Golden Text: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalms 23:1).

Transcription

1 Sunday, April 2, 2017 Lesson: Psalms 23:1-6; Time of Action: 1000 B.C.; Place of Action: Jerusalem Golden Text: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalms 23:1). I. INTRODUCTION. The 23 rd Psalms is one of the most familiar of all the psalms. In just a few verses it beautifully describes God s love and care for His own. Since it focuses on God s character, it is relevant not only to Israel, but also to each individual in the body of Jesus Christ. This psalm is an illustration of contrition and humility shown by the psalmist as he admits to his complete dependence on God. Here we also see God s love at work in the life of the believer, compelling him or her to have complete fellowship and to praise the Lord for His increasing provision. II. LESSON BACKGROUND. David grew up near

2 Bethlehem as a shepherd raising his father s sheep. He knew what it was like to search for adequate pastures and quiet pools of water. He knew what it was like to fight off wild animals that threatened the flock. He later experienced the life of a fugitive fleeing from King Saul and hiding in the wilderness. He knew what it was like to be surrounded by enemies and yet be secure. He no doubt wrote Psalm 23 as an expression of his faith in God. III. THE SHEPHERD SATISFIES (Psalms 23:1-2) A. God, the Shepherd is personal (Psalms 23:1). In our first verse David declares that The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. The imagery David chose was familiar to people who were primarily shepherds. David himself had been a shepherd in his youth. His care for the sheep parallels God s dealings with him. David first declared The Lord is my shepherd. A number of different names are used for God in the Old Testament with each one describing some aspect of His character. The name used here for Lord in Hebrew is Yahweh and it is often translated Jehovah. The Jews refused to pronounce the name Yahweh out loud for fear of using it in vain (see Exodus 20:7). Note: The Lord is Jehovah God, the covenantmaking God of Israel. It s interesting that the compound names of Jehovah in the Old Testament reflect the contents of this psalm as shown below:

3 I shall not want Jehovah-jireh, the Lord will provide (see Genesis 22:14) still waters Jehovah-shalom, the Lord is our peace (see Judges 6:24) restoreth my soul Jehovah-rapha, the Lord who healeth thee (see Exodus 15:26) paths of righteousness Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness (see Jeremiah 33:16) thou art with me Jehovah-shammah, the Lord is there (see Ezekiel 48:35) presence of mine enemies Jehovah-nissi, the Lord is my banner (see Exodus17:15) anointest my head Jehovah-M Kaddesh, the Lord who sanctifies (see Leviticus 20:8). A shepherd was constantly with his sheep, and though they were mere animals, he soon developed a bond of love for them. He nourished them, called them by name, cared for their wounds, and put his own life in jeopardy for their safety (see I Samuel 17:34-35; John 10:11). The people of Israel occasionally thought of the Lord as the Shepherd of their nation (see Isaiah 40:11), but David came to think of Him as my shepherd meaning his own personal Shepherd. No other illustration could better portray God s tender care for His own. Note: The relationship David had with God can be experienced by all who personally know Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke at length about His care over His spiritual sheep (see John 10:1-29). He knows them personally, and they willingly follow Him to spiritual pasture. He protects them from deceitful and destructive shepherds. He was willing

4 even to give His life for their deliverance from sin. Those who trust Him, both Jew and Gentile, become a part of His fold. Nothing could bring greater encouragement to God s children than the assurance of the Lord s care as a shepherd to meet our daily needs. Though many people don t realize it or want to admit it, Psalms 23 is not for everyone. One must accept Jesus Christ as his Shepherd and take his or her place as a sheep before they can claim the benefits of this psalm. It is true that Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, died for all sinners, but only those who accept His finished work by faith become His sheep. Because of God s care for him, David could also say I shall not want or have no lack. The Shepherd who watched over David was the eternal self-sufficient Lord, who has never lacked anything. Therefore, He is able to perfectly satisfy every need of His sheep. David could expect that he would lack nothing because God was truly his shepherd. It was the shepherd s responsibility to provide for all the needs of his sheep. Our God does the same thing for us. That s why when He is our Shepherd we will lack nothing that we really need. Note: Our desires and our needs are not always the same. God has not promised to supply all our desires. But He has promised to supply every need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:19). Everything sheep needed for protection and sustenance was provided by their shepherd. He took personal interest in his sheep. They were his chief concern. So it is with our God. All His born-again children are the sheep of His pasture. The one primary responsibility of the sheep was to

