INTRODUCTION
Outline.
1. His Eternal Pre-existence
2. His Everlasting Presence
3. His Endless Provisions
Remarks.
1. In our lesson today we are going to be discussing the theme: “the divine shepherd’s assurances.” David’s 23rd Psalms, outlines these great assurances: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 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. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever,” Psalms 23:1-6.
2. First, we will consider the assurance of His eternal pre-existence: “The LORD is.” David begins by affirming the eternal existence of the Divine Shepherd. The Lord IS! Unlike the heathen around him at this time, their gods were the work of their hands. They carried their gods. They had eyes and could not see; mouths and could not speak, and ears but they could not hear. The Divine Shepherd carries his children wherever they go; because He is alive and is to us an everlasting Father. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and to us; the sheep of His pasture!
3. Second, we will discuss the assurance of His everlasting presence: “The LORD is my shepherd... he leadeth me... thou art with me.” David makes it know to the people of God, that the Divine Shepherd is ever present with his sheep. He writes: “Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture,” Psalms 100:3.
4. Lastly, we will investigate the assurance of His endless provisions: “I shall not want... He restoreth my soul... Thou preparest a table before me... surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life... I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This same servant wrote: “I have been young, and now am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread,” Psalms 37:25. We can be confident, that God shall “provide for all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19. With this introduction, let’s consider our first point: “His eternal pre-existence.”
BODY OF LESSON
I HIS ETERNAL PRE-EXISTENCE
A. David, the Psalmist, before he speaks of the Lord’s everlasting presence and endless provisions in his life; first declares the LORD’s eternal pre-existence. He states: “The LORD is.” The LORD God that made heaven and earth is “from everlasting to everlasting.” He is LORD God Almighty, invisible and visibly seen in all His creation, heaven and earth; throughout every nation and generation. Notice:
1. First, David writes: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God,” Psalms 90:2.
2. Further, David pens: “Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting,” Psalms 93:2.
3. Additionally, Paul affirms: “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen,” 1 Timothy 1:17. The LORD is the eternal and only wise God, and the church said: Amen!
4. Finally, David said: “The fool has said in his heart there is no God,” Psalms 14:1; Psalms 53:1. Note:
a. One must be foolish to look into the heavens and the earth, the visible creation of God; and take a position that there was no creator.
b. The wise man will acknowledge that God exist; and that everything that is now seen came from that which did not exist; and by him do all things now consist, Hebrews 11:1-2.
c. Illustrate: Watch pieces in a paper bag.
5. David speaks of the LORD’s pre-existence: “The Lord Is,” Psalms 23:1. Here he speaks of the Lord of eternity, who is from: “everlasting to everlasting.”
David continues in the Psalms:
a. First, “Praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen!” Psalms 41:13.
b. Second, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord,” Psalms 106:48.
c. Third, Paul writes: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him,” Hebrews 11:6. Faith is needed before anyone can come to God for salvation. This includes faithful obedience to the will of God.
B. John the Apostle, recollects of Jesus’ eternal existence. He noted that Jesus declared Himself to be the: “I AM”; who was before Abraham. Consider Jesus as the: “I AM.” Notice:
1. First, Jehovah’s words to Moses at the burning bush. Moses asks: “Who should I say has sent me to the children of Israel?”
a. Jehovah: “Said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you,” Exodus 3:14.
b. Jesus, declares Himself to be that: “I AM”; that spoke to Moses at the “burning bush” and sent him unto Israel; when he talked to the Jewish leaders, in John 8:58.
2. Further, John makes a sacred and certain declaration regard the: “I AM” of the Old and New Testament. He precedes his remarks with “Verily, verily”... The utterance is truly remarkable in the face of the truth of God. It does not merely assert that He was before Abraham, but before Abraham was, He is the “I AM.”
a. Jesus, therefore is the “I AM” of the Old Testament. Establishing that His divinity has neither past nor future tense, but it is in the present tense; then and now. See Notes People’s New Testament, page 362.
b. Jesus in this declaration of the “I AM” of the Old Testament, affirms that He is the eternal and everlasting God; the “God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. He is the God of the living, and not the dead,” Matthew 22:32. The apostle John places Jesus in eternity and announces He is the maker (Gr. gínomai, to cause to be) of the entire creation, in John 1:1-3; Hebrews 1:8-12.
