Topic: Sunday Sermon Series -Encouragement from the Psalms
Text: Psalm 23 (KJV)
Title: A Psalm 23 Philosophy
Intro: - Everyone, either knowing or unknowingly, has a philosophy of life. Either an attitude, a belief system, or a system of principles that guides the decisions and the practical affairs of their lives.
There is a philosopher that wrote an interesting statement regarding this:
Andrew James Taggart, Practical Philosopher, PH. D. - For most people, this philosophy of life remains that to which they remain unaware. You might think, if this is true, that the best way of discovering someone’s philosophy of life would be to ask that person what he or she believes, what gets him or her up in the morning, what is that person’s life for, and so on. Reasonable for sure but mistaken. A far better approach is to just observe how that person conducts himself or herself on a daily basis. What thoughts arise in that person’s consciousness? What habits are sedimented? What actions and what goals recur?
The point?
Our attitude, actions and life outcomes reveal far more what or life philosophy is all about!
Having said that I would encourage each one of us, especially in these challenging times to adopt a life philosophy around what I’ve entitled today’s message after:
Title: A Psalm 23 Philosophy
Reason? I believe that the 23rd Psalm shows us that adopting a life philosophy based on the principles recorded within it can offer you a peaceful, purposeful, prosperous, protected life with an air of certainty and security in an unpredictable, rapidly changing, topsy-turvy world!
And where you need to start is not with a principle but wth:
I. The Person of this philosophy:
The person upon which this whole philosophy, approach to life rises and falls with is:
Psalm 23:1a The Lord…
A) Person of:
1. The LORD -??????? (Yah·weh)
a) The Self Existent Sufficient One!
Secondly to really embrace it you must familiarize yourself with:
II. The Personality of the Person of this philosophy?
Psalm 23:1b is…..
A) Personality – The aspects of one’s character, one traits>
Q: What are just some of the traits that the bible tells us the Lord posses?
1. The Lord is Infinite – Without Beginning or End:
Colossians 1:17 "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
2. The Lord is Immutable – He Never Changes!
Malachi 3:6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.”
a) His character never changes
b) His plan never changes
c) His promises do not change
d) His precepts do not change
Sam Storms - “What all this means, very simply, is that God is dependable! Our trust in him is therefore a confident trust, for we know that he will not, indeed cannot, change. His purposes are unfailing, his promises unassailable. It is because the God who promised us eternal life is immutable that we may rest assured that nothing, not trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword shall separate us from the love of Christ. It is because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever that neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, not even powers, height, depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35-39)!”
3. The Lord is Self-Sufficient – He Has No Needs
John 5:26 “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.”
a) People are limited, and needy
b) God however has need of nothing!
Scott Swain - The self-sufficiency of God means he “possesses infinite riches of being, wisdom, goodness, and power in and of himself. We never have to worry about the “drying up” of his never-ending well of goodness, peace, mercy and grace.
4. The Lord is Omnipotent – He Is All Powerful
Psalm 33:6 “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”
a) Omnipotent means to have unlimited power
i. (Omni = all; potent = powerful).
ii. God is all-powerful and is able to do anything he wills without any effort on his part.
a. When He plans something, it will come to pass.
b. If He purposes something, it will happen.
c. Nothing can prevent it!
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Luke 1:37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
5. The Lord Is Omniscient – He Is All-Knowing
Isaiah 46:9 Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please
AW Tozer - “God perfectly knows Himself and, being the source and author of all things, it follows that He knows all that can be known. And this He knows instantly and with a fullness of perfection that includes every possible item of knowledge concerning everything that exists or could have existed anywhere in the universe at any time in the past or that may exist in the centuries or ages yet unborn.”
a) Benefit?
i. Because God is all-knowing, we can trust that he knows everything we’re going through today and everything we will go through tomorrow.
ii. When we meditate on this truth, especially in light of his other attributes of goodness and love, it makes it easier to trust him with all we have going on in our lives, from the very serious to the silly and mundane.
6. The Lord Is Omnipresent – He Is Always Everywhere
Psalm 139: 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Jeremiah 23:23 “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? 24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.
AW Tozier -This ought to bring deep comfort to Christians who struggle with loneliness and deep sorrow. In a very real way, God is always near us, “closer even than our thoughts,” “The knowledge that we are never alone calms the troubled sea of our lives and speaks peace to our soul.”
7. The Lord is Is All- Wise – He Is Full of Perfect, Unchanging Wisdom
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
a) Wisdom is more than just knowing the facts, wisdom is knowing what to do with the facts!
AW Tozier-“Wisdom, among other things, is the ability to devise perfect ends and to achieve those ends by the most perfect means. It sees the end from the beginning, so there can be no need to guess or conjecture. Wisdom sees everything in focus, each in proper relation to all, and is thus able to work toward predestined goals with flawless precision.”
b) Point – this is God’s wisdom!
c) The wisdom of God and the “wisdom” of men are not the same!
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, “I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE, AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.” 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not [come to] know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:24b Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
1 Corinthians 1:30b Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God
8. The Lord is Faithful – He Is Infinitely, Unchangingly True
2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”
a) When we say God is faithful it means He is totally trustworthy - He is perfectly faithful.
Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago
Lamentations 3:22 The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness
Exodus 34:6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness"
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one
A. W. Pink - In all His relations with His people God is faithful. He may be safely relied upon. No one ever yet really trusted Him in vain. We find this precious truth expressed almost everywhere in the Scriptures, for His people need to know that faithfulness is an essential part of the Divine character. This is the basis of our confidence in Him.”
9. The Lord Is Good! - Infinitely, Unchangingly Kind and Full of Good Will
Psalm 34: 8 “O, taste and see that the Lord is good”
AW Tozer- The goodness of God disposes Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of good will toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick sympathy, and His unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature He is inclined to bestow blessedness and He takes holy pleasure in the happiness of His people.”
10. The Lord Is Just!
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
a) What does it mean that God is just?
i. It means more than he is simply fair.
ii. It means he always does what is right and good toward all men.
11. The Lord Is Merciful – He is Infinitely, Unchangeably Compassionate and Kind
Deuteronomy 4:31 For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.
Daniel 9:9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;
Romans 9:15 “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy."
12. The Lord Is Gracious – God Is Infinitely Inclined to Save the Sinner!
Psalm 145:8 "The LORD is gracious and merciful; Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness."
a) If mercy is not getting what we do deserve, grace is getting what we don’t deserve,
i. Common grace– Christians and non-Christians enjoy each and every day!
Matthew 5:45 ‘For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.’”
ii. Saving grace?
a. Reserved for those who profess belief and put their faith in Christ, they receive saving grace.
Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
13. The Lord Is Loving – In fact He Is Love!
1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
R.C. Sproul –The love of God is eternal, sovereign, unchanging, and infinite.
AW Tozier - Self-sufficient as He is, He wants our love and will not be satisfied till He gets it. Free as He is, He has let His heart be bound to us forever. God’s love is active, drawing us to himself. His love is personal. He doesn’t love humanity in some vague sense, he loves humans. He loves you and me. And his love for us knows no beginning and no end.
14. The Lord Is Holy – He is Infinitely, Unchangingly Perfect
Revelation 4:8 “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord Almighty who was, and is, and is to come.””
John MacArthur - “Of all the attributes of God, holiness is the one that most uniquely describes Him and in reality is a summation of all His other attributes. The word holiness refers to His separateness, His otherness, the fact that He is unlike any other being. It indicates His complete and infinite perfection. Holiness is the attribute of God that binds all the others together.”
John MacArthur - That God is holy means he is endlessly, always perfect. And his standard for us is perfection as well. “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect,” Jesus says in Matthew 5:48. That’s why we need Christ. Without Christ taking the place for us and dying for our sins, we would all fall short of God’s holy standard.
15. The Lord is Glorious – He is Infinitely Beautiful and Great
Psalm 72:19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
A) Glorious – ????? - 'adar
1. To be great, be majestic, wide, noble
2. Honorable, dignified, powerful, distinguished, splendid, beautiful or radiant
B) What good does His Glory do me?
i. It insures me that:
Psalm 111:3 Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever.
a. His works are glorious
Isaiah 12:5 Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
b. He will continue to do glorious things!
c. Also he has set a glorious standards for us!
Isaiah 42:21 It pleased the LORD for the sake of his righteousness to make his law great and glorious.
i. Reason?
d. Has a glorious end in mind for us!
Romans 8: 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Who wouldn’t want to serve a God like that? But it requires…
III. The Personalization of this philosophy!
Psalm 23:1b The Lord is my….
A) Personalization?
1. He is my, mine!
Songs 2:16 My beloved is mine, and I am his: he feedeth among the lilies.
B) Perspective?
1. The 23rd Psalm is personal in nature!
a) The word “me” is in it a total of 7 times
b) “My” 4 times
c) “I” four times
d) “Mine” 1 time!
C) Point?
1. Christianity is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ!
a) Christianity is not rituals, ceremonies, and/or sacraments.
b) It is a personal, spiritual, loving relationship with a real and living Savior, Jesus Christ!
c) This is the uniqueness of Christianity!
E) Personalize?
1. How do I enter into this personal relationship?
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Act 16:31a They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—
Romans 10: 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
F) Picture?
1. What does the personalization of this relationship look like?
a) Friendship
John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
b) Sonship
John 1: 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
c) Brotherhood
John 20: 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”
d) Betrothal!
John 3:29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.
e) Body
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Colossians 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
IV. The Predominate Theme of this Philosophy?
A) Picture?
1. This Psalm presents of our relationship with the Lord?
Psalm 23:1d shepherd….
a) Shepherd!
Martin Luther- Of all the figures that are applied to God in the Old Testament that of a Shepherd is the most beautiful. It brings to the Godly, when they read it or hear it, as it were, a confidence, a consolation, or security, like the word, Father.
i. One of the major metaphors that the bible uses for God is shepherd!
Psalm 80:1 Oh, give ear, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock
Psalm 100:3 Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture
Ezekiel 34:31 “As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God,” declares the Lord God
b) Why a Shepherd?
c) Because we are sheep!
Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
i. Lost sheep.
Luke 15:4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn't he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Luke 15:6 And goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.'
ii. Harassed, helpless sheep!
Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
iii. As Tim Challies puts it- - Dumb, Directionless, Defenseless Sheep!
Tim Challies - Dumb, Directionless, Defenseless -Why sheep? Why not cheetahs or wolves or tigers or another animal with a bit of flair, a bit of class? Well the Bible tells us often that we are sheep. We are sheep and God is a shepherd. That sheep/shepherd word picture is at the heart of the best-loved Psalm–Psalm 23.
Tim Challies - Dumb, Directionless, Defenseless -Do a little bit of reading about sheep and you’ll soon see they are not survivors. They are not strong and independent creatures, not proud hunters or fierce predators. They’re actually kind of pathetic, entirely dependent upon a shepherd for at least three reasons. Two of these reasons are related to the brain of a sheep and the other is related to its body.
This is a real news story that aptly tells us the first reason sheep need a shepherd: because sheep are dumb. Hundreds of sheep followed their leader off a cliff in eastern Turkey, plunging to their deaths this week while shepherds looked on in dismay. Four hundred sheep fell 15 meters to their deaths in a ravine in Van province near Iran, but broke the fall of another 1,100 animals who survived. Shepherds from a nearby village neglected the flock while eating breakfast, leaving the sheep to roam free. The loss to local farmers was estimated at $74,000.
Tim Challies - Dumb, Directionless, Defenseless -Sheep are dumb and directionless. They are also defenseless. Left to themselves, sheep will not and cannot last very long. Just about any other domesticated animal can be returned to the wild and will stand a fighting chance of survival. But not sheep. Put a sheep in the wild and you’ve
just given nature a snack.
Tim Challies - Dumb, Directionless, Defenseless -Think about it: there are different ways animals react when they perceive some kind of danger. Here are three common ones: fight, flight, and posture.
