The Shepherd's Psalm
Lessons From The Psalms • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
Theme for Sunday evenings lately has been “Lessons From The Psalms.”
Two weeks ago, we examined the “David’s Golden Secret” from Psalm 16.”
Today, we are going to focus our attention on a psalm that is more widely known than perhaps any other, Psalm 23, or as I have titled it for tonight “The Shepherd’s Psalm.”
This psalm is all about our Great Shepherd’s comfort that he wants for his children in this life and the next.
It describes the deep faith and hope available to the child of God, made possible through the “watchful” care of the LORD.
With that in mind let’s examine our lesson for this evening.
The Shepherd’s Provision
The Shepherd’s Provision
Lacking Nothing Physically.
Lacking Nothing Physically.
King David is very aware of the provisions God provided him physically while he was a shepherd.
As he told king Saul while giving a defense for taking on Goliath in 1 Samuel 17:34-37…
34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”
So, when David writes…
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.
David knows what he is talking about!!!
God has always said he will take care of our physical needs or provisions.
29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Revelation 7:17 (ESV)
17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Thanks be to God that God knows our physical needs and provides for them.
David also recognizes that with God on our side we are…
Lacking Nothing Spiritually.
Lacking Nothing Spiritually.
Because of this “old sinful world” we as God’s children can find ourselves getting beat up spiritually, on a daily bases.
Not only with our own sin problem but with the persecution that comes from living righteously (2 Timothy 3:12).
Again David, who saw his fair share of difficulties, knows that God will restore our soul’s nutrition.
Psalm 23:3 (ESV)
3 He restores my soul…
How will God do this?
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
Summary
Summary
The Great Shepherd will provide for us both physically and spiritually.
As long as we “seek first his kingdom” and “test ourselves to make sure we are in the faith” our God will supply our every physical and spiritual need.
King David then goes, through inspiration, to discuss…
The Shepherd’s Protection
The Shepherd’s Protection
Through The Valley I Will Fear No Evil.
Through The Valley I Will Fear No Evil.
As we discussed last Sunday morning, God will not only allow us to go through storms in this life, he can and does send us into them.
Because of this, we know we will have to deal with the “valley of the shadow of death.”
We will have trials and tribulations.
And even though you and I will suffer in this way, we can go throughout our life here on earth fearing “no evil” or as David put it…
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.
Why can we go throughout this life “fearing no evil” though we walk through the shadow of death, because our Great Shepherd will protect us with his rod and staff.
The Shepherd’s rod was a mid to long strait stick that was very sturdy and could hold up well when used to hit an object.
These types of rods were used for correction bad behavior.
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.
They were also used for protection against a sheep’s predators.
This is what David would have used to “strike down” the lion and bear that would have taken one of his sheep.
35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him.
Like the shepherd’s sheep we will have enemies, but we “fear no evil” because God will deliver us from our enemies.
7 But you have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us.
48 who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence.
The Shepherd’s staff was just as important.
During this era and time everyone used a walking staff to get around, in fact, it was so common that God told the Israelites to have their staff in hand during the Passover.
11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord’s Passover.
The Shepherd’s staff had an added hook on the end so that when a sheep got him or herself in a bind the s could reach down pull them back from the danger.
Not only do we find this protection in God’s rod and staff but “in the presence of our enemies.”
Why, because God’s protection allows us rejoice even at the most bitter trial.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Why, because God’s protection allows us to realize we have more blessings from God than trials can squash.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Summary
Summary
For the chid of God, there is no greater comfort than knowing God is there to protect us from our enemies and guide us to where we need to be.
That he will use his rod and staff to comfort us and enable us to see him “overcome” our enemies.
Because of all this David has confidence in…
The Shepherd’s Preservation
The Shepherd’s Preservation
Here On Earth.
Here On Earth.
Because God will take care of our physical needs and protect us from our enemies David knows that…
Psalm 23:6 (ESV)
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…
2 Timothy 4:18 (ESV)
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed…
Most importantly however is that the Great Shepherd’s preservation will not be limited to this early, physical life but will be…
There In Heaven.
There In Heaven.
Because when we have fought the good fight we will “dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
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.
Or as the apostle Paul finished telling Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:18…
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Summary
Summary
Though tough times are a guarantee in this life and we will enter the storms of life we have a Shepherd, a Leader, that will guard or preserve our hearts and minds in this life and the next.
Conclusion
Conclusion
So, when you go to bed this evening and wake up in the morning, Lord willing, let us remember the words of David, inspired by God that demonstrate…
The Shepherd’s Provisions for his children.
The Shepherd’s Protection for his children.
The Shepherd’s Preservation of his children.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.