Summer Psalms - Week 8 Psalm 23
Big Idea - The Lord is the good shepherd and He loves, protects, guides, and cares for His flock through any and all seasons.

Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time:
▪Bob Dylan: “Like a Rolling Stone.”
▪The Rolling Stones: “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
▪John Lennon: “Imagine.”
▪Marvin Gaye: “What’s Goin’ On.”
▪Aretha Franklin: “Respect.”

The most sung song of all time is Happy Birthday
And the most loved song of all times is Psalm 23.

Psalm 23 - A Psalm of David.
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
1st “I shall not want”
3rd “He makes/leads”
3rd “He restores/leads”
1st “I walk/I will not fear”
2nd “You/Your”
2nd “You prepare/anoint”
1st “I will dwell”

Westerners think like individuals. We think, “me, my, and I.”

Easterners think like a community. They think, “We, ours, and us.”

1. Sheep
David writes this psalm from the perspective of a sheep.

-Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

- Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

The shepherd has to plan his daily schedule around the availability of water in the middle of the day.

“beside stilled waters.”

-Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

“He brings me back.”

“This makes clear that the sheep is lost and the good shepherd is obliged to go after it, find it, and carry it back.”
~ The Good Shepherd - Ken Bailey

“Shepherds in the Holy Land have told me that once a sheep knows that it is lost, it tries to hide under a bush or rock and begins quivering and bleating. The shepherd must locate it quickly lest it is heard and killed by a wild animal. On being found, it’s usually too traumatized to walk and must be carried back to the flock or village.” ~ The Good Shepherd - Ken Bailey

Good shepherds are:
-never lose a sheep.
-always bring back their lost ones.

- Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

“Valleys of the shadow of death are paths which wind in between mountains where there are dark shadows and deep gorges. Travelers march slowly and silently in order to avoid being seen or heard by bandits. The fear of death is constantly on their minds. They tremble, they expect trouble or death at any time while they are passing through. ~ Shepherd of All, George Lamsa

Sheep have a special problem: they have no defenses.

- Psalm 23:4 “I will fear no evil…for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.“

The sheep’s defense, and offense… is the shepherd!

-Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

2. Host & Table
3. Anointing
4. Overflowing Cup

David is saying, “I’m never going to complain again!

With my God: It’s alway…
...an overflowing cup.
…the best robe.
…the fattened calf.
…joy unspeakable!

As David thinks about how God has always cared for him, he thinks about the future and proclaims:

-Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

They follow me all the days of my life. I am never without them.
goodness =Tov
mercy = hesed

If the Lord is your shepherd, you are known, loved, prepared for, and cared for.
And you have satisfaction, every day, and forever.

-Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Who is your shepherd?