Introduction to the 23^rd Psalm

(Sermons, List 6)

Text:

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

Introduction

I've heard it said that the 23rd Psalm is one of the most familiar passages of Scripture in the entire Bible, and I imagine it is. Many Christians can quote the 23^rd Psalm verbatim; perhaps you can too. If you can’t, you might do well to memorize it soon. Those six verses should be yours to meditate on at any time you need them. And who knows how soon you may need the comfort they offer to believers in tight spots?

Favorite?

A lot of us turn to Psalm 23 when we have personal problems that threaten to overwhelm us. Some of us quote it to other people when they face difficult situations. It seems to be a favorite of Pastors. Perhaps you can remember hearing your Pastor quote it to the bereaved, or to someone who was facing a life-threatening crisis? Knowing the Lord Jesus as “my” Shepherd certainly makes such situations easier to deal with. 

Sheep need help

If you stop to think about it, you likely won’t be flattered by having someone compare you to a sheep. Sheep are dumb and nearly helpless. One of their biggest needs is for protection just to keep them from harming themselves in some fashion. On the other hand, it shouldn’t hurt to remind Christians that their hope rests in the hands of their loving and caring Savior. He compared men to sheep on more than one occasion.

Jesus, our Shepherd

Jesus did not exactly quit His job when He returned to Heaven from the Mount of Olives. His earthly mission was finished. He did sit down at the right of God. But He is still our Good Shepherd. He continues to intercede for us before His Father’s throne. (Hebrews 7:25). And He might enjoy hearing us thank Him for it occasionally.

If you were to meditate on the words of Psalm 23 they might remind you of the ways in which your Lord has cared for you over the years, not just on occasion but day by day. They might even inspire you to seek more of God’s presence in your life than usual, and that couldn’t hurt you a bit. Isaiah 26:3 says, in effect, God will “keep,” “in perfect peace,” those whose minds are “stayed” (or fixed) on Him, simply because they trust Him wholeheartedly. And, as Psalm 16:11 adds, it is only “in His presence” that we can find “fullness of joy.” 

Potential

I once heard another preacher (Myles Monroe, TBN, 8/7/00) talk about the importance of man’s environment to his shaping process. He said environment is more important than native ability.

Regardless of his genes, no man can realize his God given potential unless God is present in his life to influence his activities. In other words, God has plans for us that require his direction and guidance. Without them we will never be able to properly utilize the talents and abilities He placed within us.

Dr. Monroe reminded his audience of man’s original habitat, in the Garden of Eden. God prepared the Garden, not only for Adam’s residence but also as the place where He could meet regularly with this first man (apparently on a daily basis). (Genesis 2:19).

When Adam disobeyed God he was evicted from Eden and forcibly detained from entering there ever again. (Genesis 3:23-24). You know what happened next. Man was denied God’s personal, daily presence in his life and he fell fall short of his potential.

All of Adam’s descendents suffered from that lack. Each of us has missed fulfilling God’s plan for us so badly that we can be redeemed only through the death of the Savior. But, in case you didn’t know, Jesus died to restore us to fellowship with the Father, not only so we could inherit eternal life but also to give us more abundant life now.

God dwells in born-again Christians - to provide them with abundant life and to help them develop their potential in worth to Him. If you are a born-again Christian God’s Holy Spirit dwells within you. He is there to commune with you as He did with Adam in the Garden. Although you can’t see Him, as Adam did, God can renew your mind, transform you into the image of Christ, and lead you in the way everlasting – if you will study His Word and obey it.

Don’t neglect this privilege Jesus provided for you at such a price. Nourish your relationship with Him. Submit to His leading. Allow Him to use you at your best as you work to build His kingdom.

Our Shepherd cares

It helps to know that the Good Shepherd really cares for His own. He will never leave us or forsake us.  We can depend on Him in bad times and in good ones. It’s nice to have a trusted Shepherd too, one known for tenderness, compassion, and faithfulness.   

