The Lord, My Shepherd
I. Introduction
A. The Power of God’s Names
1. Book written by Tony Evans
2. It’s a $6.00 book on Amazon that has forever changed my perspective of God.
3. Some things in scripture are plain as day.
a. Some things require a deeper study.
b. Sometimes it takes something more than the Bible to explain the Bible.
c. Thank God for those, like Tony, that can dedicate their life to study of the Scripture.
d. Sorry Tony, this message is too good not to share, but I did plug your book!
B. Jehovah Rohi
1. Today we are going to look at God’s name which references Him as a shepherd.
2. Wanna guess where we’re going to look at the Lord as our shepherd? Psa. 23
3. Jehovah – Relational name/Rohi – “shepherd”- to tend, pasture – pronounced “ru-ee”
C. Shepherds need sheep to do their job
1. Unless we become as sheep, God cannot be our shepherd.
2. God’s people are referenced as sheep on numerous occasions in scripture.
a. Mk. 6:34 – Jesus looked out at the multitude and had compassion on them and observed that they were like sheep with no shepherd.
b. Jo. 10 – whole chapter used the analogy of Christ being the Shepherd and His people being sheep.
c. John 21:17 – Peter is admonished by Christ to “tend” or “feed” His sheep.
II. Psa. 23 – Read as a preface to the lesson
A. The Lord is my shepherd
1. David is not the first to refer to God as His shepherd. Jacob calls God his shepherd in Gen. 48:15
2. It was natural for David to liken God unto a shepherd because he knew all too well the attributes of a shepherd. He was one himself.
3. David trusted God throughout his life during the good and bad times.
a. Many of us trust God to get us to heaven but lack conviction that He will help or lead us through our physical life.
b. David refers to God as “my” shepherd – depicts a personal relationship
c. Remember the story of the lost sheep? It being lost caused the shepherd to leave the 99 and look for it. I’d say that lost one was special to him
d. God is always present in His sheep’s life; His care is always current.
B. I shall not want
1. A shepherd has the responsibility for the welfare of his sheep.
a. He does not take them out and leave them to fend for themselves.
b. He provides and he defends.
c. Before the beginning of time God knew His plan for each one of us. If we follow Him, we get there much faster.
d. Can we say God has provided for us as individuals? You all probably have a story as do I of Him providing.
2. Ezek. 34:2-4 a shepherd is to do the following:
a. Feed the flock
b. Strengthen the weak
c. Heal the sick
d. Bind up the broken
e. Collect the strays
f. Seek the lost
3. How far will a true shepherd go for his sheep?
a. John 10:11 says he will lay down his life. He will not leave us.
b. Shepherds were subjected to wild animals and the sheep’s only defense.
• I Sam. 17:34-37 – David speaks of his fighting off wild animals.
• Jesus died to save us from our sins. Rom. 5:8 “… while we (you and I) were yet sinners (Lost sheep in the context of this lesson) Christ died for us. This makes him our PERSONAL Savior.
• Jo 10:11-13 Beware of a hireling – he poses as a shepherd but at the first sign of danger he runs leaving the sheep exposed to dangers they are not equipped to handle. Money, Fortune, Fame, etc can easily be a hireling. We can follow where it takes us but it cannot sustain us the way God can.
C. Vs. 2-3
1. Makes me lie down in green pastures
a. Makes – in a sense he forces us to a better place.
b. Does this contradict free will? Of course not!
c. Evans uses the example of a child at nap time or bedtime. Rarely do they just lay down. Sometimes they must wear themselves down so that they get the most needed rest.
d. God’s way is ALWAYS better than our way, but as humans, we tend to lean on our own understanding sometimes.
e. God will let us stay in a certain situation until we rely solely on Him. He never disappoints!
2. Leads me beside quiet waters
a. Why quiet (still) waters? Sheep are not sure footed and cannot stand in running water. If they fall their thick wool gets soaked, they could drown.
b. Shepherds would dig small holes off the running streams that would fill up so that the sheep were comfortable drinking. Another example of the shepherd knowing his sheep and providing an environment conducive to their needs.
3. He restoreth my soul
a. It takes peace for restoration to take place in our soul. Not a peace that is absent of troubles but a peace that passes all man’s understanding. Phil. 4:7.
b. We will not find the greenest pastures or stillest water if we rely on ourselves.
c. We must hand over our struggles to God if we want His help; He doesn’t need ours.
4. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
a. If we make God our personal map or GPS, life is so much better.
b. We need to be to the point that God rules our subconscious as well as our conscious mind. He becomes our built-in GPS.
c. Jer. 10:23 tells us it is not for man to direct his steps.
d. We do this by filling our hearts with His truths. I pray every day that God will forgive me of my sins, flush my heart, soul, and mind, and then fill every crack and crevice with His truths. He will provide you with love, truth, and direction along your earthly journey.
D. Vs 4
1. Between mountaintops lie valleys. In the valleys, shadows are casted, and it can be very scary.
a. Usually, we relate the valley of the shadow of death to the threat of death itself. Not all shadows we enter are a direct threat of death.
b. Mental illness, financial woes, family problems, etc. can cast shadows that darken our spirits.
c. David does not sit in the valley he continues walking. We, too can walk forward through adversity knowing our PERSONAL shepherd is leading us toward another mountaintop.
d. The best advice is that we look to the Shepherd and not the shadows. Brother Peter can attest to that because he started sinking when he took his eyes off Christ while walking to Him on the water.
2. Rod and staff comfort us because they symbolize protection and direction.
a. The rod fends off attackers.
b. The staff is an instrument used to direct. Reference the hook of the staff.
E. Vs 5
1. He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.
a. God is not subject to our enemies or any siege they may attempt on any part of our life. We forget this at times.
b. He provides for us even in the hard times.
c. Shepherds would carry a cloth that they would use to hold food that they would place in front of a lost or scared sheep. Just as physical food brings physical comfort, spiritual food brings spiritual comfort.
d. Mt. 6:31-34 – Read
2. He provides even when we cannot see a way. The shepherd is prepared for all situations.
F. Vs 6
1. What is the significance of “He anoints my head with oil”?
a. Sheep would stick their heads into briers to forage for food.
b. Naturally, what occurs? Scratches
c. The oil helped to heal those places.
d. As we noted in Ezek. 23, a duty of the shepherd is to heal.
e. Another one of God’s names is Jehovah Rapha – The Lord Who heals
2. My cup runs over
a. Following Christ is a profit-based proposition – Read Lk 6:38
b. God delights in showing mercy.
c. He loves us and wants good things for us, but we must put ourselves in a position to receive them.
d. Sometimes we may feel like our cup isn’t running over. Maybe we should go back and see what God tells the Jews in Haggai 1:6. They had returned to their homeland, built their homes, and left the temple (God’s work) unbuilt.
G. Vs 7 – Surely goodness and mercy will follow me ALL the days of my life…
1. David uses the word surely.
a. David believed wholeheartedly that God would bless him, no maybes.
b. He will bless us, also.
c. David placed his faith in God on numerous occasions and his faith was rewarded.
2. Dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
a. Forever here refers to length of days on earth.
b. If we are striving to live in Christ, we are dwelling in God.
III. Closing
Final Thoughts
1. We still lose faith and focus at various times.
2. The Apostles walked daily with Christ and still did not grasp fully who He was.
3. God will lead us right back into the fold and His will if we ask.
4. It is imperative that we see ourselves as sheep to experience the full benefits of God as our shepherd which include:
a. Peace
b. Security
c. Sustenance
d. Abundance
5. We have proof that God thought enough of His sheep to send the Good Shepherd (Christ) who died for us.
