WEBVTT 00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:08.540 This chapter seems to be a cornerstone for comfort for so many occasions. 00:00:10.019 --> 00:00:15.740 And as we look at this chapter, the main theme is the Lord being our shepherd. 00:00:16.420 --> 00:00:23.800 So we know a shepherd takes care of his sheep and provides food and guides them and protects them. 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:30.240 In David's case, he even played music for his sheep, although I don't think all shepherds did that. 00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:42.400 But as we look at the Lord as our shepherd, he's not just the shepherd overall of the church, of his people, but he's our individual shepherd. 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:44.320 He's my shepherd, he's your shepherd. 00:00:46.000 --> 00:00:50.519 And he provides for each one of our needs and he guides us and he protects us. 00:00:50.520 --> 00:00:55.540 And those are the three things that I wanted us to look at tonight from just these six verses. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:59.800 How he provides for our needs and he guides us and he protects us. 00:01:02.060 --> 00:01:06.300 Before I do that, what I wanted to look at was the very first verse. 00:01:06.439 --> 00:01:09.320 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 00:01:10.439 --> 00:01:15.840 And, you know, we all know that we are sinners in a fallen world. 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:18.920 And there are lots of things that we want. 00:01:18.920 --> 00:01:20.280 They're not always good. 00:01:20.960 --> 00:01:23.060 They're not always bad, right? 00:01:23.180 --> 00:01:25.480 But we have a lot of wants. 00:01:25.620 --> 00:01:26.859 We want to be popular. 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:27.719 We want to be liked. 00:01:28.200 --> 00:01:29.159 We like to be rich. 00:01:29.240 --> 00:01:30.280 We like to have a good job. 00:01:30.659 --> 00:01:31.840 We like to live long. 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:32.859 We like to have more money. 00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:34.460 I mean, the list can go on and on. 00:01:34.459 --> 00:01:41.859 But that's not the want that David is talking about here. 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:49.879 Because if we spend our lives chasing all those wants, then where we'll end up is not following God. 00:01:50.819 --> 00:01:54.419 We'll end up following the world and we'll be away from God. 00:01:54.599 --> 00:01:58.199 So God knows this and he wants us to go after him. 00:01:58.239 --> 00:02:00.439 So he provides for us what we need. 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:07.340 So when it says, I shall not want, a better interpretation really is to say that we're lacking nothing. 00:02:09.139 --> 00:02:20.360 It would be like if we were referring to, say, a child that was taken into an orphanage and they said that he is not wanting. 00:02:21.159 --> 00:02:23.120 He was before and now he's not. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:25.300 So basically they're taking care of his needs. 00:02:26.480 --> 00:02:34.900 So verse 1, we could read, we could kind of rephrase that a little bit and say, the Lord is my shepherd and I lack nothing. 00:02:36.340 --> 00:02:48.379 So I think if we start out with that, it will help us to see how God provides all the other things when we're not looking at all the stuff that we want to bring and all the stuff that we want to want. 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:56.639 So as we look at verse 2, we see how he provides what we need to survive. 00:02:56.799 --> 00:02:58.979 So look at verse 2 with me if you would. 00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:03.699 He makes me lie down in green pastures and he leads me beside the still waters. 00:03:04.620 --> 00:03:10.460 So this is a picture, a quick picture of the shepherd providing food and water for the sheep. 00:03:10.460 --> 00:03:18.920 And we also pick up that there's comfort that he is supplying to the sheep. 00:03:20.100 --> 00:03:22.819 He makes them lie down in green pastures. 00:03:22.939 --> 00:03:28.500 It's almost like the Lord is telling us to take a break and enjoy what he's given to us. 00:03:29.960 --> 00:03:31.900 Lay down and eat your food. 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:33.060 Don't be in such a rush. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:35.800 And he also leads us beside still waters. 00:03:35.920 --> 00:03:41.879 So the waters aren't a raging river that we're kind of skeptical to come up to and drink. 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:43.580 But they're calm. 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:45.319 We can come by them and relax. 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:51.640 And he provides nourishments to our bodies and to our souls by restoring us. 00:03:51.639 --> 00:04:01.639 We also, if we look at verse 5, he's preparing a table before us. 00:04:01.659 --> 00:04:03.679 So this is kind of a different picture than the shepherd. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:09.819 This is almost the Lord being a host to us as he prepares a table and provides us food. 00:04:11.519 --> 00:04:14.959 And he anoints my head with oil. 00:04:15.579 --> 00:04:19.719 And what that is supposed to portray is a caring, loving host. 00:04:19.720 --> 00:04:25.600 If you, you don't have to turn to it, but I'm going to turn back to Luke 7. 00:04:25.780 --> 00:04:35.420 This is where the woman, the sinful woman comes in and she's crying on Jesus and pours ointment on him. 00:04:37.340 --> 00:04:38.520 Verse 44. 00:04:38.700 --> 00:04:42.240 Then turning toward the woman, he, Jesus, says to Simon, 00:04:42.380 --> 00:04:43.280 Do you see this woman? 00:04:43.420 --> 00:04:46.820 I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet. 00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:49.800 But she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 00:04:50.300 --> 00:04:54.000 You gave me no kiss, but the time I came in, she has not ceased to kiss me. 00:04:54.459 --> 00:04:58.379 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:05.600 So we kind of get a picture that putting ointment on somebody's head, it really isn't like a weird thing, 00:05:05.659 --> 00:05:07.019 like we would think it is now. 00:05:07.019 --> 00:05:12.439 But something that would picture acceptance and loving. 00:05:12.659 --> 00:05:16.139 If somebody comes into their house, they may have oil placed on them. 00:05:16.659 --> 00:05:23.120 And so that's what the Lord, the host, is doing for us, is he's anointing our head with oil. 00:05:23.799 --> 00:05:25.759 He is overflowing our cup. 00:05:25.839 --> 00:05:27.060 He is keeping it full. 00:05:27.759 --> 00:05:30.199 So he's providing what we need and it's ongoing. 00:05:30.359 --> 00:05:32.060 It's something that's not stopping. 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:35.060 He doesn't just fill us for a moment and then we're done. 00:05:35.060 --> 00:05:42.379 And we also notice that he's prepared the table in the presence of our enemies, 00:05:42.780 --> 00:05:53.579 which sounds odd, but I think there's a comfort there in saying that even amongst our enemies, 00:05:54.160 --> 00:05:59.279 they're powerless to the enjoyment that we can have in what God's given us. 00:05:59.340 --> 00:06:02.899 So he's prepared this table for us and there's enemies around us, 00:06:02.899 --> 00:06:07.579 but we're still able to sit and enjoy God's generosity even amongst that. 00:06:10.219 --> 00:06:15.419 So I think we can probably, that probably fits a couple of different situations, 00:06:15.639 --> 00:06:18.560 whether at work or family, where you don't feel like you fit in, 00:06:18.979 --> 00:06:24.839 and yet we're still able to enjoy God's goodness to us as his people. 00:06:24.839 --> 00:06:29.500 Next we're going to look at how he guides us. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:32.179 So in verse 3, he said, 00:06:32.359 --> 00:06:35.000 He leads me in paths of righteousness, 00:06:36.279 --> 00:06:44.919 which basically is a way of saying he leads us down right paths, right? 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:49.199 So it's not just something we're going down, 00:06:49.400 --> 00:06:56.360 but through our life he leads us and takes us into directions that teach and grow us 00:06:56.360 --> 00:06:58.560 and makes us more like him. 00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:03.300 So as we follow him, he's sanctifying us 00:07:03.300 --> 00:07:07.620 and he's changing us to be more righteous and more like him. 00:07:07.620 --> 00:07:13.399 And when I say more righteous, at least in my head, 00:07:13.800 --> 00:07:17.399 it brings up the connotation that that can be a boastful bad thing. 00:07:17.660 --> 00:07:18.959 Like I don't want to be more righteous. 00:07:19.699 --> 00:07:22.199 We do, but not in a boastful way. 00:07:22.300 --> 00:07:25.199 More righteous in the sense of not worldly. 00:07:27.180 --> 00:07:33.920 So as we are living, we're becoming more like Christ and less like the world. 00:07:33.920 --> 00:07:40.939 And that happens by him leading us and us following him through these right paths. 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:47.220 And then in the end of verse 3, it actually tells us why that even takes place. 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:50.020 Why does he lead us down right paths? 00:07:50.740 --> 00:07:51.500 And he says, 00:07:51.960 --> 00:07:53.020 For his name's sake. 00:07:55.379 --> 00:07:59.259 You can remember from several passages in the Old Testament 00:07:59.259 --> 00:08:02.340 that God is making for himself a people, right? 00:08:02.339 --> 00:08:05.239 A people that love and obey and follow after him. 00:08:06.299 --> 00:08:09.179 And so if he has a people that follow after the world, 00:08:09.679 --> 00:08:13.699 that think the world is more glorious and wonderful than he is, 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:15.859 then what does that say about God? 00:08:16.239 --> 00:08:20.959 So he leads us for his name's sake, for his glory, for his renown. 