The Good Shepherd

[0:00] I'm going to read Psalm 23. You might want to read along with me. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

[0:10] ! He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

[0:24] 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.

[0:34] Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

[0:53] Amen. Lovely words, aren't they? The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Think of it, there's a couple of things there. The Lord, he is God above us.

[1:06] My shepherd, we see his humanity, he is with us. God above us, the shepherd with us. The Bible relates how we are all like sheep.

[1:16] They picture how we as humans are truly dependent, totally dependent on our God. It tells us how the lost are like the ones that the shepherd has to go and search out and save.

[1:29] We know that sheep can easily get lost and hurt, snake bitten. Really, they're helpless creatures. And I can speak from experience. I happen to have some sheep in the backyard, and they're quite funny creatures at times, and I know others can relate to sheep amongst us.

[1:46] They're vulnerable to danger. I know there was one time I was in the back paddock and I saw some bones there. It could have been a lamb that was taken when it was vulnerable to danger.

[1:57] And so we can see, it's a picture for us, isn't it? How we are like sheep, all we like sheep have gone astray. So sheep need a shepherd, and we need the shepherd, don't we?

[2:08] We need the shepherd. Sheep are totally dependent on the shepherd. Like sheep, we are dependent beings. We're wandering, vulnerable. Without a shepherd, we will be a sheep going astray.

[2:21] This shepherd, Psalm 23, the good shepherd, our Lord Jesus, this shepherd seeks and saves his sheep. Think of the shepherd as it's pictured in Luke 15, which we'll go to.

[2:34] The shepherd goes out, the good shepherd goes out looking for that lost lamb, perhaps hungry, cold, frightened, maybe caught in a thicket, or just got away from the flock.

[2:45] And they're vulnerable there. Now I know for the sheep in my backyard, they just love to hang together. The sheep generally kind of cluster together in a group, and they don't generally stray from the group.

[2:57] It's kind of like a picture of the fold, isn't it? Of the sheep fold, of the, really effectively the church, that we should stick together like sheep would be together. But we see that for some, they go and stray, they go on their own merry way, and all we like sheep have gone astray.

[3:13] It's that picture of the straying sheep. And you might feel like a bit of a black sheep. Look, we've all been there before we knew the Saviour. And friends, in Luke 15, we read the account of that good shepherd.

[3:26] We see that he goes on this agonising search. He knows the one that's gone astray. It's interesting how he knows them by name. He knows the sheep. I know I'm not really much of a one to call pets names, but Julie's got a name for all of our 12 sheep in the backyard.

[3:44] She knows their names. She knows which one's which, and she knows the certain names that they have. And it's the same with the shepherd, as in John 10, he knows them by name.

[3:56] He knows your name. Amen? Think of that. And so this shepherd, he knows that one, and he even knows the name. He knows the 99, but he knows who that one is that's not where he or she should be.

[4:09] And the Lord is like that shepherd that goes out, maybe out into the darkness perhaps, or the steep hill, or down the thorny path, searching, looking, longing to find that lost sheep, braving the cold wind.

[4:22] What a picture that is for you and me of our good shepherd, what he's done to go out and rescue us and bring us back into the fold, to rescue just that one lost sheep.

[4:33] And in Luke 15, we read from verse 4, it says, He says, What a picture that is.

[5:10] The jubilation, the joy. I know it's lovely when we can report a lost sinner has got saved. There's a jubilation among the congregation. Rejoice with me, for that one that was lost has been found.

[5:25] And picture that lost, straying sheep. But in Psalm 23, we see the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Now notice, the Lord is my shepherd.

[5:36] He's not just a shepherd. He is my shepherd. And you can say that, believer, today. There's a closeness for you that you can know a personal relationship with my shepherd.

[5:47] My shepherd. You all can say that, can't you? Can you say my shepherd? My shepherd. Amen. It makes it very real, doesn't it? When it comes down to your personal level. And it's interesting in this Psalm 23, I, my, mine, 17 times in six verses.

[6:03] Very personal, isn't it? I, my, mine, my shepherd. The personal pronoun in six verses, 17 times. So it's very much emphasised. And think of that, that personal relationship that you can have with my shepherd.

