colossians 1:27)
“But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV)
We as grace believers must learn to trust Him and how to “be anxious for nothing.”
“Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)
“5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:”
This refers to the “hidden Manna” to be provided in the Tribulation period.
“And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of ‘great tribulation,” and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)
“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” (Revelation 2:17 (KJV)
Today we are already provided for, being “blessed with all spiritual blessing in heavenly places” as a show to the fallen angelic “principalities and power” in “the heavenly places.”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath [already] blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” (Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)
thou anointest my head with oil [symbol of the Holy Spirit]; my cup runneth over.
Today we of the Gentile “body of Christ” have already been “sealed with the Spirit” of the Lord Who is ‘In Us.”
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Ephesians 1:13)
“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.”
Today we know Christ dwells IN US and that we will not dwell in Jerusalem on the ‘new earth,’ but rather we will dwell “eternal in the heavens” in the service of the Lord, co-reigning with Him in “the heavenly places” (Ephesians 1:3, 20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12, 2Tim. 2:12).
“For we know that if our earthly house [our physical body] of this tabernacle were dissolved [decayed in the grave], we have a building of God, an house [a new spirit-body] not made with hands, Eternal In The Heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:6 (KJV)
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
“If we suffer [endure faithful], we shall also reign with him: …” (2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV)