PSALM 23
Scripture: Psalm 23:1 “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 23:4 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. 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 23:6 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.”
Introduction: This psalm has always been regarded as one of exquisite beauty. The main subject is the watchful care which God had extended over the author, and the consequent assurance which he felt that God would still watch over him, and supply all his need. The leading thought — the essential idea — is, his full belief that God would provide for him, and that he would never be left to want. Albert Barnes
I. A FAVORITE PSALM
A. Easily memorized.
1. Short
2. “Paints” a picture.
The wording allows us to produce many positive images in our minds.
Poetically it leaves us with a refreshing feeling. It seems almost heaven.
3. Frequent usage
a. In times of fear. “I will fear no evil.”
b. In times of danger. “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
c. In times of death. “I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
When Sir Harry Lauder received news that his son was killed in World War One, he wrote these words, "In a time like this there are three courses open to man. He may give up in despair, ... he may endeavor to drown his sorrow in drink (or indulgence) ... or he may turn to God." King David would tell us this morning the only choice that brings contentment and security to our present is to turn to God as our personal Shepherd.
Those who die in the Lord are not “lost” in the truest sense as we say we “lost” a loved one. God knows exactly where they are.
Psalm 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of
his saints.”
4. Personal
a. Is my Shepherd.
b. I shall not want.
c. Restoreth my soul.
d. He leadeth me.
e. I will fear no evil.
B. Meaningful
1. Peaceful
a. Lying down in green pastures.
b. Still waters.
c. Restoreth my soul.
Psalm 85:8 “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints:”
2. Preservation
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:”
Psalm 97:10 “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.”
II. THE LORD
A. He is Lord (not just any lord...) (Dr. Robert McKenzie @sermoncentral.com)
1. The God of the Heavens.
a. The first heaven.
Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Genesis 2:1 “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.”
b. The second heaven.
Isaiah 40:12 “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted (to balance, measure out, arrange, bear up, weigh) out
heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a
measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a
balance?”
Isaiah 40:22 “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:”
Columbus sailed on when the earth was considered to be flat.
Isaiah 40:26 “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these
things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”
Psalm 147:4 “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their
names.”
c. The third Heaven.
Acts 7:49 “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?”
II Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 12:3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”
2. The One who is eternal.
Deuteronomy 33:27 “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.”
Job 36:26 “Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.”
Psalm 41:13 “Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to
everlasting. Amen, and Amen.”
Revelation 1:8 “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
3. The Holy One of Israel.
a. He calls us with a holy calling.
II Timothy 1:9 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”
b. He calls us by the holy scriptures.
II Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
c. He declares that we should be holy.
Ephesians 1:4 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
d. He seals us with the holy Spirit of promise.
Ephesians 1:13 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”
e. He fills us with the Holy Ghost
Acts 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak
with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
f. He presents us as a holy church.
Ephesians 5:26 “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
g. He is Lord because he is the epitome of holiness.
Psalm 99:5 “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.”
4. The Unchangeable God.
a. Old Testament
Malachi 3:6 “For I am the LORD, I change not;”
b. New Testament
Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
B. Lord
The term Lord is a term of personal relationship meaning you can get close to Him. (Elmer Towns)