[6:17] My shepherd. We are the object of his concern and of his diligent care. And it says that the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. God's sheep never lack anything the shepherd thinks is good for them.

[6:32] Isn't that right? He knows what's good for you and he's got it in hand. He is with his sheep all the time too. He is my all in all. He's all that I need.

[6:44] And Psalm 84, 11 says, For the Lord God is a sun and a shield. The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

[6:55] We can be glad. Like that song we sang before. It says the righteous be glad, doesn't it? In the word of God. There's a gladness there. Can you say that I'm glad this morning? I'm glad that I'm saved.

[7:07] Say it. Can we say that? I'm glad that I'm saved. Yeah. Now we can't say that presumptuously. But we can say that based on the promises of God's word. Because if we trusted him like he says we should, we can't say that I am saved.

[7:22] Not a presumptuous thing, but because of the authority of God's word. He says that we can be saved that trust him. If you trusted him, you can say that I'm saved.

[7:33] And the shepherd saves. And we are complete in him. Notice his nourishment and his care, his supply. It's right through the psalm here. We are complete in him.

[7:43] He is sufficient for you. He is all I need. And he gives the grass and the water the two basic necessities for life for the sheep. Food and drink.

[7:56] Food and drink. Food and drink. He loves the sheep. He's devoted to them. And so he gives you everything that you have need of. We are loved sheep.

[8:06] It's a close, it's a tender relationship. And the Lord is a shepherd to me. He cares for me. And he watches over me. The Lord is my shepherd.

[8:19] The psalm is about ownership. So the sheep belong to the shepherd and he looks after them. You can know that you belong to him. If the Lord is my shepherd, then I ought to recognise his rights over me.

[8:31] And that I am not my own. I am bought with a price. We are his and he is ours. Verse 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.

[8:42] He leadeth me beside the still waters. Friends, it's talking about lying down. It's talking about resting in the Lord. You can rest in the Lord. The presence of the Master puts us at ease.

[8:54] When we know the shepherd's with us, we have his comfort. We have his care. And we can know a perfect security. A contentment. Because the Master is with us. The shepherd.

[9:05] He makes me to lie down. We can lie down. We can rest in the Lord. We can find refreshment. He provides peace. We find rest in the promises of the scriptures. Now, sheep are fearful creatures.

[9:19] Sheep are fearful. You know, the sheep are afraid of me, even though I try to be nice to them. My sheep in my backyard, they're very flighty. I don't know, Diane, what your sheep were like, but maybe they like certain people more than others.

[9:32] But I know my sheep are still flighty, even when I'm around, even though they should know me. Even when I'm calling them to bring them food, still they're a bit flighty. They're a bit suspicious.

[9:43] And I think they like Julie more than me, to be honest. She's a bit more gentle with them. And maybe I'm just a bit scary. But sheep are fearful is the point.

[9:54] And they will not drink from running streams, too. When that stream is too bubbling or rushing, they don't go to that water, but they'll go to the peaceful streams.

[10:04] And the picture here in the Psalm 23 is that he leads me beside the still waters. The still waters. He gives us that refreshing, doesn't he? Refreshing comes from the presence of the Lord, is what we read.

[10:17] And he goes before his sheep, and they follow him. Now, sheep have poor vision. They cannot see very far ahead. I know there's a great clip on the internet of a man pulling a sheep out of a ditch.

[10:31] I don't know if anyone's ever seen that. Pulling a sheep out of the ditch by its leg. And a sheep is spring, and it just runs along and runs back straight back into the ditch again. Isn't that just like us human people?

[10:45] At times, you know, God pulls us out of some mess, and we run straight back into it again. And the sheep have poor vision. They can't see very far ahead. So they can get into trouble. They don't know if the path is going to lead them off the edge of a cliff.

[10:58] They need a shepherd to guide them. And it's the same with you and me, isn't it? We need the shepherd, people, don't we? We need the shepherd to guide us. And like a sheep, we need a guide. So, friends, follow his leading.

[11:10] What is the Holy Spirit telling you to do? What is God the shepherd telling you? He wants to lead you to fresh pastures. And it tells us that he guides us to rest, to the lush grass.

[11:22] What a picture of a sheep in the midst of a green field. There's lots of green out there at the moment, isn't there? For the sheep on the hillside. And the Lord is your guide. So stay close to your shepherd.

[11:34] There's rest there. Someone has said this, They hast made us for thyself, and our hearts have no rest until they find it in thee. And without the shepherd, we don't really have that rest, that peace.

[11:46] He leads me to quiet, restful, refreshing waters. It says, verse 3, He restoreth my soul. There's healing, there's reinvigoration, there's a restoring of peace, of joy, of life.

[12:00] We think of the shepherd who treats the sheep, brings relief from their wounds, the diseases and the parasites. And what does our shepherd do? Our Lord God, the Lord my shepherd.

[12:13] He gives us his resources. He supplies our need. He gives us his rest. He makes us to lie down in green pastures. He gives us his refreshment. He takes us to the still waters.

[12:25] He gives us his righteousness. He leads us in that pathway. So there's much that he gives to you. If you'll but receive it from his hand, you can enjoy that deep peace for your soul today.

[12:36] Sometimes a lamb or a sheep can fall on its back and it can get stuck. A sheep can fall on its back and it can't stand back on its feet again unless the shepherd comes and lifts it up.

[12:51] Yeah, the shepherd has to keep that eye out, don't they? To keep the eye out for that sheep that falls on its back, can't get back on its feet again. It needs the shepherd to come and lift it back and on its feet again.

[13:04] And so it's like that picture of restoring. We can get in this situation, this spot where we can't extricate ourselves, we can't help ourselves. We're dependent upon the shepherd.

[13:16] And really a fallen sheep falls prey. For the heat, the vultures, the wolves and wild dogs, a sheep that's stuck like that is in danger.

[13:28] And likewise for you and me. If we are in that situation, we need the shepherd, don't we? We need the shepherd. And when our soul gets discouraged and cast down, we're like that sheep on its back.

[13:41] He wants to revive, to restore us, to bring us back, to preserve us, to sustain us. Think of, in the word of God, there's situations where the people of God can suffer discouragement like that.

[13:54] Look, we're not immune to those emotional things. We're emotional people. We can have tears and heartache and hurts and sadness. We see Elijah, he was discouraged.

[14:06] He came to that place. Elijah was cast down. And God strengthened him and encouraged him and got him back on his feet again. We see Peter and his disciples.

[14:17] After the cross, Peter went fishing in discouragement. Then Jesus met him and encouraged him. He encouraged the disciples to serve him.

[14:29] So, he restoreth my soul. Amen. And next we see, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. He leadeth me. He guides.

[14:40] Will we be led? It's the question, isn't it? He wants to lead. Will we be led? He guides. It has that sense of protecting, of carrying, of feeding, of sustaining.

[14:52] The Lord, our shepherd. The Lord, our shepherd is also the Lord, our righteousness. It says, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

[15:04] It's interesting how there's a scripture that says, the Lord, our righteousness. Isn't that a good thing? It's not the Lord, my righteousness. It's the Lord, our righteousness.

[15:16] His righteousness, really. His righteousness is the Lord, our righteousness. He is our righteousness. So, he guides us with the closeness and comfort of his own presence as we follow his leading.

[15:27] And the sheep have such a keen ear that they can detect the tones of their own shepherd's voice and they can distinguish it from all others. You know, the shepherd's voice is unique, isn't it?

[15:39] What's the shepherd's voice? It's right here. This is the shepherd's voice. So, we need to listen to that with a keen ear. And verse 4, it reads on, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.

[15:58] The valley of the shadow of death. It's that dark and gloomy place, isn't it? Literally, you could say the darkest valley. But really, death is just a passing shadow.

[16:09] That's what it is. And we walk through this. Yet, for the meantime, the valley is dark and deep. It's gloomy, waterless, sunless. We can all face those difficult times.

[16:21] We all have times where it's difficult, where we're tested, where there's temptation, where there's trouble and family concerns and trouble overwhelms us. Yet, God is with us.

[16:35] I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. When we face those dark times, know he's with you in the valley. And we can say, I will fear no hurt, no harm, no danger.

[16:50] He is with us. With us, truly. The good shepherd is always with his sheep. He's always close by. There's protection there. It says, for thou art with me.

[17:01] He carries us. It's his faithfulness. So, the psalmist knows that the shepherd is with his own. He's faithful. David knew what he was talking about. David himself is a shepherd.

[17:12] David's singing this 3,000-year-old song about the shepherd. He knew what he was talking about. And we know the shepherd will not flee when he sees the wolf coming. David is not just talking about the shepherd.

[17:25] Now he's talking to the shepherd. He starts talking to the shepherd as we read further. And sheep are in that constant care and supervision. They need that from the shepherd.

[17:38] Child of God, you have his promises today. You've got the voice of the shepherd. It's right here. Just tune in to the voice of the shepherd. And he is the one who's given you many promises.

[17:49] For example, like the psalmist in Psalm 56, 3 says, What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. When you have those fearful times, when you're feeling afraid, we all have that.

[18:02] I will trust in thee. It's what I'm going to do and say, isn't it? When the shepherd guides our way, we have his guarding, his care, and he safeguards the sheep. He is our guardian, our guard, our defender.

[18:16] And we think, really, we've got 24 by 7 security, don't we? I almost like to put that on the building here, that we have 24 by 7 security. It's not so much the building, it's the church of God.

[18:28] You are under 24 by 7. You've got a constant security guard patrolling around you every day. Amen? What time, I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

[18:39] And we can know that, safeguarding. And your good shepherd, he's watching. He's constantly watching. He's ever vigilant, this watchman, your shepherd. Notice that it tells us of the walls of the sheepfold.

[18:53] As we read, John 10 talks about the fold that the flock goes to. And the fold of the sheep, the sheepfold, the kind of lodging place at night, was built by the shepherd.

[19:07] The shepherd built it from stones and thorns and bushes. The walls were built by the shepherd and the door is made by the shepherd. We've got the walls built by the shepherd.

[19:18] The door is the shepherd. He lies in that doorway. He is the door. And so, what time I am afraid. You know, those vulnerable times when you, for example, you're asleep.

[19:29] The shepherd's still watching over you. He's got one eye open. If not both of them. God is with you. Amen. Brother, sister, God is with you. And in the valleys too. In the valley times. God is with you.

[19:40] He is your shelter in the storm. So, know that today. Brother, sister, believer, know the tenderness of the shepherd. Isaiah 40 verse 11 gives us another beautiful picture painted of the shepherd.

[19:54] It says, Isaiah 40 verse 11. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd. And he shall gather the lambs with his arm. And carry them in his bosom. Shall gently lead those that are with young.

[20:07] Think of the picture of the shepherd carrying the lamb. That little helpless lamb that needs the shepherd's care. I know when Julie and I had a little lamb born in the back paddock.

[20:21] And one of the sheep, one of the ewes, birthed two lambs. They had twins. It was twin lambs born. And as happens sometimes, the mother lamb, the ewe, tends to one of the lambs but nudges the other one away.

[20:39] And so that one, if unhelped, would die. The twin lamb, the neglected one, would die. But so Julie and I had to take it on ourselves, as often is the case, as much as I'm no expert on these things.

[20:57] But to take that little one that was pushed away and to help it come to the mother so that it's nourished and so it can survive. And the shepherd had to intervene to help that sheep to live.

[21:10] And so the picture here is our Lord, he shall gather the lambs with his arms. He shall gather us. We that might be helpless and may be young in the faith, more vulnerable in our walk with God, that he shall take you in his arms if you're a lamb today and you can be protected, you can be nurtured and sustained.

[21:29] It reads on, His rod and his staff, there's two things here, his rod and his staff. It talks about the rod. This was like a club, perhaps three foot long.

[21:40] It was this club, this short, heavy stick, this club. The rod was used against the enemies of the sheep, used to drive off the wild animals. It was a heavy instrument to protect the sheep, the rod, from marauding predators to fight off the wild beasts.

