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PSALM 23

"THE GOOD SHEPHERD"

I. "THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD."
        A. David had spent his early youth as a shepherd.
                1. He knew well the responsibilities to the sheep.
                        a. Protecting them from danger.
                        b. Finding good pasture.
                        c. Bringing them to still waters.
                        d. Keeping them from straying.
                2. He loved to think of the LORD in that light.
        B. "I shall not want."
                1. I shall not want for nourishment, "He makes me to lie down in
                   green pastures.
                2. I shall not want for refreshment, "He leadeth me beside the
                   still waters."
                3. I shall not want for strength, "He restoreth my soul."
        C. Jesus also knew the responsibilities of the Shepherd to the sheep.
                1. He said, "I am the Good Shepherd."
                        a. The shepherd knows His sheep and calls them by name and leads
                           them out.
                        b. The shepherd goes before the sheep and they follow him, they
                           know His voice.
                        c. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
                                1. Contrast the hireling.
                                2. In the hour of crisis will your religious philosophy
                                   save you?
                        d. The Good Shepherd keeps His sheep and no man can pluck them
                           out of His hand.


II. DAVID NOW SEES THE LORD AS HIS GUIDE.
        A. "He leads me in the path of righteousness."
                1. How often we stand in the crossroads.
                        a. Which is the right path?
                        b. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart..."
                2. "For His name's sake."
        B. "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death."
                1. God is still leading me.
                        a. Some look at death as defeat.
                        b. Because of our Good Shepherd, "death is swallowed up
                           in victory."
                2. The interesting phrase "Shadow of death."
                        a. Light is necessary to cast a shadow.
                        b. A shadow has no substance.
                3. "I will fear no evil."
                        a. If you want proof of the Christian life, note the
                           way they die.
                        b. Why is there no fear?
                4. "For Thou art with me."
                        a. The LORD Himself comes to escort us through the valley.
                        b. Stephen "I see heaven opened..."

III. "THE LORD IS MY HOST."
        A. "Thou preparest a table before me."
        B. "Thou annointest my head with oil."
        C. "My cup runneth over."
                1. Beautiful, descriptive verse of the Christian life.
                        a. Joy indescribable and full of glory.
                        b. Peace that passes human understanding.
                        c. Life more abundant.

IV. BECAUSE THE LORD IS ALL OF THIS TO ME.
        A. Goodness and mercy will follow me everyday of my life.
                1. Morning by morning new mercies I see.
        B. But what when the days of life have come to an end?
                1. "I shall dwell in the gouse of the Lord forever."
                2. "In My Fathers house are many mansions . . ."
                3. What is death?  A shadow that crosses my path as my Father
                   leads me home.