The Shepherd Psalms

We have taken time to consider two of the Shepherd Psalms.  Psalm 22 presented Jesus as the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (John 10:10, 11).  Psalm 23 presents Jesus as the Great Shepherd who cares for His sheep (Heb 13:20, 21).  We now come to the last of this group, Psalm […]

…and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:6b) We have been looking at Psalm 23 for two months now, and we finally come to consider the grand concluding phrase. Let’s remember that this psalm describes the events in a full year in the life of a sheep, told from the

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…. (Psalm 23:6a) We come now to the last verse of this most blessed psalm.  We are going to look today at the first phrase in that verse.  It all began with The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want, and has

You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. (Psalm 23:5b) We are reminded that this psalm describes the events in a full year in the life of a sheep, told from the perspective of the shepherd.  Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd, who gave His life for the sheep.  He supplies every need

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. (Psalm 23:5a) In the first three verses the sheep are seen on the home range.  Verse 4 describes the journey the sheep take up to the mountain range for summer grazing.  Our verse today tells of what the shepherd had already done in

Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4b) Last week we focused our attention on the rod of the Shepherd.  This strong piece of wood is used by the loving Shepherd for protection, correction and examination.  It is a very good picture of the Word of God.  Every believer should be thankful for

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (Psalm 23:4b) What have we learned so far?  The first verse, The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want, is the key verse.  The rest of the psalm explains how the Lord provides for His sheep. In the home pasture there is plenty (1-3).  In the

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. (Psalm 23:4a) We have a longer text to look at today; the first part of v. 4. The sheep have been on the home range, where their kind shepherd has provided all the

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake (Psalm 23:3b) The first verse of Psalm 23 is the key verse, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  As David looked back over his life, he realized how the Lord had patiently and adequately led him.  The rest of the

He restores my soul. (Psalm 23:3a) Sometimes a sheep is on the ground and it cannot get up by itself—it is ‘cast.’  This is an old English word for a sheep lying on its back and unable to get up.  If it remains there long enough, it will die.  It is helpless and vulnerable to