[21:57] And sheep need to have no fear of the enemy while the shepherd is there with this club, this rod. We can trust our shepherd and trust his strength and power. Amen. Because he's holding that rod, that club in his hand.

[22:10] And then it says that he's not just got the rod, but the staff. And the staff was maybe six or seven foot long, like had a crook or hook on the end. And the staff, this crook, would gently ease the lambs that were caught under the thorn bushes and retrieve them.

[22:25] If they're caught in entanglement, bring them guidance and comfort. It's symbolic again of God's holy word. We can see both of them. God's word is strength. God's word is that guiding, that comforting.

[22:39] It's symbolic. The rod and the staff, they're symbolic. Really, we could picture of God's comfort and protection and correction. So the staff was this slender pole with a little crook on the end and would grab the leg of the sheep, pull it from harm and draw it to the right track.

[22:57] So we see in the picture there, the rod and the staff of the shepherd guiding and directing, occasionally disciplining the sheep. Maybe taps on the side of the body with the staff, tell you you're going in the wrong way, and he taps the sheep to make it go the right way.

[23:13] And so the Lord, our shepherd, likewise, he disciplines, he trains us as we rely on him. And he delivers and sustains us. Verse 5, it reads on, Can't you smell that food?

[23:31] A table prepared, a table prepared. A table prepared before me. The Lord, our shepherd, prepares a banquet. It's a banquet for us. It's not junk food. It's a banquet today in the word of God, really, isn't it?

[23:44] A spiritual banquet. The word of God is like corn. It's like manna. It's like wine. It's honey. It's milk. It's meat. It's prepared for us. The Lord prepares a table before us.

[23:56] He's got the table spread, the banquet. And I like to kind of reflect how really, hopefully, a good sermon is a form of food. It's like a piece of bread or meat.

[24:07] And, you know, I've got the cookbook here. The cookbook here is full of lots of delicious recipes. It's the kind of picture of it, isn't it? This is the cookbook, and we want to get some delicious recipes from it for God's people.

[24:20] And hopefully, I'd like to be a good cook in providing a banquet for you today. But we think really of how our shepherd, the Lord, our shepherd, provides us such a smorgasbord, doesn't he?

[24:31] From the word of God. It's full of good food. It's good nutrition. And we see that there's a banquet there in the Bible, in the word of God, that God provides that banquet. Now, sheep are particular what they eat.

[24:43] They don't eat trash like goats do. Apparently, there's a bit of a difference what goats will eat compared to what sheep eat. It's telling us God is preparing a table, not a snack bar.

[24:56] It's a prepared meal. Everything's furnished. Everything's laid on. And it's a satisfying meal. God offers us daily nutrients, doesn't he? You don't have to wait to Sunday to catch a little bit of the word of God.

[25:09] It's 24 by 7. You've got it available every day to have time with the word of God and have a balanced diet as a growing Christian.

[25:20] And so it says sheep need fresh green grass. We see a table spread. We see the shepherd's care and his great supply. And our good shepherd feeds our souls.

[25:31] He nourishes and sustains our spiritual life. Now, it's been said, those sheep that walk nearest the shepherd get fed the best. So keep close to your shepherd.

[25:42] Keep close to the Lord through this week. Amen. As you keep close to him, he'll feed you. He'll feed you. There's mention of enemies here. It says in the presence of enemies.

[25:53] Now, we see that sheep have got lots of enemies. They've got vipers, lions, bears, hyenas, jackals, huge birds of prey, robbers, bandits.

[26:04] I know in our backyard we caught a fox and people might think, oh, foxes are cute looking creatures, aren't they? Oh, what a nice little dog that little fox is.

[26:15] But when you get a fox in a cage and it's baring its teeth at you, you know that they're a savage creature. You don't want to put your finger in that cage when you catch a fox.

[26:25] But we see that foxes are very dangerous too for little lambs. And so the sheep has many enemies. And they can face grievous wolves. Wolves in sheep's clothing, we know, as also our Lord warns us.

[26:39] Sheep are amongst the most defenceless of creatures. They can't bite, scratch or kick. They can run, but not as fast as their enemies. Now, just a point, just for your attention here today, don't go feeding the sheep wearing thongs.

