The Lord is my Shepherd
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Text: Psalm 23:1–6 (KJV)
Series: Summer in the Psalms – Week 2
Theme: God’s Provision and Guidance
Focus: Trusting God in Every Season of Life
A Psalm of David. 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.
Introduction
Sheep are utterly dependent creatures. They cannot defend themselves. They cannot find their own food. They have no sense of direction. And they are easily frightened by the smallest disturbance. That sounds like a pretty blunt portrait of the believer—but isn’t it accurate in many ways?
"The Wandering Sheep and the Rescue Drone"
In the rolling hills of northern Wyoming, a shepherd named Chris managed a large flock of sheep. This wasn’t a scene from ancient times—Chris was a modern sheep rancher who used a combination of old-school herding dogs and technology like GPS collars and drones to monitor his flock.
One autumn afternoon, Chris noticed on the GPS system that one of his sheep had wandered far from the rest of the flock. A storm was approaching quickly, and every minute mattered. He launched his drone to locate the lost animal. Sure enough, the sheep had followed a faint trail beyond the fence line, and now stood trembling on the edge of a steep ravine.
Chris quickly drove his ATV to the location, guided by the drone. He carefully climbed down to reach the frightened creature, calmed it, and hoisted it onto his shoulders. As he carried it back to safety, the rain began to pour, and the winds howled—but neither the weather, nor the risk stopped him. That sheep belonged to him. It was worth the cost.
Once back at the ranch, Chris tended to the sheep, dried it off and reintroduced it to the flock. Interestingly, that single act of rescue changed the sheep’s behavior. It no longer strayed but kept closely to the shepherd’s voice and direction.
This modern-day story reveals the timeless truth Jesus shared in Luke 15:4
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
Just like the shepherd who went into the storm for the sake of one wandering sheep, Christ came after us in our lostness, bearing the weight of our sin on His shoulders and bringing us safely home. The love of the shepherd hasn’t changed—it’s just as fierce, faithful, and personal today as it was two thousand years ago.
Psalm 23 is not written by a scholar in an ivory tower—it is written by David, a former shepherd himself, who knew sheep, but more importantly, knew what it was to be one. It is not a Psalm of theory—it is a song born in the field, forged through loss, written while leaning on the strong arms of God’s presence.
This Psalm takes us on a journey of trust—not just in who God is, but in how He leads.
I wonder are you trusting the Shepherd in this season of your life?
Whether you're walking through green pastures or valleys overshadowed by death itself—your Shepherd has not changed. He is still enough.
Proposition: The child of God can trust the Shepherd in every stage and season of life because He provides, guides, protects, and preserves His sheep.
David unveils five blessings of having the Lord as our shepherd...
I. The Lord's Provision - Psalm 23:1–2
I. The Lord's Provision - Psalm 23:1–2
God meets the needs of His people. (David the Author) In the ancient world a king was called the shepherd of his people. Israel certainly thought David was their shepherd. When David became king, the people said to him, “The LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel’ ” (2 Samuel 5:2). And the psalmist says that God “chose David … to shepherd Jacob his people” (Psalm 78:70, 71).
David himself was the shepherd of Israel. In Psalm 23 David is also a sheep—the Lord is his Shepherd. A greater Shepherd cares for him.
A. The Sufficiency of the Shepherd (v.1)
(1) "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
What a phrase—"The Lord is my shepherd." This is Yahweh—Jehovah—David’s own covenant-keeping God. Not a shepherd. Not the shepherd. "My shepherd." There is something deeply personal here. This is not a distant God; this is a devoted guardian.
Because He is your shepherd, David says, “I shall not want”—not "I might not," or "I hope not." This is the language of confidence. God's people are never without what they need because God is never without capacity to provide it.
When we read, “I shall not want” (v. 1), some people think that means God gives us everything we desire. But the idea is not that God gives us everything we ask for; rather, he cares for us by giving us everything we need. Sheep are helpless animals; left to themselves they lack everything. A good shepherd knows what they need. If the God of the universe is your Shepherd, you will lack nothing.
Jehovah-Jireh—“The LORD will provide.” (Genesis 22:14
19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Far too many Christians live like spiritual orphans, thinking they have to fend for themselves. But your Shepherd delights to provide.
B. The Satisfaction of His Care (v.2)
(2) "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters."
Sheep only lay down when they feel safe and satisfied… free from friction with others of their kind. If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests… Lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel in need of finding food. They must be free from hunger
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
The Lord not only provides, but satisfies. Sheep will not lie down if they are fearful, hungry, or restless. So if the sheep are lying down, it only means one thing—the shepherd has taken care of everything.
