Psalm 23

Psalm 23:1 KJV 1900

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Now remember it was David who wrote this passage. David like most of us probably have experienced both highs and lows of life. He defeated his giant, he lost a child, etc.

And yet here he is out of everything he could refer to the Lord as he choose a shepherd.

Now before we go any farther look at:

John 10:11 KJV 1900

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Now though David wrote this before Jesus we know when rightly dividing threads lead to other parts of the Bible. Jesus who is the Word knows what He is referring to when He calls Himself the good shepherd.

Back to David he is saying man with the Lord being my shepherd protecting me, feeding me watching over me as one of his own flock I will want for nothing. I will be feed, I will be protected I will have waters to drink Amen.

Psalm 23:2 KJV 1900

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.

now in John 10 Jesus compared Himself the good shepherd to other shepherds right, he even compares other shepherds to a thief, a robber, a stranger, He is warning to becareful not to follow the wrong shepherd. Following the wrong shepherd will leads us to doom.

in Isreal there are 2 rainy season a year, most other times there is few green pastures and more desert type climate, but there is some green pastures and Jesus is leading his sheep out of drought, out of worryiness, out of the hard places.

so the history in Isreal is around noon the shepherd would lead sheep into green pastures around noon and let them rest, eat, drink, and just let them relax and chill for 3 to four hours, before moving them back to pens or wherever they keep them.

Now get this sheep are not bothered by still waters, they have no issues crossing a moving stream, but David is trying to instill in this passage the calm and peace that God will lead us to, and for us praise God our good shepherd leads us to that calm.

Back in John 10:7-9

John 10:7–9 KJV 1900

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Jesus shows and tells us right here He is that door the way that we can enter into green pastures to rest.

look at this

Colossians 1:20–22 KJV 1900

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

Psalm 23:3 KJV 1900

He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

So look here is maybe the core to the passage first He leads us to rest so that we can gather ourselves and get peace to refocus, and kinda centered again so that we will get back on the right path. all throughout the history of the world God has given so many chances for people to walk the right path but people have always strayed from the path. The problem is many of us have become slaves to religious ideas of moral righteousness that is about our own works, which we will fail at but His righteousness comes from the inside out not the outside in, it comes from only Him and the freedom that trusting in Him gives.

How does He do this, well in 3 different places in John 10 tells us he laid down His life for His sheep.

Look remember fully, freely and forever, when he laid down His life for us and paid for our sins, it was for our past, present, and future sins. Eternal life is just that it is eternal, He did not die for us to have a temporary life, but eternal life.

Ye butttt .....no there is no butts when it comes to Jesus, He is the alpha and omega the beginning and the end, see you got to stop thinking its about you, salvation eternal life has nothing to do with you, it is all built upon Him and what he did, if He can create the earth by speaking it into existence dont you think He is powerful enough to forgive you.

Psalm 23:4 KJV 1900

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.

now there are people that argue or debate whether this verse is talking about death, but others say no its the shadow of death and shadow is the the real thing, either way its a valley and we all will go through valleys. see the Bible, never lies to us, it never said you will not go through valleys, right here it tells us we will go through them, but not to worry, have no fear because He is with us when we go through them, so whatever you are going through today you are not alone, you have the greatest Shepherd to ever watch over His sheep protecting you.

now here we are told two things, one that He is with us, it does not say He stays up on the mountain watching over us but He loves us so much he gets right down in the valley with us, notice it does not say He will pull us right out and we as believers wont have to go through the valley, yet it says He will confront us.

see it says here He confronts us by his rod and staff. see his rod is used to battle the enemies and defend us, but it also could be used to correct us if need be, and the staff is what guides us the rod represents authority, power, discipline, and the staff represent long suffering but a shepherd carefully selects his staff it is long and has some kind of hook to reach out for the sheep and pull them to where they need to be often bringing the sheep to him, or at times when using it on a lamb he will use it to lift them so he does not touch the sheep and get human sent on them so that the mother wont reject the sheep later.

God never abandons us He stays with us.

Psalm 23:5 KJV 1900

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

remember David wrote this, when he mentions table he is talking about a period of feasting which you do with your loved ones and closest friends. Think of what we just did yesterday and what as a church we are about to do on thanksgiving we are preparing a table for people that does not have a table to go to, we are show them we love them and God loves them by feeding them and not with scraps but with love and we will all work hard that take part, and probably be a bit tired after, yet its all done out of love Amen.

Psalm 23:6 KJV 1900

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.

God with Us.

goodness and mercy are chasing us are you running from it or slowing down and letting it catch you?

When you finally surrender and let God be God there is no other peace, no other goodness that compares.