Psalm 23

Welcome...

Introduction…

Pray

Heavenly Father, please give me clarity in the words I speak.

Please fill us with the truth of your word and grant us

repentance where there is sin,

understanding where there is confusion, and

wisdom where there is foolishness.

Open our ears and our hearts,

Turn our affections towards you,

And make yourself our greatest joy and treasure.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Taking another break from the sermon series.

My heart is heavy.

I find myself reciting this psalm over and over...

Psalm 23:1 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:2 ESV

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Psalm 23:3 ESV

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:4 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:5 ESV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:6 ESV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Introduction thoughts:

The Psalms give guidance on how to pray

The Psalms are real and raw

David is the author of this Psalm

David was a shepherd, so this imagery is near to him.

Psalm 23:1 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The most powerful opening

This is both a confession and proclamation

This is to remind our spirit of the deep and true nature of God

Shepherd

Care

Leadership

Provision

Protection

I shall not want.

IF the LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing...

Psalm 73:25 ESV

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

Psalm 34:9–10 ESV

Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

There is also the trust angle...

Psalm 20:7 ESV

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Jesus calls himself the good shepherd...

John 10:14 ESV

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,

Psalm 23:2 ESV

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

God gives us rest and nourishment

Still waters are also “calm” or “quiet” or “peaceful”

Psalm 23:3 ESV

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God is the one who brings restoration and healing

God is the one leading your life, guiding you in righteousness

FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE

All for the glory of God

Psalm 23:4 ESV

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Even when things are dark, I will not fear

WHY

Because God is with us

Rod = protection

Staff = direction

Psalm 23:5 ESV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

I read as many interpretations for “presence of my enemies” as I read commentaries

I think it likely means God provision is abundant even though we live among adversaries

It may also mean that God’s provision to us is seen by our adversaries

Psalm 23:6 ESV

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

God is present in this life

God is present in the life to come

To be present with God is enough