Psalm 23
Notes
Transcript
Big Idea:
Big Idea:
We can trust God with our lives.
Intro:
Intro:
Hi Everyone. Welcome to Church Online.
Last Wednesday morning, I was driving home from a morning track workout and I had 94.1 on (Christian radio station). A man named John Dickerson was sharing his research on historical national trends. And much of what he said rang true to my ears.
He was speaking on the historical impact of Christianity on the world. His premise was civilization often progressed due to Christianity. Now, the church didn’t always get it right. Many terrible things have been done in the name of Christ, or because the church passively ignored injustices. Nevertheless, when a society has embraced a Christian worldview (one that is based on biblical truths) it has often progressed beyond the current historical norms for the better.
Where things like slavery, racism, inequalities, and injustices were the norm, Christians were found leading the change.
But he also noticed another historic trend. That many times, societies eventually moved past these impactful Christian foundations and influences.
For example, Germany in the 1800s was 90% Christian. Then, their society (led by certain intellectuals) began to say things like, “We don’t need God anymore. We have science and philosophy. The Bible is just ancient myths. We can do better on our own.”
One of their philosophers, by the name of Friedrich Nietzsche, summarized their new worldview by saying, “God is dead.” And yet we know what happened to Germany in the next century.
Additionally, Russia (which was also a nation once influenced by Christianity) began to embrace this movement away from God’s truth. Once again, horrific things began to happen in that country. A Russian philosopher named Alexander Solzhenitsyn, reflecting on this time and attempting to account for the 60 million Russians who had loss their lives because of the resulting national tragedies, said, “Men have forgotten God; that’s why all this has happened.”
And here’s where it intersects with our lives. I believe we can sense our nation heading in a similar direction. America was a nation built on biblical truth. And yet, we’re now a people rapidly moving away from God’s truth. And I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but it’s getting a little crazy out there...
Unfortunately, the church hasn’t done a great job following God’s truth. Often, we’re too busy listening to all the other voices in culture. We carry the name of Christ, have forgotten how to let His word guide us.
And that’s why I think this new sermon series in the Psalms is going to be impactful. The Psalms aren’t just Hebrew poems and songs. It’s not an ancient “Where the Sidewalk Ends” or the “Top 150 Pop Songs of 1000 BC.” They are unique and creative Jewish literature, inspired by the Spirit of God, meant to teach the people how to live for God.
And here’s what I love about the Psalms... is it’s real life wisdom, based on real life experience, from real people, who experienced a real God. It’s theology for the people. It’s Scripture that connects to our lives in a special way. I’m titling this series, “Finding Life in the Psalms.”
And here’s where it can really help our world… You see… Germany, Russia, and us aren’t the first ones to leave God’s truth behind. The original people of God - the Jews - did this.... OFTEN. And the Psalms helped them find their way back to God. I believe it still has the power to do this today.
My goal is that each week, as we study a particular Psalm, the Holy Spirit will speak to our hearts and teach us how to find what we read. And as we do this, individually and as a church, I believe our community will change too! That instead of seeing our neighbors slide away from God into chaos, we can inspire them to find life and hope in Jesus!
And I’m going to start with the most well-known Psalm in our society - Psalm 23.
Let’s read the whole thing together and then discuss it...
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
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.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
This Psalm is known as a “psalm of trust.” It teaches us that we can trust God with our lives. Why?
Well, first off, it’s because...
God will provide everything I need (vv. 1-4).
God will provide everything I need (vv. 1-4).
When I read this psalm, I can’t help but believe these words were birthed out of David’s personal experience with the Living God. David penned these words because he personally learned he could trust God to provide and he wanted to share that with others. I like that!
Because while all Scripture is beneficial to us, there’s something special about a personal story or testimony!
It’s easier to connect to a testimony than text book.
We understand a real life better than religious literature.
That’s the beauty and power of the Psalms! It teaches us through personal experience and heartfelt emotions.
Many of you know that before David was king, he was a shepherd. And Scripture seems to indicate he was a good one, skilled and faithful to his responsibilities. And when he calls God a Shepherd in verse 1, he personally knew what that meant. He knew that...
Sheep were completely dependent on the shepherd for care.
Sheep needed to be led to green pastures, still waters, and safe paths.
And as David reflected on his experience of God, he knew God did all of these things perfectly as the Divine Shepherd. And his words paint that picture...
