The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
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.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23
The Shepherd…
•
is the Lord Jesus Christ (John 10)
“He who does not disdain to stoop so low for our sake, must bear a singularly strong affection towards us…But it should be observed, that God is a shepherd only to those who, touched with a sense of their own weakness and poverty, feel their need of his protection, and who willingly abide in his sheepfold, and surrender themselves to be governed by him.” Calvin’s Commentaries, Psalm 23
.
…leads in the wild (2-3)
•
to rest
•
in righteousness
…comforts in the dark (4)
•
with his presence
• with his rod, and his staff (!!!)
“I am afraid that all the grace that I have got of my comfortable and easy times and happy hours, might almost lie on a penny. But the good that I have received from my sorrows, and pains, and griefs, is altogether incalculable… Affliction is the best bit of furniture in my house. It is the best book in a minister’s library.” Charles Spurgeon
…blesses in the battle (5)
•
in the presence of enemies
• with overwhelming abundance
“I’ve found scores of men and women who have had similar moments of terror at looking behind the veil of their own temptations…there is something wild out there, and something wild in here.” Russell Moore, Tempted and Tried
…until he leads us safely home (6).
QUESTIONS:
1. Why is the wilderness setting significant for understanding Psalm 23? What does it tell us about the way in which God leads, comforts, and provides?
2.
What are ways in which you have doubted the Lord’s leadership, presence, or provision for you? Have there been any specific things that have happened to shake your confidence in his goodness towards you?
3. How do we experience the Lord’s leadership, comfort and provision when we can’t see/feel it? How will you seek to experience his provision for you this week?
4.
What is one thing you would change or do this week if you were fully confident that you will not lack? What is your first step towards change?