5 follow their shepherd. If they didn t, they could not experience what he provided for them. We, too, must obey and follow our Shepherd if we expect to have all our needs supplied. B. God, the Shepherd provides for us (Psalms 23:2). This verse says He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. After describing God as His Shepherd, David proceeded to declare what his Shepherd-God did for him and what He does for all His own. First, David said He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. When God is truly our Shepherd and we are truly His sheep, He will also make us to lie down in green pastures. Sheep often don t know their need to rest. Of course, they don t know as their shepherd does what lies ahead of them; so they don t prepare for it. But the shepherd knows so he makes them lie down to rest in green pastures. Oh how wonderfully kind of our Shepherd to do the same for us. In our hurried, hectic world, when we often find it almost impossible to rest day or night, God sometimes makes us lie down. Our green pastures may be a sickbed or something else that forces us to slow down. We need to use these difficult times to take advantage of the precious rest that God offers. Spiritual rest is the result of a life of faith. We often fail to enjoy rest because of unbelief. We may resent where our good Shepherd has led us and has made us to lie down. We need to lift our eyes beyond our circumstances to Him. By doing so, we can make distressful situations green pastures. Note: In the

6 spiritual wasteland of the world, God provides opportunities for believers to satisfy their spiritual hunger, quench spiritual thirst, and find spiritual rest. Such pastures may be found in worship services, Bible classes, prayer meetings, family and private devotions, and personal Bible study. Those who use these soul nourishing opportunities find their lives strengthened and their needs met. Unfortunately and tragically, many people seek their pastures in other places. David also said that his Shepherd leadeth me beside the still waters. Sometimes on Judean hillsides, water would gush violently from between the rocks, and sheep are afraid of swiftly moving or turbulent water. The still waters depict a quiet stream ideal for refreshment and rest. Sheep need water at least once a day; so a green oasis with a quiet stream was always a welcome sight. The experienced shepherd knew the locations of such places and led his flock to them. IV. THE SHEPHERD COMFORTS (Psalms 23:3-4) A. God, the Shepherd restores when necessary (Psalms 23:3). This verse says He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name s sake. David knew that he didn t always respond favorably to God s leading and feeding. The statement He restoreth my soul implies that David s soul or his entire being was

7 in need of restoration. God prefers to nourish His flock daily through His abundant provision, but when a sheep rejects His nourishment, He institutes a ministry of restoration. The word restoreth speaks of causing one to return. It pictures the shepherd seeking the wandering sheep and gently returning it to the place of security in the flock. According to Jesus parable of the lost sheep, God is deeply burdened for those who stray from Him and spared no effort to restore them. God also rejoices greatly whenever such a wanderer is found and restored (see Matthew 18:12-14; Luke 15:3-7). Note: The restoration David was writing about certainly included restoration from waywardness. He knew what it meant to be away from God, but he also knew what it meant to be restored to fellowship with God (see Psalms 51:1-19). It s important to remember that it s the Shepherd who does the restoring. He not only provides sustenance, but He also restores the downhearted and wayward. David also declared that his Shepherd leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name s sake. Sheep certainly need direction and so do God s people. The word translated leadeth in this verse means to lead gently. You cannot drive sheep. They hear the shepherd s voice and follow him, just as we listen to Christ in His Word and obey Him (see John 10:3-5, 16, 27). If a sheep goes astray, the shepherd leaves the flock in charge of his helpers and goes to find the lost animal (see Matthew 9:36-38; 18: 12-14; Luke 15:3-7). David could say that God, his Shepherd, had led him. But where had He led him? In the paths of righteousness for his name s sake. The God of the universe had provided direction for David all the way. Of course he didn t always follow God s leading, but the

8 leadership was still there. God leads His own in the paths of righteousness because of his name s sake. God s name stands for Him and all His perfections; so His name is most important to Him (see Isaiah 43:25; 48:9-11). Note: In practical terms the Christian, who works well on his or her job, serves God publicly, abstains from harmful habits, and faithfully witnesses, should do so for his name s sake or for Christ s sake. The family that lives in harmony should do so to exalt His name. The church with a growing outreach should give credit to the Lord (see I Corinthians 12:18). It is tragic when God s name is dishonored by sin and inconsistency. God, our Good Shepherd cares for the sheep because He loves us and wants to maintain His own good reputation as a faithful Shepherd. The Lord always directs His people in right paths. Since He Himself is righteous, His ways will never lead His own into paths of sin and disobedience (see James 1:13). God is holy! He will always maintain His holiness. Therefore, the Christian can follow Him in confidence, knowing that as long as he or she listens to God s voice, they can never go astray. The word paths means well-worn paths. When sheep start to explore an exciting new path on their own, it will lead them into trouble. If we follow the paths of righteousness, or right paths, we won t be carried away by strange and varied teachings (see Hebrews 13:9). God cares for us because He loves us and wants us to glorify Him ( for his name s sake ). B. God, the Shepherd is always present (Psalms

