At All Times

INTRODUCTION

When times are going well, do we question God's love, protection, and provision?

I believe that during those times, we probably do not question it much or may not give it much thought.

David has proclaimed that the Lord is his shepherd and that, as a result, he lacks NOTHING!

Last week we covered verses 2-3.

In those verses, we took note of what David was speaking of when he said he lacked nothing,

God provided all the needs he had.

When the good times are rolling, we would agree with David; God is rolling with us!

How do you feel when things are not going well?

How do you feel when facing a deep need that you are unsure will be taken care of?

Do you feel like the Lord is still your shepherd when the world seems to be crashing down upon you?

When your life is rough, and you come to church, do you hide your fears, doubts, and pain?

David was serious about his relationship with the Lord.

Even with his deep relationship with God, his life was nowhere close to sinless or problem-free.

Today, we will see that all the beautiful things God provides are provided to us at all times!

The Big Idea of the Message today is: David speaks of God's provision in the trying times and in the presence of those who oppose him as marks of God's goodness as a shepherd.

Let's read Psalm 23 together this morning.

Our focus today will be verses 5-6.

Psalm 23:1–6 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water.

3 He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.

4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

5 You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.

6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

SERMON

I. God provides in times of trouble.

Look at verse 5 with me again, as this will be the focus of the first two observations.

Psalm 23:5 (NET 2nd ed.)

5 You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.

The focus for this, though, comes from the first part of verse 5.

YOU PREPARE A FEAST BEFORE ME IN PLAIN SIGHT OF MY ENEMIES.

When David acknowledged God as his shepherd, David, who had plenty of experience in having times of trouble, knew that God was with him.

Early in David's life, Saul was in pursuit of David.

Saul King, but he grew jealous of David and sought to kill David.

David was on the run, with a small army running with him.

When you look at the of David, here is a man God told was going to be the next King, and yet here is Saul, trying to kill him.

I alluded to this last week: David was on the run, hiding in a cave, and Saul came in to relieve himself.

1 Samuel 24:1–12 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi.”

2 So Saul took 3,000 select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain goats.

3 He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went into it to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave.

4 David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.’ ” So David got up and quietly cut off an edge of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul’s robe.

6 He said to his men, “May the Lord keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the Lord’s chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the Lord’s chosen one.”

7 David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down the road.

8 Afterward David got up and went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, “My lord, O king!” When Saul looked behind him, David kneeled down and bowed with his face to the ground.

9 David said to Saul, “Why do you pay attention when men say, ‘David is seeking to do you harm’?

10 Today your own eyes see how the Lord delivered you—this very day—into my hands in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I had pity on you and said, ‘I will not extend my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s chosen one.’

11 Look, my father, and see the edge of your robe in my hand! When I cut off the edge of your robe, I didn’t kill you. So realize and understand that I am not planning evil or rebellion. Even though I have not sinned against you, you are waiting in ambush to take my life.

12 May the Lord judge between the two of us, and may the Lord vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you.

It looks like God delivered Saul to David, the running and fearing for his life would be over.

David knew God well enough to know that God would not have David kill Saul.

David trusted that God would provide, even in difficult times!

We need to know that God is with us doing times of trouble and stress.

God's blessing flow to us in the presence of our enemies.

When you are under attack, God is with you!

In verses 5-6, there appears to be a shift from shepherd and sheep to guest and host.

It appears that the image shifts God from shepherd to host.

The image shifts, therefore, from the joys and threats of the migrating flock to the new picture of the beleaguered faithful affirmed and honored by God in the very presence of the enemy.

In verses 5-6, God is no longer a shepherd but assumes the role of host, while the trusting follower sits as an honored guest at his table.

The picture is one of the realizations of ultimate communion with God himself!

God prepares a feast before your enemies to show them God is with you, providing and caring for you.

Since God is the host in the presence of our enemies, there seems to be a tinge of taunting before his enemies in this place.

The enemies may think they have the upper hand, but God has the final say.

The taunt is, you can mess with me, but you cannot harm me!

Hospitality in the ancient Near East required more than providing a meal.

