One of the best known hymns or Psalms is Ps23. It has been a psalm of comfort to many as they have went through difficult times in their life. It is a portion of scripture that has been learned by many as they have sat in Sunday School. It is also a very popular Psalm for a funeral service.
It tells the story of the yearly cycle of the life of the sheep. The preeminent one in this Psalm is “The Shepherd”. David the shepherd boy relates God’s relationship and dealings with him.
I am sure David could have cried out as it says in Isaiah 53:6 - All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way
I have been drawn to preach on this portion today due to the recent passing of my grandmother in England. Her pastor mentioned that this was a portion that she had learned as a child.
We are a people who will continually go through difficult times. Sometimes we ask how that person can cope. The answer is that they know and love the shepherd.
PS 23:4 “For thou art with me”
1. The Person
This was not some mere man. He is the Son of God, the creator of this universe, the 1st and the last
Ps 23:1 The LORD i.e. the Lord Jehovah, the self existent one or the eternal one
What is God? God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
In v2 He is called the Shepherd but in verse 11 He is called the Good shepherd
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
This person loves us. John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
He knows his sheep v3. Luke 12:7 - But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
He knows you intimately. Expand.......
I am sure we have all meet famous people of some sort. They could be TV presenters, sports people, politicians, business people etc
But would they remember your name?
The PERSON the Lord Jesus Christ knows my name. He even knew before I knew him.
It is Christ that has named us. We have been adopted into His family.
I don’t have to explain myself when I come to talk to Him.
2. The Position
I want you to notice the Position of the Shepherd. He is in front!!
Verse 3 says “leadeth them out”
He is to lead and we are to follow. Christ called to his disciples – FOLLOW ME
The Jesus Way – If we lived like this our lives would be so different.
It would affect the people we associate with, the places we would go and the things that we would participate in.
Work, school, home – WWJD – What Would Jesus Do
When did you last ask yourself, am I in the will of God?
We should never forget the correct order. But we have a tendency to rebel, to run off on our own wee notions.
The shepherd is there to lead us and guide us.
Ps 23:3 says “he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness”
It is good to be on the path of the right both legally and morally
If ever we needed someone to lead and guide us in this current world it is now
Are you behind Him but can you see or hear Him?
The path is paved with the stones of the 10 commandments.
Do we know them? One documentary I watched interviewed young people who could hardly mention 2 or 3.
How many can you repeat?
Ps 119:35 - Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
The world laughs at us for our Faith and in many countries people are persecuted and sacrifice their lives.
Even with all of this, when we have the Shepherd in front we are on the pathway of Wisdom
People are crying out for wisdom – eastern Religion, Self Help books etc
Proverbs 4:11 – “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom”
We are not to destroy the correct order of things. Christ’s position is to be in front and we are to follow.
Don’t kick it, obey it
3. The Protection
The protection of the Shepherd can be seen in verse 7
I am the door. The shepherd would have lain across the door way to have protected the sheep during the night.
Psalm 23:4-5 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.
1 Sam 17:40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
Notice the Rod, Staff, prepares a table and the sling
Christ did not just get us saved and the leave us to the Devil.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Christ has provided us with protection. Read Eph 6:1-3
Talk about the fencing experience
· Breastplate/protection
· Feet
· Helmet/face guard
· Sword
· Watch/eyes
Neh 4:20 - our God shall fight for us.
4. The Provision read John 10:9
We all have to live. We all need food.
Article on the internet:
Although not as critical as going without water, missing even just a few meals can cause a host of undesirable complications for the would-be survivor. Although we will not starve while going without food for several days or even a week, being underfed for even just one day can cause:
Irritability
Low moral
Lethargy
Physical Weakness
Confusion and disorientation
Poor judgment
Weakened immune system
Inability to maintain body temperature which can lead to hypothermia, heat exhaustion, or even heat stroke.
Only a well fed survivor with a full stomach can take on the challenges adversity will throw in his way.
Drink Water
It has been shown that if you lose just 2.5% of your body weight from water loss, you will lose 25% of your efficiency. For a 175 pound man that is only about two quarts of water. As the survivor dehydrates, his blood becomes thicker and loses volume. This causes the heart to work harder and circulation of blood to be less efficient. In a survival situation, losing a full one quarter of your physical and mental abilities due to dehydration could mean the end of your life. Bottom line: drink plenty of fluids whether you feel thirsty or not so that you stay peak efficiency.
These symptoms can adversely affect your ability to survive as weakness, sickness, accidents, and mistakes take their toll.
We are to feed upon Christ.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
God always makes provision for His people
Wilderness – Quails, Manna and the Water from the Rock. 40 Years he provided for them.
Widow woman in 1 Kings 17 – Don’t burn the barrel (Rod Bell)
1 Kings 17:14 For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth
Remember men like George Muller, present day Missionaries e.g. G Sutek (Fragments of Faith)
Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
Pastor – to tend a flock
1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
God will make provision but you have your duty to do.
What are you here for today? We should be here to Listen and Learn.
5. The Prophesy
John 10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
This verse gives hope to the gentiles
We can see this being fulfilled in Acts 10
Read verse 12-16, 28, 34-36, 44-48
The parable of the prodigal son can also give us the same picture
The elder son – Jewish
The prodigal son is the gentile nation
Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
It is good to know that we have been chosen by God
John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you
John 17:20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
6. The Promise
The promise is found in verse 28
The promise of eternal life
Jesus goes on to explain how this happens in verse 29/30 – This got the Jews mad (V31)
Many Christian live in fear of losing their salvation
They will say that they can leave the hand of God
Notice the word MAN – this verse could read without it
Q32: What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A: They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and
sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:30
Q33: What is Justification?
A: Justification is an act of Gods free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
We should not live in the fear of losing our salvation but in the victory of what Christ has done for us.
As we think on this great promise can I ask you? Are you in the hand of the shepherd?
Do you know the person of the Lord Jesus Christ?
Are you in the correct fold?
Luke 15:4-7
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Stop rebelling and running in the wilderness of sin and call out for the Shepherd today
Christian, take encouragement from this portion today
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