The Lord Is My Shepherd - An In-Depth Look At Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd.

An in-depth look at Psalm 23

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - Today I want to look at what is most likely the most memorized chapter in the Bible Psalm 23. This particular Psalm is a favorite passage of scripture at funerals; however, it’s not a Psalm of death but a Psalm of Life, Rest, Peace, Comfort, and Protection. Although written about 3000 years ago it is still so relevant to our lives today.

Psalm 23 is part of what is called the Messianic Trilogy made up of Psalm 22, 23, 24 with each giving a different look at this wonderful shepherd. In Psalm 22 He is the Good Shepherd, in Psalm 23 He is the Great Shepherd, and in Psalm 24 He is the Chief Shepherd, remember the number 3 represents fulness the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd is Jesus, and this Messianic Trilogy shows Him as the Good, Great, and Chief Shepherd in the Past, Present, and Future. PAST - John 10:11 says, “I am the Good Shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep”. PRESENT - Hebrews 13:20-21 says, “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, 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”. FUTURE – 1 Peter 5:4 says, “And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away”.

J Vernon McGee a great Bible Theologian and Commentator who had the program “Thru the Bible with Dr. McGee and passed in 1988 said it the best I feel concerning this messianic Trilogy when he said “In Psalm 22 we see the cross, in Psalm 23 the crook (the Shepherd’s crook), and in Psalm 24 the crown (the King’s crown). In Psalm 22 Christ is Saviour, in Psalm 23 Christ is Satisfier, in Psalm 24 He is Sovereign. In Psalm 22 He is foundation, in Psalm 23 He is the manifestation, in Psalm 24 He is the expectation. In Psalm 22 He dies, in Psalm 23 He is living, in Psalm 24 He is coming. Psalm 22 speaks of the past, Psalm 23 speaks of the present, Psalm 24 speaks of the future. In Psalm 22 He gives His life for the sheep, in Psalm 23 He gives His love to the sheep, in Psalm 24 He gives us light when He shall appear. What a wonderful picture we have of Christ in these three Psalms”.

So, let’s look at Psalm 23 – The Lord is my Shepherd!

Prayer:

Scripture: - Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever”.

UNDERSTAND: - this Psalm is written from the sheep’s point of view (David) talking about his shepherd. We have an advantage that David only longed for and that is we have what the Shepherd has done, how He loved the sheep and would never let them go, how He said My sheep know my voice and another they will not follow. He gives His sheep eternal life, how He is laid down His life for His sheep.

Verse #1 “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want”. In this first verse there are 5 points that must be understood, remember 5 represents God’s Grace and we see God’s Amazing Grace in this verse.

1. The LORD: - this is imperative because it establishes exactly who is being spoken of. This is the unpronounceable name represented by YHWH, Yahweh, Adonai, the creator God responsible for laying the foundation of the earth. The LORD that hath laid the measures thereof, who shut up the sea with doors and said hitherto shalt thou come, but no further and here shall thy proud waves be stayed. The LORD who hath measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. The LORD which doeth great things past finding out and wonders without number. The LORD that stretcheth out the north over the empty place and hangeth the earth upon nothing. This is who David is talking about the one that controls all things is the only one that is able to be our Shepherd responsible for our well being and trusted with everything.