The Psalm of the Shepherd

Psalm 23:1 “1 The Lord is my shepherd;

David, the author of the psalm, himself a shepherd, and the son of a shepherd, later to be known as the ‘Shepherd King’ of Israel, states explicitly, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd.’ It is obvious that David is not speaking of the shepherd as a shepherd himself. David has assumed the role of a sheep, one of the flock, boasting with such pride, devotion, and admiration, ‘Look at who my shepherd is —my owner —my manager!’ The Lord is!

Whether David wrote this psalm when he was an old man, coming to the end of his life, reflecting of God’s tender care, goodness, and faithfulness over his life. Or, when sitting in a field, but a youth tending his father’s flock, with harp in hand and one single thought, ‘the Lord is my shepherd.’ David is finding satisfaction in simply being a sheep of the Lord’s pasture, and having the Lord shepherd his life.

Psalm 100:3 “3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

The Proportions of the Shepherd, Psalm 22, 23, 24.

The Person of the Shepherd, Psalm 23:1a.

The Provision of the Shepherd, Psalm 23:1b-3.

The Protection of the Shepherd, Psalm 23:4-5.

The Peace of the Shepherd, Psalm 23:6.

I. The Proportions of the Shepherd.

The Psalm of the Savior; the shepherd dying for the sheep; the cross.

The Psalm of the Shepherd; the shepherd living for the sheep; the crook.

The Psalm of the Sovereign; the shepherd returning for the sheep; the crown.

Hebrews 13:8 “8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Psalm 22 the Cross, grace, propitiation, substitution; Jesus the same yesterday!

Psalm 23 the Crook, guidance, protection, shepherding; Jesus the same today!

Psalm 24 the Crown, glory, Potentate, Sovereign; Jesus the same tomorrow!

Psalm 22 the Shepherd suffered for me, sought me, saved me, satisfied me, and shelters me from the wrath and anger of God!

Psalm 23 the Shepherd girds me, guards me, guides me, and if necessary goads me!

Psalm 24 the Shepherd returns for me, rewards me, and reigns over me!

Psalm 22 the Shepherd’s hand is stuck to a cross and stained with blood.

Psalm 23 the Shepherd’s hand sustains through the difficulties of life.

Psalm 24 the Shepherd’s hand holding a scepter sovereignly ruling in power over everything!

Psalm 22 the Shepherd is on the Cross; taking care of my yesterdays.

Psalm 23 the Shepherd is in the Center of His sheep; taking care of my todays.

Psalm 24 the Shepherd is wearing a Crown, seated on the throne in total Control; taking care of my tomorrows.

II. The Person of the Shepherd Psalm 23:1.

The Psalm as a whole is sustained by part of Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd… the rest of the Psalm is simply an unpacking of all the benefits the sheep are privileged to enjoy having the Lord shepherd over their lives.

If the Lord is my Shepherd then I must know who He is.

A. I must know the Profoundness of the Shepherd, “the Lord”

“Lord” the personal name of God, disclosed to Moses, Exodus 3:13-14, “I AM who I AM!”

It is an inexhaustible name. The Lord is timeless on the one hand, and self-sufficient on the other hand.

Self-Sufficient Shepherd. Our Shepherd does not need anything! Psalm 50:12 “12 “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.”

Timeless Shepherd. Our Shepherd is always the same! He never changes. He was like this yesterday, He is like this today, and He will be like this tomorrow, Malachi 3:6 “6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”

Christianity too often speak in ambiguous generalities. When we have too small —too cramped —provincial —to human view of our Shepherd, we often fail to give him total control over our lives.

Colossians 1:15-20 “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” Our Shepherd is directly responsible for the creating of all things, and sustaining all things, Hebrews 1:3 “3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,”

What is His character? Does He have the adequate credentials to be my Shepherd? If He can do this, can He not do anything? How am to come under such care and control? I what way do I become the object of His concern and diligent care?

B. I must know Him as my Personal Shepherd, Psalm 23:1a The Lord is my…

Jesus cannot be your Shepherd in Psalm 23, if He is not your Savior in Psalm 22. Unconverted are goats and not sheep, Matthew 25:32 “32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

There is a notable tone of confidence, not “if” or “maybe” or “I hope so” but David says, “The Lord is…” affirmative, and Christ answers with reaffirmation, John 10:11 “11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

The sweetest word, the monosyllable, “My!”

Christ is not the Shepherd to the world, leading the multitudes forth as one flock.

The Lord is my Shepherd. If He be a Shepherd to no on else, He is a Shepherd to me!

The words are in the present tense, even now He is Shepherding my life.

The statement implies a practical working relationship between Shepherd and sheep. Psalm 23 is extremely personal, (17 personal pronouns).

A concept of relationship between Shepherd and sheep conceived in God’s mind. The first metaphor of relationship between God and His people.

The practicality of this relationship only possible through Christ.

Gracious agent of the Spirit continually making it a reality in my life.

Common clay is linked to divine destiny.

Mere mortals become the object of divine diligence.

God being concerned with me, brings great purpose and enormous meaning to life.

The One True and Living Lord is our Shepherd. He is not bound by space or time, not limited in power and knowledge, He is my Shepherd.

C. I must know the Position of the Shepherd over my life, Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my Shepherd...

How we make it in life completely depends on who it is that is caring for my life. To think that Christ would delight to call himself my Shepherd, and make me the object of of His attention and affection.

God deliberately chooses to create me as the object of His affection. God taking an enormous risk, if we may say that, a calculated chance in initially making man; we failed miserably, Genesis 3.

God taking it one step further, going to the cross to exposing His deep desire for me to come under His divine care, Psalm 22.

The Shepherd owns the sheep at the expense of Himself.

Shepherd continually giving Himself for the well-being of the sheep.

“Shepherd,” Hebrew rā·ʿā(h) to be an active companion; active association. It does not suggest passive existence, doing nothing; grazing, feeding, pasturing.

Hebrew pictograph is a man’s head and eye. Combined these it means "man watches". The shepherd closely watched over his flock, often they are his only companions.

Jesus continually watching over the life of the believer; interceding, guiding, working int heir life for the benefit of supreme and proper care. Divine diligence, sparing no pains for the good of the sheep.

Coming under the ownership of the Good Shepherd, Hebrews 13:20 “20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,”

The Shepherd becomes the sheep’s everything! Psalm 28:9 “9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever.” 74:1 “1 O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?” 77:20 “20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” 78:52 “52 Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.” 79:13 “13 But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.” 80:1 “1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.” 95:7 “7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today, if you hear his voice,” 100:3 “3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

We have made the choice of living by shear whim, for a more productive and satisfying life under the Great Shepherds care, Matthew 16:24 “24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Why did we all need a Shepherd?

We were in desperate need of a Shepherd, Isaiah 53:6 “6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” we desperately needed God to bring order to our chaos; transgressors, rebellious, intentionally breaking God’s law. Sinners by birth and by choice, Isaiah 53:6, we’ve “ALL” sinned, and we “ALL” need saving.

Our lives could no be trusted to another. Jesus is the only one who our lives can be trusted too.

Jesus gave His life for the Sheep, John 10:11 “11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Jesus opens a whole new dimension to life for the Sheep, John 10:9 “9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Jesus maintains our lives, John 10:28-29 “28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.”

Who are the Shepherd’s sheep?

Sheep who hear the Shepherd’s voice responsively, John 10:27 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

Sheep who know the Shepherd personally, John 10:14 “14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,”

Sheep who know the Shepherd personally, John 10:27 “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”