The Shepherd's Shepherd
The Shepherd's Shepherd • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 3 viewsNotes
Transcript
יהוה
A Psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
1 Yahweh is my shepherd; I will not lack for anything.
I. The Shepherd's provisions prepare His him! Psalm 23:1-2
I. The Shepherd's provisions prepare His him! Psalm 23:1-2
The mother of a young boy who was dying of cancer taught him the Twenty-third Psalm, having him repeat “the Lord is my shepherd” by counting these five words with his fingers starting with his thumb. His ring finger was the word “my.” When he got to that word, his mother taught him to hold that finger in his fist, symbolizing the personal relationship which Jesus had for him. When the boy died, he was found holding his ring finger. He died in the shepherd’s arms. All of us must come to the place where we can say that the Lord is “my shepherd.”
The greenness revitalizes (Word)
The stillness refreshes (Spirit)
Restoration
Righteousness
One of the most helpful books on Psalm 23 was written by a former shepherd named Phillip Keller. Keller explains that sheep will not lie down unless four conditions are met.
They must be free from fear of predators. They must be free from friction with other sheep. They must be free from flies and other pests.
They must be free from famine.
Only then are they able to rest.
Perhaps the most basic of theological promises is the assurance “I am with you.” This is the promise God offered Jacob (Gen. 28:15). It is the word of assurance God proclaimed to the young Jeremiah (Jer. 1:8, 19), which he in turn passed on to the people of Judah (15:20; 30:11; 42:11; 46:28). It is the promise that the Lord spoke to the exiles through the anonymous prophet known as Second Isaiah (Isa. 41:10; 43:5). It is the heart of the message that Haggai announced to those who had returned from exile (Hag. 1:13; 2:4). And it was the promise that fueled the early church for perseverance and mission (Matt. 28:20; Col. 2:5; Acts 18:10). According to some scholars, this promise formed the basis of the so-called oracle of salvation, in which a priest spoke a word of assurance to a supplicant in distress.18
II. The Shepherd's presence protects him! Psalm 23:3-4
II. The Shepherd's presence protects him! Psalm 23:3-4
His presence gives confidence to the sheep!
I will fear no evil!
His presence gives comfort to the sheep!
Thy rod and staff comfort me!
III. The Shepherd's performance promotes him! Psalm 23:5
III. The Shepherd's performance promotes him! Psalm 23:5
He prepares a feast for him in hostile territory
He pursues him with His blessing
IV. The Shepherd's prosperity pursues him! Psalm 23:6
IV. The Shepherd's prosperity pursues him! Psalm 23:6