… but these verses also paint an another picture. Not only is God a Good Shepherd, but we (humans) are dumb sheep. Before you get offended, remember David said, “The LORD is MY Shepherd.” King David - Israel’s greatest king, the Bible hero, the Giant slayer, the man after God’s own heart - was okay with being a sheep. We should be too. So… get over it.
But just in case it’s hard for you to identify as a sheep, consider the following questions:
Do you ever get lost, even when you think you know the way, or because you’re not paying attention? Guess what? Sheep do that!
Do you ever resist what’s actually good for you because you’re stubborn? Sheep do that too...
Do you ruin good things in your life because of dumb decisions? Sounds like a sheep...
Do you need help with life? You’re a sheep - we all are!
[Sheep video? Is this you? Does this describe your life?]
As harsh of a reality as that might be, there’s good news. Something this Psalm makes clear: We have a Good Shepherd who is ready to provide and care for us dumb sheep. One that will ensure lack nothing!
He will makes us lie down in green pastures. He is actively leading us into environments where we will thrive. Places of rest. Do you need rest today?
He leads us beside still waters. We don’t have find satisfaction on our own. He will bring us there. Does your soul need this kind of refreshment? The Good Shepherd is ready to give you living water that’ll restore your soul.
He will make sure we travel the right path. He will get us safely home. Do you wonder what’s God’s will for your life? What’s your calling and purpose? How you can make the right life-choices in life? The Shepherd will show you. That’s His responsibility. When the psalmist writes, “He leads me in paths of righteousness FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE,” we can say it this way, “Because that’s what God does. He is the One shows us the right way to go. That’s who He is!”
But God isn’t just a Provider and Guide… He’s also our Protector.
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 our lives get overwhelmingly dark, when God is our Protector, we have nothing to fear...
For a moment, let’s pretend to be literal sheep. You know what’s scary and overwhelming? Walking thru a dark dangerous valley with a little boy (like David) as our shepherd! What’s this kid gonna do when a predator comes? Like a bear or a lion!
Yet, part of David’s story was...
But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”
And if we were David’s sheep, pretty soon we wouldn’t doubt our safety based on our experience. This kid took down a bear and lion! This little boy can protect us! We wouldn’t fear.
Now, consider this? We don’t have a little boy as a shepherd. God Almighty is our Shepherd. And God can fight!
The Lord is a warrior;
Yahweh is his name!
You’ll really see that if you read the end of this book (the Bible). You see Him fighting the greatest, most powerful enemies. And all He does is give them the “Thanos snap” and they are disintegrated! Imagine what happens if He uses His rod and staff!
When you know who God is.
When you know Who is with you.
When you know the Good Shepherd, who provides and protects you… you are comforted! His perfect love casts out fear.
And you trust Him.
In this Psalm, David is creatively instructing us to trust God who has promised (and able) to provide everything we need to live!
..Before we move on, I want to mention something else about verse 4… notice how it says, “Even though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death.” It is not God’s will make our home in the valley of darkness. We’re only walking in it because it’s part of this fallen world and the path home runs through it. That should comfort us… but it should also convict us!
Because some of us currently live in the valley of death; and when we’re honest, it’s by our own choice! We’re stuck in the valley, consumed by fear, because WE choose not to trust God. In fact, we keep running from Him because we think we can find our own way out of valley… but remember, we’re dumb sheep! We can’t!
The only way out of the valley is to follow the Shepherd! So, how do we do that?
Well, if you didn’t know, we make a big deal about Jesus here at The River Church. We believe:
He is the Son of God. He is God. He’s the Second Person of the Trinity.
He is our Lord. And He alone is the Savior of the world!
But Jesus also said...
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,
He goes onto say...
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
How do follow the Shepherd? We listen to Jesus’s voice! And the primary way we hear His voice is through His word - The Bible. John 1 tells us that Jesus is the Word of God (one in the same!). You want to follow the Shepherd? Read your Bible.
We also hear God’s voice thru prayer. Now, this is a little less precise, but not less important. God is alive. God is relational. And when we seek Him in prayer, He will speak with us.
Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
I got to throw this in there too. What God speaks to us thru prayer will always line up with what He’s revealed to us in His word.
However, there’s an additional way God speaks to us. And it’s through other sheep! Maybe you’re new to the flock. You don’t recognize the voice Shepherd too well yet. When that’s the case, here’s an easy tip: Start by following other sheep! Specifically two kinds of sheep:
Sheep who know the Shepherds voice and follow Him.
