Psalm 23
NKJV Ref. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 W. Phillip Keller,
(all quotes are credited to the author)
“1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me on the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 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 will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
1834 – 1892 (age 57), British Baptist preacher
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
(A sermon delivered on Tuesday, October 16th, 1866, London, England)
“I like to recall the fact that this Psalm was written by David, probably when he was a king. He had been a shepherd, and he was not ashamed of his former occupation. When he had to wear a crown, he remembered the time when he had handled the shepherd’s crook, and as a lad, with his sling and stone, had kept watch over his father’s sheep in the wilderness…”
I shall not want.
1. Not lacking, not deficient, relatively content
2. Centered in the Good Shepherd’s care, not desiring anything more, trusting in Him
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters;
Sheep are helpless, feeble creatures whose only recourse is to run. They are timid and refuse to lie down unless they are:
- Free of all ________
- Free from friction of _______ _______
- Free from ________ or _________
- Free from ________
2 Timothy1:7, Psalm4:8
3 He restores my soul;
“In studying this Psalm, it must be remembered that it is a sheep in the Good Shepherd’s care who is speaking. It is essentially a Christian’s claim of belonging in the family of God.”
What is a “cast” sheep?
A sheep turned over on its back and cannot get back up. Why?
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How does being a cast sheep relate to me?
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He leads me on the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Isaiah53:6, John14:6
Fresh attitudes must be required, for our benefit and the benefit of those around us:
1. Instead of loving myself most, I am willing to love Christ best and others more than myself.
2. Instead of being one of the crowd, I am willing to be apart from the gang.
3. Instead of insisting on my rights, I am willing to forego them in favor of others.
4. Instead of being boss, I am willing to be at the bottom of the heap. (instead of being top ram, I am willing to be a tail ender)
5. Instead of finding fault with life and always asking “Why?” I am willing to accept every circumstance of life in an attitude of gratitude.
6. Instead of exercising and asserting my will, I am willing to learn and cooperate with His wishes and comply with His will.
7. Instead of choosing my own way, I am willing to choose to follow in Christ’s way: simply to do what He asks me to do.
4 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.
Shepherds move their sheep to higher ground in summer for grazing and back home, through the valleys toward winter. They navigate rushing rivers, predators, and remote mountains.
A shepherd’s rod was a weapon, showing power and authority as well as defense. It was a comfort for him. It was used to count and guide the sheep.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
The best sheep country in the world, wester U.S. and southern Europe are called “mesas,” the Spanish word for “tables”
Our Good Shepherd wants to defend me, if I have the sense to stay near Him and let Him protect me. I need to read His Word daily and let Him walk beside me.
You anoint my head with oil; My cup overflows.
“Olive oil was the shepherd’s great secret
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
“He looks on my life with tenderness. He loves me deeply. He sees the long years during which His goodness and mercy have followed me without slacking. He longs to see some measure of that same goodness and mercy not only passed on to others by me, but also passed back to Him with joy. He longs for love – my love. And I love Him – only because He first loved me. Then He is satisfied.” (p. 163)