"he LORD is My Shepherd, I Shall dwell in His House Forever"
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Psalm 23.
Psalm 23.
Introduction:
‘The LORD is my shepherd,” wrote David as he began his confession of the LORD’s faithfulness throughout his life and forever.
The 23rd Psalm is one of best known passages of the Old Testament. As with what we call the Lord’s prayer, many, both believers and unbelievers, what some term spiritual and unspiritual, those who are Biblically literate or totally Biblically illiterate are often able to quote the 23rd Psalm or “The Lord’s Prayer” without really knowing and understanding the true meaning or personally applying of the words that they have quoted,
How sad, desparartely sad, that all too often, these words of emotional and spiritual comfort are not allowed to heal and restore the aching heart sand souls of most who mouth the words.
As we work our way through Psalm 23, I pray that the Spirit of God will teach us what He taught David, so that what David embraced by faith, we might clearly understand and embrace by faith what the LORD graciously offers to cthose who truly confess Him as their shepherd.
Having confessed that the LORD was his shepherd, David, made three statements explaining what what it meant to confess the LORD as his shepherd.. Those who confess that the LORD is their shepherd, must also be to able to make these three statements. The word of God is clear. When these three statements are not made, then the confession, “The LORD is my shepherd” are probably mere words that have no root in that person’s heart.
Before we consider David’s three statemnets that eminate from his confession “The LORD is my shepherd;” we do well to note:
David’s three statements bear witness to what the LORD has done and is doing. The word of God is clear, those who know the LORD as their shepherd belong to the shepherd and He cares for them.
So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
David’s three statements also wonderfully demonstrate the loving, increasing close relationship between the LORD, my shepherd and me His sheep. As He restores our souls and Iwe yield to His leading us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake, ouur communion with the LORD, now our shepherd warms my heart to confess what He is doing, not in the second person, “you”.
What the LORD my shepherd is doing in our is a life long forever expeirence.
David explained his confession.
I shall not want - 23:1.
The LORD is my shepherd.
LORD:
lord - human ruler
Lord - beginning of sentence or reference one of the three person of the trinity.
LORD - YHWH or JHVH
Although YAHWEH was used freely in Scripture in the early history, after the giving of the Ten Commandments, they were concerned that they not take the name of the LORD in vain with the result that they usually chose not to verbalize His name, even when reading Scripture that whenever they came came those four lettters, they read read, “Adonai”, which meant “my Lord”.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
Here David testified “The LORD is my shepherd.” with the expectation that others would also testiify of their faith relationship.
My shepherd rather than a shepherd.
With David’s referring to the LORD as his shepherd, many of us assume that David was using a metaphor that wasspecial to him because he had served as a shepherd in his youth. IAs a shepherd ,it was familiar to David, but it more familiar to him because trhat was the imagery that gerneration after generation of his forefathers had used to describe the LORD’s care for them.
Jacob spoke of God as his shepherd and indicated that Abraham and Isaac also had confessed God as their shepherd.
Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Through Moses God reminded Israel that He rescued them and cared for them as a shepherd and hovered over them as an eagle.
“He found him in a desert land,
and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
he encircled him, he cared for him,
he kept him as the apple of his eye.
Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
that flutters over its young,
spreading out its wings, catching them,
bearing them on its pinions,
the Lord alone guided him,
no foreign god was with him.
I shall not want, because the LORD my shepherd cares for me.
Physically - food & water’
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
The OT & NT references to the LORD caring for us as a sherpherd cares for his sheep are layered and underscored.
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.
Condemning the false self serving “shepherds” who use the sheep and refuse to hear the word of of the LORD,
Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
As the LORD cares for us, He calls us by name.
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
As He calls us by name, He makes us lie down in green pastures. Making us lie down in green pastures is more than providing for our needs - green pasture(s) - more than one, but also making us lie down but calming out hearts so that we rest in Him.
In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
We lie down and rest in Him, not because of the green pastiures but we rest in Him.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
That guards iur hearts.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Our Shepherd provides for all of our needs.
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
He leads me beside still waters.
As David continues to rejoice in how the LORD cares for him, he does with the first of two references to the LORD leading him. Here, David thanks the LORD for leadinf him beside still waters.
The LORD leads and guides those who hear His voice and obey.
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.
