23. The LORD Is My Shepherd, Psalm 23
Hymns: RHC 532 Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Me; My Wonderful Shepherd; 344 The Lord Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23 (KJV)
1 A Psalm of David The LORD is 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 art 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 LORD for ever.
1 The LORD is 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 art 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 LORD for ever.
The LORD is my Shepherd
OUTLINE
(1) Experience His Complete Care (v1)
a. How does He care? (v2-6)
i. His Provision (v2)
ii. His Person (v3)
iii. His Protection (v4)
iv. His Preservation (v5a)
v. His Present (v5b)
vi. His Presence (v6)
INTRODUCTION
This psalm written by king David is full of comforts and the expressions of delight in God’s goodness. Here the psalmist claims relation to God as his Shepherd.
- Experience His Complete Care (v1)
1 A Psalm of David The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Notice in verse 1 that the Lord is “my” Shepherd. The sweetest word is the monosyllable “my”. He is a Shepherd to me, He cares for me, watches over me and preserves me. The verb is in the present tense. We are assured that whatever be the believer’s situation in life, we are under the pastoral care of our LORD.
Jesus says, John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Dear friends, we receive Jesus Christ by an act of faith. Since Christ died for our sins and rose again the third day conquering death and sin, all we must do is open our heart and receive Him as Saviour and Lord. As we come with contrition of heart, a repentant heart for our sins, we appropriate forgiveness of sins by a single act of faith.
\We cultivate the spirit of assured dependence upon our heavenly Father. There is no “if”, nor “but” nor even “I hope so”. Let us say with full assurance of faith, the LORD is my Shepherd.
For what follows after we receive Jesus in our hearts, the Lord says “I shall not want”. We shall have no lack. Come what may, if famine should devastate the land or calamity destroys the city, old age with its feebleness shall not bring any lack.
I have a new life in Jesus, being a “lively stone” 1 Peter 2:5, not because I have a good store of money in the bank, no because I have skill and wit to win my bread but because “The LORD is my Shepherd.”
How do you know you are a sheep of the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ? What are the marks of Christ’s sheep? It is given in John 10:1-42.
- They know the Shepherd
- They know His voice,
- They hear Him calling them by name.
- They love Him.
- They trust Him.
- They follow Him.
i. His Provision (v2)
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
These “green pastures are the Scripture of truth that is revealed to us by God written in the Bible by prophets and Apostles. And these “still waters” are the influences and graces of His blessed Spirit indwelling us.
These are waters of rest where the sheep love to drink of because its void of danger. Our Lord leads us beside “still waters”, we could not go there ourselves, except in prayer, waiting for the Lord. His sheep eating these green pastures ever since Christ had a church on earth, when He made them His very own.
ii. His Person (v3)
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
In Him, we find forgiveness of sins. In Him, we find reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
When the soul grows sorrowful, He revives it, when it is sinful He sanctifies it, when it is weak, He strengthens it. Is any low in grace, do you feel spirituality at its lowest? Pray to Him ask for the blessing, Restore Thou me, Thou Shepherd of my soul.
iii. His Protection (v4)
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
The valley is a low place, with mountin on either side. Enemies may be setting an ambush to shoot their arrows at the traveller but he must pass through it. Our Lord Jesus has victoriously pass through it. The psalmist, however says, I will fear no evil, not even the fiery darts of Satan, for the Lord was with him.
The “rod” was a clublike weapon used to defend a flock against predators; the same word is used for a royal “scepter”.
The “staff” could also serve as a weapon, but it was used to prod sheep in the right direction—hence a metaphor of divine guidance.[1]
The shepherd carries a staff or rod when he goes forth to feed his sheep. With this staff he rules and guides the flock to their green pastures and defends them from their enemies. With it also He corrects then when disobedient, bring them back from wandering.
vi. His Preservation (v5a)
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
The good man has his enemies. Even our Lord Jesus was rejected of the Jews. Despite all this, nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door, and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. This is the peace that the LORD gives to His people, even in the most trying circumstances.
5 … thou anointest my head with oil; …
In ancient Israel shepherds used oil as an insect repellent, to protect and ease conflicts between sheep and to heal the wounds of the sheep.
Nose flies for example attack the sheep by laying eggs into the membrance of the sheep’s nose, and th eggs will hatch, turning to worm-like larvae, which irritates and annoys the sheep driving it insane. The oil will keep away these flies. Other insects like mosquitoes and gnats can turn the summer into a tortureous time for the sheep.
The shepherd the sheep with oil and the fragrance keep the insects away and the flock at peace.
The oil also prevents injury when sheep crash into one another. The grease surface ease off the crash of the sheep into one another.
And the anointing oil also act as a healing agent for injuries that the sheep sustain whether by the bramble bushes or thorns even thistles.[2]
v. His Present (v5b)
5 … my cup runneth over.
He had noy only enough, a cup full, but more than enough, a cup which overflowed. The overflowing cup was a powerful symbol in the days of David. Hosts in the ancient East used it to send a message to the guest. As long as the cup was kept full, the guest knew he was welcome. But when the cup sat empty, the host was hinting that the hour was late. On those occasions, however, when filled the cup to overflowing. He didn’t stop when the wine reached the rim; he kept pouring until the liquid ran over the edge of the cup and down the table.[3]
Friends, we received the message that the Lord’s return is very near, we are at the last, last hour before the impending judgment on planet earth, just like in the days of Noah before the flood. We are the privilege people with the message of salvation. We have the complete revelation of Jesus Christ, the living Word, let’s do tll others of Him, and see that our cup overflows into our friends and loved ones’ empty vessel. See that we hold this cup aright, being the true church of Jesus Christ, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.
iv. Presence (v6)
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.
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Goodness to supply every want. Mercy to forgive every sin. Goodness to provide. Mercy to pardon. [F.B. Meyer]
His goodness and His unfailing love abides with His people always and for all eternity.
In dark days, as well as the bright days, the sorrows and the joys, the journeying and the rest, frequent struggles, we look forward to that heavenly mansion that Christ has gone ahead to prepare for us.
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
CONCLUSION
May God’s people rest in His unfailing, complete care. Amen.
[1] Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary – Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary of the Old Testament – Minor Prophets, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs.
[2] Max Lucado, Safe in the Shepherd’s Arms – Hope & Encouragement from Psalm 23, Thomas Nelson, 2009, 77-80.
[3] Travelling Light, Nashville: Word, 2000.