He promised to be with us always, He loves us sincerely, and He longs to give us His best. However, we can expect to receive it only when we are submitted to His leadership. Those who insist on dong their own thing are simply not in a position to receive many of the things God wants them to have.

Want?

Those who take the time to study this Psalm might get hung up on the two phrases of the first verse. The first one is, "The LORD is my shepherd." The second one is, "I shall not want."  Do those two statements fit together realistically? Can people actually be relieved of all “want” simply because Jesus is their Shepherd? If they can, why do some of us often feel we don’t have everything we need, much less some things we simply desire?

If we are to answer that question correctly we will have to begin by posing another. What, exactly, did the Psalm writer mean when he used the word "want?"  Did our Lord promise to provide us with everything we decide to "want" as He shepherds us through life?   Or are we supposed, "not to want" things we don’t already have as a result of his supply? 

Khaw-sare

Let’s take a look at the word "want" as The Psalmist David used it here. The primary meaning of the Hebrew word which was translated to the English word “want” refers to “a lack of something.” The Hebrew word is "chacer," or  "khaw-sare”).  However, by implication at least, “want” can also refer to a desire for a thing that is lacking. And that must be what David referred to. 

Since there would have been no need for him to "want" something he had already, David obviously referred to things he didn’t have. And he must have spoken to a determination not to "long for," the things he lacked. He would leave his “wants’ to God's providence. David knew his God was a "good Shepherd." He depended on God’s gifts being constructive. God simply would not grant any of David’s longings that might result in harm to him.

Does that help? Can you see that some of your own "wanting" might be for things you don't really need? God might withhold things from you because they would bring you harm or because He has something better in mind for you. I'd be willing to bet most of you have wanted things that would not have been good for you and you are pleased to have been spared the grief they would have brought with them.

Story

Which reminds me of a story - about an Old Catholic Priest who was about to retire. I can’t remember where I heard it. This man had performed hundreds of weddings for his parishioners over the years, and some of those weddings had involved some very pretty brides.

Some one asked the old Priest if he had ever wished any of those gorgeous young things could have been his. His answer was, “Yes. There were several pretty young ladies who seemed desirable to him at the time." But, he continued, "When I look at some of those ladies today I thank God for His mercy.  It's obvious that my Good Shepherd was looking out for my long-term interests." 

Good Shepherd/Bad Shepherd

The man who wrote Psalm 100 saw God as The Good Shepherd.  He said, "Know that the LORD, He is God: It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves:  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture" (Psalm 100:3). David must have understood that. He certainly could distinguish between good shepherds and bad ones; his own experiences as a "shepherd" made the differences clear to him.

As David also knew, sheep that had wanted things they shouldn’t have often got themselves into trouble trying to obtain them. But good shepherds don’t allow their sheep to choose their habitat. They try to provide what they feel is best.      Unfortunately, most sheep either don't understand the problem or they decide to want things they don't really need. So the good shepherd has to go out of his way - to protect his animals from them selves as well as from predators and bad environments.

Protecting his interests.

A wise shepherd takes good care of his sheep for his own good as well as for theirs. He knows the sacrifices he makes for them contribute to his own prosperity. In other words, the good shepherd knows his well-being is linked with that of his sheep. When they hurt, he hurts. He can be content only when they are content.

Perhaps that helps to explain why Jesus was willing to die for us on the cross at Calvary. We were without hope. He understood our dilemma and was grieved by it. Man, the crown of God’s creation, was lost, heading helplessly towards destruction. Jesus was the only one who could save us and He chose to die in our place.

Isaiah 53:11 foretold the results, saying, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”      Thank God for His mercy. May our Savior be blessed forever by the fruits of His sacrifice. And may we add to that blessing by serving Him as He expects to be served.

Dedication

I don't intend to discuss the mechanics of shepherding.  There is no need to enumerate the steps to successful shepherding at this point. If you are interested in the subject I can recommend Phillip Keller’s Book, “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm Twenty Three.” Mr. Keller was able to understand the Psalm better than most of us because of his own experiences as a shepherd.