The host was also responsible for protecting his guest (see Gen 19:8).

Since David, as a guest, enjoys God's protection, he can eat safely in the presence of his enemies!

Let's look at verse 5 one more time.

Psalm 23:5 (NET 2nd ed.)

5 You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.

II. God provides in times of need.

YOU REFRESH MY HEAD WITH OIL; MY CUP IS COMPLETELY FULL.

If we still see verses 5-6 as the shepherd-sheep relationship, the shepherd would examine the sheep as they entered the fold to be sure none of them was bruised, injured, or sick from eating a poisonous plant.

He applied the soothing oil to the hurts, and he had his sizeable two-handled cup filled with water for the thirsty.

He would also apply the oil to the heads and horns of the sheep to help keep the flies and other insects away.

The sheep knew they were safe, and they could sleep without fear. (Wiersbe)

Back to the host-guest scenario.

More than security and sustenance is provided.

You anoint my head with oil.

This speaks of gladness.

The host recognized such treatment afforded a guest as a special courtesy.

My cup overflows.

The blessings were more than abundant.

How full his life had become through his relationship with the Lord

These thoughts remind us of what Paul wrote in Philippians.

Philippians 4:19 (NET 2nd ed.)

19 And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Here we have a gracious and generous host who provides a banquet for his guest.

The table is prepared and loaded with a bountiful abundance of the most choice foods.

It is a banquet of the "brimming cup" and the anointed head.

Furthermore, the enemies witness all this.

It is good to know when we need God; He is there!

We can relax in His presence!

Let's look at a final thought in verse six!

Psalm 23:6 (NET 2nd ed.)

6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the Lord’s house for the rest of my life.

III. God provides throughout our lives.

With all of the things covered in verses 1-5, even greater joy was experienced by David from the realization that his was a continuing relationship with the Lord, not a fleeting interlude.

The implication of verse 6 is that the text indicates a covenant relationship with the Lord.

SURELY can be translated, I AM CERTAIN OR SURE OF...

David does not doubt the truth he shares with us.

His goodness and mercy, blessing and love, are a promise to be enjoyed with the utmost confidence.

Since this was true of the old covenant, how much greater cause for joy and confidence in the new, seeing that it was sealed by the blood of God's own Son! (Hebrews 8:6–13.)

Goodness is a covenant term found in ancient Near Eastern usage, indicating the peace and harmony established by treaty.

Not only are we dealing with God's goodness, but we also get to experience His faithfulness (mercy in some translations).

Faithfulness translates the word which in 5:7 is translated as "steadfast love." God's "goodness and love" are pictured as His messengers, which accompany David.

God's faithfulness is a deep emotion that leads to activity beneficial to the recipient.

A beneficial action is performed in the context of a deep and enduring commitment between two persons or parties by one who can assist the needy party who cannot help themselves. (NET2 Notes)

The term PURSUE is used to describe the relentless pursuit of David by the "goodness and mercy" of God.

In this view, David, pursued by enemies, takes refuge in the temple and experiences God's relentless goodness and mercy.

The earlier reference to sitting at a table in the presence of the enemy thus describes the circumstance of the one seated who receives the protection and care of God while the enemy looks on.

Though the wicked are hunted by calamity, the godly man anticipates nothing but goodness and mercy.

David anticipates dwelling in the "house of the Lord" forever.

David is for the time of dwelling in the heavenly house with the Lord.

CONCLUSION

What are you looking forward to in the future?

When I was younger, I did not give it much thought; these days, I think about it more; I have more road behind me than in front of me.

Life can be a struggle.

Everyone struggles in life.

We have many challenges that leave us questioning the presence of God.

But David knew his shepherd well and had seen Him provide in moments when the world around David seemed to be collapsing.

David walked through the valley of shadows and found himself surrounded by God's light.

David had seen moments when his enemies were all gathering around plotting his demise, but God chose those moments to set David up in front of all and show God's allegiance to him.

Jesus provides the same for all his followers as well.

After all, he does what he sees his Father doing.

Application Point: God's presence with us during difficult and trying times is meant to create great confidence in his faithfulness in us.