Title: The LORD is my shepherd

Scripture Reading: Psalms 23:1-6
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. ³ He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. ⁴ Yea, 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. ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”

Main idea: Jesus is a shepherd who knows his sheep by name, and they follow him, he gives them eternal life, and they will never perish.

The placement of Psalm 23
Psalm 22 presents Christ as the Good Shepherd who dies for His sheep. This is symbolized by the cross (Psalm 22:14-15).

Psalm 23 presents Christ as the Great Shepherd who lives and cares for His sheep. Through Christ’s resurrection, He makes intercession for us and supplies our present needs. This is symbolized by the rod and staff (Psalm 23:4).

Psalm 24 presents Christ as the Chief Shepherd who comes for His sheep. At Christ’s return, He will transport us into His presence where we will reign with Him throughout the eternity. This is symbolized by the crown (Psalm 24:7-10).

Psalm 22 is a song of deep anguish. Psalm 24 is a song of triumph. Psalm 23 is a bridge over troubled waters, joining the two.

David as the sheep and the Lord as his Shepherd.
The Bible does say that God’s people are all “the sheep of his pasture” (Psalm 79:13; Psalm 95:7). In Psalm 23 David says that “the Lord is my Shepherd.” Why does this matter? Israel thought David was their shepherd. When David became king, the people said to him, “The LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel” (2 Samuel 5:2). And the psalmist says that God “chose David . . . to shepherd Jacob his people” (Psalm 78:70-71). David himself was the shepherd of Israel.  But in Psalm 23 David is also a sheep and the Lord is his Shepherd. The message was that God cared for their king. Why would this have mattered to them? By watching over David, God was watching over all Israel.

Jesus is our good Shepherd (John 10:11).
God took on flesh to become a Lamb to save us and a King to rule over us. The Scriptures says in Revelation 7:17 that “the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd.” How do you know if Jesus is your Shepherd? There are two tests. Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice” (John 10:27). Do you listen to his Word? And Jesus also said, “they follow me” (John 10:27). Do you do what he says? Jesus Christ identified Himself as our Shepherd. This is one of many indications that Jesus is God. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:10–14).

The Twenty-Third Psalm is probably the best-loved Psalm.
In my many years of pastoral ministry, I have the privilege of reading Psalm 23 in some tragic situations as well as in some joyful occasions. Spurgeon said that Psalm 23 is the Pearl of the Psalms. Despite its popularity, the Psalm is not for everyone. It is applicable only to those who are entitled to say, “The LORD is my Shepherd.” The Twenty-third Psalm contains only 57 words in the Hebrew. In it, David portrays our relation to God in a beautiful picture drawn from personal experience—the relation of the shepherd to his sheep. Most of the time we hear this Psalm 23 read at funerals or a time of death. In reality, this chapter is about life. It is about the life that the Lord provides for us. Christ meets every need in our lives. He feeds us and leads us throughout our journey. He loves and cares for us as His sheep; therefore, we are able to rest easy and secure in Him. This is the glorious message of the twenty-third Psalm.

The Lord’s provision for His children (Psalm 23:1-2).
“The LORD is my shepherd.” These words are in the present tense. Whatever the believer’s position, he is under the pastoral care of Jehovah now. The image of God as Israel’s shepherd begins in Genesis 48:15 and continues throughout Scripture (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 28:9; 80:1; 95:7; 100:3; 49:10; Jer. 31:10; Ezek. 34:11-15; Matt. 10:6; 15:24; Mark 6:34). Isaiah referred to Messiah as a shepherd (Isa. 40:11). This title was one that Jesus Christ claimed for Himself (John 10:14) and that the New Testament writers used for Him (Heb. 13:20; 1 Pet. 5:4). “No good thing will He withhold from them that love Him,” the psalmist declares (Psalm 84:11).

“I shall not want”–Jehovah-jireh, “the LORD will provide” (Gen. 22:14).
As David’s shepherd, the Lord provided all David needed. In this life we may not have all that we want, but we will always have everything we need for joy and the fulfilling of the Lord’s perfect will for our lives (Rom 12:2). The Lord shepherded his people through the wilderness into the promised land, meeting every single need they had. Does he not feed the ravens, and cause the lilies to grow? How, then, can he leave his children to starve? The wicked always want, but the righteous never. A sinner’s heart is far from satisfaction, but a gracious spirit dwells in the palace of content. If famine or recession should devastate the land, or calamity destroy the city, “I shall not want.” Old age with its weakness will not bring me any lack, and even death with its gloom will not find me destitute. I have all things and abound; not because I have plenty of money in the bank, but because “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” “No good thing will He withhold from them that love Him,” the psalmist says in (Psalm 84:11). If you feel you’re lacking something, know that it is not good for you at this point. Otherwise, your Shepherd would give it to you.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures” (Psalms 23:2).
This is what Jesus does for us. He will feed us and satisfy our hunger because he is the bread of life (John 6:35). He will quench our thirst because he is the living water (John 4:14; 7:38). I shall not lack food for my soul or body because He makes me to lie down in green pastures. I shall not lack refreshment either because He leads me beside the still waters.

