PSALM 23 THE PSALMIST'S PSALM Intro Hospital Chapel Ohio - Bible every year. - Psalm 23
1. DAVID SPEAKS WITH CERTAINTY – “The LORD is my shepherd”
(a) His Revelation of the Almighty. “Jehovah is ….” The LORD is THE NAME OF GOD HIDDEN IN PSALMS 23 FIRST NAME - "SHEPHERD"-JEHOVAH-RA or -JEHOVAH-ROHI - Lord our Shepherd SECOND NAME - "I SHALL NOT WANT " JEHOVAH-JIREH " The Lord our Provider Gen 22:8 Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering:
THIRD NAME - JEHOVAH- SHALOM (The Lord our Peace) 2: He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me besides the still waters"
FOURTH NAME - JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU.... "The Lord our righteousness" 3: "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" FIFTH NAME - JEHOVAH-NISSI........ "The Lord our banner" 4: "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thou art with me…"
SIXTH NAME - JEHOVAH- RAPHEGA........The Lord the healer. 5: "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil: my cup runneth over"
SEVENTH NAME - JEHOVAH- SHAMMA....The Lord will be with us forever
6: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever"
(b) His Relationship with the Almighty. “my”- He is the Lord of our lives.
John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
My Sheep, Keep on hearing, I, Keep on Knowing, They, Keep on Following.
(c) His Resignation to the Almighty. “Shepherd.”
The term “Lord” is a title of Supreme Authority and Sovereign Deity.
Stephen Olford 2 Cors 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. - Where The Spirit Is Lord - There Is Liberty.
We cannot know Him as our Shepherd unless and until we know Him as our Saviour.
2. DAVID SPEAKS OF SUFFICIENCY – “I shall not want”
Our Shepherd is sufficient for all of our insufficiencies.
Phil 4:19 my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus
2 Cors 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
God's Grace Is :- Personal Grace - My Grace, Powerful Grace - For Thee, Plentiful Grace - Sufficient. - All You Need For This Life and The Next.
John Newton - Amazing Grace.
for Rest – “He makes me to lie down in green pastures”;
for Refreshment – “He leadeth me beside the still waters”
for Restoration – “He restoreth my soul”;
for Righteousness – “He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
The little girl came to the podium, said: "The Lord is my shepherd, that’s all I want."
3. DAVID SPEAKS OF REALITY – GEORGE HARRISON - DEATH.
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil….”
- The Reality of Valleys. There will be adverse circumstances in life.
The valleys are “throughways” – not “dead ends”! “Though I walk through the valley.”
Not, “though I walk in the valley” as though that is where we spend all of our lives!
Not, “though I get lost in the valley!” We pass through the valley! Why, or how?
Because the Shepherd is with us to guarantee our safe passage.
- The Reality of Shadows. There will be adversities in life.“….the shadow of death….”
Shadows are caused when something blocks the light from the sun beam.
Shadows prove that somewhere the sun is shining! - for thou art with me;
Standing somewhere in the shadows you'll find Jesus,
He's the Friend who always cares and understands.
- The Reality of Enemies. There will be adversaries in life.
“…. thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” Psalm 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
4. DAVID SPEAKS OF PROSPERITY.
PROVISION - We have a table of delights – “Thou preparest a table before me…”
PROTECTION - We have anointing oil – “Thou anointest my head with oil…”
The anointing oil was medicinal for the sheep. Oil is a also a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
PRAISE - We have a cup overflowing – “My cup runneth over.” blessings in abundance.
PRESENCE - We have a duet of companions – “goodness and mercy.”
5. DAVID SPEAKS OF ETERNITY – I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever
- His Announcement - the after-life is real – “I will dwell…” Death is not the end.
Job 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another;
- His Address – “the House of the Lord”John 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions:
- His Assurance of immortality – “for ever”
