Psalm 23<\/p>\n\n\n\n
INTRODUCTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, today I want to take you to a very familiar passage of scripture. It\u2019s certainly one of the most beloved passages in all of the Bible. Charles Spurgeon once called it, \u201cthe pearl of psalms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The passage I\u2019m referring to is Psalm 23<\/strong>. That shepherd\u2019s psalm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Now, while we don\u2019t know the exact details of when this Psalm<\/strong> was written, we do know that David<\/strong> wrote it, and most scholars believe it was probable later in his life \u2014 after many years had passed since his days in the pasture caring for sheep. It was probably penned sometime after his many struggles \u2014 only to have found God to be faithful and true. <\/p>\n\n\n\n From my experience, I can tell you this psalm is most often quoted during moments of loss <\/strong>\u2014 moments of death, and pain, and sorrow. And because of that, it sometimes gets the wrap as being a funeral psalm<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In its opening line, Psalm 23<\/strong> introduces us to it\u2019s main character\u2026and it\u2019s not David, nor is it the rest of humanity (although you and I are included in the psalm), but rather \u2014 the main character in this psalm (and the Bible as a whole), is God. David reminds us that we don\u2019t have to pray to an unknown god or a god of our imagination who hides behind the clouds. We have a knowable God, and He is the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In English he is called LORD. But the Hebrew version of this name is Yahweh. <\/strong>For He is the HOLY<\/strong>, ETERNAL<\/strong> and SELF<\/strong>–SUFFICIENT<\/strong> GOD. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Calling Him LORD, David <\/strong>is pointing us back to the beginning pages of scripture. So, just as God<\/strong> said to Moses<\/strong>, so David<\/strong> says to us, The \u201cI am who I am\u201d <\/em>is my shepherd. And with that, David links his divine identity with the lowest and least among us. He is the God over all things\u2026who has condescended to the lowest of rungs to care for David (and all of humanity). It seems a bit strange. But, David calls Him \u201cthe LORD\u2026My Shepherd\u201d<\/em>. What a combination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Ancient Near East<\/strong>, the role of a shepherd went to the least admired.\u00a0In a large family, the youngest was usually assigned the role of the shepherd \u2014 forced to sleep with the sheep and feed the sheep and care for the sheep all hours of the day. Rarely a break. It was a dirty job. And so, shepherds were often despised and distrusted. They garnered no respect in society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So it just seems strange that the HOLY, ETERNAL, <\/strong>and SELF-SUFFICIENT CREATOR <\/strong>would identify himself as a shepherd. Yet, the apostle<\/strong> John<\/strong> tells us that that\u2019s exactly what God did \u2014 in the incarnation. He put on humanity and came close\u2026literally \u201cstepped down\u201d <\/strong>from heaven, making His dwelling among us. And that\u2019s what this psalm is about. God coming near. God promising to care for you and me as He did David. God choosing to SHEPHERD us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MESSAGE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, if you have your Bible<\/strong>, turn with me to Psalm 23.<\/strong> As, David writes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1<\/em><\/strong> The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. <\/em>2<\/em><\/strong> He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, <\/em>3<\/em><\/strong> he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name\u2019s sake. <\/em>4 <\/em><\/strong>Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, <\/em>for you are with me<\/em>; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. <\/em>5 <\/em><\/strong>You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. <\/em>6 <\/em><\/strong>Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, again \u2014 I believe this is a psalm of life \u2014 and a psalm filled with promises. And, I think it\u2019s incredibly relevant for you and me. So, in the time we have left, let me highlight a few things for us. <\/p>\n\n\n\n THIS PSALM OFFERS YOU SEVERAL PROMISES!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And I want to point out four. These are stated by David as things we have much of \u2014 things we do not lack. But only because of the provision of our GOD SHEPHERD<\/strong> \u2014 or as Jesus<\/strong> would put it (in John 10<\/strong>), our Good<\/strong> Shepherd<\/strong>.\u00a0So, David<\/strong> says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1<\/em><\/strong> The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n David begins by alerting us to the fact that God is alive. So he uses this present-tense title. The \u201cI am that I am.\u201d Because, The Lord is alway present! He doesn\u2019t say, the Lord will<\/strong> be<\/strong>\u2026or the Lord used<\/strong> to<\/strong> be. <\/strong>Because He\u2019s present (always).\u00a0But he adds to this, \u201cThe Lord is <\/em>MY<\/em><\/strong> shepherd.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n David doesn\u2019t start out by singing, \u201cThe Lord is my<\/strong> father\u2019s<\/strong> Shepherd . . . the Lord is my<\/strong> mother\u2019s<\/strong> Shepherd . . .\u201d Because, that won\u2019t cut it. He is my shepherd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a beautiful psalm, but it only works IF<\/strong>\u2026the Lord is your shepherd.