Let’s thinking about fight. A sheep gets frightened or sees that he is in danger. Maybe he sees a bear rambling toward him. What is he going to do? He doesn’t have claws, he doesn’t have fangs, he doesn’t have venom, he doesn’t have spines or quills or large talons. He’s got nothing to protect himself. Fighting is definitely out.
Tim Challies - Dumb, Directionless, Defenseless -How about flight, just turning tail and running away? That’s a good defense mechanism. Unfortunately sheep aren’t fast; they certainly aren’t agile, especially when their wool is long, and even more so when their wool is long and wet. Last I checked they don’t have wings. A sheep is not going to outrun or outfly a bear. The sheep will not fight and it cannot take flight. So far it is looking pretty good for the bear.
Tim Challies - Dumb, Directionless, Defenseless-How about posture? A dog will bark and growl and show his teeth to warn you away. A lion will roar. A rattlesnake will shake his rattle. A cat will arch his back and hiss. The best a sheep can do is baaa. I don’t think that bear is going be too intimidated. It is for good reason that no one relies on a guard sheep to keep their property secure.
Sheep can’t fight, they can’t run away, and they can’t scare away.
B) Point?
1. Praise the Lord - Jesus goes on record as declaring Himself to be:
John 10: 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
John 10: 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
John 10: 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
2. The New Testament writers declares Him to be:
Heb 13:20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
1Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
1Peter 2:25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[fn] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
V. The Pay-off of this philosophy?
Psalm 23:1e I shall not want.
I lack nothing. -NIV
there is nothing I lack. -HBSC
I shall want nothing.-BST
I will not be in need. -NASB
I have all that I need. -NLT
I will never be in need.-CEV
I have everything I need. -GWT
John 10:9b They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
A) Reach?
1. It reaches to every aspect of our lives – physically, relationally, vocationally, financially, spiritually, etc.
Luke 12: 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
Luke 12: 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
2. What does the kingdom entail?
a) What I shall eat, drink, wear, ie, all the things that I need pertaining to this lifetime and the life to come!
Matthew 6:32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
VI. The Primary Principal of this philosophy?
A) Principle?
1. The fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning.
Psalm 23:1a 1 The Lord is my shepherd;
John 10: 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
2. EVERYTIME JESUS INTRODUCES HIMSELF TO SOMEONE IN THE GOSPELS HE DOES SO WITH TWO WORDS:
Matthew 4: 18 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. 19 Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
Matthew 9:9 As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
John 1:43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.
Matthew 8: 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
John 21:18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
B) Point?
1. The principle of the Christian life in a nutshell is captured in E. W. Blandy’s hymn written in 1890:
Where he leads me I will follow,
Where he leads me I will follow,
Where he leads me I will follow,
I’ll go with him, with him all the way.
I’ll go with him through the garden,
I’ll go with him through the garden,
I’ll go with him through the garden,
I’ll go with him, with him all the way. [Refrain]
I’ll go with him through the judgment,
I’ll go with him through the judgment,
I’ll go with him through the judgment,
I’ll go with him, with him all the way. [Refrain]
[Reason?]
He will give me grace and glory,
He will give me grace and glory,
He will give me grace and glory,
And go with me, with me all the way.
2. Yet you discover that when you go with Him, you discover He goes with you!
a) Moses:
Exodus 4:12 Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”
Exodus 33:14 The LORD replied, “I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest—everything will be fine for you.”
Deuteronomy 31:1b Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2 “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’ 3 The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land.
Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you."
Deuteronomy 20:3b “Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them.4 For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."
Ok, now that we looked at….
VII. The Provision’s within this philosophy?
Psalm 23:2a He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
A) Picture of?
1.Lie down in….Green pastures?
a) Grass? No!
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.”
2. Word of Our God!
Matthew 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Jeremiah 15:16a Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart:
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Psalm 23:2a he leadeth me beside the still waters.
4. Still waters – Emblematic of the Spirit of God
John 7: 37 On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” 39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Matthew Henry- The consolations of the Holy Spirit are the still waters by which the saints are led; the streams which flow from the Fountain of living waters.
