"I shall not want"

Psalms 23

Imagine a great and powerful king sitting on his throne listening to the affairs of state when his mind starts to wander back to a time when he was a young man.

a. He sees a rippling brook, green pastures…

b. Quote Psalms 23

There is no end to the exclamations of the greatness of the 23rd Psalm.

c. Beautiful in its poetry, beat, meter, and its choice of words.

d. It is lovely in its piety, truth and spirituality.

Untold numbers of people have been calmed by Psalm 23

e. Mourners have found solace for their grief.

f. Fainthearted souls have found strength.

g. The ill, the poor, and the lonely – all have been help by Psalm 23.

But it is really more than just a Psalm of comfort.

h. It is a pattern of thinking; and when a mind becomes saturated with it, a new way of thinking and a new life are the result.

i. It is only 118 words but its power lies in the fact that it represents a positive, hopeful, faithful approach to life.

Notice the first 9 words:

j. "The Lord"

· The one who is all faithful, never failing in His promises; almighty, all-powerful.

· The one who created the heavens and the earth, who spoke and it was done, who upholds all things by the word of His power.

· The one whom Job said, "I know that Thou canst do all things."

· The one who can supply all my needs HE is my Shepard!

k. "My"

· The sweetest word of the whole is that monosyllable.

· He cares for me, watches over me and preserves me (present tense).

l. Shepard"

· If He is my Shepard I must be a sheep.

· Sheep are foolish, won’t last long on their own (weakness and needs of man).

· Sheep are property (we belong to God).

· The close relationship between shepherds and their sheep, knows them by name (God and us).

m. "I shall not want."

· I shall not lack for anything I really need. He is able to supply.

· Therefore,

I shall not want for:

Nourishment (2)

A. Sheep

1. Hungry will not lie down.

2. Will not drink from running water.

B. God’s word is our nourishment.

1. So feed our souls with the word that we can lie down in truth.

2. The scriptures are always fresh, always rich, never exhausted.

3. There is milk (I Pet. 2:2).

4. There is meat (Heb. 5:14).

C. Jn. 4:14

D. Sheep must have nourishment to produce wool but how often do we feed on the word of God?

E. "He leads"

1. God directs us to a certain type of life (not because He hates us, does not want us to be happy, have fun; but what is best for us. Give us true happiness).

2. As the watchmaker knows the watch…

3. Teenagers

4. Matt. 11:28-30

5. Song – "He leadeth me"

a. Written during the Civil War by Joseph Gilmore

b. Plan to preach on the entire 23rd Psalm but got no further than this verse.

Guidance (3) – "guides"

F. Sheep today are driven, but in Bible times they were lead by a guide.

G. A good Shepard would only lead them down the right paths (his reputation was at stake.)

H. Isa. 53:6

I. Luke 15:4-7

J. So when souls are dark with sin, God purifies; when sorrowful, He comforts; when weak, He strengthens.

K. Psa. 119:105

Protection (4) – spoken by many a dying lips, made many a dark valley bright.

L. Changes from the 3rd person tense to 2nd person (ceases to be a discourse on the care of God to a psalm of praise directed at God.)

M. Sheep are always moving

N. "The valley" (Hugo McCord)

O. "Rod and staff" – bear and lion.

P. Let’s break down the verse:

1. "Walk" – we are moving through life toward a final destiny.

2. "Through" - death is not the end, but a passageway. Not the house but the porch.

3. "Shadow" – Death in its substance has been removed only the shadow of it remains.

a. I Cor. 15:55

b. Nobody should be afraid of a shadow, for a shadow cannot stop a man’s way.

· A dog’s shadow cannot bite.

· A sword’s shadow cannot cut.

· Death’s shadow cannot destroy.

4. Therefore, "I will fear no evil."

a. There is still evil but I will not fear it.

b. The worst evils of life are those, which do not exist except in our imaginations – fear of the unknown.

· Children

· Roller coasters

5. Why? "For Thou art with me."

· The greatest joy of Christianity.

· Movie – "Sound of music" – Maria bedroom.

· The Sphinx – "What creature walks in the morning upon 4 feet, at noon upon 2 and evening upon 3?"

6. All based on the faith that God is still on His throne. Rod + Staff = His authority.

Q. These words never wear out, always sweet to a believer’s ear.

Loving Kindness and compassion (5)

R. The Psalms illustrates sheep have safely arrived at the pasture but the shepherd will not let them eat until the table has been prepared.

1. Plants

2. Snakes holes (set fire to fat)

3. Animals

S. The love and compassion of the shepherd continues:

1. Checks each sheep – cuts and scrapes, anoints with oil.

2. Ill or too little – bowls of water overflowing.

T. Today God does the same for us.

1. Story of little girl at supper.

2. We do have enemies:

a. Satan

b. Hurts

c. Temptations

d. People

e. But God is always on our side (Rom. 8:31).

3. The enemy is at door every day but we eat in peace.

U. "Cup runneth over"

1. Bible times (accidentally today).

2. God overflows us with blessings.

A home (6)

V. Because of goodness my needs are meet, because of mercy my sins are blotted out, therefore, I can dwell with God forever.

W. This is the case now and tomorrow.

1. I have a home now it is this church.

a. Family of God.

b. Fellowship of the Saints.

c. Privilege of prayer.

d. "Surely goodness and mercy shall me all the days of my life."

2. Home in heaven (Jn. 14:1-4).

But the blessings of this psalm are not for everyone, although we sometimes act as if they are.

a. Hugo McCord – "Are you ready for the 23rd Psalm?"

b. If God is not your Father and Jesus Christ your Shepard then this Psalm does not apply to you.

Such a wonderful portion of scripture, I could preach all night (some of you may think I have), but let me close with this story.

a. "I know the psalm, he knows the Shepard.’

b. Do you know the Shepard?

James Pharr

Lenoir, NC