The Lord Is My Shepherd!
Notes
Transcript
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
We are in the midst of this pandemic and it seems to be getting out of control. Not only that, it seems as if everything and everyone around us is getting out of control. Death is running rampant, for some it is difficult to maintain a way of life.....for some it is difficult just to keep your lights on. I want us to focus on this classic passage of scripture to give us strength and comfort in the times that we currently live in.
I. The Lord Is My Shepard.
Shepard is one who is responsible for the care of sheep. A shepherd’s responsibilities are: leading, feeding, protecting, and procuring the flock. Now there is a difference between sheep and goats (explain). Sheep get agitated when they are separated from the flock. Their odds of survival drop significantly when they are outside of the flock. When you become a part of God’s flock you realize that without the LORD you can’t survive. You cannot live without God in your life, you cannot survive without God being present in your life.
The Lord is my shepherd, the Lord is our shepherd, The LORD is the one who leads his flock. The Lord is the one who feeds his flock, the Lord is the one who protects is flock, and when or if we should go astray He loves us enough to come after us.
I shall not want, I have all that I need, David acknowledges the fact that LORD who is his shepherd is the supplier of his needs. He expresses confidence that he will not go without, that everything he needs from God.....that God will supply it!
He makes me lie down in green pastures. David declares that God makes him to lie down in green pastures. In other-words David says the LORD is the one who provides rest for him. The LORD causes him to take rest. When the Great Shepherd is leading you, when He’s in control he can bring you to a place of rest in him.
Matter of fact the next stanzas David praises God for refreshing. God leads him beside still, quiet, peaceful waters, God restores his soul, God leads him in the paths of righteousness. God is your shepherd and when he leads he’ll bring you to a place of peace. When you get weary in this life’s journey the Great Shepherd is there to restore your soul. The great shepherd is the one who can lead you to paths of righteousness and He does it to bring honor to his name, He does it so that you can magnify him in the Earth!
II. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. In the darkest times, David says......I will not be afraid....I will fear no evil because you are with me.
David now acknowledges the fact that even though God can lead him to a place of peace that it does not exempt one from being surrounded with troubles. There will come times in one’s life where darkness will come. There will come times where you will experience low points (valley). Yet in-spite of the darkness in-spite of the low point David says I will fear no evil....I will not be afraid.....for you are with me......you are close beside me.....and for those of us who have been filled with the Spirit of God we can say that God is in us!
Your rod and staff they comfort me, a shepherd’s rod was used to negotiate difficult terrain and to count sheep. The staff of a shepherd symbolized the care and concern that the shepherd had for the sheep in his care. David says that God’s concern and care for him brought him comfort. God’s concern and care for us should bring us comfort. It is comforting to know that out of all of God’s many sheep.....he is concerned for us personally. The shepherds rod sometimes was used to part thick undergrowth and brush, by doing so the shepherd was able to make passageway for the sheep. David suggests in this song that God is comforting to him because God makes a way for him. So when things get a little tight for you and when you grow concerned about provision or any other thing.....take comfort in knowing that God is your shepherd.....He specializes in making a way! The shepherd’s rod was used to defend the sheep from predators, it was the shepherds responsibility to lay down his life to protect the sheep. We too can take comfort in knowing that God will fight our battle for us.
The scriptures declares:
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
God is going to carry you, God is going to carry us, He (The LORD) is going to carry us in his arms. There will be times that you won’t have strength, there will be times that you won’t be able to stand......but understand that when you don’t have strength.....you can expect the LORD to be your strength because He is your shepherd! In this season that we are in, let us ever be mindful of the fact and endued with faith to believe that God is going to carry us through. Even when things get bad for us.....God is going to carry us through.
III. Thou preparest a table.
David uses an illustration of a table and a meal. David says, even while I’m in the valley and even while I have enemies all around me, you prepare a table before me. Initially I was unsure about the meaning of this. But upon investigation I found that in the tabernacle was the table of shewbread. Face of bread as it is called from the Hebrew standpoint was 12 loaves of unleavened bread that was placed on the table in the holy place. It was cook fresh and placed on the table every Sabbath. This shewbread symbolized the 12 tribes of Israel’s acceptance that God was there God. This bread symbolized the consecration of true Israel with the one true God and fellowship with God. The priests were to eat this bread every Sabbath.
One of the best things that we can do with our friends and loved ones is to sit down and to have a meal with them. It is how we commune with one another.
Because we are consecrated to God, because we have fellowship with God, even though our enemies our around us......God is in the midst of us.
This shewbread also symbolized seeing the face of God to live. Man lives not by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The bread entails a spiritual meaning.....as long as we keep our sight on the LORD, as long as we continue to fellowship with Him. We can live! The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy.....but Jesus said I come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly!
When God sets table before you in the presence of your enemies God is essence saying that I got your back. I’m going to set this food right here.....and I dare them to attack.....I dare them to come against you!
IV. Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
God takes care of his saints. Oil was used as a hairdressing, oil was used to treat and take care of wounds. Oil was used to consecrate an individual for the work of God.
David said you honor me, you revive my drooping head, you take care of me and my cup overflows with blessings! Listen David is in the midst of a valley, he has enemies all around him.....yet because he is with God......instead of his head being drooped down.....instead of him being discouraged......he says......your anointing causes my head to be lifted.....because my cup overflows with blessings!
IV. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me. When you have God in your life like the psalmist says.....you cannot help but to prosper. It means that because God is in your life.....that all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord! Good things are destined to happen.....I want to encourage anyone that might find themselves in the valley....in darkness.....that if you hang on to God and hang on a little while longer.....good things are going to happen to you!
God’s goodness and his unfailing love will pursue you all the days of your life. I’ll live in the house of the LORD......I’ll live in the presence of God forever!
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 covenant, 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.
Jesus Christ is our Great Shepherd.
Thoughts: