The Lord is My Shepherd
March 26th, 2006 Psalm 23:1
These are my actual notes and sermon handouts and they probably mean more to me than they do to you. If you don’t understand something in my notes – feel free to e-mail me for clarification (stevenmary7@hotmail.com). Here’s some deciphering hints: I use hyphens (-) to separate key elements in a thought progression. I use quotation marks when I’m illustrating what some one in the congregation might be thinking or asking at that particular point in the message or to illustrate different character voices in an illustration. Bullets are springboards for thought progressions associated with main points in a thought.
INTRO: When started this year – Mary Ellen gets insight from the Lord… - focus on Ps 23 – universally known by believers and unbelievers – next 4 weeks – 6 verses – a lot there
ILLUS: Man walking in cold – wind – door opens – out floods light, warmth, laughter of children, music, smells of food being prepared – then closed just as suddenly – continues on but greatly affected – that’s Psalm 23
David – possibly toward end of his life – floods out of him – compacted down into six verses – some powerful truths about God’s care for him throughout his life – some powerful truths for us as well.
1st verse is an assertion – remaining 5 are proofs of the assertion.
1. I Shall Not Want . - Shall not want what?
A. It speaks of Supply.
PS 84:11 …No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
PS 34:9Oh, fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!
MATT 6:33But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
PHIL 4:19And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. - Needs supplied!
False teachings to kick out the door…
• Means you’ll be wealthy – David, Solomon, Abraham
o Doesn’t explain - Elijah – Jesus – apostles
o Has no correlation to money
• Means you’ll be healthy – part of the atonement
IS 53:5But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
o Healing used figurative many times in scripture…
6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
o What was laid on Him? – sickness? – No – Iniquity!
o Apostle Paul had a thorn
o Don’t go the other way – “No healing” – that’s also wrong
EX 15:26 …for I am the LORD, your healer."
o Not on demand or every person or every time – sovereignly heals
• Means You’ll be happy – never hard time
o Elijah, David, Joseph, Abraham, Paul – everyone had hard times
HEB 12:5 "My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."
o Hardship is confirmation of sonship – if not chastened – not son!
• It does promise NEEDS will be met
o What are some needs? - food, clothing, shelter – promised by God
o Shall not want for needs
• Deeper – shall not want for another Shepherd!
o Content with His management of my life
o He’s always provided in spite of hard times
B. It speaks of Self-Control.
o Pain of wanting things - frustration
o Contentment – great gain – “be content”
o But wouldn’t you like?… - NO! – feel better if you had?… - NO!
o He’s all I want – I have the Lord – if want more get it from Him!
C. It speaks of Security.
o Confidence – not “I might not want / I hope I won’t want”
o SHALL NOT WANT!
o Nor does it say – “I did not want or do not want” – past, present
o “I shall not want” = future – confident assertion
o More I walk with him – more he reduces my desire for other things
o When close to him – don’t want much else
o Far from Him – caught up in nonsense.
o Coming a day when “I shall not want – because the Lord is my Shepherd!” – “I’m secure in that!”
Oh that God would give us a life of supply, self control, security – it’s all rooted in the – “…My Shepherd”
2. He is My _Shepherd_.
It’s the foundation of the whole Psalm – Shepherd is one of the terms most often used to express how God relates to His people – over 100 times
Accurate picture because…
A. We are like _Sheep. - How are we like sheep?
We are prone to _Follow_.
• Herding instinct – why advertising works – keep up with Jones’
• We’re so trusting – that makes us…
We are _Vulnerable_.
• Who shepherds chickens? – no horse, cow, pig shepherds
• Sheep need constant care – protection – unsafe places
• “All we like sheep have gone astray”
• Even when safe try to get out.
We are _Stubborn_.
• Seen over and over – people fall into sin / trouble – counsel – bring word to them – still won’t receive it
• How many times have you heard me say from this pulpit…
o Love Christ, read His word, spend time – prayer
o How many are doing that? - stubborn!
• How often… - don’t just hear the Word – do it! Build on ROCK!
• How often – take thoughts captive!?
• How often – transforming into image of Christ?
• Stubborn!