<\/strong> Right?\u00a0The second half of that verse only works if the first half is settled. But, if the Lord is your shepherd, then you will lack nothing.\u00a0And that\u2019s because, He intimately cares for you, when you completely depend upon Him. It\u2019s totally about relationship. If He is with His, He\u2019s got you covered.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Listen, as a daddy, this makes perfect sense to me. Because, when my kids are with me, I pay for everything. It\u2019s always been this way \u2014 and will always be that way. No matter how old they get, I pay. When they all come home (I have 4)\u2026plus 2 additions and a grandbaby\u2026but when they come home, Daddy pays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In the same way, when God is your shepherd \u2014 when He is with you, he provides\u2026and you lack nothing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n (I know we are only dealing with the first 3 verses \u2014 but look at verse 4 again\u2026because it holds the key to really understanding this entire psalm. Hebrew poetry often buries the lead\u2026hiding the thesis statement in the middle. And that\u2019s exactly what David did here. In verse 4 we read: <\/p>\n\n\n\n 4\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s the key \u2014 if the GOD SHEPHERD is with you\u2026you want for nothing.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n And, to clarify, David details four promises that you can count on. Four things the Lord does for us \u2014 if he is our shepherd. And the first is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In verse 2, David says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2<\/em><\/strong> He makes me lie down in green pastures,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheep by nature are restless creatures. The late author and pastor, Phillip Keller<\/strong> was himself a shepherd for 8 years. During that time he observed the actions of both sheep and shepherds. One of the things he noticed was that sheep are typically restless, fearful, and distracted creatures. It\u2019s like they have a sheep<\/strong> version of ADHD<\/strong>. Their just fidgety and nervous. Always moving, always distracted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, they\u2019re also territorial<\/strong>. So they push each other and fight with each other, trying to establish<\/strong> dominance<\/strong> over each other\u2026until\u2026until their shepherd comes close<\/strong>. Keller states that when their shepherd comes near, the sheep settle down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In like manner St Augustine<\/strong> said, \u201cour hearts are restless until they find their rest in God.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, David<\/strong> says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2<\/em><\/strong> He makes me lie down in green pastures, <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Let me point out one more thing about this \u2014 because it really amazing. In the Near Ancient East<\/strong> \u2014 finding a green pasture <\/strong>is not very likely. You\u2019ll find rocks and dust and sprigs of grass\u2026but not lush fields. Again, Keller<\/strong> writes, \u201cGreen pastures were the product of tremendous labor, time and skill in land use. Green pastures were the result of clearing rough, rocky land; of tearing out brush and roots and stumps; of deep plowing and careful soil preparation; of seeding and planting special grains; of irrigating with water and caring. If the sheep were to enjoy green pastures amid the brown, barren hills<\/strong> [of Bethlehem], the shepherd had a tremendous job to accomplish.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And\u2026He has to be working in advance. <\/strong>And that\u2019s what He does! God is planning in advance for that time when you and I will need rest. In his omniscience<\/strong>, He is preparing a place of safety and care for our weary bodies and minds. A place of rest. And that place is most often found IN HIM. We find our rest in Jesus. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, let me ask you \u2014 are you embracing that rest that He is offering? Are you looking to Him when you heart is troubled and your mind is restless? I challenge you to do that. I know you work with the Word of God as your occupation \u2014 but I challenge you to embrace the Word of God as your oasis of rest (as well).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n But there\u2019s an additional promise here in verse 2<\/strong>. And it\u2019s this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. WE ARE PROMISED PEACE for our peace-less hearts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keller, like David observed that sheep are peace-less creatures. And one of the most contributing factors to their peace-less-ness, is their thirst. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If a sheep is thirsty it will not settle down.\u00a0Agricultural studies have shown this to be true. What\u2019s worse, is that in their craving for water \u2014 they will wander. They will leave the flock in search of water. They\u2019ll look everywhere and anywhere for it.