THE
SHEPHERD PSALM
(23rd
Psalm)
David
grew up as a shepherd boy, keeping his father's sheep.
When
Samuel came to Jesse to find God's choice for Israel's king, after 7 sons
were passed over, David was the one He chose.
1
Sam. 16:11 "And
Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all
the young men here?' Then he
said,
'There remains yet the youngest, and
there he is,
keeping the sheep.' And
Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send and
bring him. For we will not sit down till
he comes here.'
"
Before
David faced Goliath, he had to convince king Saul of his faith &
his bravery
& ability based on his experience as a shepherd.
1
Sam. 17:33-40 David took the weapons of a
shepherd and faced Goliath.
David
also proved himself as an able musician on his harp.
1
Sam. 16:14-18 David was a skillful player on
the harp.
The
final words of David are introduced by this description of him:
2
Sam. 23:1 "Now
these are the last words of David.
Thus says David the son of
Jesse;
Thus says the man raised up on high,
The anointed
of the God of Jacob, And
the
sweet psalmist of Israel:
The
shepherd psalm
-
vs.1 "The
Lord is my Shepherd..."
Heb.
13:20-21 "Now
may the God of peace who
brought up our Lord Jesus from the
dead, the
great Shepherd of the
sheep,
through the blood of the
everlasting covenant, (21) make
you
complete in every good work to do
His will, working in
you what is well
pleasing in His sight, through Jesus
Christ, to whom be glory forever and
ever. Amen."
Jn.
10:1-5 As the Lord's sheep, we recognize His
voice & follow Him.
vs.
1 "...I shall not want."
Mt.
6:25-ff Do not worry, the Lord will provide.
Paul
said,
Phil.
4:19 "And
my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in
glory by Christ
Jesus."
vs.
2 "He makes me to lie down in green
pastures;" - of tender grass
To
recline in comfort & contentment
amidst abundance.
Eph.
3:14-ff The abundance of God's gifts are
beyond our thinking.
vs.
2 "...He leads me beside the still
waters." -
cf. troubled
waters
- peace
Phil.
4:6-7 "Be
anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication,
with
thanksgiving, let your requests be made
known to God;
(7) and the peace of
God, which surpasses all
understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus."
vs.
3 "He restores my soul;" - to nourish with
food of the
pasture
vs.
3 "...He leads me in the paths of
righteousness for His name's
sake."
He
won't lead us astray - because of His reputation.
Jn.
14:1-6 Jesus went to prepare a place for us &
told us how to
get there.
Prov.
14:12 "There
is a way that seems right to a
man, but its end is the way of
death."
Isaiah
foretold of God's mercy on the Gentiles to lead them:
Isa.
42:16 "I
will bring the blind by a way they did
not know; I will lead them in
paths they
have not known. I will make darkness
light
before them, and crooked places
straight. These things I
will do for them,
and not forsake them."
vs.
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."
1
Thess. 4:13-18 Our hope & comfort - Meeting
Christ in the air
vs.
5 "You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies;"
Consider
the glory that awaits around His heavenly table.
Lk.
12:37 (Jesus)
"Blessed are those servants
whom the master, when he
comes, will find watching.
Assuredly, I say to you that
he
will gird himself and have them
sit down to eat, and
will come
and serve them."
vs.
5 "...You anoint my head with oil; - Kings
anointed - chosen
- medicinal
Mt.
26:6-13 A woman anointed Jesus with costly
fragrant oil.
vs.
5 "...My cup runs over." - Abundantly
satisfied - Full
measure
Lk.
6:38 (Jesus)
"Give, and it will be given to you
good measure, pressed
down,
shaken together, and running over
will be put into
your bosom. For
with the same measure that you
use, it
will be measured back to
you."
vs.
6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow
me all the days of my life;
On
the heels of adversity, goodness & mercy is near to follow.
Rom.
8:18-32 In the midst of trial is hope - and
good follows.
vs.
6 "...and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever."
Rev.
22:1-5 In the presence of God forever.