The Lord is My Shepherd—That’s Enough (Part 2)

Posted on: November 22, 2024

A Study of Psalm 23

Introduction 

Scripture: Psalm 23 (ESV)

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. 

Background

  • The Relationship of Psalm 22, 23, and 24
  • The background: Genesis 37
  • The Theme: Psalm 23:1: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want

1. Home Base (verses 2-3): He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul.

  • Security
  • Contentment
  • Our source: The Shepherd’s Pastures – Reading and meditating 
  • He restores my soul – Psalm 42 – From sin, stress, sorrow

2. The Journey (verse 3): He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

  • Righteous paths
  • Right paths
  • Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
  • How?
    • Scripturally
    • Situationally
    • Sensibly
    • Steadfastly

3. The Valley (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.

  • “Yea…. Yes…. Even…”
  • Wadi Kelt – The Old Jericho Road
  • Change of Pronoun
  • Marvin Schmidt
  • “Through”
  • Allen Emery

4. The Tableland (verse 5): You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

  • Our enemies
  • Oil
  • Overflowing trough

5. The Road Home (verse 6): Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.

  • Goodness and Mercy
  • Follow – “to chase” 

6. The Father’s House (verse 6): …and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

  • John 14
  • Revelation 21 – 22