I do want to note the genuine love and concern that is required of good shepherds. The job calls for serious dedication and lots of personal sacrifice. A good shepherd always puts the needs of his flock above his own, even when he must forfeit personal rest and comfort.

David could consider Himself a good shepherd because he took care of the needs of his sheep before providing for himself. He suffered cold, heat, exhaustion, loneliness, and lack of creature comfort for the good of his animals.  He risked his life defending them in combat. We know about the times that involved a bear and a lion. There were, undoubtedly others simply because his sheep were important to him.

Experience

David knew the difference between good and bad shepherds from experience. He felt fortunate to be under the watchful eye of The Good Shepherd who considered him important. He was determined to submit to God's wishes, content to allow God to decide what was best for him, and determined not to "want" anything God withheld from him.

In other words, David made up his mind not to waste time longing for things he didn't have. He decided to be content with whatever God supplied. I believe that is what the Psalm should say to you and me. We should be grateful, as David was, that we belong to our Creator rather than to the god of this world.

The god of this world is Satan. And Satan is the essence of bad shepherding. He does not love people; he uses them for his own purposes. Satan hates us as he hates God. When he does anything that seems to help any human being it is always calculated to hasten that persons doom.

Trust God

Let's learn to trust God in every circumstance. Let's appreciate His care when He withholds things we shouldn’t have, just as we appreciate it when He supplies our real needs. Let me paraphrase the words of the Psalmist to say what I think he might have meant in Psalm 23:1: "The LORD is my Shepherd. I refuse to want anything He does not supply because He knows what I really need. Since I know He loves me I am determined to be satisfied in and through Him always. And I have decided to cooperate with Him - as He works out His will in me and as He prepares me for eternal life with Him."

The Psalm

The rest of Psalm 23 lists several reasons why David could trust God so well. All of them were examples of God’s past care and protection in the Psalmist’s life. Let's read the entire Psalm now to see the wonderful things God did for David. These are things He can do for you too, if you will trust Him as David did.

1. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His names' sake. 4. 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.  5. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 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.

Your Shepherd?

Is the LORD Jesus Christ your Shepherd?  How well do you trust Him?  Are you willing to obey His directions for your life always? When you begin to feel neglected or abused, can you stop to remember what the Lord has done for you already and where he intends for you to spend eternity?

Jesus loves you.  He has your best interests at heart. And He will continue to care for you as long as you allow it. He will never force you to conform to His will. But, as a Christian, you can always profit from submitting to Him willingly. As my Dad used to say, “God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with Him.”

A man after God’s heart

In another place (Acts 13:22) the Bible calls David a man after God's own heart, a statement that has often been misinterpreted. God did not necessarily have a heart for David. On the contrary, David had a heart for God. The Scripture reads like this from the KJV: “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.”

After Saul messed up his chances of remaining King, God chose David to shepherd the Nation of Israel. He knew David’s heart. David loved God. He would act, and react, as God led him. In other words, David was not special to God because he was an exceptionally good man. God was pleased with David because this ordinary man was so anxious to please Him and so dejected when he failed to do so well. (See Psalm 51).

My paraphrase of Psalm 24:1 should help to make that fact clear. Let me read it again: "The LORD is my Shepherd. I refuse to want anything He does not supply because He knows what I really need. Since I know He loves me I am determined to be satisfied in and through Him always. And I have decided to cooperate with Him - as He works out His will in me and as He prepares me for eternal life with Him."

Let's learn to be like David, at least in this respect, that we will be as anxious as he was to please God - regardless of the cost to us. A scripture I referred to earlier describes the kind of relationship we should seek to have with our Redeemer. It is one He intends for us to enjoy eternally. “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures evermore.”(Psalm 16:11, NKJV).

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David E. Beneze, 1006 Fairview Ave, Canon City, CO, 81212-2873. Latest update 30 March 2007.