Psalm 23 The Shepherd Psalm
This Psalm of David is one of the most loved and most memorized psalm.
It is referred to as the Shepherd Psalm. David was the shepherd boy that God chose to be the second King of Israel after King Saul turned away from God.
It is also referred to as the Comfort Psalm. It follows Psalm 22 which is often referred to as the Suffering Psalm because it is a prophecy of the sufferings of Jesus in Gethsemane and on the Cross.
Key verses in Psalm 23.
Vs. 1-3. The Lord as Shepherd cares for and sustains His sheep. He leads in the path of righteousness. In Psalm 28:9 David asks the Lord to shepherd the people of Israel. Hebrews 13:20-21 speaks of Jesus as the Great Shepherd of the sheep.
Vs. 4 . God’s rod and staff provide safety and comfort. Rod refers to directing and correcting. Staff refers to safety and security.
Vs. 5. God as provider (Prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies), and protector (Annoints my head with oil, my cup runneth over).
Vs. 6. The God of comfort in life (goodness and mercy shall follow me all rhe days of my life) and in eternity (And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever).
Below are some of the many Bible verses that refer to the Lord as Shepherd of the sheep.
Psalm 100:3. The Lord is God. It is he who made us…we are the sheep of his pasture.
Matthew 15:24. Jesus says “I was sent to the lost sheep…”
John 10:3b-4. “ …The sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him…”
John 10:11-12. Jesus says “ I am the good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep…”
Luke 15:4-6. Parable of the Lost sheep.“…rejoice with me for I have found my lost sheep.”
Below is the message audio
Below is the underlined link to the notes pdf.