[26:55] Because their feet hurt when they tread on your feet. But they can't deliberately hurt you, but sometimes they accidentally hurt you. You know, I'm not going to wear thongs again feeding the sheep.

[27:06] But they can't bite, scratch or kick, but they can run, but not as fast as their enemies. So, and it's the same with you and me, isn't it? We've got an enemy, people. We have an enemy.

[27:17] He's public enemy number one, isn't he? And yet you can know that you have a shepherd. He is with you. Now, the shepherd doesn't eliminate our enemies or our trials.

[27:29] Sometimes we're actually sitting in the same presence as our enemies. But the difference is that he is with us. Amen. Our Lord is with us. The shepherd is with us. Even when there's enemies and trials and trouble all around, our Lord God, our Lord, our shepherd is with us.

[27:46] And that's a comfort. We read on, Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Think of this shepherd as this picture, as it tells us of this shepherd tending the sheep.

[28:00] We see that he is for his sheep. He's like a doctor and a nurse. He is the great physician. The shepherd comes and he examines the sheep. A shepherd needs to keep an eye on the flock.

[28:12] Is there a sheep limping? Is there a scab there? Is there some, you know, some difficulty there? Some bruise? Some thorn? Are there some raw places on that sheep? And so the shepherd has to come and apply the soothing oil to those wounds.

[28:27] And the shepherd bathes the face and the head of the sheep. That brings protection. So likewise, the Lord, our shepherd, he's anointing us. It says that he anoints our head with oil.

[28:38] It's that touch of his love, of compassion. We could picture that as illustrative of God's protection, of his love, of his tender care for us. He knows our injuries. He knows our hurts.

[28:49] He's watching us. He's watching over us. He can see, oh, this one's hurting there. This one needs some comfort here. This one's bruised here. And he sees that. And he applies his comfort.

[29:01] The oil speaks of the Holy Spirit. He applies the oil. It's pictures that are guiding from infection. And he eases our pain. It tells further how the believer's cup runs over.

[29:13] My cup is full and it's spilling over. It's overflowing. Here's the picture. David says my cup's full and it's overflowing. And we see that our Lord satisfies the cravings of the human heart.

[29:26] Think of it. Believe it today. God's filled your cup. Hasn't he? He's filled your cup. Keep your cup where it is, under that flow, as it were, where the spring is pouring in, at the fountain of his grace.

[29:37] Keep your cup there. And what's more, with the overflow, call your friends. Let them have some of that overflow. That sense of God's grace. That you can extend it.

[29:48] That you can impart it. That as he is blessing you, you can bless others too. And fill your cup to overflowing. What a picture of his nourishment. Of his satisfaction.

[29:59] It says in Romans 8.32, He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how hath he not also with him given us all things?

[30:10] Hasn't he given you all things? All things that you need. Truly he has. He's given us all things. So we should be thankful people, shouldn't we? Sometimes we neglect to thank him.

[30:22] And our prayers are full of requests rather than thank you. Thanksgiving. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for saving me. Unworthy as I am. He's given us all things.

[30:32] All things. And there's always a fullness. Enough. His blessings overflow. We're not saying we're going to have a Rolls Royce in the carport.

[30:42] But we can be thankful for the things that we have need of. He's given us those things. Verse 6, it says, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

[30:54] And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Goodness and mercy. I will dwell. I will dwell. That's the assurance of faith. We can confess that.

[31:05] We can say, I'm going to heaven. I'm going to be in the house of the Lord forever. I will dwell in heaven. Because of the promises of God. Because I've trusted Christ. I will dwell in his house forever.

[31:17] Because of what he has done. That's the assurance of faith, isn't it? I will dwell there. In other words, I'm going to settle, remain. I'm not just a visitor. I'm going to dwell there.

[31:29] I'm going to remain there. And it's got a picture of the Saviour's constant presence, doesn't it? We've got his constant presence and fellowship. It says, goodness and mercy shall follow me.

[31:40] You're being followed. You get that sense? You're driving along. Oh, someone's following me. And you see the red and blue light. We're actually being followed by goodness and mercy.