00:08:22.719 --> 00:08:26.899 And then the last point is how he protects us. 00:08:26.899 --> 00:08:29.339 So we see in verse 4, 00:08:30.299 --> 00:08:33.579 that even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:35.319 I will fear no evil. 00:08:36.480 --> 00:08:39.720 And that shadow of death can be any number of things. 00:08:40.199 --> 00:08:41.860 You know, we all go through trials. 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:43.120 It could be a trial. 00:08:43.240 --> 00:08:44.079 It could be persecution. 00:08:44.340 --> 00:08:45.279 It could be depression. 00:08:47.179 --> 00:08:50.559 That can be a death of a loved one, someone close to us. 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:55.379 It could be our own death if we're going through cancer or something like that. 00:08:56.939 --> 00:08:59.500 So we see ourselves going through a trial, 00:08:59.619 --> 00:09:03.659 and I kind of picture this synods as us going through a valley 00:09:03.659 --> 00:09:05.619 as the sun is starting to go down. 00:09:05.859 --> 00:09:09.579 So the light is starting to lessen, 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:11.419 and shadows are starting to appear. 00:09:11.959 --> 00:09:15.559 And we don't really know who or what are behind those shadows. 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:20.879 But he's still walking through that with us, 00:09:20.879 --> 00:09:22.739 and tells us not to fear. 00:09:23.899 --> 00:09:26.479 And that's where we can find assurance and comfort, 00:09:26.699 --> 00:09:29.579 knowing that God isn't just sending us out on our own, 00:09:30.119 --> 00:09:32.299 but he's going with us through that time. 00:09:33.179 --> 00:09:33.559 He doesn't... 00:09:34.099 --> 00:09:37.979 The previous verse when he talks about taking us down paths of righteousness, 00:09:38.199 --> 00:09:40.059 he doesn't do that and then leave us 00:09:40.059 --> 00:09:42.679 when we get to the valley of the shadow of death. 00:09:45.559 --> 00:09:51.139 He also never promises that he will take us over the valley 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:54.739 or that he will take us around the valley. 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:58.359 He's going to take us through the valley. 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:04.079 And that's part of what he's trying to accomplish in our life. 00:10:05.019 --> 00:10:05.359 Right? 00:10:05.439 --> 00:10:06.839 He's taken us through the valley, 00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:12.419 and part of our growth in our life is trusting in him, 00:10:12.419 --> 00:10:15.139 knowing that we're going through and he's got us. 00:10:16.119 --> 00:10:16.759 Because... 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:18.659 And the next verse says our rod. 00:10:18.899 --> 00:10:21.399 And your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 00:10:22.319 --> 00:10:26.579 He has a rod and a staff. 00:10:26.759 --> 00:10:28.139 And it's used in different ways. 00:10:28.579 --> 00:10:31.619 You guys, I'm sure, have seen the shepherd's crook 00:10:31.619 --> 00:10:34.039 that kind of looks like a candy cane. 00:10:34.859 --> 00:10:37.959 And it's used to grab sheep 00:10:37.959 --> 00:10:40.739 when they need to be picked up or pulled in. 00:10:40.740 --> 00:10:43.820 And that's kind of a picture of what Jesus does to us, 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.419 whether we need saving 00:10:45.419 --> 00:10:48.600 or he just needs to pull us closer to him. 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:51.100 And it also mentions a rod, 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:54.220 which a rod is more for defending. 00:10:54.759 --> 00:10:58.860 So he could be defending us from things. 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:00.860 He could also use the rod to help, 00:11:01.240 --> 00:11:02.919 not to help, but to discipline us. 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:08.199 You know, if we're wandering off 00:11:08.199 --> 00:11:10.259 in a direction we don't need to go in, 00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:14.559 and he uses a rod to get us to come back, 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.699 it may not seem pleasant, 00:11:17.159 --> 00:11:19.179 but the other side of that would be 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:21.360 is if he didn't love us and we fell off the cliff, 00:11:21.819 --> 00:11:23.839 then what kind of God would we have? 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:25.679 Would he really love us? 00:11:25.679 --> 00:11:28.459 So we see Jesus as our shepherd 00:11:28.459 --> 00:11:30.479 using a staff to rescue 00:11:30.479 --> 00:11:32.799 and also to pull us close 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:35.939 and also using a rod to protect us, 00:11:36.019 --> 00:11:38.179 but also to teach us at the same time. 00:11:39.379 --> 00:11:43.759 And so as we look at this Psalm 23, 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:47.399 we see how the Lord provides for our needs, 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:49.839 both our physical needs 00:11:49.839 --> 00:11:51.479 and restoring our soul, 00:11:51.779 --> 00:11:53.319 whatever is needed for that. 00:11:53.320 --> 00:11:56.640 And he also guides and protects us. 00:11:57.860 --> 00:11:59.440 And I think it ends it up, 00:12:00.020 --> 00:12:02.980 it ends perfectly with verse six. 