Romans 8:14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
Charles Spurgeon - Still waters run deep. That silence is golden indeed in which the Holy Spirit meets with the souls of his saints. Not to raging waves of strife, but to peaceful streams of holy love does the Spirit of God conduct the chosen sheep. He is a dove, not an eagle; the dew, not the hurricane. Our Lord leads us beside these "still waters;" we could not go there of ourselves, we need his guidance, therefore it is said, "he leadeth me." He does not drive us. Moses drives us by the law, but Jesus leads us by his example, and the gentle drawing of his love.
VIII. The Priority of this philosophy?
Psalm 23:3a He restoreth my soul:
A) Restoration of the soul!
1. Soul- ??????-nephesh
a) The inner being of a man
b) Seat of his thoughts, appetites, desires, emotions, passions
2. KJV Dictionary Definition: Soul
a) The spiritual, rational and immortal substance in man, which distinguishes him from brutes; that part of man which enables him to think and reason, and which renders him a subject of moral government.
b) The immortality of the soul is a fundamental article of the christian system. Such is the nature of the human soul that it must have a God, an object of supreme affection.
B) Why? - Priority?
Mark 8:36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
John Gill – The soul is immortal and everlasting, while the world, and the glory of it pass away, and so the soul is of more worth than the whole world. The world can only be enjoyed for a season, and that with a great deal of fatigue and trouble; but the soul continues for ever; and if it is lost and damned, its torment always abides, and the smoke of it ascends for ever, its worm never dies, and its fire is never quenched.
Genesis 6: 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
The Message - God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night.
1. Heart - ??? -leb
a) Inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding
b) Mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory
c) Inclination, resolution, determination (of will)
C) What does He do?
Psalm 23:3a He restoreth my soul:
1. Restore- ????? -shuwb
a) To return, turn back
b) To bring back
C) to restore, refresh, repair
2. Salvation is a restoration project!
a) Past - Justifies us
b) Present - He sanctifies us
c) Future – He will glorify us
Charles Spurgeon - When the soul grows sorrowful he revives it; when it is sinful he sanctifies it; when it is weak he strengthens it. "He" does it. His ministers could not do it if he did not. His Word would not avail by itself. "He restoreth my soul." Are any of us low in grace? Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul.
3. Pray:
Charles Spurgeon - Pray to him, then, for the blessing -- "Restore thou me, thou Shepherd of my soul!"
4. Say:
Psalm 42: Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
IX. The Path of this philosophy?
Psalm 23:3b he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness…
A) Paths?
1. Righteousness – ????? -tsedeq
a) What is right or just or normal,
b) In right paths, or right ways
B) Plural!
1. Path(s).
a) A path that is comprehensive in nature.
b) In the paths of righteousness - ??? ?????? bemageley tsedek, "in the circuits" or "orbits of righteousness."
c) Paths that includes every area of life.
i. Relationships
ii. Vocation
iii. Stewardship
C) Point?
1. Every decision we make, every act we perform, is to take us down this clearly marked path called – RIGHTEOUSNESS
2. How would you know? What is the guide?
Psalm 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.
Psalm 119:35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.-NKJV
Dr. Steve Lawson - Every step of life’s journey is to be taken on this divinely-prepared course. There can be no sidetrack that you pursue. No shortcut that you take. No alternate route that you travel. Whether you are at home, at work, or with your family. This guidance of the LORD is always onto paths of “righteousness.” This represents practical righteousness or personal holiness. David knows that the LORD will never lead him into sin. Instead, he will be directed away from iniquity. David could never lay blame on God for any moral failure in his life. Such responsibility—and accountability—always lay at his own feet.
VIII. The Purpose to adopt this philosophy?
Psalm 23:3b he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
A) Purpose?
1. For The Sake of His Name!
2. His Purposes
3. His Glory!
a) What I do as one of His Sheep reflects on His Name, His Reputation, His Honor, His Glory!
i. It is therefore no wonder that David prayed:
Psalm 31: 1 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. _NIV
Q: Why?