[31:52] Amen? So when you look in your rear vision mirror, goodness and mercy is behind me. Amen? I'm being pursued by it. I'm being followed by it. Goodness and mercy is following me, isn't it?

[32:03] That's what the Bible says it is. God's goodness and mercy. His mercy is so rich and full. We hear of the riches of his goodness in Romans 2 verse 4. Ephesians 2 verse 4 says, Our God is rich in mercy.

[32:17] Rich in mercy. God's riches are abundant. And you've got them all. You've got the whole treasure store of his mercy and grace. And it says that his goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

[32:33] Even the bad days. Even the bad days his mercy and grace follows you, isn't it? It says this happens every day of my life. All the day. And it says the house of the Lord shall be my dwelling place.

[32:46] Really, we've already got it. His presence, haven't we? Because his presence is dwelling within. And the Lord promises for us a mansion. He's preparing beyond this life where we shall ever be with the Lord.

[33:00] Ever be. Forever be with the Lord. So David has this confidence in the shepherd. And his shepherd gives rest and refreshment. There's restoration. There's his leading.

[33:11] There's courage. There's comfort. There's protection. And security. Friends, what a wholesome picture we see. Psalm 23. It's really just jam-packed with his very promises for you.

[33:26] He is with us. That's the most important point, really, isn't it? Is the shepherd with you? Are you with the shepherd? You can be if you're not already.

[33:38] And his company is eternal. I'm going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. It's forever. And the Lord, our shepherd, he gives us his care.

[33:50] We're part of his forever family. We've got his company. And we've got brothers and sisters, too. So you're not alone. That's why the church is good. Because we're a flock. A sheep belongs in a flock.

[34:02] There's a sense where we get together. And we can help each other. And can you truly say, the Lord is my shepherd? My shepherd. Friends, it really boils down to this essential point to bring that personal application for you today.

[34:18] Can you say, the Lord is my shepherd? It's very important. Now, you might say, preacher, I don't know that he is my shepherd.

[34:30] The Bible says you can know him. Whom to know his life eternal. You can know the shepherd. You can know him for yourself. You can know him personally. Know him. Know that he is yours and that you are his.

[34:42] And it's not by any religious acts or performance or ceremony. You know, I don't have some holy water to spray on you or holy smoke to blow on you or holy words to utter over you to make you holy, to make you a Christian today.

[34:59] I can dunk you in some water, but that's not going to make you a Christian. You've got to believe in your heart. You've got to receive. You've got to receive him. Trust him. Know him.

[35:10] Receive him. Yeah. And you let go of the old and you receive the new. It says the old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. It says you're not that old creature anymore.

[35:21] You've become a new creature. It talks about how you're born again. If any man be in Christ, he's a new creature. A new creature. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.

[35:32] And you might say, I want that today. I want to be a new creature. All you need to do is trust him. Let go of the old way. Know his saving. Know his forgiveness today.

[35:43] By faith. Know that he died for you, for your sin. That he can impart to you a new life. Everlasting life. And that you can say, he's my shepherd. And I'm going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

[35:54] It's interesting. It starts with the Lord is my shepherd. The Lord. And then it says the house of the Lord. It begins and ends with the Lord. Is he a Lord? Is he Lord? Is he master today?

[36:04] You can know him. Truly know him. You can know his care. His comfort. His company. The Lord is my shepherd. My shepherd. You can say that by faith. We read in John 10.

[36:16] Where it kind of relates very much with the Psalm 23. We see John 10. Our Lord really fulfills Psalm 23 in John 10. And he says some of these words in John 10.

[36:29] He says that his sheep. Know his voice. Yeah. Yeah. That's Bible. That's his voice. Know his voice.

[36:40] It says they know his voice. And they follow him. And he says to you today in John 10. 14. I am the good shepherd. And know my sheep.

[36:52] And am known of mine. You can know him. Personally know him. As the father knoweth me. Even so know I the father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.

[37:05] Think of that this morning. As we come to engage in that remembering of his death. That he is the good shepherd. He laid down his life for the sheep.

[37:16] He died.