At All Times Series

INTRODUCTION

• When times are going well, do we question God's love, protection, and provision?

• I believe that during those times, we probably do not question it much or may not give it much thought.

• David has proclaimed that the Lord is his shepherd and that, as a result, he lacks NOTHING!

• Last week we covered verses 2-3.

• In those verses, we took note of what David was speaking of when he said he lacked nothing,

• God provided all the needs he had.

• When the good times are rolling, we would agree with David; God is rolling with us!

• How do you feel when things are not going well?

• How do you feel when facing a deep need that you are unsure will be taken care of?

• Do you feel like the Lord is still your shepherd when the world seems to be crashing down upon you?

• When your life is rough, and you come to church, do you hide your fears, doubts, and pain?

• David was serious about his relationship with the Lord.

• Even with his deep relationship with God, his life was nowhere close to sinless or problem-free.

• Today, we will see that all the beautiful things God provides are provided to us at all times!

The Big Idea of the Message today is: David speaks of God's provision in the trying times and in the presence of those who oppose him as marks of God's goodness as a shepherd.

• Let's read Psalm 23 together this morning.

• Our focus today will be verses 5-6.

Psalm 23:1–6 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water.

3 He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation.

4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me.

5 You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.

6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the LORD’s house for the rest of my life.

SERMON

I. God provides in times of trouble.

• Look at verse 5 with me again, as this will be the focus of the first two observations.

Psalm 23:5 (NET 2nd ed.)

5 You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full.

• The focus for this, though, comes from the first part of verse 5.

• YOU PREPARE A FEAST BEFORE ME IN PLAIN SIGHT OF MY ENEMIES.

• When David acknowledged God as his shepherd, David, who had plenty of experience in having times of trouble, knew that God was with him.

• Early in David's life, Saul was in pursuit of David.

• Saul King, but he grew jealous of David and sought to kill David.

• David was on the run, with a small army running with him.

• When you look at the of David, here is a man God told was going to be the next King, and yet here is Saul, trying to kill him.

• I alluded to this last week: David was on the run, hiding in a cave, and Saul came in to relieve himself.

1 Samuel 24:1–12 (NET 2nd ed.)

1 When Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “Look, David is in the desert of En Gedi.”

2 So Saul took 3,000 select men from all Israel and went to find David and his men in the region of the rocks of the mountain goats.

3 He came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave. Saul went into it to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the recesses of the cave.

4 David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hand, and you can do to him whatever seems appropriate to you.’ ” So David got up and quietly cut off an edge of Saul’s robe.

5 Afterward David’s conscience bothered him because he had cut off an edge of Saul’s robe.

6 He said to his men, “May the LORD keep me far away from doing such a thing to my lord, who is the LORD’s chosen one, by extending my hand against him. After all, he is the LORD’s chosen one.”

7 David restrained his men with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and started down the road.