3. Finally, Christ’s declaration of being the “I AM,” places him in the Godhead:
a. He is the only way “unto the Father;” as well as the truth sent to “reveal Him to the world;” and the only means of “eternal life promised by the Father, before the world began,” Titus 1:1-3; John 14:6.
b. In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, Colossians 2:9.
C. Paul’s declares the divinity of Christ. Paul defends the deity and divinity of Christ. He writes unto the saints:
1. The Colossians: “For by him were all things created (Gr. ktizo), that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence (Gr. proteuo, chief in rank or influence),” Colossians 1:15-18.
2. The Ephesians: “God, who created (Gr. kitzo) all things in Jesus Christ,” Ephesians 3:9. This same statement was made by the Apostle John on the Isle of Patmos. Notice:
a. John writes: “These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning (Gr. arche) of the creation (Gr. ktisis) of God,” Revelations 3:14.
b. Christ is the originator and beginning of the entire creation of God. Unlike many today; Christ is not a creation of God; but the originator of the entire creation of all things, whether visible, invisible; earthly and heavenly; temporal and eternal. All things were created by Him and for Him.
3. The Romans: “For the invisible things of him from the creation (Gr. Ktisis) of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse,” Romans 1:20.
D. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God... being equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man,” Philippians 2:5-11. Illustrate: Form of God; Fashioned as a Man.
E. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews: “God who at sundry times and in divers manners...Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power,” Hebrews 1:1-3.
1. David writes: “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God,” Psalms 90:2; Psalms 93:2.
2. Paul ascribe David’s prophecy to Christ: “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail,” Hebrews 1:10-12. See Hebrews 13:8.
3. Faith in God’s existence. He writes: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him,” Hebrews 11:6. Let’s consider our next point: His everlasting presence.
II HIS EVERLASTING PRESENCE
A. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. David begins his discussion of the everlasting presence of the Divine Shepherd. David stresses that the Lord was always present and personal in his life. He lead him, guided him and preserved his “going out and coming in,” Psalms 121:8. He speaks now to the Lord leading him. Notice:
1. In pastures of tender grass, will they lie down and feed.
a. The Divine Shepherd is ever present to lead his sheep unto green grass. David declares that we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
1) First, “Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture,” Psalms 100:3.
2) Second, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well,” Psalms 139:14.
b. David: “He maketh (causeth) me to lie down in green pastures.” He leads and directs His sheep into pastures of tender green grass. That they might feed upon in comfort and safety of the Divine Shepherd of the sheep.
c. Ezekiel writes of Jehovah:
1) “For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out... I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel,” Ezekiel 34:11-14.
2) “Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord GOD. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord GOD,” Ezekiel 34:30-31.
d. Isaiah: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young,” Isaiah 40:11.
e. Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd,” John 10:14-16.
f. Illustrate: The church, elders and sheep, Acts 20:28-32.
2. Beside still waters (waters of quietness), will I lead them. Notice:
a. Job: “When he giveth quietness. Who then, can make trouble? And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? Whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only,” Job 34:29.
b. Isaiah:
1) First, “Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, ... Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks: And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel,” Isaiah 8:6-8. Isaiah promises:
a) That God will remove Judah from the waters of Shiloah that go (flow) softly;
b) That Assyria might bring upon them the waters of the river, strong and many.
c) From “waters of quietness, to waters of war and banishment.”
d) This He did, because of Judah’s sins and rebellion: “Because they refuse the waters of Shiloah, and would not accommodate themselves to the rule and government of God (that He) has set over them, but are uneasy under it, therefore the Lord will bring upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, like the river Euphrates,” in the form of the Assyrian Army. See Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 8.
2) Second, “They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them,” Isaiah 49:10; Psalms 121:5-8.
c. Jesus: We have a Lord that not only leads us by still waters; but, who could also quite the troubled waters of our daily lives. You need only to call upon Him in your time of trouble. David writes:
1) First, “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him,” Psalms 91:14-15.
2) Second, “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so I shall be saved from mine enemies,” Psalms 18:3. In this Psalm, David praises the Lord, who had delivered him from all his enemies, and the hand of Saul. We will speak to this later in the lesson. What about our troubled waters?
3) Illustrate: Jesus calms the raging waters, Psalms 83:1; Mark 4:36-41.
