Misc. - "Peace is a Person" - Psalm 23:2-3

"Peace is a Person”

My Shepherd Provides

Psalm 23:2–3 KJV 1900

2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Jesus as our Shepherd provides for us as we walk with Him daily.

People are looking for peace.

A former president of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences and A group of academics and historians has compiled this startling information: Since 3600 B.C., the world has known only 292 years of peace! During this period there have been 14,351 wars large and small, in which 3.64 billion people have been killed. The value of the property destroyed is equal to a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles wide and 33 feet thick. Since 650 B.C., there have also been 1,656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war. The reminder ended in the economic collapse of the countries involved.

Today in the Word, June 19, 1992

Pride groups preach peace. -

Pageant queens promote peace.

politicians promise peace

But they don’t know peace. Peace is a Person.

Policies try to determine peace

Professors try to define peace. - but peace is a Person.

I shall not want for what?

1. The Person of Peace

Notice some things about the opening verse:

a. The Shepherd and His Position

this is the covenant name of God that David is using here.

b. The Sheep in our Posture

Just like the sheep have peace when their shepherd is near, we can have peace when our Shepherd is near.

2. The Provision of Peace

Notice:

He Provides Rest

“He makes me lie down in gren pastures...”

Rest involves Participation

I’ve got to participate with Him.

When His presence is not met with our obedience we won’t find rest.

Rest involves Pleasure

Sheep only lie down after they are free from fear, agitations, and hunger.

Rest comes after the Shepherd provides.

Sheep are defenseless.

Sheep aren’t smart

Sheep need someone to provide their food.

Rest involves a Place

The Green Pastures is a cool and soft place.

I’ve played on a couple turf fields.

It’s hot as sin.

You know the best restful places?

His Word

When it comes to rest

He Provides Refreshment

Refreshment doesn’t come from the heavy or noisy waters of the world.

Refreshment also doesn’t come from stagnant dead waters.

Still waters means a quiet, peaceful stream.

This is a picture of His Spirit.

We can have peace in His Presence, but also in His Spirit.

Water in the Bible often is a picture of the Holy Spirit.

In the middle east, green pastures and rivers of water were hard to find for these flocks of sheep. In fact, there was a lack of rain that only allowed for green pastures for a couple of months a year. So shepherds needed to either rely on the dew in the morning, dig their own wells, or dam streams of water in order for their sheep to have something to drink.

John 19:28–30 KJV 1900

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

John 4:14 KJV 1900

14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

He Provides Restoration

“He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Just like sheep need a shepherd to follow, we as believers must be following after the One that rescues us!

The word “restores” means rescuing.

Restoration happens in your soul.

But it comes at a price.

Restoration is not cheap. We have seen cars and tractors restored and those who have restored them tell us that it is very expensive. A man in my church some years ago spend 40 hours restoring a desk for a lady. She was delighted at the results but was not happy when given the bill. Restoration costs and few saints want to pay the price to be restored spiritually. Restoration cost much in terms of humility, sacrifice, priorities, and friends. You may have to spend considerable time in the Word and prayer to be restored but it is worth it.

John G. Butler, Sermon Starters, vol. 3 (Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 2014), 33.

He Provides Righteousness

He leads us down paths that bring honor to God the Father.

The verb ‘leads’ (nâhal) re-echoes the use of the same verb at the Exodus (Exod. 15:13), while ‘for his name’s sake’ (lemaʿan shemô) is also used of the Exodus experience (Ps. 106:8).

Allan Harman, Psalms: A Mentor Commentary, vol. 1–2, Mentor Commentaries (Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor, 2011), 226.

“I lie down in green pastures because my Shepherd maketh me.”

“I am beside still waters because my Shepherd leadeth me.”

“My soul is restored because my Shepherd restored me.”

3. The Promise of Peace

The assurance we have for peace is found in a Person.

Jehovah-Jireh means, “the Lord will provide.” (verse 1 - “I shall not want”)

Jehovah-Shalom means, “the Lord is our peace.” (verse 2 - “leads me beside still waters”)

Jehovah- Rophe means, “The Lord is my healer” (verse 3 - “He restoreth my soul”)

Jehovah-Shama means, “The Lord is present” (verse 4 - “thou art with me”)

Jehovah-Ezer means, “The Lord is my help” (verse 4 - “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”)

Jehovah-Nissi means, “The Lord my victory” (verse 5 - “thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies”)

When you know Jesus you know Peace.