9 23:4). In this verse, the Psalmist continues to say 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. It s easy to trust God for fulfillment in the daily routine of life when each day s events are somewhat predictable. But can we trust God when crises occur? Can a believer live as peacefully in adverse circumstances as when things are going well? David s answer to these questions is a resounding yes! He pictured himself passing safely through the valley of the shadow of death with his Lord. The valley does not need to be identified with death itself; it can simply mean a place of deep shadows. It can apply to any situation in which danger, fear, or uncertainty is involved. Shepherds in Israel often found it necessary to lead their flocks through dark ravines and over jagged rocks to find new pastures. The land of Palestine is a land of hills, valleys, and rugged terrain. Here the sheep could easily have become frightened, so it was necessary that they trust the shepherd and follow his lead through the shadows. Note: David himself had passed through many difficult situations which he could have described as the valley of the shadow of death. While he was being hunted by Saul, he told Jonathan that there is but a step between me and death (see I Samuel 20:3). He fled to almost inaccessible places in the rocks where he had previously led his sheep, which literally resembled this poetic description (see I Samuel 24:1-3). He later had to flee to Gilead from his own son Absalom (see II Samuel chapters 15-17). These experiences took their toll on David, and at times he despaired of life itself (see I Samuel 21:10, 12; 27:11). Yet from all of these difficulties, he learned to trust

10 God as he had never done before (see Psalms 56). He came to face imminent death with as much composure as he did during the more ordinary circumstances of life. As a result he could genuinely say I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. As believers we have the constant presence of God in our lives, but that does not mean we will never go through some dark valleys. Joseph was faithful to God and loved Him consistently, but God allowed him to be sold as a slave and eventually thrown into prison. But the Bible says that the Lord was with Joseph (see Genesis 39:2, 3, 21, 23). God never left him alone and He will never leave us alone. As the psalmist wrote, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (see Psalms 46:1). Although evil may seem to surround the believer, he or she does not have to fear because God is with them. God s constant presence was enough for David as well. In times of danger David could find comfort or peace from God s rod and His staff. These simple tools of the Hebrew shepherds were very practical and served many purposes. The term rod refers to a length of wood used as a club to defend the sheep from wild animals. The staff was a longer pole upon which the shepherd could lean or use in crossing rough terrain. In addition to helping the shepherd, the staff was used to flush out animals and snakes that could frighten or harm the sheep. If a sheep began to stray from the right path, the shepherd used his staff to guide it back to safety. Both the rod and the staff provided guidance, protection and rescue for the sheep. Likewise, the trusting Christian can feel secure in the midst of trouble because of God s guidance and protection.

11 V. THE SHEPHERD PROTECTS (Psalms 23:5-6) A. God, the Shepherd meets our needs (Psalms 23:5). In this verse, David writes Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. With the words Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies some Bible scholars believe that David changed his illustration from that of a shepherd who protects his sheep to that of a host who royally entertains a friend. Other scholars believe this verse continues the thought of the shepherd s provision with the table referring to a pasture and the enemies referring to wild animals. Whichever of these two illustrations is accepted, they both teach the same lesson God s bountiful provision. Note: As already noted, some Bible students believe there is a change of metaphor here, from the shepherd and his sheep to the host and his guest, but this is not necessarily the case. The term table doesn t necessarily refer to a piece of furniture used by humans, for the word simply means something spread out. Flat places in the hilly country were called tables, and sometimes the shepherd stopped the flock at these tables and allowed them to eat and rest as they headed for the sheepfold (see Psalms 78:19). After each difficult day s work, the aim of the shepherd was to bring the flock safely back to the fold, where the

