Title:  Psalm 23

By:  Todd Bevins

Bible Verses

Psalm 23:1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psalm 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psalm 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Psalm 23:4  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.

Psalm 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalm 23:6  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.

Intro

Open your Bibles to Psalms 23.  I know that is a familiar passage of scripture.  I know that most typically it is used a lot of times at funerals.  I know Dan has used them.  I have used them and many others have used them as well.  I do not intend for this to be a funeral type message, but at the same time; that is where you hear this a lot of times.

Joseph said something this morning that stands out in my mind.  While a lot has been said this morning, my heart has been moved and touched by much that has been said this morning and done.  He said, you can’t truly know how great our God really is and how great God is, if you do not know Him personally.  I don’t that there is a truer statemen than that.

The Lord is My Shepherd

David in this Psalm, there are things that he is going to shed light on—on how great God really is.  David is going to talk about the Lord and what HE means to him.  Those are the things that I want to share with you this morning.  A couple of things that I never thought about and I will read the first verse to begin.  He states that the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Psalm 23:1  The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The first thing in preparation, that I don’t suppose that I ever realized before, is that David identified as a sheep and the Lord as a Shepherd.  However, the one thing I never thought about before and one theologian mentioned; sheep are not wild animals.  They are not like deer, or some of the others that we may go out here and hunt.  They are animals that are purchased.  They are animals that folks have and take care of.  It is a personal relationship such as you would have with one of your animals that you might have at the house.

I have a daughter-in-law who likes ferrets.  I don’t know about all that.  They look like a big rat to me.

The point I am getting at is that there is a relationship there between the owner and the animal.  David is saying here that the Lord is my shepherd.  The first thing that he states and he makes very clear is; the Lord, not anybody else, or not somebody else.  You have heard me say many times before.  The One who spoke this world into existence at a time when David stands and say that…he would stare into the heavens and he would look at the stars and think about all the things.  He would see all the beauty and handiwork of God.  David was mesmerized by all of that.  He would stand and say, “What is man that thou art mindful of him?”  David is saying, that God, Him; “He is the Lord.”  He says, “He is my shepherd.”  David made it as a personal thing. 

I thought about this morning, in class.  I thought about all the testimonies that have been talked about here this morning.  I heard some other things and then some of our studies and reading.  I was thinking about how unique.  There is one thing Shannon mentioned in class.  There was something, I can’t remember what it was.  He said he just could not wrap his mind around. 

I can’t wrap my mind around how that God is the God of the universe.  He is God over all.  Yet, I feel such a personal relationship with Him.  It is like a one-on-one relationship.  It is a relationship like I have with my wife.  I know a lot of people but she and I have a special relationship.  There is a special relationship between me and God.  It is He and I.  I know that just the same that I have—you have with Him as well, if you are saved and born again.  You know Him personally.

David is stating that stating that He is my shepherd.  Let us talk about a shepherd for a moment.  Shepherd was not only the owner of the sheep but he took good care of that sheep.  He was the one that took care of that sheep.  He was the one that would protect that sheep.  He is the one that knew what that sheep needed.  He was the one that would look out for that sheep.  What we know is this.  Sheep are dumb animals.  It has been said of sheep that their place of stay could be within eyesight yet they could still lose their way and stray off some way.  Therefore, a shepherd needs to constantly be watching out for them.  David says, I think about life, and about the craziness of this world.  I think about how things can be one way one day, another way on another day.  Things can change on a dime.  He is saying, praise God, I know the Lord is my shepherd.  He is watching out for me.  He has His eye on me.  He is taking care of me.

I Shall Not Want

I like what he says in the later part.  I could not help but think of brother Dan when he said this.  I shall not want.  All my desire is will stop with what He desires for me to have.  That is all I want.  Whatever, he wants me to have, that is all I want.  I want nothing else than what the Lord desires me to have.  I don’t know about you, but a right relationship with God brings us to the place that nothing else in this world matters but Him alone.  That’s all.

David is saying, “Hey, I have everything I need in the Lord.  I do not need anything else.”  No wonder, He would tell the disciples that they didn’t need to worry about their clothing.  They did not need to worry about food.  Why?  He said, “I will take care of all of that.”  He said, “You just seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.”  David is saying, “I have everything I need in Christ, and in Christ alone.  In the Lord, I have it all.”