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:05.260 Surely goodness and mercy 00:12:05.260 --> 00:12:07.420 shall follow me all the days of my life, 00:12:07.640 --> 00:12:10.020 and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 00:12:11.240 --> 00:12:13.900 That phrase, surely goodness and mercy, 00:12:15.000 --> 00:12:17.640 I changed it when I say that in my head 00:12:17.640 --> 00:12:19.420 because when I think of goodness, 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:22.080 I often think of all the good things 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:23.820 that God gives me and not the bad things. 00:12:23.900 --> 00:12:26.420 So when things that are not pleasant come along, 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:29.020 that doesn't seem to fit in my head. 00:12:29.400 --> 00:12:31.020 I'm like, well, that's not goodness and mercy. 00:12:31.900 --> 00:12:33.900 And another rendering of that phrase, 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:36.160 goodness and mercy, is steadfast love. 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:40.440 So if we were to say that steadfast love 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:44.660 is surely steadfast love 00:12:44.660 --> 00:12:46.379 shall follow me all the days of our life. 00:12:46.440 --> 00:12:47.440 Well, we know that's true. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:50.280 We know that God's steadfast love is with us. 00:12:50.540 --> 00:12:53.100 Whether we're going through good times and bad times, 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:55.660 his steadfast love is always on us. 00:12:56.140 --> 00:12:57.700 And it will be all of our life. 00:12:58.160 --> 00:12:59.100 And when that's done, 00:12:59.160 --> 00:13:00.640 we get to dwell with him forever. 00:13:01.020 --> 00:13:06.420 So there's so many situations 00:13:06.420 --> 00:13:09.180 that you can plug into this psalm, 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:09.840 and it's fitting. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:13.120 This was written by David, 00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.600 which you guys know went through a lot of things. 00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:19.340 So this is one that is popular so much 00:13:19.340 --> 00:13:20.680 because it is so comforting. 00:13:21.139 --> 00:13:23.600 You can read it and just feel the calmness 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:25.440 of the phrases that are being used, 00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:27.160 but then to dig into what it means 00:13:27.160 --> 00:13:30.740 about what the Lord is for us, 00:13:31.180 --> 00:13:34.200 it's even more comforting to that. 00:13:34.200 --> 00:13:37.780 So when we pray tonight, 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:39.840 I don't know if anybody has done this before, 00:13:40.020 --> 00:13:41.580 but there's a lot of psalms 00:13:41.580 --> 00:13:44.620 that make a good foundation, 00:13:44.860 --> 00:13:46.379 a good framework for prayer 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:51.000 that I think you can use. 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:53.560 Obviously, you can use any of the Bible, 00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:57.300 but they say to help people 00:13:57.300 --> 00:13:59.420 keep from praying the same thing over and over 00:13:59.420 --> 00:14:01.360 in their own personal time, 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:04.159 they say that praying through the Bible 00:14:04.159 --> 00:14:05.340 or praying through psalms 00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.419 is something that is helpful. 00:14:07.220 --> 00:14:09.720 So tonight as we pray 00:14:09.720 --> 00:14:12.399 and the different aspects of our prayers, 00:14:13.180 --> 00:14:15.879 feel free to look over Psalm 23. 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:19.340 And as you read it, 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:21.100 if there's something that matches up with your life 00:14:21.100 --> 00:14:22.600 and you want to praise God for it, 00:14:22.620 --> 00:14:24.360 if you want to ask God for help 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:25.879 or if you want to confess 00:14:25.879 --> 00:14:28.080 and it's there, just bring it out. 00:14:28.560 --> 00:14:30.500 And I would encourage you to do that. 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:35.159 So I think what we'll do is... 00:14:35.159 --> 00:14:38.100 Let me just stop this one second.