God gives us rest (Psalm 23:3).
“He restores my soul” or literally, brings back—“my soul.” As a Shepherd, Jesus brings his sheep back to God. This is another way of describing the ministry of the risen Christ in Psalm 22:27 where the same verb is used for those who return to the Lord. When the soul grows sorrowful, he revives it; when it is sinful he sanctifies it; when it is weak he strengthens it. The good shepherd restores, renews, and revives the soul. He gives us nourishment. He gives us rest. He gives us what we need. One of the most beautiful descriptions of Jesus’ shepherding work to restore his people is found in the Gospel of Luke 15:4-7, where we read Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Sheep. And when Jesus finds his sheep, he leads them. They hear his voice and follow him.

God uses two primary means to restore His straying sheep. His Word, and His people. Psalm 19:7 states, “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.” His Word points out where we are off the path, and what we must do to be restored (2 Tim. 3:16-17). God has entrusted to those who are spiritual the ministry of using His Word to help restore His straying sheep (Gal. 6:1; James 5:19–20).

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”
He leads us by his Spirit and through his Word to do the right thing, to think the right thing, to say the right thing, and to live the right way. As Psalm 119:105 reminds us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” God does all this “for his name’s sake.” He meets my needs, renews my life, and leads me in the right paths, putting his reputation on the line. His name. His glory. Psalm 106:8 says of God’s deliverance of Israel, “Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his power known.” God, in his sovereignty, works in all things to display his greatness and his glory for the joy and blessing of his people, his sheep.

God is with us when we face death (Psalm 23:4).
David said “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me.” In a sense, we are walking in “the darkest valley,” the valley of the shadow of death, of deep shadow and darkness. Although the psalmist pictured himself among a flock of sheep, the word he used was “I,” stressing his aloneness. All of us relate to David. We attend church, we love the people there, we give our friends smiles, but oftentimes within us is a feeling of aloneness and despair. Many of God’s people at any given time are in the valley and are cast down. We need to appropriate again and again the comfort and power of David’s words: “I will fear no evil; For You are with me.” Can we think of a better reason not to fear?

Martin Luther was a man who was subject to deep, dark depressions, sometimes for several days. Once he was in one of his depressions, and poor Mrs. Luther had just about had it with Martin. She went in, put on her funeral garb, and stood before him. When he lifted up his head, seeing his wife dressed in black, he asked, “What has happened?” She said, “The way you are acting you would think God is dead!” He got the point.

When we move through the deep and dark valleys of life, when death itself peeks over the horizon and stares us in the face, we do not need to be afraid. How can we say this? David said, “I will fear no evil.” Why? ” For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Do not miss the important message David has for us. We are going through the deep, dark valleys because our Shepherd is leading us! The dark valley is part of the path of righteousness. Why would the good Shepherd lead us through a place of danger and death? To get us to a better place! We may lack many things in life if we follow our good shepherd, but we will never lack anything the good shepherd knows is good for us. It is not walking in the valley but through the valley. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of eternal life. In death we sleep and to awake in glory.

Two of the instruments our shepherd uses to lead us and “comfort” us are the “rod” and the “staff.” The Shepherd’s rod and staff are sources of comfort, protection, and guidance. Whenever necessary He may use the rod for correction also. Most sheep need this ministry from time to time. The rod was a club worn at the belt, while the staff was a walking implement that doubled as a weapon in time of need (1 Sam 17:35) and guided and controlled the sheep. The rod is an instrument to protect us and provide safety. It guards us. The staff is an instrument to comfort us and provide support. It guides us. Moses a shepherd who also used staff very effectively. With Pharaoh’s army bearing down upon him, Moses was told to take the staff and to strike the water. The Red Sea parted and the flock of God was ushered through safely (Exodus 14:16). In the darkest moments of life, you and I have Whom we need. In death-valley days, do not fear. We have the One we need. We have the Lord.

