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 artwith 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.”
Note: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall Not Want.
Note: This psalm isn’t just about a king writing about a King; it’s also a shepherd writing about a Shepherd.
Note: David was taken from the fields watching over his father’s sheep to a nation shepherding Israel.
Psalm 78:70–72 “He chose David also his servant, And took him from the sheepfolds: From following the ewes great with young he brought him To feed Jacob his people, And Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart; And guided them by the skilfulness of his hands.”
Note: God trained David in the field, watching over sheep, to be a shepherd of men.
Note: David’s focus is the Great care of the Good Shepherd in His life.
Note: We were taught from the Bible in Verse one that God – Jehovah God – is our shepherd.
Note: It’s a wonderful metaphor that God uses to describe His relationship with His people.
Note: We are under his protection and care. My Shepherd – the verb tense means that God is Shepherding me.
Isaiah 40:11 “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arm, And carry them in his bosom, And shall gently lead those that are with young.”
Note: He is the good shepherd, great shepherd, and chief shepherd.
Note: But notice the outcome of having the Lord as our Shepherd – A Plentiful Provision
Note: I shall not want.
Psalm 34:9–10 “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: For there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
Note: It’s true that there are many things missing from our lives that we wish were there.
Note: In the most fundamental sense, if we belong to Jesus, then we lack nothing.
Note: No added supplement is needed to live a life full and complete.
Note: I just turned 42. I am at the age where many people will go through what they call a mid-life crisis (40-60). People lose their identity and their purpose.
Note: They question decisions and directions in their life.
Note: For a Christian, understand that our identity is found in the shepherd.
Note: This is what David is writing about in Psalm 23.
Note: Because Jehovah God is my Shepherd. My cup is full. I shall not want. He gives me a Plentiful Provision.
Note: So what does this look like practically in our life?
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