“Pastor” is transliteration of Shepherd from Latin – I’m not shepherd – under shepherd – who’s the Shepherd? – Jesus is! - 1 Pet. 5:4 – “…Chief Shepherd”
B. As a Shepherd…
Wants to bring good things into your life – may have to go through some hard things – but wants to bring you to a good place. Without Him we lose our way – get lost! - How like a shepherd?
He _Leads_ us.
• We need to be lead - He goes in front of us – no place we walk – but His feet have gone before!
• Everything you’ve experienced – He’s lead you if you’re his sheep
He _Protects_ us.
• We need protection from – predators, weather, thieves
• Our enemy want to steal our focus from the shepherd.
He _Feeds_ us.
• Word of God. – not bread alone – but must eat what He gives
C. He is _”My”_ Shepherd.
We each must make a personal decision – have you?
• Don’t be stubborn – make sure!
• “Well I think… - I’m pretty sure…” – How you can know…
JOHN 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
“My sheep “Hear” my voice.”
• They listen/hear my voice – as one who responds – do you?
o Speak to you through His Word? – resonates – stirring – value it?
o When truth proclaimed – do you sense an urgency, truth, pointedness? – “This is right!”
o “What are you talking about?” – not hearing – bad place to be!
o “I can’t think of anything worse – read Bible” – Not a sheep!
o “My sheep hear my voice”
• “I know them” – criteria for entrance in heaven is not if you’ve mouthed a prayer – it’s whether or not Jesus knows you! – “depart from me – never knew you” - must enter relationship – take time to know be known
“My sheep “Follow” Me.”
• Are you following? – either you are or not – who are you following really?
• “don’t perfectly…” – following – “but I stumble…” – yea but you get up!
• Keep trying! – if you want to please Him – then your following
• Maybe you’re not following – then you’re not one of His sheep!
• Can’t say – “The Lord is MY Shepherd!”
• Most important word is “MY” – My sheep hear / follow
3. He is the _Lord_.
Who is your Shepherd? Who following really? If it’s not the LORD – won’t take you to a good place.
• The LORD is my Shepherd! – it’s all about who your following isn’t it?
• Word LORD – 6400 times – special name of God – so sacred wouldn’t even speak it – reduced it to 4 consonants – disservice by translating it to LORD – Lord is a title not a name!
• Like doctor saying – “don’t call me Paul call me Doctor”
• “Don’t call me Mary Ellen, call me Mrs. Lotze”
• “Don’t call me Steve, call me Pastor”
• Be like saying – “Back off – don’t you know who I am? – I have a title!”
God was saying the exact opposite!
A. He gives us a Personal care.
• “Call me by my name!”
• “I want to relate to you – want to have personal relationship with you – this is my name!”
• He wants to be known – and He wants you to know Him!
• When David said – “The LORD is my Shepherd” – he used God’s name! – YaHWeH is my Shepherd!
• It describes a personal God who desires to reveal Himself
• Psalm 23 is so personal – it’s a Personal care…
B. He gives us a Powerful care.
Never want to become so relaxed or comfortable with His name that we lose sight of who he is…
• He is holy – righteous – so utterly beyond us – creator!
• There are 300 million times 300 million stars in the known universe
• Closest one – alpha centauri – on our front porch comparatively – if went there – 4 light years – wouldn’t even be able to see the earth – speck of dust in the universe – what does that make you?
• Yet His love is toward you! – not only does he keep it spinning for you
• But He sent His Son to die for you – so that He could Shepherd you back to Himself.
• That’s a powerful assertion – speak it out! – let’s say it together!
Pray – thank you – forgive us – bring times of refreshing – discover anew the truths of your shepherding of us – “Lord you are my Shepherd I shall not want”
The Lord is My Shepherd
March 26th, 2006 Psalm 23:1
1. I Shall Not ______________ .
A. It speaks of S_____________________.
B. It speaks of S_____________________.
C. It speaks of S_____________________.
2. He is My ____________________.
A. We are like ____________________.
We are prone to __________________.
We are __________________.
We are __________________.
B. As a Shepherd…
He __________ us.
He __________ us.
He __________ us.
C. He is ________ Shepherd.
How to tell if He is your Shepherd… (John 10:27)
“My sheep ___________ my voice.”
“My sheep ___________ Me.”
3. He is the ____________.
A. He gives us a P_____________ care.
B. He gives us a P_____________ care.
