The Song of the Shepherd!
Psalm 23:1
Introduction:
Psalm 23 – one of the best known and most loved passages in all of the Bible. Visited many a saint and brought them comfort and hope in their darkest hour. Read at the bedside of the sick/dying… visited the discouraged and downtrodden and brought them encouragement; visited the weak and weary and brought them rest and refreshment and strength to go on.
Ps. 23 has been referred to as...
• The Psalm of Psalms
• The Pearl of Psalms
• The Song of the souls of men.
• The Sweetest Song ever sung
• The Psalm everybody knows
Quote: “The Twenty-third Psalm is the greatest poem penned in any language. It reigns supreme in circles of highest culture and in the humble homes of the lowly. It sounds all the chords of human experience.” - Dr. Robert C. McQuilkin
Superscription: “A Psalm of David” – lived a shepherd’s life during his formative years… tending his father, Jesse’s flocks. ‘
Written about a Shepherd by a shepherd. In this Psalm, David, the sweet Psalmist of Israel expounds and extols what it means to be a sheep in the Lord’s flock!
Journey: “The Song of the Shepherd!”
I. A SONG OF REALIZATION!
Look: v.1 – Two words: “The LORD”
David = want you to know just who my Shepherd really is! Those who know the Lord this morning David’s Shepherd is your Shepherd.
“LORD” = Jehovah/Yahweh – the great, “I AM! The eternal, self-existent Creator God of the Universe!
Jehovah God of the OT is the Jesus of the NT. Jesus = Jehovah saves!
2,000 yrs ago the Lord Jesus stepped into the Shepherd’s role described in Ps. 23 and claimed it for Himself.
Quote: “He wrapped Himself in the verses of Psalm 23 the way an ancient shepherd would put on his coat.
Jesus = is Psalm 23 personified! Can say with sweet assurance – “Jesus is my Shepherd!
Hebrews 13:20 (KJV 1900)
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
1 Peter 2:25
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Revelation 7:17
17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.
Before we can delve into the secrets of Ps. 23; must view it in its setting.
Three-fold Trilogy of Psalms… are prophetic in nature… set before us the Shepherd Ministry of Jesus!
• 22 = Ps. Cross – presents Jesus as the Good Shepherd in death. Gave His life for the sheep.
John 10:11 – “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”
• Ps. 23 = Crook – presents Jesus as the Great Shepherd in life. Cares for His sheep.
Heb. 13:19 – “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep…”
• Ps. 24 = Crown – presents Jesus as the Chief Shepherd in His sure return. Comes for us!
These 3 Psalms encompasses all that Jesus is to us.
Heb. 13: - “Jesus Christ the same, yesterday, to day, and for ever.”
Ps. 22 = takes care of my past.
Ps. 24 = takes care of my future
Ps. 23 = takes care of my present!
On one side is Ps. 22 – Mt. Calvary, on the other is Ps. 24 Mt. Zion and nestled in between is Ps.23 with its green pastures and still waters.
“Is” = tiny word w/ 1 syllable; 2 letters… bursting with meaning.
Ps. 23 = written in the present tense…
Notice Ps. 23:1 David doesn’t say that The Lord was my shepherd or that the Lord will be my shepherd… says, “The Lord IS my Shepherd. Something God was doing right now.
Interesting: not one petition or promise in Ps. 23… only statements of fact… Ps. 23 is not a prayer to pray; not a promise to claim… but a reality to be experienced!
II. A SONG OF RELATIONSHIP
Look: v.1 – “The LORD is my shepherd;”
Many of our biblical heroes were shepherds: Able, Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, 12 sons (Joseph), Moses, King David!
God reveals Himself as a Shepherd-God!
“Shepherd” = is a shortened form of the words, ‘sheep herder’ – Hebrew word for friend is derived from the Hebrew word for shepherd.
In Bible times, the dog wasn’t man’s best friend; the sheep were. God uses the bond between a shepherd and his sheep to describe the bond/ relationship that He has with us.
Ps. 100:3 – “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.”
Isaiah 40:11 – “He shall feed His flock like a Shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in the His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
Ps. 23:1 – “The LORD is my Shepherd…”
Interesting: personal nature of the Psalm is seen in the prevalent use of personal pronouns: “I”, “Me,” “My,” and “Mine.” David refers to Himself no less than 16x’s in 6 verses.
Note: “My” = word of possession; ownership; belonging; relationship.
Illust: A father was seeking to help his son memorize Ps. 23 for Sunday School… Son, use the fingers on my hand to represent the words in the verses. The dad noticed that each time he son came to the word “my” in the Psalm he touched his ring finger. On that finger of his hand was a wedding ring signifying the marriage relationship with his wife… wedding band was reminder that he belonged to another!
Exactly the relationship we have with our shepherd!
Nothing like that little pronoun: “My” – a group of women can be looking a cooing baby… that is a beautiful, sweet baby; only mother can say, “That is my baby.” Or Husband = “My wife”; Grandparent = my grandchildren, etc…
Oh, Happy Day! When we could honestly say, “The LORD is my Shepherd! And I am His sheep!
In actuality saying, I belong to Him, He owns me, and I am under His management and care.
III. A SONG OF RESOURCE!
Look: Ps. 23:1 – “I shall not want.”
Interesting: Shepherd’s song begins and ends with the Divine Name: “LORD” – in between is the constant, compassionate care He gives to those He calls His sheep!
“Want” = today word means to desire – not how it is used in Ps.23 – word meant (lit) to be abandoned or to suffer need… and had to do with our essential needs or the necessities of life.
Ps.23:1 = doesn’t mean that if the LORD is our Shepherd that we can have everything we want. However, it does mean that we will not lack anything that we need!
Essence saying, “Because the Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not lack anything!”
Ps. 23:1 – theme of the Psalm… from which remaining 5 verses flow!
Robert Morgan in his book: The Lord is my Shepherd suggest that the Lord meets every one of our –ternal needs:
• External needs = necessities of life. Shelter, food, clothing.
Matt. 6:31-33 - 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
• Internal needs = love, joy, peace, assurance, satisfaction, meaning and purpose, etc…
John 10:10 - The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
• Eternal needs = a relationship with God, salvation, forgiveness, heaven, everlasting life.
John 10:11 - I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Bible times: Shepherds risk their very lives for their sheep. Ex. David = Bear & Lion
Jesus = didn’t risk His life; He gave it!
“Giveth” = to give as a gift – Lord Jesus willingly and voluntarily laid down His life for every one of us. He took our place!
Isa. 53:6 – “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the LORD laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
Good news: Our Shepherd is not dead; He is alive.
John 10:17 – “I lay down my life, that I might take it again.”
Good Shepherd = Jesus died to save sinners!
Great Shepherd = Jesus lives to shepherd saints!
Hebrews 13:20-21 - Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting ecovenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Conclusion:
Illust: Reminded of the little girl who’s part in the SS program was to recite: Ps. 23:1= Looked out saw the congregation staring back at her… heart racing, jumbled words and said – “The Lord is my Shepherd; and that’s all I want!”
She may have missed some words, but she didn’t miss their meaning!
Sheep need a shepherd. Friend, if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior… Bible describes you as a sheep without a shepherd! He wants to be your Shepherd this morning!
