Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even 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 overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever. (ESV)
Good morning! My name is Colin Rueter, one of the pastors here at Grace. My sermon this morning is on one of the most familiar passages in scripture, known by Christians and non-Christians alike. It is a little passage that appears on coffee mugs, as a cross-stitched image framed on Grandma’s wall, and on unused bookmarks sitting in our junk drawers. The truths in this short Psalm are a balm for the soul, whether you find yourself in green pastures or walking the valley of deep darkness. I have been blessed and helped tremendously by the book, “The LORD of Psalm 23: Jesus Our Shepherd, Companion, and Host” by David Gibson.
As many of you know, I am not a country boy… I grew up in the city. While I am a shepherd for the church, I am no shepherd on the farm. While I will make references to shepherding and sheep, let it be known that I am no expert in that field… pun intended. I also want to be very clear that while I have heard, and it may be true, sheep are dumb and hence God comparing us to sheep is not supposed to be an esteem-booster… God uses the phrase often to speak to His care, love, guidance, and providence for His people, seen ultimately through His Son Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd.
When David wrote this Psalm, he was preaching these truths to himself, he needed these words. He was also, prophesying about the coming Messiah – the Lamb of God and the Great Shepherd.
Jesus is the Lamb of God who came and He is the Good Shepherd. He had a Shepherd, God the Father, His soul restored after walking through the valley of death, He has been anointed with oil at His Father’s table and dwells with the Father in His house forever on the throne. Jesus, both a lamb and a shepherd, gets us.
In addition, this Psalm is a reminder to us that the word of God is written for us to remind us of who God is, the promises He has made His people, and that life will be a journey of joys and darkness while we are being led home. This Psalm is not just for your death bed, but for the journey Home.
Last note on this Psalm: These promises in this passage are for those who have heard, repented, and entered by faith into Christ. If you are here this morning, not trusting in Jesus, the promises here are not yours… yet. My plea to you this morning, as was already shared, is to trust in the all-sufficient work of the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep… and receive these promises and eternal life today.
Main Point this morning is that Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads us with His good and gracious hand through this life and into forever. He knows His sheep, He knows the path, and He is faithful to ensure that the whole flock will make it to the House of the Lord. The takeaway for us is to trust and rest in the Good Shepherd.
This morning, we will look at the Shepherd and the life He provides for His people:
- The LORD is my Shepherd (vs 1)
- Abundant Life (vs 2-3)
- Secure Life (vs 4)
- Joyful Life (vs 5-6)
#1) The LORD is my Shepherd (vs 1)
The LORD. Yahweh. I AM. A right and growing understanding of the One True God is a life-long endeavor. We must see this statement in vs 1 on the front side to be the reason why David can say, “I shall not want.” Another way of looking at verse 1 is: “The One True Almighty is my Savior and Lord, therefore I lack nothing.” I have all I need in Him alone. Take the world and I gain my soul because God is my Shepherd.
I don’t want to move too quickly past this first verse. The truth – you have a shepherd. The awesome truth – your shepherd is the LORD. Each one of us is following someone or something. Even those of us who would say they are swimming against the current of culture or crowds are at times conforming to it. Yet, brothers and sisters, the LORD is our shepherd. He sees us, guides us, using His crook to keep us on the good path when we stray. We have and should trust in the best shepherd possible – the LORD.
This is woven throughout the story before David. As Jacob blessed Joseph, he reflects on the rich history of God the Shepherd, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day… ” (Gen.48:15).
As Moses led the people out of Egypt, it was the LORD who was their Shepherd, guiding them through the wilderness to the Promised Land. Note also that the Lord gives His people men to be under-shepherds. Moses specifically throughout the early days of Israel was called and equipped by God to lead His people, as Moses (also a sheep), trusted the Good Shepherd, the LORD.
I want to make sure we notice as David, and us along with him, proclaim that God Almighty is my shepherd, he uses God’s personal name, Yahweh. If we move too quickly past this, which we often do, we miss the significance of this statement in two ways: that God would be a shepherd and that He is my shepherd.
