Psalm 23
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1)
Here is the beginning of our relationship to Christ. We are born again (John 3:7)…
….and we have found that He has put away our sin in His sacrifice on the cross….and given us true life in Him.
Everything we need is in Jesus, our Lord! We are amazed and joyful…and exclaim to all!
Christ is to us:
John 10:11 “I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.”
(Christ Jesus is also the “great Shepherd” Hebrews13:20; and the “chief Shepherd” 1 Peter 5:4)
“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalm 23:2)
One of the first things Christ gives us as His children, is peace. Peace with God, and peace in the situations of our everyday lives.
He is leading us out into “green pastures”. (Ezekiel 34:14-15)
( He “maketh” me. “Maketh” is a interesting term….for when we are first born again, we need, at times, to be made to lie down. To stop and just steep ourselves in His provision…His Word. We are all so very busy….but He maketh His sheep and lambs to lie down, that they may absorb and assimulate all that He has led them in, and given them in HIs Word…that they may grow thereby.)
No matter what we think of our lives….when Christ comes in….He leads us into peace with them. They become green pastures because of His Presence…and influence. Sometimes, it is not great peace….but a peace that gently distills into my soul…no matter what is going on.
The “still waters” are quiet times with Him. The Holy Spirit quenches my hunger and thirst for more knowledge of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 2:9-10 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by HIs Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”)
“He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:3)
As we go along with Christ…He needs to heal us…spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. We are many times in need of correcting….and just as many times in need of restoring us to the joy of the Lord.(Nehemiah 8:10)
So many things in this world drag us down….into doubt, fear, and even almost to despair. Things of the past, which need to be healed. Things of the present, which we need to be seperated from….or which need to be put in the right place in our lives.
But He lifts us up out of the miry clay….and imparts His purpose and joy again.
Psalm 40:2-3 “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock, and established by going.
And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”
Then He leads us the right way. He is the pattern, and the way….so He begins to build His character within us….giving us the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)…
Psalm 5:8 “Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face.”
Psalm 23:4 “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.”
Though I believe that this is true when we come to die…when the cold, dark waters of death swirl around us…and praise God, He is there at the time of death, whatever way we die…to bring us home to the Father.
Still I believe this is speaking of this world and it’s many dark places we must go through in our pilgrim way….as His soldier.
We are all led through trials to activate our faith. We all have spiritual battles we need to stand and hold on to Him in. We are all led through times of seeming darkness….waiting for God to enlighten our eyes and to strengthen our mind, hearts, and bodies. There are times, we must wait for the Lord to be gracious.
Isaiah 30:18 “And therfore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgement: blessed are all they that wait for Him.” (Lamentations 3:6, Job 12:22)
Remember we are being led through here…..
John 10:27-28 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.”
This I believe is the valley of the “shadow of death”. It is a shadow….only…not real darkness…where we are seperate from the Lord, therefore…
We need not fear the evil (evil times)…
“For Thou art with me.” He goes ahead, and shows us that He is between us and all that would come against us.
“Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.”
(The rod was a short heavy stick which was used both to correct a wayward sheep….and protect from lions and bears. The staff was a tall crooked stick, which was used to grab the sheep when they had fallen into pits, or fast moving water. If the sheep who was not so near the Shepherd, could not see the Shepherd….they could see the tall staff, moving forward.
In all times, but especially when the Way becomes difficult….we become thankful for His rod and staff….they are comfort to the weary soul.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psalm 23:5)
(the word “enemies” here means to cramp, to bind, to distress, to put in a strait.)
This happens. There are times of stress and persecution….that the Presence of God is an abundant feast of His joy.
And as we go on with our Lord, our life becomes a Table in the Wilderness…a constant place of fellowship…even before our enemies.
Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
John 15:11 “These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”
We know His Holy Spirit filling us with His strength and grace….”my cup runs over”….up to the brim and overflowing in faith, hope and love.
Ephesians 3:16 “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;”
Psalm 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 for ever.”
We know His leading and guidance….but we also see that His goodness…His great purpose for us….and His mercy are keeping me all around…..and shall do so all the days of my life.
He leads us home….ever onward, till we are forever with Him in heaven. “I will dwell”…..as a citizen of the Kingdom of God….I walk here, now…as a pilgrim. But one day, I will dwell forever with my Savior and Lord…what a day that wil be!
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 