God is with us when we face the enemy (Psalm 23:5).
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” If you stand for God’s Word of truth, you will have enemies and conflict. The Bible is clear that the Christian life is not free from conflict. Paul calls his ministry a fight (2 Tim. 4:7). Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, and many others who have fought the good fight have known the abundant provision of the Good Shepherd, even in the presence of their enemies. Nobody likes conflict. But the Good Shepherd takes care of His own by preparing a table for them in the presence of their enemies. The table pictures everything that is ours in Christ. On the table are spread all the spiritual blessings which He purchased for us with His precious blood.  Though surrounded by enemies, we enjoy these blessings in peace and security.

“You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”
Shepherds anointed sheep with oil to heal their wounds and to keep the flies and bugs off. In the Bible, oil is often a picture of the Holy Spirit. Anointing with oil in Scripture pictured God’s bestowal of His Holy Spirit on the believer (Exod. 40:9-16; Lev. 8:10-12; 1 Sam. 10:1; 16:13; 1 Kings 1:39). Every Christian is a priest, but must go day by day to God the Holy Spirit. As we go to Him every day we had not only enough, but more than enough. Jesus said, “If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask?” (Matthew 7:11). Ask the Lord to anoint your head in a fresh way. David’s cup ” My cup runs over” symbolized his lot in life that overflowed with abundant blessings. When you follow the Shepherd, you are followed by blessings.

God will take us home – Eternity (Psalm 23:6).
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life.” The black days as well as the bright days. God’s Goodness supplies our needs, and his mercy blots out our sins. David didn’t just hope he would dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He knew and certain he would. The Bible declares it to be so (Job 19:25, 26). Even death would serve David’s greater good, which would usher him into God’s immediate presence where he would enjoy the goodness and love of God forever, or literally “throughout the years.” Nothing can separate the believer from the love of God, not even death (Rom. 8:38-39). Escorted through all of life by God’s goodness and mercy, we reach the Father’s house at last, our eternal dwelling place. What a day it going to be.

“I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”
This is the climax of the psalm. It is the eternal destiny of all those who have Jesus Christ as their Savior/Shepherd. Eternity will especially fulfill this truth and these blessings will never end. They are eternal. And our future is secure. We will always be in God’s fold, in this life and in eternity! The phrase “dwell in the house of the Lord” is that of actual communion with God as a member of His household. As Paul put it, though the world counts us as sheep for the slaughter, “we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:36-37). The Psalm ends with the assurance that he would enjoy the presence of the Lord forever both on this earth and beyond.

The awareness of our own mortality often comes with sickness, trials, and hardship and death. But the Lord our Shepherd can lead us through these dark and difficult valleys to eternal life with Him. There is no need to fear death’s power (1 Cor. 15:25–27). Our Lord has already traveled this road and come through the valley of darkness. Because He lives, we too shall live. Death is not our final destiny. God’s promise for the Israelites was not just for the enjoyment of this life in the land of promise; it was also for the full enjoyment of the life to come in His presence (Psalm 16:9-11; Psalm 17:15; Psalm 49:15). If we begin with the Lord, Psalm 23:1, then we will end with the Lord, in Psalm 23:6, and all of the blessings of this psalm are now ours both now and forever.

Application
The great American preacher Dr. Donald Grey Barnhouse, whose first wife died of cancer, leaving him with three children under the age of twelve. On the day of the funeral, Barnhouse and his family were driving to the service when a truck passed them, casting a large shadow across their car as it went by. Turning to his oldest daughter, who was deeply grieving the loss of her mother, Barnhouse asked, “Tell me, sweetheart, would you rather be run over by that truck or its shadow?” Looking at her father, she replied, “By the shadow, I guess. It can’t hurt you.” Speaking to all his children, he said, “Your mother has not been overridden by death, but by the shadow of death. That is nothing to fear.” This response of Dr. Barnhouse is a great reminder to all of us that as Christians we have nothing to fear in death. Jesus has conquered death; He has overcome the grave; and sin. His victory is our victory! (Facing Death and the Life After. Billy Graham, Waco: Word, 93–94).

Jacob could speak of ‘the God who has been my shepherd all my life’. After the Israelites had been rescued from slavery, Moses could remind them that in the wilderness ‘You have not lacked anything,’ and promise them that in Canaan too ‘You will lack nothing.’ The words for green pastures and quiet waters correspond to the ‘dwelling’ and the ‘rest’ to which God was leading them. Sinai was where he made his ‘name’ known. The wilderness was the ‘land of … the shadow of death’. It was there nevertheless that God ‘spread a table’ for them. The good Shepherd, the great Shepherd, the chief Shepherd who will one day appear with ‘glory that will never fade away’, and who will lead us to springs of living water.

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, I thank You that You’re our Shepherd. You leading us, guiding us, providing for us and protecting us and one day you will take us to your Heavenly home. In Jesus Name Amen.