Zechariah prophecied that was what Christ would do.
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Jesus said that His sheep allow Him to guide them.
When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
The LORD’s voice calms our hearts and we rest in Him. The Hebrew for still waters is waters of rest .
Jeremiah warned those of his day, that it is not only about waters of rest, but believing and resting in the LORD.
Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Spiritually;
More important than caring for our physical needs, which mirror how we see our spiritual situation, David confessed that the LORD:
Restores - PRESENT - my soul. Here, David confessed that before the LORD intervened, his soul was broken. In fact the Scriptures are clear, until God restores our soul, it is broken and scarred because of sin.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Not only does the LORD revive our dead souls, dead because of our trespasses and sin, HE LEADS ME IN THE PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
Begins with trusting Christ.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
For His, not my name’s sake.
My, our shepherd’s care for us is for the sake of the shepherd not the sheep. To be sure the sheep benefit, but the shepherd alone deserves the glory.
Psalm 25:11 (ESV)
For your name’s sake, O Lord,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
The Apostle Paul expressed it this way.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
2. I will fear no evil - 23:4.
Occasionally the flock that is being led by the caring shepherd, must pass through foreboding valleys where is no immediate light beyond the valley and dark shadows permeate the valley and probably even the surrounding mountains .
In contrast to the green pastures and still safe waters, this valley smells of death and evil. The light has been eclipsed with “the shadow of evil.”
In the Scriptures, darkness is often connected with death.
before I go—and I shall not return—
to the land of darkness and deep shadow,
the land of gloom like thick darkness,
like deep shadow without any order,
where light is as thick darkness.”
Because God is light, darkness seems to block the light. God delivers us from the darkness..
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.
In the midst of the valley of the shadow of death, David testified, “I will fear no evil.”
I will not be afraid of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against me all around.
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
yet I will be confident.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Your rod and your staff they comfort me.
Rod - protection
Staff - direction, rescue.
What are the LORD’s rod and staff today?
The Lord’s promised presence.
I am with you always - Matt 28:20
And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
Indwelling of Holy Spirit.
Word of God
Body of believers.
3. I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever - 23:6.
Our caring, protecting shepherd continues to provide and protect.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Even in the presence of enemies, He prepares a table before me.
He does not leave me. He is with me as He prepares a table, His table before me.
Our comfort comes not in what He is preparing but that He prepares withouth my help before, even with enemies present.
Some might ask, why the shepherd does not remove the enemies and then prepare the table? When we allow the word of God to answer our question, we are reminded that the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
In the word of God, annointing with oil is frequently associated with blessing.
you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox;
you have poured over me fresh oil.
You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.
My cup overflows
Remembering that our LORD has prepared the table, He annoints our head with oil and places a cup, a cup that He has provided. That cup overflows.
In another Psalm, David was clear. His cup that overflowed was not about earthly riches and things, It was about the Lord’s more than abundant blessing and provisioin.
(Surely), goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Only God’s goodness and promised mercy lasts.
Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
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?
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Many, perhaps most of us equate “the house of LORD” with heaven. That is understandable. But we must remember that David penned this Psalm, before his son, Solomon, built the first Temple. In David’s day, the tabernacle with the Holy of Holies signified God’s presence.
Then as now the Lord does not dwell in a building made of hands. He dwells with and in His people.
That is beautiful truth that the Apostle describes when he described the new heaven and the new earth.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
With David’s confession, “The LORD is my shepherd” fresh in our minds, and with David’s three statments describing the Shepherd’s care for him, each of us must ask ourselves, “Is the LORD my shepherd?”
While we are tempted to say, “YES.” to insure that we are giving a considered answer, David’s three statements provide an excellent spiritual measuring rod as to the truth of our answer.
OUR ANSWER TO EACH OF THESE QUESTIONS NEEDS TO BE AN UNWAVERING “YES!”.
In the LORD’s care for me am I as sure of His restoring my soul as I am of His leading me in quiet places as He cares for my physica needs?
Durng those dark times of my life does my sense of my LORD’s presence and protection calm my heart.
And when enemies who oppose the LORD and me threaten to undo me, do my LORD’s provisions and blessings increasing my heart’s desire to spend eternity with Him?
The writer of Hebrews prayer and benediction serves us well.
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, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
AWV/Apr 3/24