Sheep who used to be wanderers. These are special sheep because when we start to wander, they’re the ones cry out, “Aye man… don’t go that way. I’ve already tried that. You want to get out of the darkness? Just follow the Shepherd.”
We need people like this in our lives. Do you have any?
Okay, with the final two verses, there’s a bit of a scene change. Different imagery. The picture of the One we should trust goes from a Shepherd to a Hospitable Host. A Host who is inviting us to a beautiful future He’s prepared.
Point number 2 is...
God has secured a blessed future for me (vv. 5-6).
God has secured a blessed future for me (vv. 5-6).
Many of you have heard this verse before...
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Jesus said...
There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.
In the final verses of Psalm 23, David is sharing the same hope. He says...
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Again, what makes this Psalm so powerful is I believe David is sharing from His personal experience. This is what God did in his life!
Even though David was God’s chosen king, he didn’t have an easy life… he had enemies...
For many years, the previous king (Saul) was trying to kill him.
His very own son tried to kill him and take his throne.
And God didn’t allow David to build Him a house because he had shed too much blood (implying he faced a lot of enemies in war).
Despite all of this… he knew that his God had still prepared a table for him. A special place of blessing, comfort, and feasting - even in the midst of his enemies. I love this because it reminds me that God’s not worried about our enemies. God didn’t set up a table and tell David, “Okay, hurry up and eat. I’ll hold them off as long as I can!”
No…
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
David knew no matter the circumstances, He was safe in God’s presence.
Furthermore, he says, “you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” When I study this, this phrase makes me think of when the prophet Samuel anointing David as king, even when he was the least likely choice… but I couldn’t find any Bible commentary to agree with me… so that’s just a personal thought!
However, I did find that the word “anoint” can also refer to fertilizer. What’s David saying? “God, you put cow poop on my head?” Of course not.
Fertilizer helps plants grow! And the combination of the table, the cup that overflows (a sign of abundant blessing), and fertilizer, paints a picture of a blessed future!
In this verse, David is saying, “When I trust God, He will make sure I become everything He has created me to be! He has a good future for me! A blessing my enemies can’t destroy!”
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken—
who can change his plans?
When his hand is raised,
who can stop him?”
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Let me share something else that should encourage our trust in God. When David writes, “Surely goodness and mercy (or God’s steadfast, faithful, saving love) will follow me all the days of my life,” it’s not like a little puppy gently following its owner. No, the intensity of follow is more like an enemy’s relentless attack. Except, it’s God Almighty relentlessly pursuing us with His goodness and mercy!
Furthermore, when David writes, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” it’s a verse loaded good promises!
It speaks to the promise of access. God gives His people access to His personal presence. We get to dwell in His house!
The word “dwell” also refers to “returning.” Think about it this way: Even when we wander as stupid sheep, the Good Shepherd will relentlessly return us home safely!
Finally, it speaks to an eternal future. One day, those who have put their faith in the LORD will be forever restored.
This week, take some time to meditate on this. God is passionately following you with His goodness and mercy to bring you into a good future! How does that impact your trust towards Him?
In this psalm, whether through the picture of a Shepherd or a Hospitable Host, David encourages us to trust God with our lives. When we do, we will completely loved, cared for, and eternally secure.
So, will you trust Him today?
Response:
Response:
As we close today, I believe the Good Shepherd is speaking through His living word. Calling us to follow Him. Saying, “I will provide for you. I will protect you. I will bring you safely home. All you need to do is trust Me.”
Are you trying to live without God? I know that’s direction our society is going, but we don’t need to follow. And I promise you, it’s not going to work out well anyways. History has proven over and over, that when a nation turns away from God, the people perishes.
Do you want to perish or live? If you want to find life (abundant life, eternal life), then put your trust in Jesus. He is the Good Shepherd ready to care for you. He loves you. He has everything You need. He is ready to forgive you and put you on the right path. He will be with you to bring you through the darkest times. And He will lead you safely home!
If you need to do that today, pray this with me...
Jesus, I need you! I admit, too often I try to live without You. Forgive me for my sin. I’m ready to trust You today. I’m ready to follow You. But I need to hear Your voice. Speak to me Lord. And give me strength and wisdom to walk with You all my life, so I may dwell in Your house forever. And I thank you for the promise that Your goodness and salvation is chasing me down because You love me! In Jesus name, amen.
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