Psalm 31:3 Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me. 4a Keep me free from the trap that is set for me….
B) Point?
1. A Christian knows that God has called him for this very purpose!
Ephesians 1: 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.
B) Perspective
1. OK, I understand it is all about God’s Glory
2. But what about my gratification?
a) What about me?
C) Point?
1. Your greatest gratification will come when you make God’s glory your goal!
The Glory of God as the Goal of History -John Piper- What is God's goal or aim in the history of mankind from its beginning at creation to its climax in the new heavens and new earth, and what should our response to this goal be?
John Piper Now we may turn to the redemptive work that God performed through Christ and ask what God's goal was in this. Paul sounds the clear note for us and we can hear it in Ephesians 1.
John Piper -God destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace which he freely bestowed on us in the beloved. To what end did God choose us and redeem us through Christ? To the end that the glory of his grace might be clearly manifested and praised.
John Piper -The Sum of the Matter. The supreme goal of God in history from beginning to end is the manifestation of his great glory. Accordingly our duty is to bring our thoughts, affections, and actions into line with this goal. It should become our own goal. To join God in this goal is called glorifying God.
1Corinthians 10:31b Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
X. The Protection within this philosophy?
Psalm 23:4a Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
Samuel Lavington-Though I were called to such a sight as Ezekiel's vision, a valley full of dead men's bones; though the king of terrors should ride in awful pomp through the streets, slaying heaps upon heaps, and thousands should fall at my side, and ten thousands at my right hand, I will fear no evil. Though he should level his fatal arrows at the little circle of my associates, and put lover and friend far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness, I will fear no evil. Yea, though I myself should feel his arrow sticking fast in me, the poison drinking up my spirits; though I should in consequence of that fatal seizure, sicken and languish, and have all the symptoms of approaching dissolution, still I will fear no evil.
A) Why?
1. Protected
B) How?
1. Promised Presence of God!
Psalm 23:4b for thou art with me;
a) Omnipresent? Yes!
b) But I am talking about the Guiding, Protecting, Providing Presence of God for His people!
Hebrews 13:5b God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Matthew 28:20b Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Charles Spurgeon- This is the joy of the Christian! "Thou art with me." The little child out at sea in the storm is not frightened like all the other passengers on board the vessel, it sleeps in its mother's bosom; it is enough that its mother is with it; and it should be enough for the believer to know that Christ is with him. "Thou art with me; I have, in having thee, all that I can crave: I have perfect comfort and absolute security, for thou art with me.
Albert Barnes -- The true friend of God has nothing to fear in that dark valley. His great Shepherd will accompany him there, and can lead him safely through, however dark it may appear. The true believer has nothing to fear in the most gloomy scenes of life; he has nothing to fear in the valley of death; he has nothing to fear in the grave; he has nothing to fear in the world beyond. For thou art with me, Thou wilt be with me. Though invisible, thou wilt attend me. I shall not go alone; I shall not be alone.
i. He doesn’t worry, quit or retreat, or recoil- he continues to walk!
Charles Spurgeon - To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed. The dying saint is not in a flurry, he does not run as though he were alarmed, nor stands still as though he would go no further, he is not confounded nor ashamed, and therefore keeps to his old pace.
Charles Spurgeon - Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. We do not die, we but sleep to wake in glory. Death is not the house but the porch, not the goal but the passage to it.
ii. He does not fear because Jesus has promised him eternal life!
iii. And in the present tense, though surrounded by enemies and adversity he does not fear for:
Psalm 23:4c thy rod
a. Rod -?????????? (ši?·??·?a)
i) A club,
ii) It was an oak club about two feet long that was used to defend the flock against vicious wild animals.
Psalm 23:4d and thy staff
a. Staff- ?????????????????? (u·miš·‘an·te·?a)
i) The “staff” is the shepherd's crook that is hooked on one end
ii) It is used to either prod the sheep into the right direction, or pull the sheep from going in the wrong direction.
Psalm 23:4e they comfort me.
iii) The sight of them consoles me.
Q: Why?
iv) The rod and staff are emblematic of the fact that you rule and reign!
Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.
