C – GEMS FROM PSALMS – 3
Ps.23:1 This psalm is one
of the best known and loved of the psalms.
It gives hope and comfort to many and well it should. The Lord is my shepherd. Who could be a better and more trusted
shepherd than my Lord? The Lord is all-powerful
(omnipotent) and all-knowing (omniscience).
God knows our needs even before we ask.
Phil.4:19 He is able to protect and provide in
times of trouble and temptation. Ps.84:11,12 We can trust God to lead us in the right
way.
The Lord IS my shepherd. The Lord is not only presently my
shepherd but will continue to be my shepherd in time to come. As long as I willingly follow Him, He will
lead me. He is everywhere at all times
(omnipresent). There is no waiting for
God to hear me for He knows when I am in trouble. God is there.
Ps.139:1,2; Prov.15:3 God fills the earth. Jer.23:24 No better shepherd could ever be found.
The Lord is MY shepherd. This is personal. He cares for me as an individual. Eph.2:4 When we read “us” we don’t stop to take
into consideration that I am
included in “us”. The
same is true in Rev.1:5. The Lord shed His blood for me and loves me and will be my
shepherd to lead and protect me.
The Lord is my shepherd. David, probably the author of this psalm, was
a shepherd. He knew the responsibility
that belonged to a shepherd. Each
shepherd had his own call for his sheep.
The sheep of two shepherds could be intermingled but when one shepherd
called his sheep, his own sheep separated from the others and followed their
shepherd. Jhn.10:3-5 How well do we
know the voice of our shepherd? It comes
through His Word.
We have only one shepherd. Jhn.10:11 The real shepherd will protect his sheep
while one who is just a servant will face a beast who would kill the sheep and
then run away. Jhn.10:12,13 We want to be
sure we are following the right shepherd.
Our shepherd is Jesus and His Word.
Matt.7:15; Acts 20:29
Sheep are helpless
creatures. The shepherd is their
protector. Isa.53:6; Rom.3:10 We have all
strayed to our own way; but we have a shepherd that is fully aware of our
weakness and He wants us to return to Him.
Ps.119:176 Jesus spoke of the lost lamb—just one out of
a hundred—and yet He found that one that was lost. We are important to our shepherd—every one of
us. Lk.15:4-6 Heaven contains thousands of angels and
yet when just one comes to Jesus, they all rejoice. Lk.15:7 The tenderness of our shepherd is shown
in Isa.40:11. The shepherds of the people of Israel had not
kept their responsibility. Ezek.34:4-6 We know our shepherd, Jesus Christ, will
be trustworthy and care for us in every way.
I shall not want. We have
the assurance that our needs will be met.
Ps.34:9,10 God will keep His part of the promise
but we have our part—seek Him first. Matt.6:33
We can put our troubles in the lap of our shepherd and not suffer
worry and anxiety. Phil.4:6,7 Our shepherd
will love us, protect us, provide for us, and guide us. 2
Cor.9:8
Ps.23:2 The good shepherd
provides rest and comfort. Sometimes in
our frustrations of life, we have the feeling of Ps.55:6. Oh, that I had the wings of a dove! I would
fly away and be at rest. With Jesus as our shepherd, we can put
our trust in Him and find that rest. Matt.11:28
The unfailing love of our
shepherd is our comfort. Ps.86:5
We are abundantly comforted so that we in turn may comfort
others. 2 Cor.1:3-5
Jesus, our good shepherd, leads
us to the place we should go. However,
we must follow. Matt.10:38,39 Without our
shepherd leading us, we would not know the way.
We may think we know and have confidence in our way, but it is a
probability that we would be lost. It is
humbling to follow but following Jesus is not an alternative. 1
Pet.2:21
Ps.23:3 Do you ever feel
that your soul is dry and unresponsive?
David has an answer in Ps.19:7. Too often when this feeling comes over
us, we are failing to be fed by the Word of God and our fellowship with our
shepherd. When our spiritual strength
is restored, then we have the vigor to follow our shepherd in the paths that
are right. Without our guide, we
flounder as a blind man. Isa.42:16
Occasions of suffering or trouble have occurred that God allowed so
that His glory would be seen. God
allowed many problems to come to Job to show His glory. Paul was not cured of his problem but the
Lord told him, My grace is sufficient for
you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
Jesus did not go to Lazarus immediately when he was dying for the
glory of the Lord was to be evident to the people as Jesus brought him back to
life. Jhn.11:14,15 The path of
righteousness may include problems. Jam.1:2,3
We are strengthened by them and it is all to the glory of God.
Ps.23:4 At some point in
life we will all face death and sorrow.
We will witness pain and sorrow with those we love and eventually we,
ourselves, will face death unless Jesus returns first. Our Lord has given us assurance and hope if
we follow our shepherd. Jhn.10:27,28: Isa.41:10 “Rod” was used in many ways in the Bible
but for a shepherd it was a fairly short and thick piece of a limb to lean on
or use as a weapon against enemies of the sheep. A “staff” was longer with a crook at one end
which would enable a shepherd to put around a lamb to rescue it. At times the two words were used
interchangeably. In either instance the
rod and staff were symbols of protection.
Ps.23:5 The picture changes
from the shepherd and his sheep to a host of a banqueting table. The Lord provides in a way that is greater
than sufficient. Ps.31:19 The Lord wants us
to have an abundant life. Jhn.10:10
Oil poured on the head was a favor done to a special guest. Lk.7:46 The cup running over was a sign of
abundance.
Ps.23:6 God is so
good! Ps.36:7-10; 2 Tim.4:18 The
desire of a true follower of Christ is to dwell in His house (His presence)
forever. Ps.27:4
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