The LORD Is My Shepherd: [1] Provision A Four-Part Series on Psalm 23 Psalm 23:1

LIFE WITH GOD: WHAT NAME HAVE YOU USED FOR GOD LATELY? Abraham:  El-Elyon = “God Most High” (Genesis 14:22)  Yahweh-Yireh = “The LORD Will Provide” (Genesis 22:14) Moses:  Yahweh-Rapha = “The LORD Our Healer” (Exodus 15:26) Gideon:  Yahweh-Shalom = “The LORD Is Peace” (Judges 6:24)

LIFE WITH GOD: WHAT NAME HAVE YOU USED FOR GOD LATELY? David: 7 names in the first two lines of his song to GOD 1I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2

LIFE WITH GOD: WHAT NAME HAVE YOU USED FOR GOD LATELY? David: 7 names in the first two lines of his song to GOD 1 I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. Psalm 18:1-2

LIFE WITH GOD: WHAT NAME HAVE YOU USED FOR GOD LATELY? Psalm 23: Yahweh-Rohi = “The LORD My Shepherd” (v.1)  It was David’s most endearing name for God.  It was derived from his own relationship and experiences with the sheep, growing up as a shepherd.  Hence, the goal of our 4-part series on Psalm 23 is to reclaim our thirst for INTIMATE DAILY WALK WITH GOD.  An Overview of Psalm 23 Series: Part 1: Provision of The LORD My Shepherd (v.1) Part 2: Guidance of The LORD My Shepherd (vs.2-3) Part 3: Protection of The LORD My Shepherd (v.4) Part 4: Victory of The LORD My Shepherd (vs.5-6)

HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THIS CONFESSION— “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT”? 1)To experience this confession, we must choose the LORD to be our shepherd daily. “THE LORD IS my shepherd; I shall not want.” (v.1)  The Hebrew word for “the LORD” is actually the covenant name of God given to Israel—“Yahweh”; the Almighty God who delivered from the bondage and cared for the people.  The secret of this confession of contentment of confidence is not in the sheep [believer] but in the shepherd [the LORD].  So, the question is this: Who do I turn to with my needs? Is it entertainment? Is it pleasure? Is it people? Or is it the LORD?  Therefore, each of us need to choose the LORD to be “my shepherd” moment by moment in all arenas of our lives.

6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THIS CONFESSION— “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT”? 2)To experience this confession, we must trust in our Shepherd’s provision for all of our needs. “The LORD is my shepherd; I SHALL NOT WANT.” (v.1)  The source of contentment is GOD (1) who knows me more than I know myself; (2) who knows what I really need; (3) who loves me more than I love myself; and (4) who can meet my needs with wisdom and power.  The hindrance, then, is my stubborn pride/will and distrust in the goodness and power of the LORD as my Shepherd.  Therefore, true contentment comes from knowing God’s personal wisdom, power, and love for me and trusting in God’s provision for all my needs.

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:10-13 The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10

HOW CAN WE EXPERIENCE THIS CONFESSION— “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT”? 3)To experience this confession, we must follow the leading of our Shepherd in our daily walk. “The LORD is MY SHEPHERD; I shall not want.” (v.1)  David’s calling God “MY shepherd” [not “our shepherd”] was out of ordinary in the OT context—this was his secret to intimate walk with the LORD daily.  The LORD is not a hired man who runs away when there’s danger but the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for us.  The LORD is the Good Shepherd not a rancher. A rancher drives the sheep behind them, but a shepherd walks a few steps ahead the sheep and gently calls them to follow him.  Therefore, we are to be attentive to God’s voice leading us to the right paths and follow the leading of the Spirit.

Jesus Is All the World to Me by Will L. Thompson (1904) Jesus is all the world to me, My life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day, Without him I would fall. When I am sad, to him I go, No other one can cheer me so; When I am sad, he makes me glad, He's my friend.

Jesus Is All the World to Me by Will L. Thompson (1904) Jesus is all the world to me, I want no better friend; I trust him now, I'll trust him when Life's fleeting days shall end. Beautiful life with such a friend, Beautiful life that has no end; Eternal life, eternal joy, He's my friend.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.Keep CHOOSING THE LORD TO BE YOUR SHEPHERD—moment by moment.  Don’t be deceived by the lies of the Evil One.  Never settle for substitutes. 2.Find your contentment IN GOD’S PROVISION FOR ALL OF YOUR NEEDS.  Trust in God’s provision not for just some of your needs but for all of your needs.  Learn to trust in God’s sufficient grace for what your needs are. 3. Be attentive to and follow THE GENTLE VOICE OF YOUR SHEPHERD in your daily walk with God.  Learn to listen to God’s voice through Scripture & the Spirit.  Trust not in your own understanding but obey your Shepherd’s leading.