This name, Yahweh, can be translated “I am who I am” is the personal name given to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3. Though personal, it also carries with it a mystery. Though God can be known, He remains impossible to grasp completely. So, while the LORD is my shepherd, David’s shepherd, and yours… He is self-existent and cannot be fully understood. This is good news, friends. God, above all else, who is the LORD, is working in ways that remind us that we are not in control, do not know all things, and is keenly aware of what His sheep need. May we functionally live our lives in that truth and not just speak it as truth. More could be said, but let me move on with this: KNOW your God, behold Him, trust Him, remember His works and faithfulness, and when you come to mystery, rest in the goodness and righteousness that He is.
Since the LORD is my shepherd, [THEREFORE] I lack nothing, David says. God, my shepherd will provide all that I need and what I do not need, I will not have. This is a life-long reflection of David. Psalm 23, starting with this verse, is David putting God at the center of his life, hope, peace, and future.
Psalm 37, vs 25-26: “I have been young, now I’m old, but God’s people have not been forsaken or their children ever seen begging for bread… ”
Paul spoke to the deep reality of this passage about Jesus in Philippians, “I have known earthly riches and lack and yet learned to be content in all situations because God through Christ strengthened me.
Jesus, the Good Shepherd, spoke in John 10, “I have come that the sheep might have life and life to the full.” Later in John 15, that Jesus’ joy would be in His people and that it would be full joy.
Contentment, joy, provision… because of our hard work, wisdom and awesomeness… NO! We have this because God is our shepherd… therefore we lack nothing.
#2) Abundant Life (vs 2-3)
Vs 2 & 3: “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
The Lord God Almighty is our Shepherd; therefore, we have all that we need. Our life, instead of clamoring after things to be successful, we rest in the glories that our life in Christ is full of joy and peace. David is speaking on the heavenly realities that he experienced here on earth.
Vs 2: “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters.”
A wiser man, who spent time as a shepherd, said that in order for sheep (one or the whole flock) needed specific circumstances to lie down and rest: free from flies, fear, friction (angst from other sheep), and hunger.
Sheep will not drink unless the waters are calm, fear will rise and they will not stoop to drink waters of life. The waters need to be still and calm before they drink and be satisfied.
Are we not the same?
When we are free from these things, we rest. Through Christ, sin is eradicated, fear is cast out by the perfect love of God, friction (while still existing in this life) can be redeemed and reconciled between us and God and between us as the sheep through Christ who is our peace. Additionally, we no longer hunger for we have eaten from the Bread of Life – Jesus Christ.
Jesus spoke of giving ‘living water’ to the woman at the well. Drink and never be thirsty again. Another translation of still waters is “waters of rest.” Jesus spoke this in John 10: “Through me they will go in and out and find pasture (rest).”
Therefore, Jesus can rightly say, “Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) The LORD is your shepherd, He will care for you in all ways so that your soul may rest.
Vs 3: “He restores my soul and leads me on paths of righteousness for His name’s sake… ”
I want to break this verse up into 3a and 3b
First, “He restores my soul… ”
Since God is my shepherd and He provides for all of my needs and therefore I find rest… my soul is restored to the place it must be – a state of true rest and peace. Before Jesus, your soul was restless, you had no peace, and life was always below the clouds (as the Preacher says). After being called and finding the Good Shepherd, your soul finds rest, you have peace, and you experience life above the clouds in glory (partially now and in full when you see Jesus face-to-face).
Second, “He leads me on paths of righteousness for His name’s sake… ”
Since God is my shepherd, He is going to lead me down the good path, His path so I would know His name and goodness. As you have heard the voice of the Shepherd, you follow the voice. You may have chosen the path to walk on, but it isn’t your path… it’s His. This also means that your journey will look differently than someone else’s. We are on the same path, the same way to God… but we are all on different journeys.
There’s this great part in “The Horse and His Boy” by Lewis. Spoiler: Shasta has reached nearly the end of his journey to the North and he meets Aslan. Aslan explains that He has been with Shasta throughout his life, doing good and hard things to bring Shasta to where he needs to be. When Shasta asks about other people that have been with him, Aslan simply says, to the affect, ‘I am telling you your story, not someone else’s. I have been with you this whole time.’ This is the Lion of Judah walking with you on the path of righteousness.
God gives a truly abundant life. He provides for my daily needs (green pastures), provides refreshment and peace (still waters), brings back my soul from death (restores), and leads me on the good path for His glory. The natural flow from these verses brings us to David’s declaration in verse 4.