Numbers 24:17
I see Him, but not now;
I behold Him, but not near;
A Star shall come out of Jacob;
A Scepter shall rise out of Israel,
And batter the brow of Moab,
And destroy all the sons of tumult.
XI. The Provision within this philosophy?
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Psalm 23:5a Thou preparest a table before me….
Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banquet hall [table] . His banner over me is love.
A) Picture?
1. The picture of the Lord changes from a Shepherd to a Servant!
Luke 12:37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
B) Purpose?
1. To serve us!!
Psalm 23:5b in the presence of mine enemies:
Charles Spurgeon - The good man has his enemies. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. If we were without enemies we might fear that we were not the friends of God, for the friendship of the world is enmity to God.
C) Promise:
1. If you choose to follow the Great Shepherd those who sat at your table will conspire against you too!
a) In your biological family?
Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
b) “Church” family?
Mark 14: 16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. 17 When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18 While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me.”-NIV
E) Perspective?
1. Betrayer’s, enemies, will be sitting at that table with you!
Psalm 41:9 Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.
George Horne- The sufferings of the church, like those of her Redeemer, generally begin at home: her open enemies can do her no harm, until her pretended friends have delivered her into their hands; and, unnatural as it may seem, they who have waxed fat upon her bounty, are sometimes the first to lift the heel against her.
2. Yet in the midst of that:
XII. The Power within the Philosophy
Psalm 23:5c thou anointest my head with oil;
A) Picture of?
1. Power of the Holy Spirit coming on someone’s life!
Luke 4:14 Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
B) Point?
1. The anointing often comes in the adversities of life!
2 Corinthians 12:7b in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Psalm 23:5d my cup runneth over.
John Trapp- He had not only a fulness of abundance, but of redundance!
C) Point?
1. The Goodness of God will be poured out so abundantly into your life it will spill over into others!
William Secker- Wherefore doth the Lord make you cup run over, but that other men's lips might taste the liquid? The showers that fall upon the highest mountains, should glide into the lowest valleys.
XIII. The Permanence attached to this philosophy?
Psalm 23:6a Surely…..
A) Surely -????? ? (’a?)
1. Indeed,
2. Absolutely
3. Beyond a shadow of a doubt!
Psalm 23:6b goodness…
B) Goodness- ????? (?o·w?)
1.The abundant blessings and lavish benefits God!
2. Welfare, prosperity, happiness, good things, beneficial things
Psalm 23:6c and mercy…
C) Mercy – ?????-checed
1. God’s lavish goodness, kindness, faithfulness, forgiveness, pity, compassion, lovingkindness, etc.
Psalm 23:6d shall follow me all the days of my life:
D) Follow- ????? -radaph
1. To follow after, pursue, to chase after, to run after.
2. God’s goodness and mercy will be in hot pursuit of your life!
a) No matter where you go!
b) You can’t get away from it!
c) You can’t escape it!
d) They will never let you go, even when circumstances seem to contradict this!
Psalm 23:6e and I will dwell
A) Dwell - ???????????? (w?·ša?·tî)
1. To sit down, to stay, to remain to abide.
2. To make one’s home.
a) Where?
Psalm 23:6f in the house of the Lord
B) House of the Lord!
1. Where is that?
C) Heaven!!
John 14:1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
D) For how long?
Psalm 23:6f forever.
E) Forever!
1. Eternally!!
a) The relationship between you and the Lord will last “forever.”
b) What starts in this lifetime will never come to an end.
c) In the words of this analogy, once you move into the house of the Lord, you will never be move out.
d) The Lord who pursues us with lovingkindness is He who keeps us forever.
e) The Lord who is ever chasing us is ever keeping us.
f) Once God begins His pursuit of us, He will never let us go.
g) No believer can be separated from the love of God, our great Shepherd, Server and King.
Romans 8: 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8: 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
Romans 8: 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Conclusion:
ARE YOU READY TO ADOPT THIS LIFESTYLE?
COME TO JESUS – SURRENDUR TO THE GREAT SHEPHERD AND HE WILL BE YOUR GUIDE!