B. He restoreth my soul: “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” Notice:
1. David says, restore my soul. David asked that the LORD restore his soul. This word in Heb., is “shuv,” which means: “to turn about, return, give back, convert, repent, or to restore.” David wanted Jehovah to: “to bring back, allow one to return, put back; give back, restore, or replenish” the joy of His salvation. Notice:
a. First, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit,” Psalms 51:10-12; Psalms 19:7.
1) Isn’t this what we all need; when we find ourselves burdened down with the weight, guilt and sorrow over our sins?
2) Like David: “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all,” Isaiah 53:6. And we need God to restore us; and return us into His fold.
3) Christ’s and Calvary. Isn’t this what Christ’s suffering and death on Calvary has brought about? Isaiah said:
a) First, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed,” Isaiah 53:5.
b) Second, “He (God) shall see of the travail of his (Christ) soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities,” Isaiah 53:11.
4) There is hope for the repentant sinner. God will forgive; God will restore and God will justify.
b. Further, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?” See Psalms 85:6. We sing that old spiritual: “Revise us again.” In our Christian walk we will need Him to revise us again, again, and again; that we might rejoice in His goodness and mercy.
c. Finally, “Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation,” Psalms 85:7. God is merciful and faithful to grant unto us His loving kindness. In the Lamentations of Jeremiah, he writes:
1) What: “I... Remember my afflictions and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope.” Jeremiah’s hope!
2) Why: “Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, ‘the LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him,’” Lamentations 3:19-24.
2. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. David rejoices that it is the Lord that leadeth him in the path of righteousness, for His name’s sake. Notice:
a. David said:
1) “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake,” Psalms 23:3.
2) “Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of my enemies; make thy way straight before me,” Psalms 5:8.
3) “Teach me to do thy will, for thou art my God! Let thy good spirit lead me on a level path!” Psalms 143:10. We find a similar charge from the wise man; king Solomon in the book of Proverbs.
b. Solomon said:
1) “In the path of righteousness is life, but the way of error leads to death,” Proverbs 12:28; Proverbs 14:12.
2) “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,” Proverbs 8:20.
3) We can be confident, that the Lord will lead and guide us into the way and paths that lead to righteousness, goodness and life.
C. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Here David is no doubt being reflective of the many attempts of King Saul to take his life.
1. David describes this as walking through “the valley and shadow of death.”
a. Metaphor described: “Before I go to the place from which I shall not return, To the land of darkness and the shadow of death, A land as dark as darkness itself, As the shadow of death, without any order, Where even the light is like darkness,” Job 10:21-22.
b. Here Job speaks of death itself. The grave is the land of darkness. David, on the other hand, spoke to the threat of King Saul; eager to take his life.
1) Death was a shadow that followed after David wherever he went.
2) But the Lord was his protector and help, during every attempt of Saul to take his life. We too, have the same assurance from the Divine Shepherd.
3) Now let discuss David’s “shadow of death” experiences.
2. The books of Samuel, describes how David lived under the shadow of death while taking refuge in valleys and mountain tops; dens and in caves; in forest and fields; in houses of friends, in temples and sanctuaries; and in the house and palace of king Saul, himself. Notice:
a. The Lord’s protection. It was God that delivered him from the “valley and shadow of death.” Let me remind you, that David could have taken Saul’s life on two separate occasions. In both instances: “He dared to harm the life of the Lord’s anointed, King Saul.”
b. David, in the cave with Saul: “Then the men of David said to him, This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’”... “And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.... And David said to Saul: Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’? ...Look, this day ...that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed,'” 1 Samuel 24:4-10.
c. David, in the camp of Saul: “So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him... May the LORD repay every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I would not stretch out my hand against the LORD's anointed,” 1 Samuel 26:7-23.
3. Spiritual death. Before Christ’s appearance we all lived in the fear of death; but, Christ has “abolished the fear and horror of death” and has “brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” The saints should have no fear, “though they walk through the valley and shadow of death.” In Christ, the saints have been delivered from sting of sin; and the power of death.
a. Paul’s letter to the Hebrews: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage,” Hebrews 2:14-15.
b. Job: “For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one knows them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death,” Job 24:17.
c. David: “My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me,” Psalms 55:4.
d. Paul: “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,” 2 Timothy 1:10.
e. Luke writes: “Now his father (John the Baptist) Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying: ‘Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people, And has raised up a horn of salvation for us. In the house of His servant David... to perform the mercy promised to our fathers. And to remember His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our father Abraham: ... to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins... to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death (the Gentiles), to guide our feet into the way of peace,’” Luke 1:67-80.
