1. Paul has taught us to ‘glory in our tribulations’ & James said:
James 1:2-3 (NKJV) 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
2. We have a serious problem with that don’t we?
• It definitely doesn’t make a lot of sense AND most of us have no idea how to glory in the pains & problems of life.
• It’s actually the opposite of how we usually respond.
BUT Paul is not speaking from an outsider’s perspective, he’s speaking from personal experience. He faced a lot as a believer!
Over the last few weeks, we’re learning here at Calvary that the right question to ask in tough times isn’t A WHY Q but a WHO Q?
• WHO IS OUR FAITHFUL SHEPHERD and Psalm 23 has been a source of great encouragement.
You see, every single circumstance that comes to us is first sifted through the hand of the One who loves us.
• They are Father filtered before we ever see them.
David… the young shepherd boy… propelled to into the throne by God himself, sat down one day to pen this powerful psalm.
• Just 6 verses, 117 words – yet full of timeless truths.
IT’S TRUE! -- God’s Word is one of the greatest sources of encouragement we have.
Psalm 119:14 (NKJV) 14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.
When tough times came to brother Job… REM it wasn’t his friends that uplifted him, or wife, or his own opinions… What was it?
Job 23:12 (NKJV) 12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
So what does the Holy Spirit teach us through David?
1. (v1) The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want.
a. It’s the LORD that’s my shepherd.
I SHALL NOT WANT… because He’s in TOTAL CONTROL.
• I can live a life of contentment & peace, because I know the Lord is the source of my provision.
• He takes care of all my needs.
2. (2) He makes me lie down.
NOTE: Only our shepherd can provide safe conditions to us.
• It’s completely up to our Shepherd to keep us free from the disturbing influences that can wreck our lives.
NOTICE it’s in GREEN PASTURES & STILL WATERS.
• He both leads us and nourishes us with the best!
• He makes us lie down… because He knows what is best for us.
• Leads us beside still waters… cause He knows what’s best for us.
3. (v3) He restores my soul…
a. Our shepherd restores to us what has been stolen away in our minds and in the deepest emotions of my heart!
4. (v4) I will fear no evil…
a. The Lord is with me even that valley that is full of destruction and death. Yes, God is with me. I’m not alone.
b. If you are in Christ today, He will never leave you in life or in death. You will always be with Him, and He with you.
Out in the arid terrains of the fields, dangers lurked at every corner.
• David knew of all the dangers of the rampaging rivers in flood, avalanches, rock slides, poisonous plants, predators on every side, sleet, hail, snow, and all sorts of storms.
• Nothing took him by surprise. He was ready.
• How? By being with the sheep.
NOTE: I have found through life that the good news of the gospel brings my life the necessary perspectives that I so greatly need.
• The things that matter in life: My relationship with God and my relationship with others are to be up front.
• That’s where my energies & efforts need to go.
• Pouring into Jesus and into others.
AND yes, dark times come. Shadows are all around me.
• The floods of pain. The avalanches of dreams crumbling.
• The poisonous plants of this world that I sometimes nibble on.
• Predators before and behind me… hail, snow, storms abound!
• But The Lord is MY SHEPHERD… and I will fear no evil. WHY?
• His rod, His staff, they comfort me.
NOTE: A shepherd of Jesus’ day would wear a cotton tunic held together by a leather cord belt.
• And on that belt he held many of the tools he would need to care and tend for his precious and priceless flock.
#1 – A LEATHER POUCH – to hold his lunch or small stones.
#2 – SLING – He used it to both scare off predators and to draw back his wandering sheep.
• An experienced shepherd would have such precise aim that he would be able to drop a stone right in front of the nose of a straying sheep, helping to draw it back to the flock.
#3 – HORN OF OIL – He would anoint the heads of his sheep as an insect repellant and also to reduce the friction between the sheep when they head butted each other!
#4 – THE STAFF. This was a large stick 7 or 8 feet long with a crook at one end with which the shepherd would hook lambs or sheep headed in the wrong direction. With this picture of a Middle-Eastern shepherd in mind, Jesus begins His discourse.
