Saturday, November 26, 2011

Psalm 23

Continuing with a couple of thoughts from Psalm 23:



This Psalm begins and ends with the words, “the Lord” (v. 1, 6). The psalmist does this in order to make an emphatic statement as to the main subject of the psalm - the first, last and central subject is the Lord.

The Lord here is Yahweh (English Jehovah). The name Yahweh was first disclosed to Moses in Exodus 3 and is used more than 4,000 times in the Old Testament. The name literally means “I am who I am.” It is an inexhaustible name, like its bearer. It points to God’s timelessness on the one hand and His self-sufficiency on the other (James Montgomery Boice Psalms Vol.1, pp. 207).

God is self existent and he needs nothing. He needs no wisdom because He is all-wise; He needs no power because He is all-powerful; He needs nothing. John Phillips, quoting Thomas Newberry says that the name Jehovah combines three tenses of the Hebrew verb “to be” (Exploring the Psalms Vol. 1, pp. 175).

· Yehi – he will be (future)
· Hove – being (present)
· Hahyah – he was (the past)

The Lord is Yehovah – Jehovah. He is the God who is, who was and who is to be.

There are several names for God in the Old Testament that David could have used here but did not for very good reasons. Notice what the text does and does not say.

· It does not say, “God (Elohim) is my shepherd,” for that speaks of Him as the great and mighty Creator who is separate from the world.

· Neither does it say, “The Master (Adonai) is my shepherd.” That speaks of a servant slave relationship.

· Rather, it says “The Lord (Jehovah) is my shepherd.”

Jehovah is a term of personal relationship, which implies that you can get close to Him.

The use of the name Yahweh is important for another reason. It points to His role as the covenant-making God of Israel. Look at the aspects of God's character that are found in this psalm - God's promises to us, are written into His name. 8 covenant promises are found right here in His powerful redemptive names:

1.  The compound name Jehovah-Rohi means the Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)

2. The compound name Jehovah-Jireh means the Lord will provide (Gen. 22:14) – “I shall not want.”

3. The compound name Jehovah-Shalom means the Lord our peace (Judges 6:24) – “He leads me beside still waters.”

4. The compound name Jehovah-Rophe means the Lord who heals (Exod. 15:26) – “He restores my soul.”

5. The compound name JehovahTsidkenu means the Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 33:16) – “the paths of righteousness.”

6. The compound name Jehovah-Shammah means the Lord is there (Ezek. 48:35) –“You are with me.”

7. The compound name Jehovah-Nissi means the Lord our banner (Exod. 17:15) –“before me in the presence of my enemies.”

8. The compound name Jehovah-M’Kaddesh means the Lord who sanctifies (Lev. 20:8) –“You anoint my head with oil.”

More from Psalm 23: HERE

More on the names of God: HERE 

4 comments:

  1. Loved this!! thanks for the breaking down of the names in the verses. :)

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  2. Loved singing Yahweh into our past, present and future during worship today!

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  3. God is so good for bringing this all to out attention today - through the Word...the worship...and the word (from Corky!)

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  4. I haven't listened to Corky's message yet. I was in Youth during service. I'll be listening online though. But as soon as Jamie started singing Yahweh, I said to my self, "self, Vivien will be up there soon!" :)

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