Confidence In God's Care

This psalm is one of if not the most popular of psalms. It has been memorized thousands upon thousands of believers around the world. It is one of the most read and recited of psalms. It surrounding psalms helps to give is greater significance. This psalm along with and help us to see the threefold ministry of Christ. portrays God as the Good Shepherd. In the NT John portrays Jesus as good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. In God is portrayed as the Chief Shepherd where 1 Peter portrays Christ as the King of Glory. Our psalm to portrays God as the Great Shepherd, where Hebrew writer portrays Jesus as the great shepherd of the sheep. And since He is a great shepherd, I believe we can have confidence in His care.

I want to emphasize two skill sets that our great shepherd possesses that we can have confidence in.

Confidence in God’s Shepherding Skills V. 1b-4

God’s as a our shepherd provides us with everything we need.

He provides us with physical rest.

Parents know when children need a nap. Some kids will just fall asleep, but sometimes they have to be made to take a nap. Likewise sometimes we have to be made to rest. God does that in different ways.

He provides us with peace.

He provides us with spiritual restoration.

He provides us with guidance.

We have a tendency to stray sometimes.

He provides us with protection.

Life won’t always be filled with green pastures and quiet waters.

Sometimes in life you have to walk through darkness and gloom. You have to experience some bad days.

But you can do so without fear, because of God’s presence.

Confidence in God’s Hosting Skills V. 5-6

God is the greatest of host.

God does more than simply provide a meal for you.

He’s able to protect you while you are His guest.

You can sit down and enjoy a meal at God’s house, right in the presence of your enemies.

My cup is overflowing. God gives the psalmist an abundance of generosity, by always giving more than we need.

The declares now that goodness and mercy shall follow or pursue him.

God’s goodness and loyal and unfailing love will pursue him.

All the days of his life.

Goodness and mercy are like nepotism in the police department. No matter what you will find them there. The grandfather and his brother have hired their son’s and grandsons who follow suit, so that there in never a shortage of goodness and mercy in the department. Therefore they can always assign them to follow you.

This is why the psalmist final declaration is I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

This isn’t simply talking about heaven.

This word dwell also means to return.

God’s goodness and mercy, His provision, peace, guidance and protection and abundance of blessing have move him to the point that he will alway return to house of the Lord

The house of the Lord is spoken of the temple where God dwelled. But in the NT God no longer dwells in the building, but in the church, His people.

Thats why we ought to make a declaration that since God is so good and able to care for me and provide my every need, I will return to the church every time I get a chance.