THE PSALMS SERIES
The Divine Shepherd (pt 3 of 3)
Psalm 23:5-6
Introduction
Last week:
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Read Psalm 23:5-6/ Pray
Trans: First, notice the end of vs 5 says…
1. You Prepare A Table Before Me in the Presence of My Enemies (vs 5) – THAT’S HOPE
HOPE defined – a feeling that what is wanted can be had
Heb 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”
Table in Hebrew is “shell khan” (shulchan) which means “kings table”
Think for a minute what the setting would be like on a King’s table who is about to eat
The best of everything has been prepared for the King…nothing is lacking
The Lord is not just preparing any table…He is preparing for me a table to dine with THE KING
No matter what my lot in this life and on this earth is…one day…even in the midst of my enemies
I can have HOPE because I will sit at the KING’S table
He is preparing a place for me (John 14:1-3) – I have a reservation with eternity to dine with Him forever
Trans: Second…
2. You Anoint My Head with Oil – THAT’S CONSECRATION!
Consecration means being dedicated to service and worship of God
God has set each of us aside…called us out unto Himself…dedicated to serve and worship Him
David was anointed as a young boy to be King – he was set aside to serve and worship God and to lead God’s people to do the same
The word “anoint” literally means “to make prosperous” – not of this world’s wealth but to prosper in the Kingdom
You and I have been consecrated…anointed…to serve and worship God and to lead others into the same
Trans: Notice that in God’s provision, he says…
3. My Cup overflows – THAT’S ABUNDANCE!
When I am fully consecrated to the Lord…to serve and worship Him…I will have an overflowing abundance of His grace
John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Abundant in Greek means – “over and above, more than necessary”
Overflow means “saturation”
Like a sponge that can’t absorb anymore…it overflows…that God’s abundant grace
God’s grace is over and above, more than necessary so that we are saturated with it
It is a bottomless and endless supply of all that I need from Him
He will satisfy and quench my thirst and I have more than enough to be able to share of His grace with others around me
God’s kingdom…His presence resides in us…and it should overflow to others around us
John 7:38 “He that believes in me, as scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”
Trans: As God prepares my table, and anoints me, and overflows my cup he says…
4. Surely Goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life – THAT’S BLESSING!
How constantly David counts upon the continuance of God’s favor and blessing
He said, I shall not want, but now more positively knowing that He is favored by God
His hope rises; his faith is strengthened
Notice the constancy of it as David says “all the days of my life” and the certainty of it when he says “surely”
David is saying all the streams of mercy; pardoning mercy; protecting mercy; sustaining mercy; supplying mercy…shall follow me no matter where life takes me
You know what I like…the word FOLLOW here literally means “TO PURSUE; RUN AFTER”
God’s goodness and mercy will PURSUE and RUN AFTER ME – Hallelujah
And it will be constant in my life regardless my messing up…regardless of my trying to run away from Him
God’s goodness and mercy will be with me because He has so ordained it to be…not because of what I’ve done…but because of Who He is
What an amazing promise for us to claim hold of…AMEN!
Trans: Lastly, he tells me I don’t have wander around but…
5. I Will Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever – THAT’S ETERNAL SECURITY!
Goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life while on this earth but one day when this life is ended
I shall be removed to a better world to dwell (means abide) in the house of the Lord forever where there are many mansions
Where Jesus has gone to prepare for those that love Him and follow Him (John 14:1-3)
When I am saved by the blood of Jesus I don’t have to fear losing my salvation; losing my place in heaven; because He has secured it with His blood for all eternity
There are those that believe you can lose your salvation – that means man has something to do with it (EXPOUND) – man messed it up the first time
Jesus died for nothing if we can mess it up again
Once you are saved – you are kept forever
Turn to John 17:11-13 – none have been lost
Once you are saved – you are sealed for redemption
Turn to Eph 1:12-14 – Guaranteed heavenly inheritance
Once you are saved – you shall never perish; even you cannot remove yourself from Him
Turn to John 10:27-30
This is His promise…you and I can take it to the bank…I WILL dwell in the house of the Lord forever…AMEN.
Let me wrap up this morning
Conclusion
David tells us of the intimate relationship he has with his Shepherd
That He is full of comforts and God’s goodness; of His love; guidance; purpose; discipline
We see from David that...
1. The Lord is my Shepherd – THAT’S RELATIONSHIP
2. I shall not want – THAT’S PROVISION
3. He makes me lie down in green pastures – THAT’S REST
4. He leads me beside quiet waters – THAT’S REFRESHING
5. He restores my soul – THAT’S HEALING
6. He leads me in paths of righteousness – THAT’S GUIDANCE
7. For His Name Sake – THAT’S PURPOSE
8. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death – THAT’S TESTING
9. I Will Fear No Evil – THAT’S PROTECTION
10. For You Are with Me – THAT’S FAITHFULNESS
11. Your Rod and Staff Comfort me – THAT’S DISCIPLINE
12. You prepare a table – THAT’S HOPE
13. You anoint my head with Oil – THAT’S CONSECRATION
14. My cup overflows – THAT’S ABUNDANCE
15. Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me – THAT’S BLESSING
16. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever – THAT’S ETERNAL SECURITY
Pray
