Explores the intimate relationship between God, our Shepherd, and us, His sheep, emphasizing His care, guidance, and the peace found in His presence.
Welcome, dear friends, to this blessed gathering of believers. We are here, not by chance, but by divine appointment. We are here, not as strangers, but as a family, bound together by the love of our Lord. We are here, not to merely go through a religious ritual, but to seek the face of our Shepherd, to listen to His voice, and to follow His lead.
The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, "It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness." And what greater joy can there be than to know that we are the sheep of His pasture, under His watchful care, guided by His loving hand?
Let us turn our hearts and minds to the Word of God as we read Psalm 23.
"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
How comforting these words are! How they soothe our souls and still our anxious hearts! For in these verses, we see a vivid picture of our relationship with our Lord. We see the bond between the sheep and the Shepherd, the intimate knowledge the Shepherd has of His flock, and the significance of the Shepherd's care. These are the truths we will be considering today.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for your Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we meditate on this Psalm today, open our eyes to see the wonderful truths it contains. Open our ears to hear your voice. Open our hearts to receive your love. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
In the heart of Psalm 23, we find a profound truth that resonates with our deepest longings. The relationship between the sheep and the shepherd is not a distant, impersonal one. It's a relationship marked by intimacy, care, and protection. The shepherd knows his sheep, he calls them by name, and they recognize his voice. This is the kind of relationship our Lord desires to have with us.
The shepherd's knowledge of his sheep is not superficial: He knows them intimately. He knows their strengths and weaknesses, their needs and desires. He knows when they are hungry, when they are thirsty, when they are tired. He knows when they are in danger, when they are lost, when they are afraid. He knows them better than they know themselves. This is the kind of knowledge our Lord has of us. He knows us intimately. He knows our strengths and weaknesses, our needs and desires. He knows when we are hungry, when we are thirsty, when we are tired. He knows when we are in danger, when we are lost, when we are afraid. He knows us better than we know ourselves.
The shepherd's care for his sheep is not passive: It's active, it's constant, it's sacrificial. He provides for their needs, he protects them from danger, he guides them to green pastures and quiet waters. He restores their souls, he leads them in paths of righteousness. He is with them in the darkest valley, comforting them with his rod and staff. This is the kind of care our Lord provides for us. He provides for our needs, he protects us from danger, he guides us to green pastures and quiet waters. He restores our souls, he leads us in paths of righteousness. He is with us in the darkest valley, comforting us with his rod and staff.
The shepherd's protection of his sheep is not weak: It's strong, it's powerful, it's relentless. He defends them from predators, he rescues them when they are lost, he fights for them when they are in danger. He is their shield and their fortress, their high tower and their deliverer. This is the kind of protection our Lord offers us. He defends us from predators, he rescues us when we are lost, he fights for us when we are in danger. He is our shield and our fortress, our high tower and our deliverer.
A beautiful picture of our relationship with our Lord: We are his sheep, he is our shepherd. We are known by him, cared for by him, protected by him. We are not alone, we are not forgotten, we are not abandoned. We are loved, we are cherished, we are held in his hands. And in his hands, we find rest for our souls, peace for our minds, and joy for our hearts.
In the tranquil pastures and beside the serene waters, the shepherd's presence is a constant, a source of comfort and security for the sheep ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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