November 2nd, 2025

Who Is God?

Bible Passage: Psalm 23, John 10:11–16

Scripture - “The Lord is my Shepherd”

Prayer

Opening - Obituaries

We have all probably read them...How many folks have written one?

Having the opportunity to read a lot of them...you can gather a lot from just a couple hundred word.

You learn about the person who has passed

You learn about the person or people who wrote it?

The words they use, the adjectives help to define the relationship

The description of the person and what they did during their time here defines what was important to them.

My sisters and I came together to write our mothers...however if we had wrote it separately you might have read three different stories...three different perspectives.

These short pieces are very telling...

Hold that concept close this morning as we focus on the 23rd Psalm.

23rd Psalm Overview

At some point we have all most likely heard the 23rd Psalm. It is often read at funerals as it provides comfort and hope.

This feels like scripture that goes so much further than just funerals...it is about more than death...more than just life.

Prayed about it this week...and thought what is this Psalm?

To David it would have been his answer to the question...Who is God?

You can feel the in depth of relationship down to the soul that David has with the Lord.

CONTEXT

What are the Psalms?

Psalms comes form the Greek and means to sing to the accompaniment of music.

Which is why so many of our hymns are taken right from the Psalms.

The Psalms are also a prayer book for devotion. Writings that we read that bring us closer to the Lord.

While there are several authors of the Psalms, David is attributed with authoring the most.

Since we are focusing today on the 23rd Psalm, we should quickly cover who is David.

David Overview

Shepherd and musician

Anointed by the Prophet Samuel as a future King. Samuel went to the house of Jesse as the Lord told him to do. (New Testament Jesus comes from this line)

Giant Slayer

He is favored by King Sal until Sal tries to kill him.

Became King himself

Had an affair with Bathsheba

He had her husband Uriah sent into war so he might be killed so he could marry Bathsheba

This happens, they marry and they have children together including their son Solomon who become King.

His life is an amazing series of ups and downs, Good / Bad, challenge.

You can feel his life coming through in his writings. Especially Psalm 23.

This week I spent a lot of time praying about each line...in the slides you will see the word that kept coming up for each line during prayer and meditation. Lets go through it line by line.

The Lord is my Shepherd (Relationship)

Relationship is defined.

The Shepherd the one who guides me, keeps me safe, makes sure I am taken care of. Brings me back when I get out of line.

I Shall Not Want (Contentment)

All You are is all I need.

You provide me everything I need. I don’t want for anything.

Recognition that wants are superficial in comparison to what the Lord provides. Different categories....these needs and our wants are not on the same level.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures (Rest)

“He makes” - The Lord Knows Best, the Lord knows what we need.

Like a parent makes a child take a nap...why?

Because the parent knows best...they know what we need.

I often forget this...I feel like the kid trying to stay awake, I don’t need a nap! (When I was exhausted at work)

He leads me beside still waters (Refreshment)

The Lord brings me to a place of Peace and Calm so I can be refreshed, spiritually nourished.

The path of the Lord leads us to peace...even amidst the chaos around us. (Bulletin cover)

He restores my soul (Healing)

When I am rested and refreshed, my soul can heal.

When we find ourselves overwhelmed or in a constant state of being heightened...we are not able to heal.

When we let the Lord lead us...and we follow...restoration occurs.

He leads me in the path of righteousness (Guidance)

When I follow the Lord’s lead...it is right.

Personally when I mess up (which is often) it is always off His path.

Ex. Stay on the yellow brick road...when they strayed chaos ensued.

Same thing here...when I am quick to talk, or find myself judging another...I have a feeling that comes over me...wrong path.

For His name sake (Purpose)

Sake means purpose.

Said differently, for the Lord’s purpose...

...so I may serve the Lord...

In this line, David is saying the Lord has given his life purpose...The Lord leads me in paths of righteousness for Your purpose.

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (Trials)

As I walk...not run...trials we experience take time.

Through the valley indicates there is another side...the valley is the dip.

The shadow of death...the shadow of calamity...a dark time, a heavy season.

During these times we do not know what the outcome is going to be...we don’t know when it is going to change or even get better...but what David says to this...

I will fear no evil (Courage)

I will not be afraid...

I can face anything, work through the hardest challenges

Face illness, loss, uncertainty

For you are with me (Faith)

You are right there next to me.

I know you have seen it all

You love me and will be right there with me, even as the shade of life begins to close.

I am not alone.

Your rod and Your staff they comfort me (Protection & Discipline)

Two functions:

They protect the sheep as they are used to ward off enemies, wolves etc.

They are also used to bring the flock back in line with discipline. Ex. Teacher.

David is saying that the Lord’s discipline corrects him...the discipline brings comfort.

Maybe not in the moment, but it helps to teach us, and form us into who we become.

This point in the Psalm, the Lord switches from Shepherd to Host.

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

We talked about the significance of the table last month when we covered communion and Passover.

The table was the place where covenant and agreements came to fruition.

We hear today when world leaders need to come to the table...that means the place where they find common ground and enter into agreement.

David is saying that the Lord prepares a table before him...the Lord invites him into covenant into a promise together.

You anoint my head with oil (Blessed / Consecration)

David says, You bless me, you consecrate me...

Consecration is the act of dedicating something or someone to a sacred purpose, often involving a formal ceremony to separate it from a common use and make it holy.

By having his head anointed with oil, David is saying that God is blessing him for a sacred purpose.

God has plans for him.

As servants we should always be ready for God’s plan for us.

My cup runs over (Abundance)

You have given me more than I need...I am humbled by this abundance that you have provided.

Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Hope / Confidence)

With all this, I have the hope and confidence that my future will be filled with goodness and mercy...

David writes that goodness and mercy will follow him...this doesn’t necessarily mean to bring up the rear but that goodness and mercy will pursue him.

This happens because:

He let’s the Lord lead him so his soul can be healed

He walks in righteousness

He has faith

He is in relationship with the Lord

He feels the Lord blessings

He has hope and confidence in the future

As David walks a life of mercy and goodness, both goodness and mercy will pursue him.

With all of this, he is confident...he knows he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Message

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of literature ever written...

This is David sitting down and writing out who God is to him.

I pictured myself this week sitting with David and talking to him about the Psalm.

He says to me...this is my perspective. This Psalm is who God is to me...

This perspective, this relationship has changed over my life...through the ups and downs...

But it has guided me in the past and guides me in the futures...

The questions for us this morning and I invite you to think about this week...maybe write it out even if just a few lines.

Is...Who is God to you?

Let us take a moment in silence as the children come upstairs for communion.