ACT 5: CAUTION AND COMFORT - SCENE 1: MY SHEPHERD

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STORY OF THE PERFORMER AND THE PASTOR - YOU KNOW THE PSALM BUT I KNOW THE SHEPHERD

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PSALM 22 THROUGH PSALM 24 IS CALLED THE SHEPHERDS TRILOGY. PSALM 22 IS THE GOOD SHEPHERD WHO LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP. PSALM 24 IS THE CHIEF SHEPHERD WHO AT THE END OF THE AGE WILL COME BACK IN GLORY AND POWER.

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BUT BETWEEN THE TIME WE GET SAVED AND THE TIME WE GO HOME TO HEAVEN. BETWEEN OUR BIRTHDAY AND DYING DAY. BETWEEN OUR ENTRANCE AND OUR EXIT. OUR WOMB AND OUR TOMB. THE GREAT SHEPHERD OF PSALM 23 IS THERE WITH BOTH GOODNESS AND MERCY TO MAKE OUR JOURNEY SWEET.

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THREE PARTS TO THIS PSALM. FIRST WE MEET THE SHEPHERD WHO CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR FRAILTY. IN THE SECOND PART THE SHEPHERD WHO CAN HANDLE OF OUR FOES AND FINALLY THE SHEPHERD WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FUTURE.

FRAILTY

Psalm 23:1 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

SHEEP ARE DEPENDENT.

WHY DO SHEEP ACT DUMB - BECAUSE THEY FORGET THEY ARE DEPENDENT.

THE LORD

PSALM 23 IS ABOUT THE LORD. YOU SEE; NO WANT, LYING IN GREEN PASTURES, BEING LED BY STILL WATERS, RESTORATION OF SOUL, PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, NO FEAR OF EVIL, ROD AND STAFF COMFORT, A TABLE IN THE PRESENCES OF MY ENEMIES, GOODNESS AND MERCY FOLLOWING ME ARE NOT POSSIBLE UNLESS YOU KNOW THE LORD.

THE LORD

THE PSALM IS 57 HEBREW WORDS LONG WITH WORDS 2-57 DESCRIBING WORD ONE. GOD HAS WRITTEN HIS NAME IS BOLD LETTERS ALL THROUGHOUT THIS PSALM.

Jehovah-Raah (the Lord my Shepherd) Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord my Provider)

Jehovah-Shalom (the Lord my Peace)

Jehovah-Rophe (the Lord my Healer) Jehovah-Tsidkenu (the Lord is our Righteousness)

Jehovah-Ezer (the Lord is my Help)

Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord is my Banner) Jehovah-M’Kaddesh (the Lord who sanctifies me)

El Elam (the Everlasting God)

Isaiah 40:9 ESV

Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

Isaiah 40:10 ESV

Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

Isaiah 40:11 ESV

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

Isaiah 40:12 ESV

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

Isaiah 40:13 ESV

Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel?

Isaiah 40:14 ESV

Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?

Isaiah 40:15 ESV

Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales; behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.

Isaiah 40:18 ESV

To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?

Isaiah 40:21 ESV

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

Isaiah 40:22 ESV

It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

Isaiah 40:23 ESV

who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

Isaiah 40:24 ESV

Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows on them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

Isaiah 40:25 ESV

To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Isaiah 40:26 ESV

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing.

DIALETICAL PRESENT TENSE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR

THE VERB IS - DIALETICAL PRESENT TENSE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR - MEANS THE LORD BE BEING MY SHEPHERD.

THE ONE WHO CREATED ALL THINGS IS ABLE TO PROVIDE ALL THINGS.

Psalm 23:2 ESV

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

REST AND REFRESHMENT

Sheep will lie down when they feel safe, and they feel safe when they can see the shepherd. If the shepherd was to leave the field, you would be back on your feet again, watching for danger and ready to run. But as long as you can see your Shepherd, you will be able to rest.

Psalm 23:3 ESV

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

RESTORATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah 30:21 ESV

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

John 10:3 ESV

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

John 10:4 ESV

When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

John 10:5 ESV

A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

John 10:14 ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

FOES

Psalm 23:4 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

ARE WITH ME

THIS IS ONE HEBREW WORD AND IT IS THE 29TH WORD IN THE PSALM WHICH MAKES IT THE MIDDLE WORD. REMEMBER THERE ARE 57 WORDS THAT MAKE UP THIS PSALM.

Psalm 23:5 ESV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

YOU PREPARE A TABLE

Notice that this is present tense. This is not something that God did a long time ago, it’s not even what God does once in a while. It is what God always does for His people: You prepare a table before me.

GOD WILL SUSTAIN YOU BY GIVING YOU STRENGTH

God uses this picture to tell you that He will sustain you by giving you strength. As your body is strengthened by a good meal, so you will be sustained as the Lord Himself feeds you.

