A Patriot’s Trust in the LORD

My Shepherd

We have choices when it comes to trust, reliance

Psalm 20:7 NASB95

Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.

In Isaiah 30 and forward - Israel placed trust in Egypt instead of Yahweh

Ultimately - we trust in our own ways and the world, or we trust in the LORD

Psalm 23 - We are going to read it verse-by-verse - you already know it well

Embrace the familiarity…

The LORD is my shepherd

Focus on this psalm - often on the “shepherd” aspect

Understood, we will be reminded of what a shepherd does

A shepherd leads, guides, protects.

Who, or what, leads, guides, protects you?

The LORD - Who is my shepherd? The LORD

YAHWEH is the LORD - this is His name

Psalm 121:1 NASB95

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?

Psalm 121:2 NASB95

My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Joshua 24:15 NASB95

“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

We are to be cautious of priorities

Who do we rely on and trust more than the Lord?

Many kings and false gods were referred to as ‘shepherd’

Hammurabi - Babylon - 1792 B.C.

Shamash - Babylonian god of justice - called ‘shepherd’

STATEMENT - The LORD is MY Shepherd!

I love our nation - our nation is not my guide

I shall not want

I lack nothing that I need

The shepherd cares for every need of the sheep

(Look to the last verse) - forever

Forever - I lack nothing

This is the result of me allowing Yahweh to be my shepherd

This nation, with all its services and programs - can never satisfy spiritually

Christian Briefly Considers Placing Hope In God After Supreme Court Lets Him Down Again

Funny - not really - this is how Christians here tend to live

He makes me lie down in green pastures

Context - fields were green in winter and spring

Shepherd led the sheep to other places in summer and fall

Given opportunity to be nourished

Given opportunity to rest

I love this nation - this nation is not always concerned with my well-being

He leads me beside quiet (still) waters

Sheep need refreshment, to drink of good water (fast running streams)

Sheep are afraid of fast running streams

Shepherd would make a makeshift dam to slow the water, to create ‘quiet waters’ is quiet waters could not be found

To this point

He makes me lie down… - but I can refuse to rest

He leads me to quiet waters - but I can refuse to drink

My shepherd, who is the Lord, leads me right where I need to be

He restores my soul - guides me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake - don’t miss that!

Joy refreshes - Joy in Jesus is what restores one’s soul

“O soul are you weary and troubled?’

Sheep get stressed - the shepherd provides assurance and restoration

Guidance - yet we must follow the Guide

We are to follow the paths of righteousness - laid out for us

What our national and state leaders affirm - not righteousness

I love our nation - yet it wants me to simply feel good about myself

MY Shepherd - desires me to feel good about HIM

His name’s sake

My life shows to others who my Shepherd is - the path I walk

Be careful about prideful patriotism

Start by showing HIS name to be great and worthy of worship

Even though…

(V. 4)

This world is spiritually dark, spiritual dangers surround

And the Shepherd is there

We live in, and walk through this world

And we do not have to fear the evil

The Shepherd is there

Comfort in the rod and staff

Protects with the rod - used against danger

Corrects with the staff - He cares, so He corrects

I love this nation - yet it embraces and affirms evil

Established by God (Romans 13) - yet many of the leaders embrace evil and punish good

So I am a good citizen, and I worship the LORD - my first loyalty

Table prepared, Head anointed

The best picture of comfort, protection, security, care

Enemy right in front of you - “let’s pause and eat”

Sheep don’t eat when afraid, when threatened by the enemy

Here, the Shepherd cares for the sheep and taunts the enemy

“You can’t touch these sheep!”

Oil - sheep got banged up, scratched up, sores, etc.

Each night as they came into the sheepfold, examined

Anointed/Rubbed with olive oil as medicine

This is not a religious “anointing” - it is up close and personal care

Cup overflows

No doubt He is providing all His goodness

(Measure, then add more) - never, ever short of His full goodness

Goodness and Lovingkindness (Mercy)

God relentlessly pursues, follows

All the days of this life

And the eternal life to follow

I will dwell…

WILL! There is no doubt

When the Lord is your Shepherd

That place is prepared for you

I love this nation - I’m not living here forever

So why would I let this nation and its ways guide me?

CLOSE

Why am i here?

Good question

First, are you following the Shepherd, Jesus?

If not, he is still leading, urging you to follow

Second, if you ARE following

Be encouraged to continue - look around, but then look up!

Last, if you are following

There are others who need to be, and you can help them follow

John 10:16 NASB95

“I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.

Let the Shepherd use YOU

Point others to Him

You hear his voice

Invite them to listen, too

Our nation, celebrating 250 years of independence

How about 1996 years of freedom from sin??

We have been called to live here and point to Jesus, the King

Great freedom here, we can even complain about our nation, because it has its flaws

Our Great Shepherd has no flaws

This nation will let you down

Our Savior will not