The Good Shepherd's Unchanging Care

Cornerstone

Church June 6 / 7, 2009

THE GOOD SHEPHERD’S UNCHANGING CARE

Psalm 23

“THAT’S LIFE DVD INTRODUCTION”

Can you relate to the person in the video?

You say – “That’s my Life”

Life is often like being on a Tilt-A-Whirl!

Tremors from the curse were seen again in our community and world this week:

A Linda, CA Woman dies from a hit and run.

18% Unemployment in the Yuba-Sutter Region

Woman hit by lightening

General Motors went bankrupt – now Government Motors (the people’s car)

Osama Bin Laden threatens the USA again

North Korea is developing Nukes

The America political process has become a farce reminiscent of vaudeville / burlesque

It was a tough week in the world.

It is times like these that make you wonder, “Is God still on the throne?”

You be asking yourself,

“How can all of these events be happening if God is in control?”

REST ASSURED GOD IS IN CONTROL!

I had thought of a different message but my mind kept thinking of all of the hardships people are going through these days.

People are suffering physical pain

People in our midst have terminal illnesses

People have children not walking with the Lord – some are outright rebellious

People know friends and relatives who do not know Christ as their Lord and Savior

People are experiencing all sorts of difficulties

People are having trouble paying bills / facing foreclosure (unstable economy)

Some people are afraid of death

Other people are afraid of the future

Some people are afraid they might miss God’s will for their lives

Some people are afraid life is passing them by too quickly (that’s me)

God is in Control!

1 Chr. 29:11 NIV Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.

Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

John 14:27 NIV Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

We do not need to be disappointed with God.

We need to trust Him.

In the midst of difficulties and trails we need help and strength that does not come from us. We need strength and help from our Creator!

Psa. 121:1-2 NIV I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Jesus said in John 10:11: “I am the Good Shepherd.”

Let’s look at Psalm 23 and see what we can learn about our:

“THE GOOD SHEPHERD’S UNCHANGING CARE”

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Psalm 23 is a Psalm of David.

What was David’s occupation before becoming King of Israel?

He was a shepherd who tended his father’s sheep (1 Samuel 17:12-15).

When was this written?

It was probably written during a low point in David’s life when he was in the wilderness fleeing from his son Absalom.

It is the most known and loved Psalm

“There is no Psalm in which the absence of all doubts, misgivings, fear [and] anxiety

is so remarkable.”

J. J. Stewart Perowne

“The Pearl of the Psalms.”

Spurgeon

OUTLINE (Outline by R. Kent Hughes):

I. THE LORD’S PROVISION FOR US (Psalm 23:1-3a)

II. THE LORD’S DIRECTION OF US (Psalm 23:3b)

III. THE LORD’S PROTECTION OF US (Psalm 23:4)

IV. THE LORD’S EXALTATION OF US (Psalm 23:5-6)

R. Kent Hughes: Preach the Word Commentary – The Gospel of John

I. THE LORD’S PROVISION FOR US

Psalm 23:1-3a

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

King David has been on the run from his son Absalom.

He remembers in his heart: “GOD IS UPSTREAM!”

“The LORD is my shepherd,”

The LORD = Jehovah is my Shepherd!

Exod. 3:14 NIV God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”

The Covenant Keeping God is my shepherd!

The Omnipotent God (Who is all-powerful)

The Omniscient God (Who is all-knowing)

The Omnipresent God (Who is everywhere present)

The Sovereign God (Who controls all)

The Self-Existent God

The Self-Sufficient God

The Creator God (Galaxies and Microscopic)

He is “GRIPPED BY THE GREATNESS OF GOD!”

Is. 40:12 NIV Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?

Is. 40:15 NIV Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.