#3) Secure Life (vs 4)
Verse 4: “Even 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.”
I want to make this note: In the Hebrew, this Psalm is 20 lines, including the title. The exact middle point of this Psalm is verse 4, specifically, “for you are with me.” David wants this to be the center because God wants this to be center in our hearts. So good.
This life is a pilgrimage. We are heading to the Promised Land and to get there… we must travel through this wilderness.
So, David, reflecting on the truth that God is his shepherd, providing and guiding… understood that the Good and Guiding Shepherd will lead him through valleys with darkness like death. Meaning, if He is guiding David… God must be with him. This verse brings us to an intimate point in the psalm. Shepherding during David’s time meant that traversing through the valley was a change in the season for the flock. This time, in the valley, was spent with the shepherd alone.
Friends, when you are in the darkest of places, in the valley deep… you have an intimate position with God. Truly Christ felt this reality in the garden, a pleading voice and obedient voice to the will of the Father. In addition, this means that every trial and every feeling of isolation where you hear your heart or the Enemy say, “You’re alone… no one is here… no one cares… ” – God is. You can preach to your heart and rebuke the cosmic loser Satan that God is ever present and with me in this valley! No fear for God’s guidance, the Spirit and His word, are a comfort for us. They are a means of grace to keep our eyes on the Shepherd… even as we question whether He knows what He is doing at times.
#4) Joyful Life (vs 5-6)
Vs 5-6: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
As the Good Shepherd leads us through green pastures and dark valleys… He is preparing.
From preparing a table for you to sit at, anointing your head with oil to over-filling your cup, see who is doing this. Our Shepherd Jesus has welcomed you to His table, anointed you with His oil, and He fills your cup. You have shifted from being a sheep of His pasture, close but still a sheep… to now seated at the Table of the King where He calls you His friend.
This last section is a look ahead to the Last Supper where Jesus is seated at a table with the traitor Judas and Satan watching and even further beyond to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in Revelation where those invited are seated at the Table of the Lamb who was slain.
We should ask: “How can it be? This is amazing… the Good Shepherd, the King, who called out my name, who cleared out my ears and eyes to see and hear Him has brought me to His table… .”
Well, David gives us the answer that we know, but also proclaim: The Good Shepherd’s goodness and grace pursued me all my days… .You didn’t earn a spot at the King’s table, He graciously pursued you with His goodness and grace. Even as you sit at His table, His goodness and grace keep you there. Friends, Grace Church, this is a current reality in many ways. You are friends with the King today through His grace in Christ.
The Apostle Paul, “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:4-7)
But wait – there’s more!
AND I will be in the LORD’s house forever
Not only feasting at a table prepared by the King, but we dwell, abide, in His home forever. From the day that we are saved to the day we enter into our Master’s joy, we have a home waiting for us. This is the Christian’s blessed hope. The journey ends with entering the Master’s house. Even more than that, we enter it as He has led us home, faithfully and without losing any of His sheep through all the days of our life.
Psalm 27: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”
This Psalm is your life through Christ, friends. It is much more than a death-bed comfort… it is a life-long sustainer of our faith in the One who will do these things… why? Because He is my Shepherd, He is your shepherd and He is faithful to guard His flock.
Let me close with this, Familiarity can kill awe… or it can stir comfort and rest. Brothers and sisters… find comfort here in this Psalm and find rest in the Good Shepherd.
The writer of Hebrews knew this well… “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:14-16)
To close, let’s stand and recite this renewed version of Psalm 23 together:
The LORD my shepherd rules my life and gives me all I need.
He leads me by refreshing streams; in pastures green I feed.
The Lord revives my failing strength, He makes my joy complete;
and in right paths, for His name’s sake, he guides my faltering feet.
Though in a valley dark as death, no evil makes me fear;
Your shepherd’s staff protects my way, for you are with me there.
While all my enemies look on you spread a royal feast;
You fill my cup, anoint my head, and treat me as your guest.
Your goodness and your gracious love pursue me all my days;
Your house, O Lord, shall be my home – Your name my endless praise.
[C. Idle, “The Lord My Shepherd Rules My Life”]
Yes and Amen.
Let’s Pray.