A Place of Rest

Notice what he goes on to declare.

Psalm 23:2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He knows where there is a place of good rest.  He knows where there is good food at.  He knows—think about this—He not only that I need to eat; He knows where I need to eat.  He knows what is good for me.  Do you know what?  As the Lord, directs our paths, He takes in places that are good for us.

I spoke to someone and it just broke my heart.  I know they were bothered this past week about some things.  They have some physical elements.  They have some news that they necessarily were not wanting.  Nobody would.  They received that.  I said this.  We don’t fully understand what God is always doing, but we know this.  We know that He is ultimately in control.  We must wrap our minds and our hearts around the fact that He is God and there is no other.

If we could live our life as David said, the Lord is my shepherd.  The shepherd will only do what is good for his sheep.  He loves them.  He takes care of them.  He protects them.  He makes sure that they are fed.  He makes sure that they are watered.  He makes sure the water is good.  He makes sure the food is good.

He goes out and inspects the land.  He keeps watch out for danger.  He is a shepherd who loves his sheep.  Praise God!  I have a good shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep.  Nobody else would do that.  Praise God!  He did!  Do you know why?  Because without the shedding of blood, there is no remission for sin.  The good shepherd had to die.  However, it is not the point of the message this morning.  It is this.

David is saying, I don’t just have somebody.  I have all that I need.  I have the Lord.

He Restores My Soul

He tells here what He does for me.  I love what he goes on and he says next.

Psalm 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Do you know what David is realizing?  Do you know what?  You can read after David’s life.  David was a long shot from perfect.  David had flaws.  David made mistakes.  There were times that David acted on impulse.  There were times that David did things that were foolish.  Do you know what the scripture would say about David?  He is a man after God’s own heart. 

Do you know what I am glad of?  I am glad I serve God who knows my inabilities.  He knows my capabilities.  He knows my faults.  He knows my failures.  He knows when I am right.  He knows when I am wrong.  He knows everything about me.  There is nothing hidden from Him.  Do you know what He says?  In my life, if I do those things that will honor Him, He will bless my life.  When I faulter and fail, do you know what He will do?  If I ask Him to forgive me, praise God; He wipes the slate clean and we go right on walking with the Lord.  We serve a great God.  He restoreth our soul.  Not only in the physical realm.  Not only in the sense of providing all that we need that we don’t have to worry; but also, when we mess up in life, Praise God, He is there to forgive us.  He is there to wrap His arms and love around us.

What greater scene is there than the prodigal son, who had come a long distance from home after blowing all his goods.  The father would be sitting there writing out a list of shaming his son whenever he might come home.  No!  Absolutely not!  He stood every day and would go out there looking for him.  When he saw him—guess what?  He saw him before the son saw the father.  The father seen this boy before the boy seen the father.  He saw him at a long distance.  Guess what he did?  He threw open his arms, praise God, and welcomed him home.  Why did he do such a thing?

It is because we have heavenly father that restoreth our soul.  We serve a God that says, “I know that you are imperfect.  I know that you are not flawless.  I know who you are.  I know everything about you because I made you.  I created you.  I know everything about you.  Therefore, praise God, what kind of a God would He be if he was not a forgiving God?  A God that would restore our soul; not only in the spiritual realm but also with rest.

Representation

Psalm 23:3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

As I read that I think about this.  I have often said before to the guys that work for us.  I have talked to our children multiple times.  I said, “Listen, you represent me.  You represent my name in the things you do, the behavior that you put forth, the things and whatever it may be.  You are a representative of me.  As to the children, I would tell them.  You are representing your parents.  You are representing your last name.  Protect it with all that you have.

Do you know what the psalmist is saying here?  David is saying, He leads me in paths of righteousness—guess what?  That His name might be glorified.  When they see us, they ought to see Christ.  He says, I will lead you in the paths of right living.  If it is wrong, guess what?  He did not lead you there.  If it is not right, then it is not of God.  He is not the one that told you to do something that is wrong.  Only God will lead you in the paths of that which is right and things that will honor Him and bring glory to Him.