1) Here Luke mentions the darkness and shadow of death that the Gentiles lived under until Christ, Ephesians 2:11-12.
2) Christ came to bring life and immortality to light through the gospel.
3) This was the purpose and promise of God to Abraham through Christ.
4) Peter speaking to the multitude after the healing of the man before the Temple Beautiful. Notice:
a) Jews: “Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, and in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities,” Acts 3:22-26.
b) Gentiles: “And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth,” Isaiah 49:6. See also, Acts 9:15-16; Acts 13:47-48; Acts 26:16-18; Acts 26:23. Paul sent unto the Gentiles, to open their eyes unto the grace of God.
D. I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. David states, because the Lord is with him; he would fear NO evil. He trusted in the LORD’s ability to care not only for his daily needs; but, also for the safety of his life and his anointment as king over Israel. Consider:
1. In the Lord will I trust: “In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” Psalms 56:4.
2. The Lord’s on my side: “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Psalms 118:6.
3. We can trust the Lord: “So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6.
4. Conclusion: Paul discusses three great assurances that we have in Christ unto the Roman saints. Illustrate: “If God be for us,” Romans 8:28-39.
a. Who can be against us?
b. Who can accuse us?
c. Who can alienate us?
d. Recall the sermon on: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
E. Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. There is some debate whether David speaks of two instruments, a rod and a staff. Others contend that the “shepherd’s staff” was used both as a rod of discipline and protection; and a staff to lean upon and to recover endangered sheep. Matthew Henry writes:
1. First, “The good shepherd will not only conduct, but convoy, his sheep through the valley, where they are in danger of being set upon by the beasts of prey, the ravening wolves; he will not only convoy them, but comfort then when they most need comfort(ing).”
2. Further, “His presence shall comfort them: Thou art with me. His word and Spirit shall comfort them-his rod and staff, alluding to the shepherd's crook, or the rod under which the sheep passed when they were counted (Leviticus 27:32), or the staff with which the shepherds drove away the dogs that would scatter or worry the sheep.”
3. Finally, “It is a comfort to the saints, when they come to die, that God takes cognizance of them (he knows those that are his), that he will rebuke the enemy, that he will guide them with his rod and sustain them with his staff. The gospel is called the rod of Christ's strength (Psalms 110:2), and there is enough in that to comfort the saints when they come to die, and underneath them are the everlasting arms.” Reference: Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Psalms 23. Let’s now consider our last point: His endless provisions.
III HIS ENDLESS PROVISIONS
A. I shall not want. David, now makes mention of Jehovah’s endless provisions for his life and wellbeing. Notice:
1. First, he writes: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; .... I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever,” Psalms 23:5-6. David now discusses the endless provisions that are provided by his Divine Shepherd.
2. Further: “I have been young, and now am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread,” Psalms 37:25.
3. Finally, Paul adds: “The Lord shall provide for all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19.
B. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. That is, in spite of them, of which they could not prevent. They (the enemies) were made to look on and see how God provided for David. It was manifest that this blessing was from God; it was proof of the divine Shepherd’s favor; it furnishes an assurance that God has done this, and He would never leave any of David’s needs unmet. See Barns Notes, Psalms 23. David writes elsewhere:
1. First, “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live forever,” Psalms 22:26.
2. Further, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” Psalms 31:19.
3. Next, “He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart,” Psalms 104:14-15.
4. Finally, “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot,” Psalms 16:5.
5. Conclusion: The table of the saint will never lack for bread. God will prepare his table before his enemies; to feed him till he wants no more, with the manna which is from above. The friends of God are made to triumph even in the very presence of their enemies. They shall how God intercedes on their behalf, how He provides for them, and defends them.
C. Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. That is, thou dost pour oil on my head so abundantly that it rolls down my face and beard. The expression indicates the deluge of oil. David speaks of his “anointment as king.” The oil of his anointing “ran down his beard, like Aaron. Note:
1. First, “It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard; the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments,” Psalms 133:2.
2. Further, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah,” 1 Samuel 16:13. Jehovah said: “I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him,” Psalms 89:20; Psalms 132:17.
3. Next, “Thou anointest my head with oil.” Samuel anointed David king, which was a certain pledge of further favor; but this is rather an instance of the plenty with which God had blessed him, or an allusion to the extraordinary entertainment of special friends, whose heads they anointed with oil. See Barnes Note, Psalms 23.
