The 23rd Psalm

Psalm 23 is the best-known psalm and the

favorite biblical passage of many.

Why?

Because it does more than tell us that God

protects, guides, and blesses. Psalm 23 is

one of the most inspiring, encouraging

and comforting passages of Scripture.

In Psalm 23, David is praising God for

His care and protection. Shepherds had to

live with their sheep, guiding them around

the hills and valleys to find fresh plant life

and water to sustain their flocks.

It shows us a poetic image of powerless

sheep being tended by an unfailingly careful

Shepherd.

There were flocks of sheep all over Israel.

There were not a great number of places for

them to feed. Because of this the flocks would

intermingle around feeding areas and

waterholes. The sheep had to know the voice

of their shepherd so that when he called they

would follow him. Shepherds worked with

their sheep to train them to obey only their

voice.

Psalm 23 presents God as a Good Shepherd,

feeding and leading His flock. It is known

that the shepherd is to know each sheep by name,

thus when God is given the analogy of a Shepherd,

He is not only a Protector but also the Caretaker.

The Psalms were, as a matter of fact, the hymnal

that was used by the Hebrews as they worshiped

God.

God promised protection to the Israelites

against the nations who would come against

them as they entered the Promised Land.

“I will send My terror ahead of you, and I

will make all your enemies turn their backs

to you.”

Exodus 23:27

Here we see God protecting those whose

actions were in accordance to His

foreordained plans and purpose.

The Psalms of David are filled with

praise for God as He protected His chosen

one against his enemies.

Psalm 18:3, 54:7, 138:7

No matter the amount of power or wrath

that David’s enemies brought against him,

they were no match for the protection of God.

God’s protection in Job’s life was evident

as well. Even though Job suffered through

many trials as a result of the attacks of Satan,

it was God who drew the line in the sand,

over which Satan could not cross. Satan was

limited to doing exactly what God allowed

him to do, and nothing more.

Job 1–3

Even through all the misery and afflictions

Job endured, God was protecting him from

greater harm.

With God as our Protector, we will not lack

anything we need.

The word "Want" means "Lack."

The role of a shepherd is to lead the sheep

to green pastures so they may graze, protect the

flock by being on the lookout for predators,

and the shepherd makes sure that none of the

sheep are lost or go astray.

Shepherd is synonymous for...

"protector."

He maketh me to lie down

in green pastures:

He leads me beside the still waters,

When we submit to God's will and His way,

we can be sure that He’ll guide us along the

path that is best for us. And for the sake of

His name and His glory, He guides our will

to line up with His.

A valley is a place surrounded by hills or

mountains, which often cast a shadow

below. The imposing mountains are symbolic

of death. It's a place of danger where many

bad things or "evils" could occur.

By faith, we walk with God

through all the trials of life.

The Shepherd will guide us in the right way.

On our own, we are unable to withstand or

protect ourselves in the valley of the shadow

of death. It is by our faith, in God, we are

able to go through all the trials of life.

Jesus said in John 10:11, I am the Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

We are the sheep of His pasture. He will protect us,

provide for us, give us food, give us shelter,

and gently correct us when we go astray.

God can seat us at a fine table so that we may enjoy

a feast, even when our enemies are nearby. Even

though all around are all the demons of hell...

they cannot touch us. We are able to feel at ease

and peacefully enjoy the banquet, even in the

presence of our enemies.

"Anointment" is a sacred act of setting a person

apart and and making him holy. It is symbolized

by rubbing oil on the person.

Sheep were also anointed by shepherds to keep out

deadly bugs. God protects us from the things

that would harm us.

God doesn't just provide enough,

He provides more than enough.

God provides what we need, and God always

gives more... literally, pressed down, shaken

together and overflowing.

When our cups overflow, we can be generous,

just as our Father. We can use the overflow

He has given us... to be a blessing to others.

Our inheritance from God includes His

“Goodness and mercy.”

Psalm 23:6

The 23rd Psalm is often used

in times of trouble and loss.

This Psalm has bidden many who have

experienced personal sorrows...

the certainty... for a morning of joy.

The 23rd Psalm speaks both

to life and to death.

The 23rd Psalm helps us to better understand and accept

the death of our loved ones, and it also evokes thought, as

it relates, to the profound and inevitable aspect of our own

mortality.

The 23rd Psalm assures us that with God as our Shepherd,

we have all that we need for both life and death.

God has the ability to deliver us out of every

physical calamity or trouble.

Sometimes He uses these trials to purify us. At

these times, we should “Count it pure joy”

because by allowing such trials, God tests our

faith to develop more faith so that we persevere

and grow to maturity and Christ-likeness.