You say, well I am not sure about this but I know this path is painful.  I did not say it would not be painful.  He did not either.  I did not say it would not hurt.  He did not either.  I did not say it would always be great and he did not either.  He said he would lead us in the right way and the end result is that He would receive glory from it all.  Praise God!

No Fear

Psalm 23:4  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.

He is saying even in the face of death, the God that I serve, my Shepherd, He is greater than all.  He has conquered it all.  I am not afraid of death.  I am not of what may come.  I am not afraid of what may go.  I am not afraid whether it comes this side or that side.  It does not matter what takes place.  He is saying, my Lord is in control of it all.  He says, I am not going to fear death.  Even the greatest thing; one may look at life today and we look at death, and many people stand in fear and torment of death, and fear that they die. 

I like what brother Shannon said this morning.  No.  I am not trying to hurry my ticket along, but I am not afraid of it either.  I am not afraid of it because I am a big man or a strong man, or because it is me and my might.  No.  I am not afraid of it because I know Jesus Christ.  I know He is the one that conquered death, hell and the grave.  I know the person, the Holy Spirit, He lives and dwells in my heart.  He told me I don’t have to be afraid of it.  He said when it comes time for that to happen—you heard me talk about Annabell Hackworth before, and brother Buss when he left this life.  In my younger days, in my younger Christian Walk, as I was talking to her; I was trying to wrap my mind around it.  She said, “Ah, Todd!  I believe this.”  I was talking about death.  I said, sometimes I feel uneasy about it.  She said, “Ah honey.  I believe this.  When it comes time to die, God gives you dying grace.  He gives you dying grace that you might be able to cross over to the other side.  He takes all the fear away.”  Praise God!  He is a wonderful God!

Brother Joseph said it perfectly this morning.  You don’t know how good He is if you don’t know Him.

Thou Preparest a Table

Psalm 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

I am going to ask you a question.  When you prepare a table, if you are going to take the time, you ladies, and you are going to prepare dinner.  Now I am not going to size up the magnitude of that dinner.  My wife has told me before, if I toasted you toast in the toaster then I have cooked you dinner.  Therefore, whatever size dinner you want—that does not matter.  The point I want you to understand is if you prepare a full spread table, you are doing that with no intentions of it being interrupted.  Correct?  You are doing that with the intent that you are going to sit down and enjoy a lovely dinner.  Nothing is going to bother that.  You are not in fear of someone breaking into your home, or disrupting the meal, or bothering anything.  You are not in fear of that but you are ready to sit down and enjoy that. 

No Worries

Listen to what David says once again.

Psalm 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

In a very wicked and cruel world, he is saying the good Shepherd fills my heart until its full.  I can sit down and eat in the presence of God and rejoice, my heart being full of joy.  I can sit down…  Do you know what I am?  I don’t have to worry about all the things of this world.  I don’t have to worry about anyone coming in and robbing my joy.  I don’t have to worry about someone coming in and disrupting the wonderful relationship that I have with the Lord.  He is saying because, He has prepared a table before mine enemies.  He is right there with me.  He is right there at the table with me.  He is in the midst of everything I will ever go through.  I don’t have to worry about death.  I don’t have to worry about enemies.  I don’t have worry about food.  I don’t have to worry about something to drink.  He said, I don’t have to worry about rest.  Why is that?  Because I know the good Shepherd. 

Listen to me, friend.  If you don’t know the good Shepherd, I want you to understand more than anything else; you are completely missing out this morning.  I don’t care how large your bank account is.  I don’t care the number of your friends or those you think are your friends.  I don’t care how great a family you have been reared in.  I don’t care how wonderful your home is.  I don’t care how nice the things you have.  If you don’t know the good Shepherd, you are not living.  You need to know Jesus Christ.  You need to know Him today!

Anoints My Head with Oil

Listen to what he says.

Psalm 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

When I needed healing, when I needed a touch, if it is His will; He anoints my head with oil.  He will do that.  Oil was used for that very thing in those days, for healing and other things, and also for medicine. 

David is saying:

Psalm 23:5  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

When I look at everything, and I measure it all up—words again of our good pastor.  He has been better to me than he has been to anybody.  We feel like that.  We know better than that.  Don’t we?  We look at the Lord and we think of His greatness, His power, and how that He protects us.  How that He takes care of us.  How that we understand that in our own ability we just can’t do things, but God takes care of that.  As we look at those things, we can’t help but our heart be full and rejoice.  As with David, my cup runneth over.  He goes on and he says this.

