Thank God for our Shepherd.
1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 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. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 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.
Here is one of the best known scriptures besides John 3-16. Psalm 23 has been recited at funerals, recited to give Gods people encouragement and it also makes the lost take notice.
Only 6 verses in its entirety but is one of the deepest Psalm ever written by king David and inspired by God.
When God chose David as a young boy to lead the people of Israel they found him as a shepherd tending his Fathers sheep so, David knew what it was to say "the Lord is my shepherd"
Our Lord protects us and keeps us from harm. David said in Psalm 46 that God was a very present help in time of trouble.
When one of His sheep says, “I shall not want” and “I shall never perish,” it is because our Lord is a great Shepherd.
“I shall not want” looks into the future and gives assurance to those who belong to the Lord Jesus, the Shepherd.
The security of the believer rests upon the Shepherd not the sheep themselves and even unto death. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.
David said in verse 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake
David wasn't always the little innocent shepherd boy doing his chores. David was strong in his faith in God but, he sinned and God dealt with that sin and David repented.
He said : he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. God leads us but, we must follow. Many times we go our own way but, the great Shepherd brings us back in line with Him by dealing with our sin. How does He do that?
End of verse 4 says... thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. I know you have seen a shepherds staff it looks like a long cane. The rod is the staff of that long cane. It's used to protect us from the enemy and the hook is used to guide us, steer us in the right direction by force if need be.
I look back over my life and see that if He hadn't cared for me by bringing me back to the herd and knocking some since into me I would have been eaten by the wolves!
David was a great warrior and God had defeated all of his enemy's. He anointed my head with oil is a sign of healing and it is a joyous time to be anointed by God Himself. David feels that it is so joyous that his cup is running over with blessings!
When we have the Lord as our Shepherd we can say what King David said here in the last verse of Psalm 23. 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
All of our enemy's have been defeated no more trials, no more death, sickness and best of all no more sin because, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
How about you? Can you say the Lord is my Shepherd? If not He is still calling on sinners to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Love in Christ Jesus, Ronnie Miller www.themillersbiblestudy.com