#5 – The ROD - This was a small club-like instrument that was used to fight off predators in close ‘hand to hand’ combat situations.
• The rod was also used as an instrument of correction, for if a lamb continually, persistently wandered away from the flock, the shepherd would use the rod to break its legs.
Then he would put the lamb on his shoulders & carry it until its legs healed. When at last the lamb was again able to walk on its own, because of the bonding that took place during the time the shepherd carried the lamb on his shoulders, it never again wandered. (THAT’S SWEET!)
Not only does that rod comfort me, but the Lord loves me with that rod. He disciplines & trains me.
• If God didn’t discipline us, then we wouldn’t be His kids.
• The Lord has to sometimes break the leg to keep us from straying away and destroying our lives.
• And through it all, there is a bonding taking place.
• God wants me to be continually broken before Him.
Psalm 51:17 (NKJV) The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
The rod & the staff… they both comfort me.
• They aren’t tools for destruction but for discipleship.
5. (v5) You prepare a table before me.
a. After leaving the valley of shadows, we head out into the highlands & there, my Shepherd takes care of me & feeds me
b. Shepherds would often go ahead and survey the high outlaying lands for a place of nourishment.
c. The table here is not normal, but rather a table of the king!
d. In the midst of enemies, you Shepherd, are there for me!
You anoint my head with oil…
• The shepherd would anoint the sheep’s head with oil…
• It was used as an ointment to heal…
• It was used as a lubricant to reduce friction…
• It was used as a repellent to protect from insects.
OIL SO OFTEN in the Scriptures speaks to us of the Holy Spirit and His work in and through our lives.
• When we yield to the work of The Holy Spirit, we begin to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit…
• Let’s turn over to Galatians 5:16, 22-25
APP: The Lord anoints us with oil so that we can be gentle to one another, loving each other in Jesus.
• He pours oil over us so that we might get along and be that strong force in the world that so desperately needs Jesus!
• It’s such a contrast to the tempers and frustrations and irritabilities that I have when I’m in the flesh.
• When I pretend to be my own Shepherd!
But Jesus gives us a FRESH ANOINTING…
• Fill me up Lord because I feel so empty!
• Then that’s what He does…
• Fill you up like never before…strength, joy, hope.
• So much so, that now my cup is running over! It’s full.
6. (v6) Surely Goodness & mercy shall follow me.
a. David, speaking of the sovereign grace of God in his life.
b. This was his claim to fame… not a king, not a dad, not a warrior, not a great man, not a perfect man…
c. But a sheep with a Good & Great Shepherd.
d. I have done nothing to deserve the grace of God!
e. All that’s He’s done… All that’s He’s doing…
f. Turn over to John 10.7-15 - Wow… Absolutely Wonderful!
#1 – Because My Shepherd is in control, I can REST.
• When the temptation to get stressed out come.
• And the pressures of life push in.
• I can surrender my agendas and my plans in Him & rest!
1 Chronicles 22:18 (NKJV) “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has He not given you rest on every side? For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and before His people.
#2 – Because My Shepherd cares, I can give Him my burdens.
• I’ve found that burdens fill up my hands, my arms, my mind so much that I don’t have the time or ability to helps others.
• A lot of times we can’t even embrace those we love because we are carrying around so many burdens & cares.
• This Psalm allows us to release our burdens to the Lord.
• I’m just a sheep and Jesus, He’s my Shepherd!
• I can, you can, let go and find rest in Him!
1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV) 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
#3 – Because My Shepherd loves me, I trust Him to guide my life!
• My shepherd knows me personally, because He became like me.
• Some 2000 years ago, the shepherd became a sheep!
• God became a man & was obedient to the Father, even to death.
• He had to die because we are all sinners in need of forgiveness.
NOTE: Jesus knows what you go thru. He knows the ups & downs.
• Qualifies Him to run my life & order my steps & guide my path.
• It’s only the in the Shepherd’s care that I find the quietness and calmness I so desperately want when tough times come my way.
Have you committed your life to Jesus Christ?
• For salvation? For Forgiveness?
• For strength]? For Help? For Hope?
Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