\u00a0And as is often the case, a part from the care of their shepherd, a sheep will settle for any sort of water (be it dirty, polluted, or even stagnant and parasitic infested water). The problem is, when they drink from those sources, they often become sick and physically troubled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To this, David<\/strong> says, the Divine Shepherd,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2<\/em><\/strong> \u2026leads me beside quiet waters,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, he leads us to discover good water\u2026life-giving water. Living water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a sheep, they will at times find water \u2014 but it will be moving at a quick pace. And while the water source may be good \u2014 the place and timing isn\u2019t suitable for the sheep to drink. But they will try\u2026often to their own peril. Because, as they wade in to drink, the rushing waters will saturate their wool coat and the weight can pull them down into the water, taking their life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But you and I have a good shepherd. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In John 10<\/strong>, Jesus calls himself our Good Shepherd.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n 14 <\/em><\/strong>\u201cI am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.\u201d<\/em> — John 10:14 (NIV)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And I\u2019m sure you will recall how in John 7<\/strong>, on that last and greatest day of the Feast of Tabernacles<\/strong> (where the people were gathered in Jerusalem to worship for 8 days), Jesus stood up on that final day and said in a loud voice, \u201cLet anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water shall flow from within them.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n John would tell us that He was speaking or foreshadowing the presence of the Holy Spirit. But, the point I\u2019m making today is that it\u2019s easy to get wrapped up in the search for things that can bring us peace \u2014 only to look in the wrong places and become sick by the polluted waters of this world.\u00a0But Jesus offers us genuine peace in Him. Peace in His Word. Peace in the abiding presence of HIs Spirit within us\u2026like fresh water flowing through our hearts and minds. That\u2019s a promise to all who make Him the shepherd of their life.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another promise the good shepherd makes \u2014 is that\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. WE ARE PROMISED HOPE WHEN WE ARE HOPELESS.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Notice the words of verse 3<\/strong>. It\u2019s there that David<\/strong> says, <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe refreshes <\/em>(or restores) my soul.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some versions translate this as \u201cHe restores our soul.\u201d As I understand it, this phrase in Hebrew can mean \u201cto bring to repentance\u201d \u2014 much like the work of the Holy Spirit, as He draws us close and leads us back to the place of health and wholeness in our walk with Christ.\u00a0But, this Hebrew verb we translate as \u201crestore\u201d also<\/em> has the idea of repairing<\/strong> or turning<\/strong> \u2013 as in, reversing or turning back; you might think of \u201creturning something\u201d to is former glory. Setting something back the way it was intended to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have a friend named Ray who is among other things, a master craftsman. He\u2019s an artist really. But one of his hobbies is taking old things and making them new. He takes antiques and restores them. He takes old coke machines that have long quit working, those with faded paint and runs of rust, and he refurbishes them. He restores them. He returns them to their prior state. He makes them function and work as they were originally created to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like wise, David is saying, God does the same. He takes us in our brokenness and refreshes or restores our souls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I really think David was probably referring to the way a shepherd will take a sheep that has fallen and upset, or reset him back on his feet. When a sheep becomes cast<\/strong>, or cast over (meaning they are flipped over on their side or back)<\/strong>, then their bodies begin to almost immediately start producing unhealthy gases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheep are like cattle and deer \u2014 in that they have a stomach with 4 compartments. Each has a different function in breaking down the food they eat. One chamber is called the RUMEN (this chamber takes up about 75 percent of the stomach space. And it functions to break down the grasses that the sheep eats. But this stomach produces a lot of gases as the grass ferments. And so, when a sheep is cast, or turned on it\u2019s side or back\u2026those gases begin to fill the other chambers and spaces within the sheep. And they build up so much pressure \u2014 that they can eventually rupture and kill the sheep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when a sheep is cast \u2014 the only real solution is a shepherd. He comes to them, puts his arms around them, and lifts them up. Sound familiar?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It should, because that\u2019s what Jesus does for us.\u00a0In John 9<\/strong>, Jesus did this to a young boy who had been tormented by an evil spirit. Helpless to address his own need, Jesus intervenes. He commands the spirit to be gone, and then finding the boy left (as though dead, collapsed on the ground), the scripture says, Jesus lifted him up!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And that\u2019s what Jesus does for us too.\u00a0He finds us when we are cast down and low in heart \u2014 and wraps his arms around us, lifting us up and giving us hope in our hopelessness.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Have you found that to be true?