The health of the sheep fundamentally and inevitably depends upon the care of the Shepherd. If ours cares for us, what wants shall we have?…There is great joy in calling Christ our shepherd, for: The Lord’s character and activity also determine my needs. Acting in accord with that leads to a sheepish (but not embarrassed) contentment, so needed by so many today.
The 23rd Psalm, dubbed “the nightengale of Psalms” by Charles Spurgeon is the favorite of many—and for good reason. In many seasons of life it guides and comforts. It calls for resting contentment because our Lord is such a perfect Shepherd.
I. The main theme of this Psalm is as simple as this: God gives; we receive and respond.The Christian life at its base is responding to our Shepherd, not so much lobbying him to change his mind and give us something different.
The opening verse asserts that the Lord is metaphorically our Shepherd in v. 1a; the rest of the inspired song is application. The rule is as simple as this poetry suggests: The Lord is my shepherd—in all ways, in all cases. We learn from this, no matter what season of life:
a.Contentment is the goal.
b. God delivers contentment.
c. The New Testament continues this focus on contentment
Spurgeon commented: “A man may be ever so wealthy, but if he is discontented his cup cannot run over; it is cracked and leaks. Content[ment] is the philosopher’s stone which turns all it touches into gold; happy is he who has found it. Content[ment] is more than a kingdom.”
Do you wish to be free from the haunt of want? Follow the Lord as your shepherd. Next, observe:
II. What the Shepherd-Lord Does. The active verbs of vss 2-3 make clear what our Shepherd does, as he:
a. Makes me rest
b. Leads
c. Restores
d. Guides
e. Restores souls
f. Accompanies through death’s valleys
III. Thirdly, we can learn from this beautiful poem, how to respond to these Shepherd-Lord Provisions, namely:
a. No Fear—2 Tim. 1:8
b. Sense of presence
c. Comfort of correction
d. Enjoy the provisions and just follow. Just follow.
The Latin for “sheep” is oves. The shepherd’s rod has three purposes according to Scripture:
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