The Good Shepherd Series
Psalm 23 (1 of 2)
May 27, 2007
Chester FBC, Chester, IllinoisDr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
A The 23rd Psalm is most commonly read at funerals. (Understandable)
1 It’s understandable.
a Offers comfort, healing, hope, promise, restoration, peace, righteousness, strength.
b Unfortunately, people fail to see what Psalm 23 offers at a time of death is available all the days of our lives.
2 This Psalm was probably not written by a young ruddy shepherd boy, lying on his back star gazing while the sheep gently bleat in the background.
a Probably wrote by an elderly King David, possibly in exile, perhaps running from his son Absolom.
b A mature believer who had fought life’s battles and bore its burdens.
B Before we can really study the text, discover the good shepherd, we must first know who we are.
1 Before you can say, "The LORD is my shepherd" you must first acknowledge that you are a sheep.
a Sheep. One of the most unwise creatures God ever created.
b Go anywhere but in the right direction, leave the green pastures of plenty for a barren field, wonder to the wolf’s den and not leave.
c Is. 53:6a " . . . all we like sheep have gone astray. Each of us has turned to his own way;" (Italics mine)
2 The sheep need a shepherd.
a He guides to safety, provides, protects, and even lay down His life for His sheep.
b That is exactly what Jesus is to us who acknowledge that we’re sheep in need of a Savior.
c Jehovah-Rohi (The Lord is our Shepherd)
d for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes."
Rev 7:17 (NASB) (Italics mine)
aa Sinners prayer
bb Raise hand if first time decision.
C These messages will look at the 23rd Psalm and we’ll see all the major OT names for God within it.
a I’m praying that you learn these names, pray these names, use these names this week in your pray time.
b Our invitation, alter ministry may take a little while this morning . . . I understand that if you need to be somewhere then go.
aa Don’t leave just because it’s 11:30 or 11:45. Maybe the Holy Spirit waiting till 11:50 to deal with you.
b Let’s pray.
I The five names in the first four verses of Psalm 23.
A "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures . ."
JEHOVAH-JIREH (The Lord provides)
1 When Abraham (Gen. 22:14) went to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mt. Moriah, God provided a ram in the thicket and spared Isaac. READ
a God provided, saw to it that the ram would be there. PROVIDE
b Provide is a compound word from the latin "pro" (before, like a "program" let’s you know before it happens) and "vide" (to see, we get video from this word.)
aa PRO VIDE literally means "to see before"
bb God wasn’t surprised by Abraham, Isaacs obediece, ram in the thicket . . . God saw it all before it ever happened.
2 Our God sees everything before hand. (At the beginning, seen the ending, and has seen everything.)
a Any need you and I may ever have is already met in Him.
b He makes us lie down in the green pastures because were well fed, content, provided for!
c The green pastures are full of green grass for tomorrow.
3 Praise Jehovah-Jireh
B "He leads me beside quiet waters" JEHOVAH SHALOM "The Lord Is Peace"
1 In Judges 6:24, Gideon’s nation had rebelled against God so He turned them over to the Midianites for discipline.
a War torn country, ravaged by conflict, spiritual and military attack . . . NO PEACE!
b God sends an angel to Gideon with a message and Gideon offers a sacrifice, God accepts it.
c God spoke to Gideon Judges 6:23,24
2 God didn’t just bring peace in war, HE IS PEACE.
a The shepherd of antiquity would lead the sheep by the quiet, still, peaceful waters so they could drink.
aa If the water was too rough–the shepherd would make a dam so the sheep could drink (provide peace)
b What raging water does Jehovah Shalom need to bring peace to in your life today?
aa Marriage, job, church, health, spirit, etc.?
bb He will calm the troubled waters of your soul with the living water that He alone can give.
c Praise Jehovah Shalom
C "He restores me soul" JEHOVAH ROPHE, "the Lord who heals" (Rophe always means to heal, restore, or cure.)
