The Lord Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1–6 ESV

1 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 paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 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. 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 forever.

Introduction

The most powerful thing on Earth is the word of God. Why? Because it is the vehicle that God has used to reveal Himself to us. Think about that for a moment.

God, the Creator of the universe, has taken the time to reveal Himself to you (personally). AND then, He did not stop there… He knew that revealing Himself in all His glory would be too much for you or I to bear. So, He took the time to meticulously paint portraits throughout Scripture to help convey to our feeble minds who He is.

Herman Bavinck lists a few ways in his book,

However, probably the most personal and intimate portrait God uses to describe the dynamic of our relationship to Him is that of a Shepherd.

That brings us to our text in Ps. 23 (READ IT)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

This Psalm clues us in to some of the jobs and activities a shepherd assumes

Leading to still waters

caring for wounds

protecting sheep

correcting sheep

But, the amazing part of this Psalm is not that we have a shepherd, the amazing part is who that shepherd is.

David says, “THE LORD is my shepherd.”

Transliterated, “Yahweh” - The I AM is our shepherd

It is also singular: sheep do not have multiple shepherds

“The Lord IS my shepherd.” - WHEN

When is The Lord my shepherd? Currently

Not “He was” or “He will be”, He IS

Meaning: At any time, whether I am doing what I should or not. If I wander off, no matter what role I take as a sheep… He will ALWAYS be my shepherd.

“The Lord is MY shepherd.” - WHO

Important distinction… He is Good, Great, Chief… but He must be MINE

This indicates a personal relationship

“The Lord is my SHEPHERD” - WHAT

So what? What does it mean for Him to be my shepherd.

Well, we must realize what a shepherd is for this to make sense.

1. A Shepherd is Gentle

Isaiah 40:11 “11 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.”

2. A Shepherd is Gracious

Luke 15:4–5 “4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

3. A Shepherd is Good

John 10:11 “11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Good does not only indicate “morally good”, it indicates a “good” quality.

Jesus tells us what a Good Shepherd is in John 10:11-14

1. He gives His life for the sheep (v.11)

David did this with the lion and the bear

2. He knows the sheep and they know Him

Not only does He know me as His sheep, but He has disclosed Himself to me as my Shepherd.

The only thing better than being saved is being saved an knowing it

There is no greater privilege on this Earth to be found than to KNOW God and be KNOWN by God. That’s what David’s describing…

I Shall Not Want

The very core of what David is wanting to tell us in this Psalm is wrapped in this phrase “I shall not want…”

Basically, David is saying “Because The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

(Define “I shall not want)

1. I shall not be in want

My needs WILL be supplied.

We spoke of this last week when David was on the run and God supplied his need w/ bread from priest.

Paul: Philippians 4:19 “19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

2. I shall be content

Here is the crux of the Psalm: contentment.

In our world, this is rare.

This is the rare virtue of Christianity

Paul: Philippians 4:11 “11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

How can we find contentment?

1. Have a relationship with the shepherd

The only way your soul will ever find any measure of satisfaction will be if Jesus is your Savior

“Come to me, all you who labor…and I will give you rest.” - HIS rest is “contentment”.

2. Understand the role of the shepherd…

It is the shepherd’s role to fulfill the sheep… not the sheep’s.

It is not my job it fulfill myself, it’s His.

He places and He provides.

Therefore, it is my duty to follow Him where He leads.

(Sheep follow shepherd everywhere he goes…across highways in the Middle East.)

We must trust in the providential hand of God.

Providence: the unceasing activity of the Creator whereby, in overflowing bounty and goodwill (Ps. 145:9 cf. Mt. 5:45–48), he upholds his creatures in ordered existence (Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3), guides and governs all events, circumstances and free acts of angels and men (cf. Ps. 107; Jb. 1:12; 2:6; Gn. 45:5–8), and directs everything to its appointed goal, for his own glory (cf. Eph. 1:9–12). (New Bible Dictionary)

Meaning: God, not me, is in control.

Example: Joseph… You meant it for evil, God meant it for good.

This means I must trust God’s process. (Transition to v. 2)

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

David begins to list the circumstances of life

Thank God for these times: green pastures, still waters.

But that is not the focal point of David’s statement.

It’s not the “green pastures” that bring David contentment…It is “HE”

It’s not about where we are going, it’s about who is taking us there.

It is the Shepherd that makes me to lie down… being near to Him.

The only way to do that is to follow where He leads… “He leads me…”

Sheep can’t find water on their own, and they WILL NOT drink from fast moving water.

Therefore, the shepherd must intervene

He

Makes still waters: by damming up the book

Leads to still waters: by leading sheep through dry places

In order to get where to the still waters, sheep must follow the shepherd through desert places.

Meaning this: In order to get where God wants us to be, it requires us to follow Him THROUGH places we may not like or understand to get TO a place where He desires us to be.

Conclusion: The vantage point of the Shepherd allows for a better view than the sheep have…therefore, we must trust the Shepherd

Philippians 4:11–12 “11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.”