How God Takes Care of Us

Psalm 23:5–6 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”

Introduction

We live in crazy times.

Two wars going on right now

one in Ukraine

and one in Israel.

Division (division pic)

because of politics

in our very own country.

It’s so bad

that more than 7 out of 10 people

say they trust no one

to help them

in a time of chaos

or world ending event.

That’s why this lady (doomsday prep pic)

spend $45k

massing supplies

in case of a nuclear disaster.

That’s a lot of money.

But if you could only have 2 things

in the event of a zombie apocalypse

what would you choose?

For me I’d choose

an AK

and a knife.

AKs will keep running

even if it gets dirty

they’re reliable.

And you never know

when you need to cut something like a rope

or plant overgrowth

that’s in the way.

But students

you don’t need

to worry about

a nuke

or a zombie apocalypse

because God takes care of us.

He’s got this.

And that’s the title

of our sermon today.

How God takes care of us.

So that you live a life free of fear

and anxiety.

1. He leads us (v.1-3)

The word ‘psalm’ is a Greek translation of the Hebrew which means ‘a song of praise’.

Now students, notice how it says, ‘a Psalm of David’.

Look at v.1 Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

What do you notice?

It’s all caps! And what does it mean when LORD is in all caps?

It means that LORD stands for God’s name: Yahweh!

David calls God by his personal name

because he knew God

and he had an intimate relationship with God!

David is saying, ‘Yahweh is my shepherd.’

That’s how we know that David knew God,

because he uses God’s own name!

If you are a Christian, you know God personally!

You know God on a personal and intimate level!

The difference between Christians and non-Christians

is that Christians know God in a personal intimate way

as father and child.

Not only does David refer to God by his name,

but he calls Yahweh ‘my’ shepherd.

David’s relationship

with God is so deep

that not only

does David call God by name

he calls God ‘my’.

Students, at the end of the day, your relationship with God

is ultimately based between you and him alone.

Your relationship with God

is not based on your parents relationship with him.

Or even the other students relationship with him.

Never judge your relationship with God

by looking at other people’s relationship with him..

This doesn’t mean you can’t learn from other Christians’ example.

So David calls God by his personal name, and then says, ‘my’.

But, ‘my__’ what?

My shepherd.

A shepherd takes care of sheep.

Now people often say that sheep are dumb.

But that is not actually true.

Research shows that sheep are not dumb.

But rather they are unique.

Because they were created

to be completely dependent on the shepherd.

They don’t need to know where to go,

because they enjoy the shepherd’s guidance on where to go.

They don’t need to be strong to defend themselves,

because they enjoy the protection of the shepherd.

We all know the Bible calls us sheep.

Not because we are dumb or stupid.

But because God made us to completely rely and depend on Him.

And when we completely rely and depend on Jesus, we no longer want anything else.

That’s why after David says,

‘Yahweh is my shepherd’ he says, ‘I shall not want’.

That’s the shepherd takes care of his sheep

by giving us everything we need.

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Now doesn’t mean that God will give you everything you want:

whether it’s Jordans or a Fear of God essentials sweater. (npc fashion pic)

But God will give you everything you need.

Whether it’s physical things that you need.

And of course spiritual things you need.

And when you have everything you need, you no longer want.

It doesn’t mean you don’t want anything else ever again.

But you no longer want unnecessary things.

Students when we are lost we look for things that we don’t need.

We constantly look for new things to buy.

We constantly scroll through social media.

We become tempted by sinful things and activities.

We look to the wrong people: false shepherds.

False shepherds don’t just wear nice suits

and teach behind a desk or pulpit,

but they are everywhere

whether on Tiktok,

Snapchat

or Instagram.

They don’t even have to use words,

but just by their actions,

they show their lifestyle

in images or videos.

They guide their sheep

in the wrong way.

The solution is to remember that Jesus is our shepherd.

So now that we understand that God is our shepherd

and that makes us content,

we must understand:

how God leads his sheep.