Not only are we fed in green pastures, but we're calmed beside still waters. God does not rush His sheep. He refreshes them.
Illustration: One preacher said, "There’s a reason why Psalm 23 doesn’t say, 'He drives me to produce more hay.' No—He leads me in rest."
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Are you resting in the provision of the Shepherd? Some are spiritually starving, others are emotionally restless—because they have forgotten the Shepherd already supplied today’s manna.
II. The Lord’s Path - Psalm 23:3
II. The Lord’s Path - Psalm 23:3
He doesn’t just provide—He directs our lives in the right direction.
A. The Restoration of the Soul (v.3a)
(3a) "He restoreth my soul..."
The sense of the word “restore” is to return or to bring back. As a Shepherd, Jesus brings his sheep back to God
There are times when the sheep wander. Times when sorrow crushes. Times when temptation deceives. And in those moments, we don’t need philosophy—we need restoration.
“In Hebrew the words ‘restores my soul’ can mean ‘brings me to repentance’ (or conversion).” James Montgomery Boice
Ex. Lost or wandering sheep...
David knew failure personally. He knew what it meant to be dry. He knew what it meant to be corrected. But he also knew what it was to be restored by grace.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.
If God restored David after his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, and Peter after his threefold denial of Christ, we should have no doubt that he can and will restore Christians who err through making honest mistakes about his guidance.
J. I. Packer
B. The Righteousness of His Leading (v.3b)
(3b) "...he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
Our Shepherd does not lead us by crooked paths or take wrong turns—he guides us on straight paths, “paths that bring the sheep most directly to their destination.”
He doesn’t just lead us anywhere—He leads us in righteous ways. Psalm 25:9
9 The meek will he guide in judgment: And the meek will he teach his way.
And why? “For his name’s sake." His reputation is at stake in how He tends to His sheep. A good shepherd does not lead aimlessly—he leads where food is found, where safety is secured, and where his name is honored.
Since water and grass can be hard to find in the land of Israel, shepherds had to be ready to lead their flocks on long migrations from one pasture to another. The sheep would not understand why they left a good place to climb up and down ravines as they walked through the wilderness.
Where are we going? The ground is rough, and there is no water here. And still the shepherd leads on. The sheep don’t know where they are going, but he does. He has good pasture in mind: green grass and still water. Not a single step of this journey is wasted. He leads them by straight paths.
You may not understand the direction He’s leading—but you can trust that it is right. God never leads His children down a path that doesn’t glorify His name.
III. The Lord’s Presence - Psalm 23:4
III. The Lord’s Presence - Psalm 23:4
This is the first dark note in this beautiful psalm. Previously David wrote of green pastures and still waters and paths of righteousness. Yet when following the LORD as shepherd, one may still walk through the valley of the shadow of death. When the road becomes dangerous, His presence becomes precious.
A. The Certainty of the Valleys (v.4a)
(4a) "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."
Not "if" but "though." The valley is not an accident—it's an appointment. The phrase "shadow of death" in Hebrew can mean “deep darkness.” It’s the place where light barely touches, joy feels far away, and fear creeps in.
The valley of the shadow of death” (v. 4) is as much the Shepherd’s right path as the green grass and quiet waters. The Christian life is not always peaceful and easy. God gives us valleys, too, and each one of us will face the deep valley of death at the end of our lives.
One of the greatest problems in the valley is fear. Is God still in control? Is evil going to harm me? Will I be swept away or torn to pieces? The Shepherd’s presence is the answer to our fear. Jesus himself trusted God the Father through the valley of death—and God was faithful to him. Jesus, our Shepherd, traveled through the valley of the shadow of death and came out triumphant on the other side.
We are never so conscious of the presence of God as when we pass through life’s valleys.
James Montgomery Boice
But notice—"walk through." You don’t stay there. It’s a passage, not a destination.
B. The Comfort of His Nearness (v.4b)
(4b) "I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
Now to emphasize that God is near, he switches to the third person—“you are with me … you prepare … you anoint” (vv. 4, 5).
Jesus is never closer to us than at the moment of death
Everything changes with one phrase: "Thou art with me.” Now it’s personal. When in the valley, God’s nearness becomes more real than ever before.
