The Twenty-Third: My Shepherd

Where are you?

Physically

Spiritually

Emotionally

Directionally

Relationally

Psalms 23 meets every one of your .

Ps. 23 meets your every need, our physical, spiritual, emotional, directional, relational, and eternal needs.

Psalm of David

• David was a of sheep when He was young.
• David is writing this as a king the people of Israel
• David is also saying that He is one of The Shepherd’s

A shepherd in scripture we see is referenced as one who…

1.
2. Provides
3.  
4. Never Leaves 

So David starts this Psalm with these beautiful words:
The LORD is My Shepherd,…

Jesus: “I Am The Good Shepherd”

But who was this Christ? Our view of Him is often too small—too cramped—too provincial—too human. And because it is, we feel unwilling to allow Him to have authority or control—much less outright ownership of our lives.

Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

Colossians 1:15-17 (New International Version)
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

As your Pastor, one of my biggest desires is for you to God.

So if the Lord is my Shepherd, I should know something of His character and understand something of His ability.
Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

LORD:

Def: “I am the one who is” (Dictionary.com) or, more simply, “I am.”

or

God was, God is, and God will always be.

Jehovah also appears as the root of several compound names that declare God’s goodness to His people.

• Jehovah-Elohim, the LORD who made the earth and the heavens (Genesis 2:4)
• Jehovah-Jireh, the LORD who provides (Genesis 22:14)
• Jehovah-Rapha, the LORD who heals (Exodus 15:26)
• Jehovah-Nissi, the LORD the Victor (Exodus 17:15)
• Jehovah-Shalom, the LORD sends peace (Judges 6:24)
• Jehovah-Shama, the LORD the indweller (Ezekiel 48:35)

is everything!

The LORD is My Shepherd,…

Matthew 9:35-37 (NIV)
The Workers Are Few
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Like sheep a shepherd.

Isaiah 53:3-7
New International Version
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.

John 10:11
New International Version
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Perspective Change starts with understanding…

1. The paid for my life.

In a very real and vital sense, I truly belong to Him simply because He has bought me again at the incredible price of His own laid-down life and shed blood. Therefore, He was entitled to say, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” .
Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 

He literally lays Himself out for us continually. He is ever interceding for us; He is ever guiding us by His gracious Spirit; He is ever working on our behalf to ensure that we will benefit from His care.
Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

2. I to Him.

Have you decided to Jesus (The Good Shepherd)?

Mark 8:34 (New International Version)
…“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me

Basically, what it amounts to is this: A person exchanges the fickle fortunes of living life by sheer whimsy for the more productive and satisfying adventure of being guided by God.
Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

Here is the truth… You cannot have it ways!

Do I really belong to Him?
Do I really recognize His right to me?
Do I respond to His authority and acknowledge His ownership?
Do I find freedom and complete fulfillment in this arrangement?
Do I sense a purpose and deep contentment because I am under His direction?
Do I know rest and repose, besides a definite sense of exciting adventure, in belonging to Him?

Can you confidently place our lives in God’s capable hands?

Our Good Shepherd meets every one of our need because He is “.”