THE SHEPHERD IN 3D
Psalm 23
I. Introduction
A. What the opening of the rosebud is among the flowers of the garden, that is this Psalm among the writings of David
1. This Psalm is the choicest chord on the harp of Israel's sweetest singer.
2. It is the prime jewel of David's royal treasury
1. "It has charmed more griefs to rest than all the philosophy of the world.
2. It has sung courage to an army of disappointed people.
a. It has poured balm and consolation into the hearts of the sick; it HS ministered calm to the widow in her time of grief and it has comforted orphans in their loneliness.
b. And it's work is not yet done. It will go on singing to your children and mine through all the generations of time."
C. Oh that we might learn and prove the secret of this Psalm.
1. Let's look again at this Psalm and capture in our imagination the main idea, namely the Shepherd character of Jehovah.
2. We will consider it under two aspects;
a. The Divine
b. The human
II. The Divine Aspect of the Psalm
A. The 23rd Psalm conveys a unique message about our heavenly Shepherd by its very position in the Bible
1. Psalm 22 through 24 are kind of a unity in Trinity.
a. Psalm 22 is all about the suffering Savior: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? They pierced My hands and My feet. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon My vesture. Thou hast brought me to the dust of death."
b. Psalm 23 is the Psalm of the living Shepherd: Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."
c. Psalm 24 is the Psalm of the exalted King: "Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."
2 In Psalm 22 the dying One is our Savior
In Psalm 23 the living One is our Shepherd.
In Psalm 24 the exalted One is our Sovereign
2. We have in these Psalms - the cross, the crook and the crown.
B. Note the main concept in the 23rd Psalm -
The Lord is my Shepherd
1. The Word Lord is capitalized to indicate the Hebrew word - Jehovah
2. Jehovah was the incommunicable name of God. It was only spoken once a year and then by the High Priest when he went into the Holy of Holies.
3. Reading through the Old Testament we find certain words and ideas attached to the name "Jehovah:.
a. There are seven such instances:
*Jehovah-jireh ... "The Lord will provide" (Gen. 22:13-14)
*Jehovah-rapha ... "The Lord that healeth" (Ex. 15:26)
*Jehovah-shalom ... "The Lord our peace" (Judges 6:24)
*Jehovah-tsidkenu ... "The Lord our righteousness" (Jer. 23:6)
*Jehovah-shammah ... "The Lord ever present (Ez. 48:35)
*Jehovah-Nisei ... "The Lord our banner" (Ex. 17:8-15)
*Jehovah-Ra.-ah ... "The Lord my shepherd" (Ps. 23:1)
b. Jehovah is distinctly the redemption name of Deity and those seven compound names of Jehovah meet every need of man.
c. I cannot think of one need of humanity that is not here.
d. Provides healing, peace, righteousness, His presence, protection and shepherd
e. It is extremely interesting to me to note that all seven of those wonderful provisions indicated in those names of Jehovah are gathered up into the 23rd Psalm.
4 *Jehovah-jireh (The Lord will provide) - "I shall not want" (literally "I shall lack nothing").
*Jehovah-rapha (The Lord that healeth) - "He restoreth my soul."
*Jehovah-shalom (The Lord our peace) - "He leadeth me beside the still waters."
*Jehovah-tsidkenu (The Lord our righteousness) "He leadeth me in the path of righteousness."
*Jehovah-shammah (The Lord ever present) "I will fear no evil for Thou art with me."
*Jehovah-Nisei (The Lord our banner) "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies."
*Jehovah-Ra.-ah (The Lord my shepherd) "The Lord is my Shepherd."
5. Maybe it is this which gives this Psalm it's incomparable appeal.
a. What a comforting personal application we can make.
b. It Jehovah is my Shepherd, I can say without presumption
c. I shall not want - literally, I shall not lack anything that I truly need.
6. The idea of not lacking is inferred throughout the entire Psalm
a. He make me to lie down in green pastures - so I shall not lack provision
b. He leadeth me beside the still waters - I shall not lack peace
c. He restoreth my soul - I shall not lack restoration if I fail
d. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness - I shall not lack for guidance
e. Though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil - I shall not lack for courage in the darkest hour
f. For thou art with me - I shall never lack for His dear presence
g. Thy rod and staff comfort me - I shall not lack true comfort
h. Thou preparest a table for me in the presence of my enemies - I shall not lack for preservation and protection
i. Thou annointest mine head with oil - I shall not lack for joy
j. My cup runneth over - I shall not lack for blessing
k. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever - I shall not lack a heavenly home.
l. Like the little girl in Sunday School, we can all say, "The Lord is my Shepherd, that's all I want."
III. The Human Aspect of the Psalm
A. The words are the language of a man - the expression of a human heart.
1. In the Bible, the human and the divine are so beautifully blended, they become inseparable.
2. It was not just by the pens or lips of these men that god spoke, but by the men themselves
a. No wonder Peter said, "Holy men of God spoke s they were moved by the Holy Spirit."
b. The Divine in breathing is there but the human vehicle gives the complexion of his own personality and experience.
3. The Lord is my Shepherd - that is the language of ripe experience
a. David had been through dark valleys, he had been guided, and he had experienced the comforting grace of God.
b. There is no knowledge of God so convincing as that which is born of a first hand experience.
B. The Lord is my Shepherd - this the language of humble confession
1. In acknowledging the Lord as his Shepherd, David takes the place of a sheep
a. In that act he is acknowledging his ignorance and need for teaching
b. He is confessing his proneness to wander and his need for guidance.
2. This is the position we too must take if we are going to say in truth - the Lord is my Shepherd.
C. The Lord is my Shepherd - this is the language of Appropriating Faith
1. It is the pronoun that make the statement the more precious. The Lord is MY Shepherd
2. Elsewhere God is revealed as Shepherd to His people in general
a. Here David, with an appropriating faith, makes it personal and individual - MY Shepherd
b. All of life becomes different when we learn to say from the heart, "Jesus is my Shepherd".
c. His not just the Savior by my Savior.
IV. Illustration
A. Years ago at a fashionable gathering in the West End of London, a noted actor and an aged clergyman were present. Someone suggested that the gifted actor should recite the 23rd Psalm to which the actor obligingly responded.
1. With mellifluous voice, he so artistically rendered the Psalm that his hearers were mentally transported to the shepherd scenes of the Orient; and when he finished there was much applause.
2. It was then insisted that the aged minister also should recite the Psalm. Reluctant, under the spell of the actor's elocution, the minister held back but finally yielded to pressure.
a. Certainly there was little of the actor's flawless elocution; but there was something else which brought an atmosphere of strange quiet into the room.
b. It was quite evident, as the aged man proceeded, that he was not so much describing a scene as voicing an experience; and when he sat down there was an impressive silence.
3. The actor then got up and said words like these, "My friends, we have been most impressed. Our old friend has been speaking to our hearts. You see the difference between himself and myself is this: I know the Psalm; he knows the Shepherd."
B. What about your? Which do you know, the Psalm or the Shepherd?