Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, "The more deeply we grow into the psalms and the more often we pray them as our own, the more simple and rich will our prayer become." Join us as we spend the next few weeks of the summer growing into the Psalms and enriching our conversations with God.
Psalm 23
Speakers
Josh Blount
Lead Pastor
Worship
Notes
First Time Guest? Let us know!
Psalm 23:1-6 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.
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd;
Sheep need a shepherd!
Everybody has a shepherd!
The only shepherd worth following is the Lord.
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Our deepest needs, wants, and desires can only be met and satisfied if “the Lord” is our shepherd.
Choose to make the Lord your shepherd!
Making the Lord your shepherd means entrusting and surrendering your life to His care and guidance.
Psalm 23:2 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.
Who’s your shepherd?
Psalm 23:4 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.
Life is not sustained on the mountaintop
Sometimes, the darkest valleys are pathways to the greenest pastures.
Hebrews 13:5 Be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not [under any circumstances] in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]
Psalm 23:4 your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
The power of my shepherd is available to protect me
When our heads are down, focused only on the world around us, and stubbornly looking at the shadows, we all struggle to follow God.
Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
What are you focused on?
If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God you'll be at rest.
Corrie Ten Boom
Psalm 23:5 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.
Our Shepherd is so much greater than our enemies that we can dine, celebrate, and live without fear.
Romans 8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us?
Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The brown is temporary!
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.