Psalm 23 1a

Intro:

Elderly woman, worn out the words.

Probably one of the 2 most recognized passages in the Bible, Jn 3:16

When beginning a study on a passage, we always need to ask who, when, why, theme?

Who: Superscript tells us it is David, not much to question there.

When: Unknown…Early Christian life thought David as shepherd writing this. But I learned David probably around 17 when fought Goliath, then either with or running from Saul. Realized he was too immature to write this. I have developed the theory David was an older, more mature man reflecting on life, his kingship, Bathsheba, death of their son, Uriah, Absalom, The Davidic Covenant, the promise of the Temple, and realizing how God had been there and seen him through life.

Why and theme may be stated as one. Psalm 22 is considered a Messianic Psalm. Look at 22:1-2 and Vs. 11-20. It is only after we have read, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me!” that we come to “The Lord is my Shepherd.” We must by experience know the value of the blood-shedding, and see the sword awakened against the Shepherd, before we shall be able truly to know the sweetness of the good Shepherd’s care.

Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 1-26 (Vol. 1, p. 353). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.

Our focus today :”The LORD is My Shepherd” Examine 5 words.

The-Is an article just as the letter a, if this read a God is my shepherd it would mean one of many. But it states the Lord, not much in English but leaded in Greek class this points to a specific item, person, place. The appears to point to only one Lord.

LORD-Jehovah or Yahweh -no vowels in Hebrew. But we ask, what’s in a name? Jewish custom-naming baby on 8th day in order that name reveals their character. Look at a few of the names of God to define His character. Gen. 15:2 Abraham calls the Lord Adonai which has a sense of My Lord. Sometimes find Yahweh Adonai which describes a sense of self-sustaining eternal existence.In Gen. 17:2 He is called El Shaddi the almighty God. You get the picture, many more names but not in the scope of this study. The names of God help us understand His character.

In Exodus 3:14 we have I am that I am. It describes as a being, as alive, as an all powerful, all-sufficient, all caring, and as self-determined God.

King James Version Chapter 9

6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Now we have 2 facts about God that relate to Psalm 23. Thou hast made=creation and thou preservest them=sustainer.

1 IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

King James Version Chapter 1

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or tprincipalities, or spowers: all things were created vby him, and for him: 17 And whe is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, athe firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

King James Version Chapter 8

51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. 53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself? 54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: 55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying. 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? 58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

King James Version Chapter 10

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

King James Version Chapter 10

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine

God the Father originator-architect -in His mind

God the Son-the artist that created

God the HS=the agent that reveals the facts unto us.

God as the Shepherd is developed throughout Scriptures- it was developed by God the Father.

Made possible through the Son and confirmed by the HS.

King James Version Chapter 13

20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting ecovenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Is=Present tense verb, but how does this relate? In his Book The Case For Christ, Lee Stobel relates the story of Charles Templeton-saved about same time as Billy Graham, supposed to be a better evangelist than Billy. But doubt crept in and gave up the faith-He would say the Lord was my shepherd.

The world is filled with people of good intentions, thinking they have plenty of time-they say the Lord will be my shepherd.

But when we say the Lord is My Shepherd, saying He is here right now, at this very present moment.

King James Version Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

King James Version Psalm 91

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:

My God; in him will I trust.

King James Version Psalm 142

4  ||I looked on my right hand, and beheld,

But there was no man that would know me:

Refuge failed me;

No man cared for my soul.

5  I cried unto thee, O LORD:

I said, Thou art my refuge

And my portion in the land of the living.

My= Wilmington-better learning what it is not---

Not A shepherd=that would be one of many.

Not OUR shepherd-that would mean he relates only to a crowd.

Not THE shepherd-that one demonstrate His priority but He would be impersonal.

MY-MINE- I know Him, trust Him. Charles Spurgeon: If He be a shepherd to no one else, He is a shepherd to me; He cares for me; He watches over Me; and preserves me.

I belong to Him simply because He is the One that bought me, no one is better able to understand me or care for me. I belong to Him simply because He looked past all my faults and chose me…I am the object of His affection. He demonstrated it all on the cross.

Shepherd -I don’t know much about being a shepherd, never been around sheep. So really all I know is what I have read.

Sheep are dumb animals as we will discover. Not only are they dumb, they are directionless, defenseless, stubborn, they like to wander, they are nervous, they fail to recognize danger, and easily excited. Sounds a lot like us. Therefore, sheep need a shepherd.

As we have seen, Jn. 10;14, a shepherd knows His sheep. Spends time with them. Watch this:

John 10:1-5 (KJV) 1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

A shepherd protects his sheep.

A shepherd leads his sheep.

A shepherd has a developed relationship with His sheep,they recognize His voice.

A shepherd has compassion for His sheep. Matthew 9:36 (KJV) 36  But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

A shepherd provides for his sheep. John 10:10 (KJV) 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

A shepherd will sacrifice for His sheep. John 10:15 (KJV) 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) 20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Just a few final thoughts:

God creates, yet He was never created. Just like God makes, yet He was never made. God does not check the weather, He makes it Jn. 4:24 states “God is spirit” since He has no body, He is not affected by health issues. Since no act brought Him forth, no act can take Him out.

Councilors can comfort you in a storm, but you need a God that can still the storm. Friends can hold your hand at your death bed, but you need a Yahweh that defeated the grave. Philosophers can debate the meaning of life, but you need a shepherd who can declare the meaning of life.