James 1:2-3

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet

trials of various kinds, for you know that the

testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

If God protected us from such trials... it would

not be beneficial to us.

God’s protection is sure and faithful because

He promises to His people:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you”

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or

be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your

God who goes with you. nHe will not leave

you or forsake you.”

Deuteronomy 31:6;

No man shall be able to stand before you

all the days of your life. Just as I was with

Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave

you or forsake you.

Joshua 1:5;

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work.

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord

God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you

or forsake you.

1Chronicles 28:20;

“I will never leave you

nor forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5

The 23rd Psalm has been... and is comforting

to many mourners in their night of weeping.

The guidance, beauty, strength, and

encouragement one gains from the

23rd Psalm is unsurpassed.

The Twenty-Third Psalm of David

found in the Old Testament of the Bible is

one of the most comforting prayers

for every sigh of the soul.

Repeated often, it can help reframe, renew, and

restore our confidence and turn negative thoughts,

emotions, and situations around.

We will never go through anything, in life, in which

the root emotion cannot find comfort, refreshment,

guidance, and protection...

than in the simplistic beauty contained...

in the 23rd Psalm.

So even if the words do not ring true for you...

just repeating the words and thinking about them,

can help them to come alive for you.

The 23rd Psalm is one of the most popular and beloved of

the Psalms. It is perhaps the pre-eminent Psalm of

prosperity.

God is concerned about

All of our needs!

Because the Lord is our Shepherd, God meets

all of our needs.

We have everything we need!

With God as our Shepherd...

we will be cared for, loved, and

our needs will be provided.

God’s protection is sure and faithful because

God promises to His people:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you”

Be strong and courageous.

Do not fear or be in dread of them,

for it is the Lord your God who goes with you.

He will not leave you or forsake you.

No man shall be able to stand before you all

the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses,

so I will be with you.

"I will not leave you or

forsake you."

Like sheep, we, too, need a Shepherd.

Sheep are basically helpless creatures

who wander off and get lost.

The sheep are helpless, innocent, and

utterly dependent on

God.

God, fulfills His role as Shepherd by

protecting the sheep.

Thus, the sheep

“Shall not want.”

We shall not want...

THAT'S SUPPLY!

We, like the sheep, cannot survive long

without a shepherd.

We, too, are totally dependent upon God

to Shepherd, protect, and care for us.

The Shepherd takes great care to protect

the sheep.

THAT'S RELATIONSHIP!

When we recognize the Good Shepherd...

we follow Him!

As the Lord is the Good Shepherd,

so we are His sheep -- not frightened or passive,

but obedient followers, wise enough to follow

the One Who will lead us in the right places

and in right ways.

When we allow God our Shepherd

to guide us, we have contentment...

because we are safe under His care, and

absolved from all anxieties.

Our Shepherd knows and leads

us to the "Green pastures".

God makes us to lie down

in green pastures:

THAT'S REST!

The Shepherd of our soul makes us to lie

down in the meadow grass... not only to feed,

but to rest, and enjoy tranquillity, peace,

and safety; where there are both delight

and plenty.

God leads us beside

the still, serene waters.

The freshness of the meadow, the

coolness of the stream...

is indicative of heaven being

everywhere... if we could but enter it.

The "Quiet waters" that

will restore us.

God gives us new strength.

He restores, refreshes,

and revives our soul.

We will reach these places

only by following God obediently...

not the world.

Rebelling against the Shepherd's leading

is actually rebelling against our own

best interests.

We must remember this the next time

we are tempted to go our own way

rather than the Shepherd's way.

God leads us in the paths of righteousness

for His Name sake.

He helps us do what honors Him the most.

Yea, though we walk through

the valley of the shadow of

death, we will fear no evil:

For God is with us.

Even when walking through the dark valley

of death we will not be afraid, for God is

with us, guarding, and guiding us all the way.

God’s protection is sure and faithful because

He promises to His people:

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

God's protection is...

matchless.

God's rod and God's staff...

they comfort us.

God prepares a table before us

in the presence of our enemies;

God knows how to create a feast for His own.

He sets a nice table for us, in the presence of

our enemies!

God is showing our enemies how His anointed

are treated.

God has welcomed us

as His guest.

God has anointed our heads

with oil.

Our cups run over...

blessings are overflowing!

Let us trust our Shepherd's care,

and hearken to His voice.

We can rest assured that God will provide

all our needs.

In God there is an abundance of blessings.

All we need is...

in God... and with God.