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n He lifts us up when we are down. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, lastly, David<\/strong> tells us\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4<\/strong>. WE ARE PROMISED DIRECTION IN OUR AIMLESSNESS.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n The final promise He offers in this first part of Psalm 23<\/strong> is found in the final words of verse 3, where David<\/strong> says,<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3 <\/em><\/strong>\u2026He guides me along the right paths for his name\u2019s sake.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet another promise of His divine care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n David is telling us that our GOD SHEPHERD\u2026the GOOD SHEPHERD has promised to lead us forward, out of the confusion that sin brings, out of the mess that rebellion brings, and out of the disarray that enters our lives when we live without conviction and purpose.\u00a0But during those times \u2014 if we will yield our will to His, our good shepherd will lead us into paths of righteousness \u2014 or more literally, ruts of righteousness<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ruts are deeper than just paths. Ruts are those well established and trusted lanes that have been long developed and divinely defined as right<\/strong> (by our good shepherd). And man\u2026don\u2019t we need that in our lives? Because after all, as Isaiah<\/strong> said, \u201cwe are like sheep who have gone astray, each to our own way.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n We are like sheep<\/strong>, self<\/strong>–assertive<\/strong>, strong<\/strong> willed<\/strong>, easily<\/strong> distracted<\/strong>, often confused<\/strong>, self<\/strong>–destructive<\/strong> wanderers.\u00a0And like sheep, we are prone to wander aimlessly? Sometimes, dangerously. That\u2019s just what sheep do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2005<\/strong>, in Eastern Turkey<\/strong> \u2014 there were 1500 sheep<\/strong> gathered together by a group of shepherds. At one point in the morning\u2026the shepherds carelessly turned away from their sheep to prepare breakfast. The problem was \u2014 no one was left to watch the sheep.\u00a0After just a short time alone\u2026the massive herd was distracted. It happened as one of the small lambs wandered away from the herd and then leaped over a rock. The problem was that the on the other side of the lard rock was a deep ravine.<\/strong> In his wandering \u2014 the lamb wandered to his death.\u00a0The problem though, was that almost immediately, another sheep followed. And then another\u2026and then another. In the end, more than 400<\/strong> more sheep followed that 1 small lamb <\/strong>before they were stopped by the shepherds.\u00a0The loss that day was estimated in 2005<\/strong> at $74,000<\/strong>. That would be $120,000 in today\u2019s economy. That\u2019s a major loss!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sheep have the tendency to wander \u2014 and so do we.\u00a0 That\u2019s why we need a shepherd! Because He will lead us. He will keep us from wandering. And He\u2019ll guide us down the RIGHT PATHS in life.\u00a0And I do love that God calls us sheep and not cattle. Because cattle are driven \u2014 but sheep are led.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the big question today is:<\/strong> Are you (and I) submitting our lives to his guidance? Are we really following the paths that He has established for us? Are we trusting His guidance \u2014 at all times, even when it doesn\u2019t make sense to us? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Have we really submitted to His leading \u2014 are we allowing Him to be our Good Shepherd? <\/p>\n\n\n\n If so, then keep yielding to Him. Keep following Him. And keep trusting Him to fulfill these good promises in you (and your life).\u00a0But if not, start today. Surrender yourself fully to Him. Believe and confess Jesus as Lord (as Jehovah\u2014the ETERNAL and SELF-SUFFICIENT GOD). And start following Him today.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n As John 10:10<\/strong> says, He is a good shepherd who has laid down his life for you.\u00a0So remember His promises:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jesus is our rest when we are restless, <\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019s our peace when we are peace-less.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He\u2019s our hope when we are hopeless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And. He\u2019s our direction when we are aimless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Would you bow your head and let me pray for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n — CLOSING<\/strong> PRAYER<\/strong> — <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Psalm 23 INTRODUCTION: Well, today I want to take you to a very familiar passage of scripture. It\u2019s certainly one of the most beloved passages …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-943","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/943","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=943"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/943\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2651,"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/943\/revisions\/2651"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/chuckhilltoday.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=943"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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