He’s All I Want
Introduction:
Many people in our world have fear and anxiety about the world in
which they live. They are anxious about their health, their job,
their safety. What can we tell them? What advice does God’s Word
give?
Text:
Psalm 23
Body:
I.
The Shepherd Provides
Psalm 23:1-3
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want, He makes me to lie down
in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores
my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s
sake.”
NKJV
·
Shepherding was a common occupation throughout ancient Palestine.
Shepherds tended their flocks even at risk to themselves. They fed,
protected and watched over the sheep.
·
The psalmist, David, refers to Jehovah as “his” shepherd. This
shows closeness and intimacy.
·
David says he does not “want” for anything. He did not lack for
anything. He did not need any necessary thing. This word is used
in the account of God providing for Israel in the wilderness. (Exodus
16:18)
“So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing
left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had
gathered according to each one’s need.”
NKJV
This provision is based upon our following the Shepherd. (Psalm
34:10)
“The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the Lord
shall not lack any good thing.”
NKJV
·
The shepherd provides a place to rest. The sheep get tired and very
much need it. (Ezekiel
34:14)
“I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the
high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold
and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.”
NKJV
“Green pastures” – the tender first shoots of vegetation. Today
Jesus is the source of our green pastures. (John
6:35)
“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to
Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never
thirst.”
NKJV
·
The shepherd leads and guides the sheep. They don’t know where they
need to go. God led His people to the Promised Land.
(Exodus
15:13)
“You in Your mercy have led forth The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength To Your holy habitation.”
NKJV
We are led by the light of God’s Word. (Psalm
119:105)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
NKJV
“Still waters” – Sheep do not like rushing water. These are waters
of rest and quietness that refresh us. Life can get hectic; so we
need to go to God in prayer and to His Word. (Revelation
7:16-17)
“They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun
shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the
midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living
fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their
eyes.”
NKJV
·
The shepherd “restores, returns to its original state. “Soul” is a
person’s being, what makes a person a person, the essence of being
in the image of God, the qualities of intellect, emotion, and
will. Note
Psalm 19:7.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;”
NKJV
·
Sheep tend to wander off the path and get lost. God’s people can do
the same. They follow strange doctrines and false teaching. (Hebrews
13:9a)
“Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines.”
NKJV
We must let God’s Word lead us along the paths that are right and
correct. (Psalm
17:5)
“Uphold my steps in Your paths That my footsteps may not slip.”
(Proverbs
4:26-27)
“Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be
established. Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot
from evil.”
NKJV
II.
The Shepherd Protects
Psalm 23:4-5
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of
my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.”
NKJV
·
The shepherd provides peace in the face of peril. The psalmist
paints a picture of a dark, narrow gorge that hides dangers around
every corner. The slightest danger causes sheep to run. So the
shepherd reassures the sheep. He walks with them and regardless of
the perils; the sheep follow because they trust him.
·
We can feel alone, scared, helpless. There are paths of sadness and
sorrow, paths of trouble and darkness. The psalmist proclaims that
he can walk, not run, through these times without fear of any evil.
(Isaiah
43:2)
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through
the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the
fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.”
NKJV
The shepherd’s tools are a rod and a staff. These protect and
rescue us from these perils. Knowing they are there comforts us. (Psalm
119:49-50)
“Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to
hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given
me life.”
Note also
Romans 15:4.
“For whatever things were written before were written for our
learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures
might have hope.”
NKJV
·
“Prepares a table” – He prepares a place to eat even as the battle
rages on. Sheep have many natural enemies as do God’s people.
There are times that are completely terrifying. Yet God prepares a
table so we can sit in peace. (Psalm
3:6) “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set
themselves against me all around.”
(Psalm
27:1-3)
“The Lord is my light and my salvation: Whom shall I fear? The
Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? When
the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, My
heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will
be confident.”
(Psalm
36:7-8)
“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children
of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings. They are
abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, And You give
them drink from the river of Your pleasures.”
NKJV
·
“Anoints with oil” – As the sheep would file into the fold each
evening, the good shepherd would examine each one for cuts or other
injuries. He would then apply soothing oil for pain and for
healing. Our God knows every little thing about us, every cut,
bruise or injury. We endure weariness, discouragement, anxiety, and
all manner of suffering. (Psalm
45:7)
“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your
God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your
companions.”
NKJV
God comforts us by His sacred word.
·
The shepherd filled a cup of water to the brim. The sheep would
stick its mouth in and the water would overflow. The shepherd
abundantly provided for the sheep. Notice how much God provides for
us.
(Ephesians
3:20)
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that
we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
NKJV
“Immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” Our cup overflows!
III.
The Shepherd Preserves
Acts 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 Forever.”
NKJV
·
“Goodness and mercy shall follow me” – things that are pleasant,
beneficial, precious, delightful, right, proper, excellent. . .
·
Note God’s goodness. (Psalm
145:9, 15-16)
“The Lord is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His
works.
15
The eyes of all look expectantly to You, And You give them their
food in due season. You open Your hand And satisfy the desire of
every living thing.”
NKJV
His goodness is also seen in His love and patience. (John
3:16)
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life.”
NKJV
(II
Peter 3:9)
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count
slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
NKJV
·
“House of the Lord” – God’s home where the faithful will have
intimate fellowship with Him forever. (John
14:1-3)
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in
Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go
and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
NKJV
We enjoy a small taste of this when we assemble with the saints on
the Lord’s Day. (I
Corinthians 5:4)
“In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered
together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus
Christ,”
NKJV
Conclusion:
No wonder God is called the Good Shepherd. He provides, protects
and preserves. Are you safe in His sheepfold? (John
10:3-4)
“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he
calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings
out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him,
for they know his voice.”
NKJV
Bobby Stafford October 9, 2016 [Evening]