Surely Goodness and Mercy

He says, I don’t know a lot of things.  I don’t know a lot of things.  I am not a smart man.  But he surely:

Psalm 23:6  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.

He says, I don’t understand it.  I can’t wrap my mind around it.  I don’t know why.  He knows who I am.  He knows my thoughts.  He knows my failures, but He restores my soul.  Therefore, I have come to this conclusion at the end of my life.  No matter how long He allows me to live.  Surely, the hound dogs of heaven, goodness and mercy are going to chase me all the days of my life.  They are going to be right there.  He says because of that I can’t help but to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  I will dwell in His presence forever, for the remainder of my life here on earth.  When I leave here, he is saying it will be no big change.  I am just going to go from earth to glory.  He says I am going to remain in the presence of the Lord forever and ever.  Why wouldn’t one want to do that?  Why wouldn’t one want to…  I have been around folks before that are good for a while then after a while, you are like, man I would like to be away from them.  I am sure some have probably felt that way about me maybe.  I will say this.  Oh, the Lord; you will want to be around Him all the time.

You want Him near you all the time.  Why is that?  Because you realize when you are down you cannot get back up.  You realize when the winds are blowing hard, you can’t stable yourself.  You need Him to do that.

Story

Quick story:

Grant took off the other day.  It reminded me.  I said, go on out there in Rush and get started on that roof.  I will be out there in a little bit.  A piece of metal out there that had somethings under it that we needed to replace.  I did not think a lot about it.  I though a little about it but not a lot.  He is out there by himself a few moments.  I got out there and the first thing he said is “Dad, I’m sorry.”  I said, “What?”  He said, “I’m sorry.”  I said, “What?”  He said, “It was either the metal or me.  I had to let it go.”  I said, “Really!”  He said, “Yeah.”  He said, “It is down there in the creek.”  I said, “well, okay.”  I looked down there and it sure was.  It was about up to his knees and as cold as can be.  We got ready where we needed the metal.  I said, “Well, I guess we have to have it.”  He lowered that ladder down in that water and there he went walking out to get that metal and bringing it back up.  One of the guys that works for me said, “Only in our company can we say; we will take your roof off, wash it, and put it back on for free.” 

Sometimes, the wind gets too hard for us.  We cannot hang onto the metal.  We have a God who can.  God says, when you get to the point that it is you or the metal; let the metal go.  I will take care of you. 

That is the kind of God we serve this morning.  We serve a God that knows everything about us.  That amazes me.  There is nothing about my life that is hidden before Him.  There is nothing about me that shocks Him, or has caught Him by surprise.  There is not one thing.  Not my orneriness.  Not my meanness.  Not any of those things.  Before I was saved, or even my sin after I was saved.  None of it has ever surprised Him.  He has loved me anyway.  It doesn’t make any sense.  Does it? That is how great God is.

I don’t care how tough one thinks one is in life.  I don’t care what they do in life.  Without Christ, you are not anything.  That is not putting somebody down.  That is not running somebody down.  That is being honest.  Without Christ we are not anything.  I will say it that way.  Putting myself and all of us in the same group.  I have looked at some and admired some that have gone through some different things in life.  I thought man, I wouldn’t want to mess with that guy.  It wasn’t long after that I thought you know; when they go in the grave and stand before God, they are not anything.  You need Him this morning.  Even if you don’t realize you need Him.

Closing

All heads bowed.  I don’t know your heart.  I don’t have a way of knowing that.  I know that you do.  I know that God does.  I know that it is not His will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  I know He loves you more than you can even think.

You might have had great parents, or you might not have but if you did you think, nobody could love me like my parents.  I promise you God loves you way more than that.  I am inviting you this morning.  Forget about the past.  Forget about yesterday.  Forget about what others think.  Let the metal go and just come to God.  Kneel down before and simply ask Him to forgive you and He will do just that. 

Come.

Brother Dan says it and I couldn’t agree more.  I have never met a dissatisfied customer.  Anyone that ever truly came to Christ received Him in their heart and life; they have never regretted it.

Altar call:  Come and be saved.