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (v5).

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

David’s life was an unrelenting battle. In his early years, he was a shepherd, despised by his older brothers. Then, he lived as a fugitive, hunted by king Saul. When he became king, he inherited a divided kingdom, where rival tribes were filled with seething resentments, and alienated by deep distrust.

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

In later years, David suffered as his family was torn apart by cycles of abuse, violence and death. At one point, he had to free for his life when his own son led a rebellion against him.

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

How in the world did he keep going? How will you keep going in the light of the many pressures, burdens, conflicts and troubles of your life?

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

God prepared a table for David. He renewed David’s strength even in the presence of his enemies. And what God did for David, He can do for you.

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

God gives strength to His people He will sustain you in a world of trouble. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

GOD SUSTAINS BY GIVING PURPOSE

God sustains by giving purpose. You anoint my head with oil (v5). Oil was used in the Old Testament to commission certain people for the work God had called them to do.

GOD SUSTAINS BY GIVING PURPOSE

A sense of purpose sustained David. ‘God has given me this work to do. I’ve been called. I’ve been anointed. If you lose sight of why you are here and what God has called you to do, you will soon be tired, jaded, drained and spent.

GOD SUSTAINS BY GIVING PURPOSE

But here’s the good news: God has work for you to do.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Find out what God has called you to do and pursue it. And as you do, God will sustain you.

GOD SUSTAINS BY GIVING JOY

My cup overflows, (v5). There is a downbeat version of Christianity that goes something like this: In this world, you will be surrounded by enemies. And somehow you have to get through this.

GOD SUSTAINS BY GIVING JOY

Here is a man who knew plenty of trouble in his life, and yet he says, ‘my cup overflows!’ Here in this fallen world, with all that I face and all that I suffer; Even now while my enemies are still present! Even here in the dark valley, my cup overflows! Jesus said,

John 16:33 ESV

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 15:11 ESV

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

JESUS DEMONSTRATES PSALM 23:5 IN HIS FINAL HOURS.

Matthew 26:20 ESV

When it was evening, he reclined at table with the twelve.

Matthew 26:26 ESV

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 26:27 ESV

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,

Matthew 26:28 ESV

for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Jesus does more than prepare the meal. Jesus is the meal. Jesus gives you strength by giving you Himself. He says,

John 6:35 ESV

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.

John 6:48 ESV

I am the bread of life.

John 6:57 ESV

As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me.

The heart of the Christian life is that Jesus gives you Himself. He is your strength. And you feed on Him by believing in Him. As you trust Him, you will draw strength from Him.

FUTURE

Psalm 23:6 ESV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

GOODNESS AND MERCY

The Good Shepherd has two sheepdogs; one is called ‘Goodness.’ The other is called ‘Mercy.’

GOODNESS

Someone may say, “Well my life is filled with a great deal of trouble.” You can easily list many things that are not as you would want them to be. Sin has brought its devastating effects into the world, and things are not as they should be in our world, our country, our work, our churches, our homes or in our own hearts. But there is good in your life too. James says,

James 1:17 ESV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

GOODNESS

Everything good in your life comes from the loving hands of God. So, thank Him for it. Sinners blame God for everything and thank Him for nothing. Believers thank God for everything and blame Him for nothing.

GOODNESS

Goodness is God giving us what we don’t deserve, and if you belong to the Good Shepherd, God’s goodness is always chasing after you.

MERCY

Goodness is God giving us what we don’t deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we do deserve. God chases after us with mercy. That is good news, because if God chased after us in justice we would all be in trouble.

MERCY

If God was chasing after you with judgment and condemnation, of course you would run. But why would you run when you are being chased by goodness and mercy?

Romans 2:4 ESV

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

MERCY

God’s goodness and mercy are chasing after you to bring you closer to the Good Shepherd.

MERCY

And David is in no doubt about this. He says Surely goodness and mercy will follow me .’ When you belong to the Good Shepherd, you can be sure about this: God chases after you, not in judgment and condemnation, but in goodness and mercy.

FOLLOW ME

The Shepherd is in front of the sheep. But now he says that the Shepherd’s goodness and mercy follow the sheep. So, in Christ, you are encircled in the love of Christ.

FOLLOW ME

When you belong to the Good Shepherd, this will always be true of you. Jerry Bridges says this so well,

Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.

FOLLOW ME

Here we are, anxious about our world, our country, our families, ourselves. And who knows what the future holds? But of this you can be certain: Whatever the future holds, God’s goodness and God’s mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER.

So, think about what that will be like when you have been in heaven for a million, million ages…To put what he says, simply, the more you know of God the more you will see of His beauty, and the more you see His beauty, the more you will love Him. And the more you love God the more happiness you will have in Him.

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AALAYAH EASTMOND - Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Nicholas Dworet.