PSALMS 23:1-6 SUPPLIES OUR EVER NEED 9-10-11
This 23' psalm is without a doubt the most famous of all the psalms, even when we were little
kids we were familiar with the 23 psalm, often the teachers in the 1st and 2nd grades would lead the children in reciting the 23rd psalm. It was as familiar to the children as Jn. 3-16 another well known Bible passage.
God has put this 23rd psalm exactly where He wanted it to be in the psalms, the 22nd Psalm is PAST tense and speaks to us of the Good Shepherd.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
„« He cries out from the cross
Ps.22:1My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me and from the words of my roaring?
The 24th psalm is future tense, as we read about "the King of glory" It speaks to us of the Chief Shepherd. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
But the 23rd Ps. is PRESENT tense and speaks to us of the ever abiding Great Shepherd
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus
that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you
perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight
through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen
„« Listen as I read the 23rd Psalm
PS.23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake 4Yea, 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.
5Thou prepares! a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
„« I want us to notice that He is a personal Shepherd;
PS.23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; -
We notice that He is indeed a SHEPHERD, and a shepherd can be the care taker of one or more sheep, a flock of sheep as such as He has, not just one sheep but a flock.
„« There were many who were owners of large flocks:
2 Sam. 12:2 The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds:
We that are saved are among His flock and He watches over His sheep, He keeps the wolves from killing His sheep, the wolves will sneak into the flock and scatter the sheep if he gets half a chance, the wolves are always near by and observing the sheep waiting for one to stray aside from the flock and then he'll pounce on that one sheep.
I remember watching the discovery channel and they had a documentary showing the lions yonder in Africa how they hunt for certain animals among a herd, they'll pick out one individual animal, they'll even allow many others to run by, they'll single out a certain animal and pursue it until it is exhausted and then pile on it, as we think about it that is really a sensible way for them to hunt, but they will not take their eyes off the one target they've picked out. And they will also watch for a certain prey that appears to be sick and weak and lags behind, that also becomes a prime target.
That strategy is the same way Satan comes after many in the Lords flock, either him or one of his demons is watching for the chance to attack sheep in Gods flock.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring Iion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour;
Because the Lord is MY Shepherd I am assured in verse 1 that "I shall not be in want."
Since He is my Shepherd and I am His sheep how can I ever be in want?
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Colossians 2:9-10 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him. which is the head of all principality and power:
He is most likely not going to give me a million dollars and a new car, although He could if
He so will, but He knows that is not what I really need, He will supply our needs not necessarily
our personal wants, most of our personal wants might cause us to get the big head and wonder off into things that we have no business doing, and besides that a million dollars is not worth near as much as it once was and the way things are going now soon it won't amount to much at all.
Our out standing leaders will borrow from China and then give it to another country that really hates us and will use it against us in the by and by.
Psalm 34:9-10 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack. and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing, -¡Xnotice: any good thing, so maybe to be really wealthy would not be really a good thing for some of us.
ƒÞ Let's be sure to notice all the many blessings we have in these verses:
1 The LORD is mv shepherd: I shall not want. [Security & provision]
2He maketh me to lie down [rest] in green pastures [much provision] he leadeth me beside the still waters. [Guidance, as still waters are mostly deep and can be dangerous.] 3He restoreth my soul: [restoration]-he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness [where we're to walk]-for his name's sake. [His reputation is at stake; His name's sake is on the line.]
4Yea. though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. [Protection] I will fear no evil:
[safety & boldness] for thou art with me: [always] thy rod [a tool of correction, could apply to His Word as well] and thv staff they [both] comfort me.[the staff could be used to turn a sheep, or to pull the sheep away from harm.]
5Thou prepares a table [ of satisfaction] before me in the presence of mine enemies: [look what the Lord has done] thou anointest my head with oil: [power of the Holy Spirit] mv cup runneth over. [Filled with the Lords blessings.]
6 Surely goodness and mercy [prospect of a sure future] shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. [Are many mansions, Jn.14:1-3 ]
1 Corinthians 3:21-23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; 22Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; 23And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Since the Lord is our personal Shepherd verse 2 describes the POSITION we now find ourselves in, and that is we're completely satisfied and know we're safe, 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.
The sheep are fully satisfied because the Shepherd provides perfect conditions for them. Green pastures and still waters. [Perfect rest and refreshment,] sheep can not be driven as cattle can, they have to be led.
Notice that the sheep lie down. something a sheep will never do while it is hungry Here then, are sheep that are well fed, perfect satisfaction.
The sheep are fully satisfied because the Shepherd is in full control of them.
"He makes me to lie down... He leads me..." By nature we are foolish, wandering sheep
Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way;-
And since the Lord is our shepherd He assumes full responsibility for us; He gently makes us to lie down and He leads us in the way of His gracious provision -If we can truly understand this it will cause us to be happy and enjoy this life more.
Not only the Shepherd's provision satisfies -that is the green pastures and the still waters - but also His presence satisfies. He leads us to the place that we can feed, to take in spiritual nutrients; He will not feed His sheep a meal from some perversion of the Bible, He don't want His sheep to become endemic.
„« Since the Lord is our Shepherd, verse 3 tells us that He'll empower us to walk straight.
I know nothing about sheep, but from what I've read Sheep are foolish, they'll wonder off
Possibly fall into a ditch or get caught in a thicket. Then the shepherd goes out and restores the sheep. But He not only restores the sheep; He helps them to walk in straight paths - "in paths of righteousness",
Meaning "He restores my soul" When He restores us He takes from us the desire to wander, then gives us the power to walk in His way of holiness and love.
Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Since the Lord is my Shepherd; verse 4 assures me that I shall know the PRESENCE of the Shepherd at all times.
4Yea, 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.
Notice; we're walking through the valley, we're not running, we're not afraid of a shadow.
He will be with us when we're entering the valley of the shadow of death and He'll remain with us until we come out on the other end of the valley
This valley is deep and all along the way there could be wolves and a number of enemies That would do us harm, but these that are out to attack the Shepherds sheep see the ROD in His hand and are afraid to mess with His sheep, the ROD is a club that would hurt or kill the watchers as the sheep are walking through the valley, notice; its referred to as only a shadow, the valley of the shadow of death, and we 're assured that a shadow can not harm us.
Death to the Christian is only a shadow; after the shadow there is sunshine for ever.
1 Cor. 15:55-57 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law- 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,
He has promised to go with us through this valley.
Isa.43:1-3 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed THEE, o Israel, Fear not for I have redeemed thee', I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers they-
-shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy
Saviour
Noah and his family were safe inside the Ark during the flood, in Gen.7:
The Children of Israel walked through the red sea on dry ground and God parted the water. Exo.14:
They walked through the Jordan River on dry ground in Joshua 3:17.
The three Hebrew children were protected from the fiery furnace in Daniel 3:
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. 6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Since the Lord is our Shepherd verse 5 tells us of the wonderful PROTECTION He gives.
Our enemies are constantly around us, wanting to harm us, but our GREAT Shepherd protects us by raising us above them, and in that exalted position He gives us the oil of gladness and
blessings that overflow -
5Thou prepares! a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed
us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:-
„« Since the Lord is our Shepherd, verse 6 tells us of the glorious PROSPECT that is ours.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Goodness and mercy for all my days in this life down here, and then - in the palace of the King for ever.
Thank God, everyone who can truly say the first five words in verse 1 can also say the last twelve words in verse 6.
„« Listen
with me. "My shepherd";
beneath me. "Green pastures ¡§
before me. "a table";
around me, "my enemies";
upon me, "anointing";
after me, "goodness and love";
beyond me. "The house of the Lord".
