Psalm 23 - The Lamb Will Be Their Shepherd
For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd.
He will lead them to springs of life-giving water.
And God will wipe every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:17
The Lord is my Shepherd -- He is my gracious Host.
"If He be a shepherd to no one else, He is a Shepherd to me. He cares for me, watches over me and preserves me." Charles Spurgeon
Jesus, the Lamb of God, became my Shepherd.
The psalm is not for everyone. It is a personal walk of a Shepherd with His sheep - those under His watch care. John 10:11,14
.The Lord is My Shepherd - What condescension the infinite Lord assumes - the office and character of a shepherd.
Sheep left to themselves - David assumes this character.
lack everything
totally helpless
totally defenseless
weak
Not all are sheep - some are goats.
#1 Food and rest
Verse 2
The Shepherd is - He is our provider, preserver, and director.
all sufficient
he never leaves them
caring - He lets me rest.
comforting - He doesn't send me. HE LEADS ME.
knowing - He knows their needs.
green pastures - food supply - and rest
still waters - removes the fear factor - Sheep won't drink unless the water
is still.
Sheep are property, not wild animals. We belong to the Lord.
Ephesians 5:26 Cleansing, refreshing influence of the Holy Spirit -
Green pastures and still waters are a picture of a spiritual reality that we are to feed upon (fresh, always rich and never exhaustive), and rest in always.
Our Shepherd -
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Matthew 11:28 Come unto Me all you that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.
2 Corinthians 4:16 Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Lamentations 3:22-23 His unfailing love never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies are new every morning ... I will hope in Him.
#2 Guides us
He
When I am sinful - He sanctifies me.
When I am weak - He strengthens me.
He
God has put His reputation on the line.
We have the seal of His Name regarding His promises.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
The wife of physicist, Albert Einstein, was once asked if she understood her husband's theory of relativity. "No, I don't," she replied, "but I know my husband. If he says it's true, you can trust him."
Do you know your Shepherd enough to trust Him?
#3 Protects us
Our Shepherd protects us - removes fear.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
Fear not - 144 verses
Be not afraid - 44 times
V4 There is no need to fear or be afraid.
The shadow can't harm us.
As we travel through life, we, the sheep, have a Shepherd. We are in His watch care.
We are not sheep to be slaughtered.
We are sheep that will produce fruit for the Shepherd (wool).
He cares that we wander off and get tangled in sin.
injured because we wander off on our own
fearful and run and hide
He sees our hurts (betrayal, doubt, loss, sadness and worries).
He sees that which plagues us.
illness
loneliness
fatigue
He will never leave us or forsake us.
And we have His Word on it.
He won't leave us, let us alone, or be let alone.
He won't abandon us - nor will He be abandoned.
Vs 4-6 Your rod and staff -- tools of a shepherd
As David looks at his Shepherd, he sees 2 comforting tools.
The rod - a pole used as a weapon against the enemy - a club, shaft (spear or dart)
A comfort to the sheep
The staff - support of every kind
That which supported, touched, rescued the sheep. That tool used to draw them close.
The rod - Bible - comfort to believers
The staff - Spirit of God - our Comforter
The journey has brought the psalmist to the destination -
whether a life situation or the final destination.
David is now a guest and in the presence of God.
He looks around.
V5 A table - symbol of blessings and abundance - The cup is overflowing.
On the journey, God, our host, supplies us with blessings that we can contain. Ephesians 3:20
The sheep has entered a place of protection and safety - yet he has no reason to fear - only to experience complete protection.
What enemies surround you? health, emotional crisis, spiritual issues
Anoint my head with oil. You anoint, You are present, working, caring for my needs.
V5b A hands-on Shepherd. I have more than enough.
V6 Confident that wherever I go - the Shepherd is persuing me - Nothing will separate me from the love of God - forever.
Only goodness – (supplies our needs)
And mercy – (blots out our sins)
Will be our traveling companions through life. They will pursue, run after, keep up with me.
Through the dark days -
bright days -
days of fasting and feasting -
those dreary, lonely, winter days of our lives.
We travel with the Most High God and His home is our home.
The Lord in the midst of the throne will shepherd them.
They will neither hunger nor thirst.
He will provide for their every need (lead them to living fountains of water). Revelation 7:17
Our life here is a rough draft of what is to come.
In heaven - God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
No more needs - only fulfillment.
guides me in paths of righteousness, (why) for His Name's sake - (reputation, glory). restores my soul. When I am sorrowful – He revives me.
top