That Shepherd that will protect (Psalms 23)

In the Hebrew bible ( Kethuvim) is the section in which the Psalms are found, which are referred to as songs of praise but as you read through them I think you might find  issue with them all being referred to as song of praise because many of them are out right cries for help in the middle of great distress. Psalms 23 however is considered to be one of the most comforting of all the Psalms written. Psalm 23 begins with rest and comfort. Psalm 23 does not begin with activity. This is a reminder of how the Christian life is to be lived. We begin by resting in Christ and out of the restoration of our soul comes activity.

1.The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want




Why does the Psalmist David say this?  I shall not want!  Is it because God is our protector, our caregiver, our provider. What exactly does that mean, "I shall not want"? The meaning here is not that we won't desire or want anything, the meaning is that we won't be left wanting. We are being told that the Lord's sheep are not lacking anything.


2. 

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

The Shepherd teaches us to rest in His fullness. He gives us everything we need and stills the waters before us. The Shepherd removes all our problems and causes our fear to vanish. When the storm arose and the followers became trepidated the awoke Christ and what did he do, made the waters to be still.He can do that in your life if you call on him and trust in him to do that.





3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

No matter what may happen in our lives the Lord is always there with us. The Lord is always willing to restore your heart and soul to Him. Even when you turn your back on Him and act as if you do not know Him, He restores you. He draws you unto Him and washes away all your iniquities. He looks at you as if nothing ever happened!

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.


Did you know that a sheep is unable to defend itself? A sheep is virtually a helpless animal. It can not fight against the smallest of predators. The Shepherd teaches the sheep to rely always on him. The Shepherd wants his sheep to trust in him to fight our battle for us, He desires that we trust in for everything. It makes no difference to Him what the battle is, the Lord will be with you always.  So trust in him to deliver you, for he is able.

5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over


Your joy will always be full because God has prepared a table before you.

No enemy can stand up to you when the Lord is with you and He “anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” The power of the Holy Spirit is yours as you yield to the great Shepherd. You have been anointed to do service to the Lord. The power of the Holy Spirit is yours to help you to walk with the Lord. The power of the Holy Spirit is yours and your cup runneth over. Your life is going to be full to overflowing. Your joy and gladness will be overflowing as you walk in harmony with the Lord!

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.


David is describing the joy of being in a personal relationship with God--a relationship that has no ending.  The 23rd Psalm portrays life as a pilgrimage--it is a pilgrimage with God, to God--and our final destination is "the house of the Lord". Our final destination is unhindered fellowship with Lord God.

David did not always have sunny days he had some rain and some big storms come his way, did God take away each of the storms as they came to David?  Certainly not, because you until you have some wet and cold days you can't truly appreciated the warm sunny days.

The Psalmist confesses that his faith and hope is in the Lord his God to provide for him and protect and guide  him through life.  Now we see what happen to David when he decided to guide and direct himself instead of be directed by God. David was in fact directed by his flesh that sinful nature that desires only its on pleasure and it does not care the cost as we saw with David having Uriah  put to death to hide his sin.

Let each of us trust not in our own flesh, but trust in the Lord our God, let him be our Shepherd and guide us to place where we might rest.

Lord God we thank you, for being the Good shepherd, that even when we got lost and fell away you sought us out and returned us back to the flock battered and bruised yet you held us close to your chest where we would be warm and safe.
Thank you Lord for being our Shepherd and providing for us and guiding us beside the still waters.
Thank you for loving us enough that you came back for us, we were lost but now we are found. Thank God almighty for his mercy is eternal.