4. Finally, my cup runneth over - It is not merely "full;" but, it runs over. This, too, indicates abundance; and from the abundance of the favors bestowed, David infers that God would always provide for him, and that He would never leave him to want ever. Note:
a. One, “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot,” Psalms 16:5.
b. Two, “They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures,” Psalms 36:8.
c. Three, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows,” Psalms 45:7. This Psalms has reference to Christ, Hebrews 1:9.
d. Conclusion: David’s anointing as king was a type of Christ’s anointing as “king of Kings; and lord of Lords,” 1 Timothy 6:13-15; Revelations 17:14. David was Israel’s most beloved king. A man after “God’s own heart,” Acts 13:22.
D. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
1. God’s goodness and mercy: “Shall follow me” – that God will bestow His blessings upon me. This is the "result" of what is stated in the previous verses. The effect of God's merciful dealings with him had been to assure David that He would always be his shepherd and friend; that He would never leave him. See Barnes Notes, Psalms 23. Notice, God’s goodness and grace:
a. First, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all that call upon thee,” Psalms 86:5.
b. Second, “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth,” Psalms 86:15.
c. Third, “I will mention the loving kindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel... according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses,” Isaiah 63:7.
2. Shall follow me all the days of my life - Through all its changes; in every variety of situations; because of God’s endless blessings. Life indeed will end; but as long as life should continue, David felt confidently assured that everything needful for him would be provided by God. The language is the utterance of a heart overflowing with joy and gratitude in the recollection of the past; and full of glad anticipation (as derived from the experience of the past) in regards to his hope in the future. See Barnes Notes, Psalms 23.
a. Elijah to be sustained by a widow: “And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee... So he arose and went...And behold the widow woman was there gathering sticks: and he called to her, and said, fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. And said, bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand...And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: ... And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: ... And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: ... And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD,” 1 Kings 17:8-16. Illustrate: Widow’s faith during famine.
b. Jesus: “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? ...Therefore take no thought... But seek ye first the kingdom of God....Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof,” Matthew 6:25-33.
c. Paul writes: “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19.
E. I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. David's now describes his covenant with God: "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (as long as I live),” and I will praise him while I have any being. We must dwell in his house as servants. It should be our desire, to serve Him forever. Here David:
1. One thing I desire. “Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident. One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple,” Psalms 27:3-4.
2. David desires to abide in the Lord’s tabernacle. Notice:
a. First, “I will abide in thy tabernacles forever: ... Selah,” Psalms 61:4.
b. Second, “Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: ... Selah,” Psalms 84:4
c. Third, “Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God,” Psalms 92:13.
d. Fourth, Luke writes: “Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved,” Acts 2:47.
e. Illustrate: Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Psalms 15:1-5.
3. Stand in the House of the Lord. David says: “Ye that stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God, Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant,” Psalms 135:2-3.
4. Conclusion: The Lord has planted us in His house, just as He did David. Let us to live to glorify His name and praise Him for all his blessing. Remember the works of Paul: “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord,” 1 Corinthians 15:58.
CONCLUSION
A. Outline.
1. His Eternal Pre-existence
2. His Everlasting Presence
3. His Endless Provisions
B. Summarize main points.
1. First, we considered the assurance of His eternal pre-existence: “The LORD is.” David begins by affirming the eternal existence of the Divine Shepherd. The Lord IS! Unlike the heathen around him at this time, their gods were the work of their hands. They carried their gods. They had eyes and could not see; mouths and could not speak, and ears but they could not hear. The Divine Shepherd carries his children wherever they go; because He is alive and is to us an everlasting Father. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and His sheep.
2. Second, we discussed the assurance of His everlasting presence: “The LORD is my shepherd... he leadeth me... thou art with me.” David makes it know to the people of God, that the Divine Shepherd is ever present with his sheep. He writes: “Know ye that the Lord he is God, it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture,” Psalms 100:3.
3. Lastly, we investigated the assurance of His endless provisions: “I shall not want... He restoreth my soul... Thou preparest a table before me... surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life... I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This same servant wrote: “I have been young, and now am old: yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread,” Psalms 37:25. We can be confident, that God shall “provide for all of our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:19.
C. Invitation. Present the plan of salvation. H, B, R, C, B.
D. Exhortation.
E. Motivation.