“It has an inexpressibly delightful application to the dying; but it is for the living, too…. The words are not in the future tense, and therefore are not reserved for a distant moment.” (Spurgeon)
Disease and destruction can do its worst—we do not need to fear evil. Our Shepherd is armed. His “rod” (v. 4) is probably a long club, a sort of mace, that a shepherd wore on a thong tied to his belt. His “staff” (v. 4) is a long walking stick. He defends us and walks with us down the roughest road.
Do you feel like you’re in the valley today? Know this—the Shepherd has not left you. The presence of difficulty does not equal the absence of God. He walks with you.
IV. The Lord’s Preparation (Psalm 23:5)
IV. The Lord’s Preparation (Psalm 23:5)
God blesses His people even when surrounded by enemies.
A. A Table in the Midst of Trouble (v.5a)
(5a) "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies..."
Jesus welcomes us to sit with him as friends at his table. This is a public honor
Our enemies may be watching, but our Shepherd is still serving! This isn’t a rushed meal—this is a prepared table! Even surrounded by stress, anxiety, opposition—God says, “Sit. Eat. Partake of what I’ve provided.”
“Here the second allegory begins. A magnificent banquet is provided by a most liberal and benevolent host; who has not only the bounty to feed me, but power to protect me; and, though surrounded by enemies, I sit down to this table with confidence, knowing that I shall feast in perfect security.” Adam Clarke
In the Old Testament world, to eat and drink at someone’s table created a bond of loyalty and fellowship.10 It could even be the final step of sealing a covenant. David is promising us a close, intimate relationship with our Shepherd. Instead of dumb sheep, Jesus calls us friends (John 15:15
15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
B. Anointing and Overflowing (v.5b)
(5b) "Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over."
Oil in Scripture was for healing, hospitality, and consecration. The Shepherd anoints His sheep not out of duty—but delight!
And then the cup—symbolizing joy, blessing, and favor—doesn’t just fill, it “runneth over.” What a phrase of abundance!
“Those that have this happiness must carry their cup upright, and see that it overflows into their poor brethren’s emptier vessels.” John Trapp
God doesn’t get us by—He blesses us visibly. And sometimes, He lets our enemies see it. Not to boast, but so they may know—from where our help truly comes.
V. The Lord’s Promise - Psalm 23:6
V. The Lord’s Promise - Psalm 23:6
From now to eternity, the Shepherd never leaves His sheep. The blessing of being in “the house of the LORD” (v. 6) is being with the Lord
A. Goodness and Mercy in the Present (v.6a)
(6a) "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."
“Surely”—David is not guessing. He’s certain. God’s goodness supplies what we don't deserve. His mercy spares us from what we do.
And they shall "follow me." Literally, chase me down. Like two sheepdogs always at the rear—goodness and mercy are right behind the child of God every day. No days excluded.
“We are well escorted, with a Shepherd in front and these twin angels behind!” F.B. Meyer
B. Glory and Fellowship in the Future (v.6b)
(6b) "...and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
When the psalmist closes verse five he uses the phrase, “My cup runneth over...” Culturally this was an invitation to stay as long as you would like… And David’s response is...
Understand that Christ isn’t just the best decision you can make for today… It’s the most important decision you will make when you are standing on the door of eternity...
Some passages of scripture are just the best...
The journey has a destination. Notice—the Psalm starts in green pastures, but it ends in glory! The house of the Lord is home—not a hotel, not a guest room—home! This is eternal fellowship with God.
The joy of Heaven is not mansions or streets of gold. Jesus is the joy of Heaven. It will be home because he is there
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Are you living like this world is your home—or just a pasture along the way? God's leading doesn’t stop at the grave—it leads to eternal communion.
• Conclusion:
From the pasture to the path. From the valley to the feast. From the chase of enemies to the chase of His mercy. From today’s burdens to tomorrow’s blessings—Psalm 23 walks us through every season of life with one steady truth: You can trust the Shepherd.
David trusted Him—not when everything was easy—but when everything was on the line.
Today I ask: Can you say, like David, “The Lord is my shepherd”?
• Invitation:
To the lost—Jesus is the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep (John 10:11
11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Today, if you will hear His voice, don’t harden your heart. Come to Him.
To the weary—He restores.
To the wandering—He leads.
To the wounded—He anoints.
To the waiting—He blesses.
To the worshiper—He welcomes.
If the Lord is truly your Shepherd—then walk loved, led, and cared for today.
Let us follow Him in every season, with every step.
Let’s bow our heads.
• Would you like me to include a tailored benediction or printed outline handout for your congregation?