He rests them and feeds them.

look at v2

Psalm 23:2 “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”

It is extremely difficult

to make a sheep lie down.

Sheep must be free from fear,

tension,

aggravation,

and hunger in order to lay down.

In other word’s the shepherd brings the sheep peace

and that’s what gets them to lie down.

He feeds them with green pastures

and

leads them to drink near quiet peaceful waters.

God shepherds us

by leading us to feed us.

For the Christian the pastures that God leads us to is paper: God’s word.

Psalm 119:103 NKJV

How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!

God shepherds us by

calming us

and feeding us God’s word.

Next ,God leads us beside quiet waters.

These are not raging rapids.

These are slow creeks and streams.

Peaceful waters.

That is what God does for his sheep as well. He brings us peace.

He leads us to peace!

Next, God leads us to restoration. Look at v.3 (read)

Psalm 23:3 “He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

God restores us by finding us

who are lost and don’t know

like when the shepherd has all 99 sheep

but goes to look for the lost 1.

Or by restoring out spirits with his word.

And finally God leads us in the path of righteousness

‘He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake’.

Years ago my wife and I

went on a vacation to Jamaica.

And we had a tour guide.

And he was very interesting.

I’m certain he was high the whole time.

Not surprised

there were random people

trying to offer us weed

while we were there.

Anyway he led us through this jungle

and I was wondering why

until we ended up in this beautiful clear blue water. (jamaica pic)

The place was called blue hole.

And he led us

to all the cool spots.

Where to swim

where to jump.

If it wasn’t for him guiding us

and leading us there

we would never had that amazing time.

And why does God lead us to the beautiful waters in him?

Is it to make us look cool?

No, it says,‘For His name’s sake.’

God guides his children

because his reputation is on the line

If his children are not spiritually thriving,

then does God take care of his people?

This is what an unbeliever would think!

But no,

God doesn’t merely guide you the right way for your sake,

but ultimately for his sake!

Or in other words, for his glory.

At the end of the day, God does everything for his glory.

Isaiah 48:11 (NKJV)

For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another.

But is it selfish for God to do everything for his glory?

No because God’s glory

is for everyone to enjoy!

When God lets everyone,

both Christians

and non-Christians eat delicious food

and drink delicious drink for His glory, everyone benefits!

Why?

Because God is what?

God is good!

Students, God is good, and that’s why he leads us.

He is the good shepherd.

When you are lost,

don’t look for leadership

in the wrong direction.

Look for leadership

in the good shepherd,

Jesus Christ.

2. He is with us (v.4)

Look at v.4 (read)

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, 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.”

In order to get to the green pastures,

sometimes the shepherd

would have to take the flock of sheep through narrow valleys

that were dark,

and full of bandits

and predators such as wolves.

Very dangerous.

But just because it was dangerous

doesn’t mean it was the wrong path.

Just because the path seemed frightening

doesn’t mean it was the wrong path.

No, it was the necessary path.

The paths of righteousness

doesn’t mean they are always silky smooth

but some times harsh and scary.

Yet David says, ‘I fear no evil, for you are with me’.

Even though we walk through crazy times,

filled with death and sin,

we are not afraid because God is with us.

Unbelievers panic and rightfully so,

because God is not with them.

Unfortunately some times

Christians walk as if God isn’t with them.

If you look back

and you noticed your life looked

more like panic than peace,

I want you to remember

that God is with you.

You don’t need to fear anything because he is with you.

God has appointed the time and place when we are to die.

Until then, as George Whitfield says, ‘you are immortal’.

You are immortal until it is God’s time for you to come home!

And God is with us to defend us.

He has a ‘rod and a staff’ with him.

The rod was basically a beat stick

like a baseball bat used

to defend his sheep from wolves.

No one can touch you unless God allows it!

God protects his sheep,

and he protects them from losing their salvation.

John 10:27–28 (NKJV)

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

No can can snatch you out of the hand of the good shepherd.

