The LORD Is My Shepherd – Psalm 23
1. This psalm is about a…
2. This psalm is not…
“The imagery of the psalm is dominated with food, water, rest, security; it’s about going to a banquet where you have perfumed oil poured on your head and you have a cup of wine in your hand, where you have to say to the host, “No, stop, it’s overflowing!” Psalm 23 is about abundant life. It is more about the happiness of living than the sadness of dying, and all of the happiness is bound up with being able to say that this Lord who is a shepherd is also my shepherd.” (David Gibson)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10)
“Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.” (3 John v.2)
3. There is a…
“If I find myself in the valley of deep darkness, it is because he has led me there.” (David Gibson)
“For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.” (Job 24:17)
“At this very moment, you might feel more lost than ever, in deepest darkness like a shroud, but your Lord Jesus is not standing there beside you lost or scratching his head wondering what to do. It may not yet be part of your theological framework that all things, including each valley, come from God’s fatherly hand. But it needs to be. For if God is not in charge of the valley, how do you know he can get you through it?” (David Gibson)
4. The center of this psalm contains…
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:3)
“Let us realize that Jesus Christ, our Shepherd, is no emaciated weakling. Our Shepherd is a warrior, as shepherds had to be. No one can snatch his sheep out of his hand (John 10:28). The muscles of Jesus’ arm are flexed to defend his flock; He doesn’t carry a club for nothing. He is obviously enough for whatever the valley throws at us.” (Dale Ralph Davis)
5. This psalm is…
“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44)
“When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36 Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.”39 Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.” (Mark 6:34-43)
6. This psalm teaches us how to…
“Turn away from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:14)
“And the men of Israel were called out from Naphtali and from Asher and from all Manasseh, and they pursued after Midian.” (Judges 7:23)
“In Psalm 23 the words of verse 6 tell the most beautiful story. After all the focus on our following the good shepherd, we now look over our shoulder and see two things following us: goodness and mercy.” (David Gibson)