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Ps 23 - 1-6 - The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2  He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3  he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

The 23rd Psalm a familiar and favorite scripture of many. It is poetry and it just flows so easily. But what is this passage of the Psalms really saying to us?

Is anyone having a difficult time right now? It may be financial, it may be emotional, you could’ve just lost a loved one, maybe your marriage isn’t so great right now, the kids are acting up and acting out at home or school or both. Perhaps you’re dealing with physical challenges or changes in your body and you’re in pain. The list of problems can go on and on and on.

But I’ve got some great news for you. Let me redirect your attention, if I may, to the God of the universe, who is all, provides all, and can do all.

In this 23rd Psalm, King David takes a moment just to praise God. He recognizes who God is and is simply awe struck.

When you stop for just a moment and direct your attention to the One who created everything, including you; when you change your focus from the problem to the problem solver…it’s then and only then that you can fully appreciate this Psalm of David.

He begins letting the reader know who he’s talking about, so there’s no mistaking who this is about.

The Lord - the maker and ruler of everything. Nothing happens outside of his watchful eye. He sees, hears, and knows your every thought and action. There is nothing hidden from his watchful eye.

…is my shepherd — The shepherd leads, guides, provides, and protects. He keeps the sheep away from danger. He will fight for the sheep and if necessary die for the sheep.

I shall not want — When the one who owns every thing is your provider what else could you need? If there is something you think you want but don’t have it, the answer is one of two things, either it’s not for you or you’re not ready for it.

Sometimes we desire things that are not for us, things we can’t handle, things that simply are not good for us. And when we circumvent or go around God to get it, that’s called permissive will, we end up in trouble. We end up in a disaster. We end up in a horrible mess, now praying and begging God to heal us, deliver us, intervene on our behalf.

He makes me lie down in green pastures — that’s rest. The body needs rest to recover, to heal, to restore, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Have you ever dealt with a baby who needs a nap, but is trying hard not to go to sleep? They get cranky and irritable and very hard to satisfy. But when they lay down, when they get that rest, they wake up smiling, ready to eat and play.

Truth be told, adults are not much different. Our bodies and minds also need to rest. And when we do, we wake up refreshed and ready to face the day.

Not only is it important that you rest, where you rest matters too. David said in green pastures. Why green pastures? Green pastures are soft and they have a water supply. It’s what keeps them green. It’s not brown dead crunchy grass that will stick you when you try to lay down on it or dirt that is hard and dusty and will leave you dirty.

A green pasture has grass that flows when a gentle breeze blows across it. Can you see it? The green pasture gives you quiet and contentment in your own mind, whatever is going on around you, you will have contentment. Your mind can be at peace and soul at ease.

Then he leads me beside still waters. Sheep are afraid of rushing water, so God leads us to the still water. Water that is calm and peaceful. Are you trying to get away from the tumultuous situations that make up your life? Let the Shepherd lead you to the still waters.

So he can restore your soul — to restore something is to bring it back to it’s full glory and usefulness.

I think of a piece of furniture. When you restore a piece of wood furniture you first have to strip off the old paint or varnish, because it is worn, it’s rubbed off in some places, it’s lost its luster.

You may have to take wood putty and fill the holes created by years of use or abuse.

Then when the filler sets, (you have to let it set because if you do the next step too soon, you’ll destroy what you just attempted to repair). So after the filler sets, you take sandpaper and smooth it out along with any other rough places there may be.

This part doesn’t feel good, it’s uncomfortable. It can be down right irritating. But when the sanding process is done you’re left with a nice smooth surface.

Now it’s ready to be stained and then given a clear coat to seal the stain and make it shine. What once was old is like new again.

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

He leads me in right paths for his name. The path God has for you is one that will bring him glory not you. All glory, honor and praise belong to God.

Then it gets dicey. David says even though I walk through the darkest valley, yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. There will be some rough days. There will be some dark nights. You’re going to cry some tears, YET, there is no need to fear, you don’t have to be afraid, because the shepherd is with you. Your protector is there walking with you.

Pick your head up, walk confidently and boldly knowing God is with you, even in the valley, even in the trial, even in the trouble, even in the temptation, God is there. Even unto death God is there is to lead you through.

David goes on to say your rod and your staff they comfort me. The rod is what the shepherd used to protect the sheep from wild animals that would threaten to hurt or kill them. You can feel secure.

It’s difficult to rest when you don’t feel safe. But when you know the Shepherd has a rod to keep away the danger, you can have peace.

His staff guides the sheep, the hook lifts them out of danger. We sometimes get ourselves in dangerous situations, but you’re never out of God’s reach.

He prepares a table before me, O taste and see that the Lord is good. His mercy endures forever. The table is set in the presence of your enemies, not for you to brag or boast, but it lets them know God is with you.

David said He anoints my head with oil. When Samuel came to his house and his father and brothers left him in the field with the sheep, Samuel asked, “Is this all your sons?” They had assigned a value to David and it wasn’t a good one. Surely he couldn’t be the next king, he was just a shepherd boy.

People will try to assign worth to you

because of what you do,

what you look like,

your color,

your race,

your gender,

your age,

your background,

where you live,

the car you drive

But you are more than what man can see on the outside and don’t let anyone reduce you to their opinion of who you are or what you can do. You are a man of God, you are a woman of God. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are the head and not the tale, the lender and not the borrower, you are the apple of his eye.

God has prepared a table for you, don’t be afraid to sit down and eat. Samuel told them send for him, we won’t sit down until he gets here. And when David arrived God spoke and told Samuel this is the one anoint him with the oil.

When you know that you are the chosen one of God, your cup will run over. Now, this is very important, when your cup runs over, the overflow is for you to bless someone else not for you to try to scoop back for yourself to keep. Bless someone else out of that overflow.

You can’t receive with a closed hand. Open your hand, let the blessing run through your fingers onto someone else in need. God will continue to bless you as you bless others.

And now as you go through life, when it seems like you’re being attacked from every side, you’ve put your war clothes on.

In Ephesians Paul says to, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore,

having your loins girt about with truth,

and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation,

and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Now with all that, it would seem that your backside is not protected but David covered that in verse six of the 23rd Psalm, when he said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

When goodness and mercy got your back you have nothing to worry about, you’re covered, coming and going.

And not just for a little while, but for all the days of your life. It’s a promise.

And finally, David ends with, “and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This place is temporary, look to heaven where your permanent home is.

The one not made by hands.

The mansion Jesus has prepared.

The place where there is no night because the light of the S-O-N son shines perpetually.

Where there is no sickness and no disease.

No heartache and no heartbreak.

But to get there you gotta believe, you gotta confess and you gotta proclaim Jesus as your Lord and Savior. In Romans 10:9 it says that “… if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

It’s that simple, there’s no weight, height, or age requirement. There’s no qualifications you have to have. It’s not about your connections, the only connection that gets you in is your connection to Jesus. He’s the only connection there is for this one.

You can’t get in with money, or service, or by bartering. It’s free, it’s personal, and it’s yours for the asking.

If you’ve never made that soul altering decision, today is a good day to invite Jesus into your heart and give him control of your life. He has the plan and it’s a perfect plan. He doesn’t just see down the street, he sees down the street and around the corner. Trust him, he only wants and has the best for you.

Whatever you need God’s got it, my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ps 23:“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.