Your life,

your salvation lies secure in the hand of Jesus.

But the shepherd also had a staff.

The classic curved shaped staff that

shepherds hold.

They use this to guide their sheep,

sometimes poking them to get them

going in the right direction.

This is how God shepherds us: by being with us.

One of my best friends

is a friend I grew up with. (best friend pic)

Ever since we were kids

through elementary

middle

and high school

and today

we are still friends

and still together.

Every year we always

text each other happy birthday

no matter if we haven’t seen each other

in a long time

we’ve done this for more than a decade.

We’re always here for each other.

God’s very presence comforts us through difficult times

because he is ready to defend us

with his rod and guide us with his staff.

He is with us.

Remember when you are afraid,

that God is with us.

‘But I’m not afraid!’

You might think!

But fear doesn’t all look the same

some people show fear by freezing

Doing nothing.

Some show fear by being extra.

Doing too much.

If you do either you need to remember

that God is with you.

3. He brings us joy (v.5-6)

A life without fun

without joy

without satisfaction

is a life not worth living

But God brings us joy.

Look at v.5 (read)

‘You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies’

When do we prepare a feast at the table?

When we celebrate!

When you have a birthday party table,

you have all sorts of delicious food and cake!

And as Christians,

we celebrate because Jesus is victorious

over death and Satan!

‘Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life’

When you eat at God’s dinner table,

you will be certain

of God’s goodness

and his lovingkindness

which means

his steadfast faithfulness to you.

But there’s more

Notice how God’s goodness and love

is following David.

In fact the word follow actually means

to pursue!

To chase after!

God’s goodness and lovingkindness pursues you

and hunts you down

just like how the police

chase and hunt down a criminal!

That’s why there is zero doubt

that if you are a Christian

that you won’t have goodness and lovingkindness in your life,

because God will chase you down

and make sure you have it!

And where do people caught by the police end up? Jail.

Where do people caught by God’s goodness and lovingkindness?

The house of God.

‘And I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever’.

The word ‘dwell’ means to sit.

Literally,

we have packed our things,

sat down and become comfy in the God’s house.

And this is not simply for a night,

or a week, or even months.

This is forever!

We are forever living in God’s presence.

Some of you living with your parents might thinking

‘I want to live with my parents forever’ and others of you are thinking,

‘boy I can’t wait to get out!’

But as believers it is not a question or possibility

of how long we live in God’s house,

no it is a fact

that when we become part of the family of God,

we live in his house forever.

One of the most comforting things

is home.

You had a very tiring

and stressful day

school not going well

the grade on your test

was not

the B or A

you expected.

But even with all that

at least

you can go home.

Once you get home

you can relax

not worry

about those troubles

at least for a while.

What I’m about to show you

is something so hidden

so secret

that you can’t tell anyone else.

And that’s my gaming setup. (gaming setup pic)

I don’t come here

to escape

but I come here to relax

and recharge

for the next day.

I look forward to it!

That’s why I enjoy being at home.

But there’s a place

far more comforting

than my gaming setup

my house

or your room

and that’s

God’s house.

As a Christian

your true home

is in God’s house

an eternal dwelling

that is full of eternal joy.

The joy

that you experience

at home

will not even be close

to the joy

that you will enjoy

in God’s house.

Even if you are currently living in with your parent’s house

remember that if you are a believer,

you are actually living in the house of God.

Your heart is in the house of God.

No matter what worries or pains

or struggles

there are in this world,

you have the protection,

the security,

the peace,

the love of living in God’s house.

In enjoying and living in God’s presence!

Because God shepherds us by bringing us joy.

Life is awful without joy.

It is empty.

A lot of depression comes not necessarily from much sadness

but complete lack of emotion and joy.

If that’s how you feel,

remember that God is your shepherd

and there is joy in living with him.

Gospel conclusion

And a life

full of God’s provision

is God’s design (design pic)