'' SHEPHERD MEO ' LORD ''
Pastor Dr . Carlton D . Jones , Gateway to Heaven Christian Church , Inc .
No one knows when David wrote the 23 Psalm . David was probably looking back on his life , as a shepherd boy ; or his transition to be the King of Israel ; or his vision of the future when he will dwell in the house of the Lord , forever . David was a man after God ' s own heart , even though he had many strengths and accomplishments , weaknesses and mistakes , or his many lessons in his life ; David remained humble and submissive to God .
David only failed when he withdrew from God and did it his way . I believe that this Psalm is for each of us because David was just an ordinary boy who God made extraordinary man and put his name into the Lambs book of Life the Holy Bible .
The 23 Psalm is short enough that most Jews and Christians have memorized it . It reminds us , of our own journey through life and our goal to transition from mortality to immortality . The question that I would like for , you to explore with me ; is do we want to dwell in the valley ( the low points of life ) or do we want to climb up to the mountain top of life and dwell in the house of the Lord forever ?
The text : Nelson ' s NKJV Study Bible 23 Psalm " The Lord is my Shepherd ; I shall not want . He makes me to lie down in green pastures ; He leads me beside the still waters . He restores my soul ; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name ' s sake . Yea , 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 runs over . Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life ; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever ."
The Psalm starts out with acknowledging " The Lord is my Shepherd ; I shall not want ."
God is our Shepherd , and we shall not want , because He will supply all our needs , whether it is in this world or the next . The scripture did not say we should not want but a declarative , we shall , not want . David is describing the nature of sheep in this psalm and how we are , represented throughout the Old and New Testament with the nature of sheep .
Pastor Dr . Carlton D . Jones Gateway to Heaven Christian Church Jacksonville , Florida August 2013
" He makes me to lie down in green pastures ; He leads me beside the still waters ."
Sheep will not lie down unless they feel secure , we can relate . Think about the meanest person you know and how before they go to sleep , they will make sure they are safe and secure . God supplies the sheep with still waters to calm them enough so that they can go to sleep . I pray to God before I go to sleep which calms my mind and I know I can release whatever is burdening me . We have to learn to release whatever is troubling us to God and trust Him to calm our situations .
" He restores my soul ; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name ' s sake ."
God refreshes us with His quiet voice and gentle touch by the aid of the Holy Spirit . We know the Spirit of the Shepherds voice ; John 10 : 14-16 " I am the Good Shepherd and I know My sheep and am known by My own . As the Father knows Me , even so , I know the Father , and I lay down My life for the sheep . And other sheep I have which are not of this field , them also I must bring , and they will hear My voice ; and there will be one flock and One Shepherd ." This scripture is a prophecy of the sheep that are not of the Jewish pasture but that of the Gentile pasture and that through Salvation of the Gentiles and the formation of the Church , in which Jews and Gentiles would form the spiritual body of One Flock . One Church formed based on the body of Christ .
" Yea , 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 ."
We will all experience some valley experiences in life , whether it is sickness , trials or tribulations ; hardships or even facing our own mortality . Whatever it is , we can depend on God as the Good Shepherd to lead us through that difficult valley experience . " God You are with me . Your rod and Your staff will protect me ; you will guide me and comfort me ."
" You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies ; You anoint my head with oil ; My cup runs over ."
God will prepare a banquet even in the presence of our enemies , and anoint my head with oil . We should always ask God for an anointing which represents our humble spirit and that we cannot do anything without Him . There is no power in the oil , but the belief that God has ordained it , and we have humbly submitted to His will . My cup runs over is the abundant provision that God has blessed us to receive . David was saying that he did not have do drink what was in the cup , but could live from what flowed over the cup . I have to believe that David exercised the formula of tithing and that God blessed David so much that his cup overflowed not only to meet his needs but that of the kingdom of Israel .
" Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life ; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever ."
The use of both goodness and mercy to describe God ' s loyal love intensifies the meaning of the two words . Verse 5 reflects God ' s over-abundant mercy and love that we do not deserved . The Hebrew verb follow describes an animal in pursuit . When the Lord is our Shepherd , instead of being stalked by wild beasts , we are pursued by the loving care of the Lord . The house of the Lord forever ; is God ' s promise for the Israelites , not just for the enjoyment of this life in the land of promise ; it was also for the full enjoyment of the life to come in His blessed presence . And , with the prophecy of the One Flock that includes the Gentiles . You and I .
God does not want us to stay in the valley , but go through the valleys of this world and rise to stand on the mountain top with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son and the Power of the Holy Spirit . God is our Good Shepherd who will guide us through the valley ; remember this message and the 23 Psalm when you are going through your valley experience .
We are more than conquers through Christ Jesus ; and no weapons formed against us shall prosper ; and we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us ; even through our darkest days , He will deliver us through to the marvelous light . Amen , Amen , Amen .