Psalm 23:1 The Great Shepherd
The Great Shepherd
Intro
√ The Shepherd Psalms
So called because they describe the ministry of Jesus to those who trust in Him.
Psalm 22 - The Good Shepherd Who lays down His life
for the sheep.
John
Psalm 23 - The Great Shepherd Who lives and cares for
the sheep.
Heb.
Heb. 13:21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 24 - The Chief Shepherd Who returns in glory for
the sheep.
1Pet. 5:4* and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
The Great Shepherd
Ps. 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Ps. 23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Ps. 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Ps. 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Ps. 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Ps. 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.
√ "A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23"
Written by Phillip Keller - recommend it to all who are sheep and also who are called to be under shepherds.
I've stolen heavily from his work!
√ For sheep today!
We most often hear this Psalm read at funerals! While that's appropriate it's sad that people so often associate this Psalm with death….
…because it is primarily directed to sheep who are alive!
Note vs. 6
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life"
My point? That David's description of the Great Shepherd here is meant to communicate Jesus' ministry in our lives today - and everyday of our life before we enter heaven.
The Lord is my shepherd (vs. 1)
√ Note the context of the psalm
"The LORD is my shepherd"
All of that which follows of God's promises to the sheep hinges upon this one word…
"my"
It speaks of a relationship between the sheep and the Shepherd.
Only those sheep who belong to the Great Shepherd are partakers of the promises given here.
Ap. Can you say with David "The LORD is my shepherd"
First step to the blessings described in this Psalm.
√ Sheep are domestic animals
Sheep are not able to survive on their own in the wilderness. They are by God's design domestic animals - they need a shepherd to…
Care for them
Protect them
To lead them to good pasture and clean water
To bind up their wounds and heal their sickness
In short, sheep are helpless!
Ex. Cast sheep
Ap. People are helpless without Jesus!
√ Sheep are the property of a Shepherd
Sheep belong to the shepherd.
Ownership implies authority - that is, the shepherd has authority over the sheep.
He chooses where the sheep go, what the sheep do, and what's best for the sheep.
Sheep don't know what's best for them!
Ex. Sheep that submit vs. sheep that rebel
The sheep which remain in the care of the shepherd are healthy and safe.
Sheep that wander away from the shepherd are sheep that are open prey!
Ap. Do you recognize Jesus' authority in your life?
If you do then you will submit to His will as revealed in His Word you will be spiritually healthy and safe.
If you chose to rebel then you will find yourself weak spiritually, and open to constant harassment from the enemy.
√ Shepherds mark their sheep
Each shepherd has a unique mark which he places upon his sheep to identify them as belonging to him.
Ex. Cattle I saw in Uganda
Ap. Jesus marks us with His Holy Spirit
Eph 1:13 In Him
you also trusted, after you heard the
word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you
were sealed with the Holy Spirit of
promise,
If you are one of the Lord's sheep people will know it by the "mark" of the Holy Spirit in your life - you'll begin to think and act like your Shepherd.
√ The first benefit of being one of the Lord's sheep
"I shall not want"
David proclaims that the first benefit of being one of God's sheep is that His sheep will never suffer from want.
Ex. Sheep need constant care
Food and water, medical attention, shelter from the dangers of the wilderness, etc.
Sheep under the care of a loving shepherd are content to know that anything they truly need will be provided by the shepherd.
Ap. Those who trust in Jesus as their Great Shepherd are promised that God will see to it that their every need is met.
Paul speaks of this truth in his letter to the Philippians…
Php 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
However, it is important that we understand that both David and Paul are not saying that this promise is one of material prosperity!
Ex. David, Paul, Jesus - who experienced great material need.
Rather, the promise to God's sheep has to do with a deeper need - contentment in life.
True contentment is not the result of material prosperity, but spiritual prosperity.
Ex. The wealthiest people in the world
Despite all their wealth, prestige and power, they remain…
…unhappy in life, broken in spirit and shriveled in soul.
Ex. Solomon - greater wealth than any man has ever known
Ec 5:10 He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.
Contrast to some of the poorest people I've met who had trusted their life to Jesus.
Despite financial difficulties, disasters, and hardship in their life they exhibited a deep and unending joy, peace and contentment that comes only from a trust in Jesus.
The point is that those who know they're under the care of the Great Shepherd are confident in His care and thereby able to enjoy life with all of it's ups and downs.
Paul speaks of this contentment - this lack of want in his own life.
Php 4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
Php 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Paul had learned the lesson of contentment - boasting with David that "I shall not want" - that is, in the care of the Great Shepherd Paul and David were content that Jesus knew just what they needed in life.
Ap. As God's sheep we must trust that Jesus knows how best to care for us! Sometimes that may involve hardship…
…yet, we can experience an unshakable peace, joy and contentment that comes from knowing to Whom we belong and that He is with us every step of the way.
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