1 After the Exodus, Red Sea, Moses and the Hebrew Children come to Morah (Marim) and find that the water is bitter (perhaps diseased)
a God tells Moses to chop down a tree, throw it in the water and the water became drinkable, disease free, sweet.
aa Ex. 15:26
bb Unlike Jehovah Jireh, which Abraham coined to name God, Jehovah Rophe is a name God has for Himself!
b God did more than heal, He said Healing is what I am!
2 God is still Jehovah Rophe! (He Still Heals!)
a Cures, heals, restores.
b My skin blocks against infection, when I get a cut it gives infection a chance to get in me and my white blood cells/antibodies attack the infection to make me well, restore, heal me.
aa when sin enters my heart, life–the Holy Spirit in me immediately goes into action to restore me, cure me of that sin.
bb He’s still restoring, Hallelujah!
D "He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name sake" Jehovah Tsidkenu "The Lord our Righteousness."
1 The origin of this name is from Judah’s past.
a King Josiah had taken his wicked nation, who once loved God and fell in love with devil, legislated reform and there was a brief revival . . . didn’t last!
b People backslide, forgot about what happened in revival and darkness once again happened.
aa God sent a vision to the prophet Jeremiah offering hope!
bb Jere. 23:5-6
2 God is always right! Straight, narrow.
a A pound is always 16 oz. (never 15 or 17), a foot is always 12" (never 13 or 11)
b God’s measurements are exact, perfect, precise, righteous!
3 What He is He requires us to be!
a 1 Cor. 1:30 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 1 Cor 1:30 (NASB) (He become our righteousness!!)
b He leads us in the paths of RIGHTEOUSNESS for HIS name sake.
aa Name sake is a special, unique item. Jesus is God.
bb He leads in the paths of righteousness for (because) of Jesus.
E "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for thou are with me."
1 It’s an amazing thought that even though we are on the path of righteousness, it can still take us through the valley of the shadow of death.
a As long as God leading, good shepherd is guiding – no need to fear!
b Why? For thou are with me. JEHOVAH SHAMMAH– "The Lord is There"
2 The prophet Ezekiel, like many before him, saw his nation in a sad state. (The presence of God had actually left the temple.)
a The temple was built on the same place Abraham had offered Isaac, Solomon built the temple and the manifest presence of God rested on it!
aa 1 Kings 8:11, the priests couldn’t do their job because of the Shakanah glory, manifest presence of God was so intense.
bb Because of sin, God removed His presence from the temple & His people.
b Ezekiel was given a vision of hope (like Gideon) in Ezekiel 48:35.
aa The city will be name "The Lord is there."
bb Where on earth does God live now?
c At Pentecost, the presence of God that departed . . . returned and men and women became temples of the living God!
aa Paul verifies this thought when he wrote . . .
bb Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Cor 3:16 (NASB)
cc Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 2 Cor 6:16 (NASB)
*Guess which prophet is quoted? Ezekiel!
d "I shall fear no evil for THOU ART WITH ME!" Jehovah Shammah!
3 He is with us even right now!
Conclusion:
A We’ve looked at five names of God found in four verses of the 23rd Psalm
1 JEHOVAH JIREH The Lord provides (shall not want, green pastures)
2 JEHOVAH SHALOM The Lord is Peace (quiet waters)
3 JEHOVAH ROPHE The Lord heals (restores my soul)
4 JEHOVAH TSIDKENU The Lord our Righteousness (paths of righteousness)
5 JEHOVAH SHAMMAH The Lord is there (for thou are with me)
B Which name best describes your greatest need this morning?
1 In a moment, address God with that name and let Him be to you what He is.
a Chose it . . . if you have it, please raise your hand.
b If you are need of healing, Jehovah Rophe, would you raise your hand, if you come forward, I want to ask you go to the piano side of the plateform I want to offer some specific words of intercession upon you.
b In moments, I will Invite you to come and stand, or kneel as we cry out to Jehovah Rohi, our shepherd this morning.
2 Have you chose the name that best suits your greatest need? I invite you to come forward.
3 Pray using each name . . .
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My name is Mike Fogerson, and I pastor a Southern Baptist Church in Chester, Illinois. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a bunch of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
