Psalm 23: The Shepherd

Psalm 23

The Shepherd

The Oriental shepherd knows each of his sheep by name. He goes before them and makes sure that the path is safe and secure--that no danger or dangerous animal is ahead of them.

The sheep never have to worry when they follow the shepherd, for he will:

• Care for them

• Feeds, waters

• Binds wounds

• Guides them

• Protects them

• Gives his life for them

• He watches over them

Jesus is the Great Shepherd who cares for His sheep.

John 10:27-28

Hebrews 13:20-21

Men are like sheep: Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He is our Great Shepherd, the Great High Priest.

Everything hinges on the personal pronoun “MY” in verse 1.

The Lord is “MY” Shepherd (John 10:11, 14)

HE is our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)

HE is our intercessor (Hebrews 7:25)

Because THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

1. I AM SUPPLIED, vv. 1-3

According to Thomas Newberry (the English Bible scholar), the name Jehovah combines the three tenses of the Hebrew verb: “to be”:

Yehi--“He will be”--(the future)

Hove--“Being”--(the present)

Hahyah--“He was” (the past)

Take the first three letters of Yehi (Yeh)

The middle two letters of Hove (Ov)

And the last two of Hahyah (Ah)

And you have YEH-OV-AH (JEHOVAH)!

God is the One Who is, Who was, and Who is to be, the eternal One.

Old Testament names for God that can be seen in this Psalm:

Jehovah-Jireh: “the Lord will Provide” (Genesis 22:13-14)

Jehovah-Rapha: “the Lord will restore” (Exodus 15:26)

Jehovah-Shalom: “the Lord our peace” (Jude 6:24)

Jehovah-Tsidkenu: “the Lord our righteousness” (Jeremiah 23:6)

Jehovah-Shammah: “the Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35)

Jehovah-Nissi: “the Lord our banner” (Exodus 17:8-15)

Jehovah-Raah: “the Lord my Shepherd” (Psalm 23:1)

Jehovah-Mekoddishkem: “The Lord our Sanctifier” (Exodus 31:13)

As His sheep, Jesus is all we will ever need.

2. I AM SAFE, vv. 4-5

Psalms 27:1, Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 139:7-10

3. I AM SATISFIED, v. 6

Glimpse of home (John 14:1-3)

I am SURE--assurance of salvation (John 10:27-29)