12 weary sheep could safely rest for the night. Sometimes at the sheepfold, the shepherd would spread out food in a trough because sheep lie down and rest after they have eaten. As they slept, they would be protected by a stone wall that surrounded them, and the shepherd himself would sleep across the opening and be the door (see John 10:7-9). During the night, thieves and dangerous animals might approach the fold, but there was no way they could reach the sheep. The Lord doesn t always remove the dangers from our lives, but He does help us overcome them and not be paralyzed by fear. This is what it means to be more than conquerors and have peace in the midst of danger (see Romans 8:31-39). David pictured the Lord s bountiful provision as a lavish banquet. The phrase Thou preparest a table means to set a meal in order, as Abraham did for his heavenly guests (see Genesis 18:1-8). But this meal was intended for David as he said it was before me or before my face. He was the honored guest. He also declared that this feast was spread out in the presence of mine enemies. The words in the presence has the idea of something being completely conspicuous or out in the open. Our enemies are always present, but they look on us helplessly as the royal Host openly bestows favor on His beloved children. Note: David often experienced God s bounty in the midst of his foes. The Philistines watched in disbelief as he killed Goliath (see I Samuel 17:51). King Saul was frustrated repeatedly by God s care over David (see I Samuel 18:28-30; 24:10-22). Even when David fled from Absalom, the Lord raised up men to supply David s needs (see II Samuel 17:27-29). Surely, as we follow the Good Shepherd, He will provide

13 bountifully for us while our enemies watch and are not able to do anything about it. David described the favors bestowed at this divine banquet in these words: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Where the sheep were concerned, the shepherd would examine them as they entered the sheepfold to be sure none of them was bruised, injured, or sick from eating a poisonous plant. If the sheep had any injuries, the shepherd anointed or applied soothing oil. He would also anoint or apply the oil to the heads and horns of the sheep to help keep the flies and other insects away. The sheep knew they were safe, and they could sleep without fear. Anointing was also a common practice among ancient peoples. It was done to guests at social gatherings (see Luke 7:36-46). Christians also enjoy the Lord s anointing. The Holy Spirit is poured out upon each believer the moment he or she receives Jesus Christ as his or her personal Savior (see Ephesians 1:3, 11-14). The phrase my cup runneth over refers to the overflowing bucket the shepherd used to give the sheep water once they had settled down in the sheepfold. The oriental shepherd often had to draw water from the deep wells for his sheep. The little bucket he used held only about three quarts. A loving shepherd would provide the water with care and would fill the bucket to the brim so that the sheep would have enough. This is what is meant by the cup running over. Note: The overflowing cup illustrates the abundance of blessing bestowed by our gracious Host. According to the Apostle Paul, we, too, have been abundantly blessed. We enjoy all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (see Ephesians 1:3). The Holy Spirit is our guarantee (see

14 Ephesians 1:4) of the exceeding riches of his grace (see Ephesians 2:7) which still await us in the age to come. B. God, the Shepherd stays with us constantly (Psalms 23:6). In our final verse David concluded saying 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. Since David had already enjoyed a full life under his divine Shepherd, he had no fear for the future. Therefore, he could confidently say Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. In the past, David s enemies had pursued or followed him ruthlessly. But God s goodness and mercy had pursued him as well and had shielded him from his enemies. The term goodness speaks of that which is pleasant, delightful, or agreeable. The Hebrew word translated mercy is chesed. It often referred to God s loyal love because it describes His covenant keeping love toward His people. David expected God to continue to make his life pleasant and satisfying by bestowing His kindness. Note: Believers today can expect the same continuing blessing from God. However, we cannot expect His goodness to exclude trials or His mercy to exclude discipline. Both trials and discipline are necessary for strength and growth. But the believer can be certain that the life that includes trials and discipline will be satisfying and productive in the deepest sense. As he thought about his future, David declared his firm assurance: and I will dwell

15 in the house of the Lord for ever. There are two interpretations of this final phrase. Some interpret this as a reference to God s eternal habitation, heaven. Others interpret the statement as a reference to God s earthly house, the tabernacle. Since the Hebrew phrase translated forever literally means for length of days, those who hold this second interpretation believe David was talking about the earthly tabernacle when he said I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. However, as David looked ahead to the future, he knew he would be in heaven the Father s house forever (see Psalms 16:10; Acts 2:27). Therefore, this couldn t be a reference to the temple, because the king didn t live in the tabernacle or the temple. Furthermore, nobody could live there or anywhere else forever. Thus, the statement, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever is a reference to living with God in His new creation forever (see Revelation 21:1-7). VI. Conclusion. Intentionally, there are so many parallels to the description of God as the Good Shepherd in Psalms 23 and Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd in John 10:1-16 that we can conclude that they are the same. There is no theological problem with this conclusion because together with the Holy Spirit, God the Father and God the Son are equal Persons of the Godhead. Many of us memorize Psalms 23 as children, so we know what that Scripture says. What we need to do is remember what it says when we face

16 challenges in life. The psalmist identified the challenges of our daily needs, including rest, restoration, and being led in difficult times. No matter what challenges we face in life, the 23 rd Psalms is confirmation that the Lord is my Shepherd. ***The Bible Expositor and Illuminator, Union Gospel Press***