Psalm 23

February 18, 2007 Read Psalm 23: 1 – 6 (whole Psalm)

Who wrote this Psalm? What would David know about shepherds, green pastures, quiet waters, etc.?

1 Samuel 16:10-13 …Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.

v1 How are we like sheep? How is the Lord your shepherd?

Matthew 2: 6" …Bethlehem, in… Judah, … for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'

John 10:1 – 18 … He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.. …

Hebrews 13:20-21 Matthew 25:31-33 1 Peter 2: 24-25 Revelation 7: 16-17

v1 How can we be confident that "I shall not be in want." ?

Psalm 37: 23-25 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm… I have never seen the righteous forsaken

Matthew 6: 25-34 seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

Philippians 4:10–13.. I have learned to be content….. Philippians 4: 18-19 …God will meet all your needs

v2 How does God provide "green pastures" and "quiet waters?"

John 14: 16-17 … he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. … he will be in you.

v3 How does God restore your soul?

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. … Psalm 62:1 My soul finds rest in God alone; …

Psalm 63:1-5 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you…My soul will be satisfied;… Psalm 94:19… your consolation brought joy to my soul. Psalm 116:1-8… he heard my voice; he heard my cry… Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you… Isaiah 61:10 …my soul rejoices in my God. …

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, …, and you will find rest for your souls.

Hebrews 4:1-3a .. the promise of entering his rest still stands, …. Hebrews 6: 17-20 …. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. … 1 Peter 2:25… now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

We have responsibility to choose the way in which our souls will be restored.

Jeremiah 6: 16… ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

1 Peter 2: 11…, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

How does God guide you in paths of righteousness?

Psalm 119:33-35 Teach me, …to follow your decrees…Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

Romans 8: 12-15 … those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. … you received the Spirit of sonship….

Hebrews 12:1-13 .. throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…Make level paths for your feet,..

Why does God guide you in paths of righteousness?

v4 Where is the "valley of the shadow of death?"

Isaiah 43:1,2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; …

Why don’t we have to fear evil? Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Matthew 28:19…go and make disciples of all nations, …. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Romans 8: 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life,..nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us ..

v5 What does it mean to have a table prepared for you? Will we have enemies?

John 15: 18-19 ..you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you

2 Corinthians 12: 7-10… for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties..

How does God anoint us? Acts 4: 31.. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 ..put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit…. 1 John 2:20-21 20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. …. 1 John 2:26-27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you,

Exodus 29:1-7 1 …consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: … Take the anointing oil and anoint him

Does your cup overflow? "The Full Life Study Bible NIV" D. Stamps ed. Zondervan Publishing House (1992) page 783 The picture is a 40 gallon hollowed out rock used to water the sheep. So you can water others.

Does goodness and love follow you? Do you expect to dwell in the house of he Lord forever?

John 14:1-3 … I am going there to prepare a place for you. Memorize Psalm 23 Read Psalm 32

February 18, 2007 Psalm 23 Leader’s Pages

Read Psalm 23: 1 – 6 (whole Psalm)

Who wrote this Psalm? David

What would David know about shepherds, green pastures, quiet waters, the valley of the shadow of death, being anointed, dwelling in the house of the Lord?

1 Samuel 16:10-13 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, "The LORD has not chosen these…"There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep." 12 So he sent and had him brought in…. Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one." 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power.

v1 How are we like sheep?

Why don’t you find sheep in the circus? not easily trained, go their own way, herd instinct, grass is greener on the other side of the fence

How is the Lord your shepherd?

Matthew 2: 6" …Bethlehem, in… Judah, … for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'[

Matthew 25:31-33 31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory… he will sit on his throne …he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right… goats on his left.

John 10:1 – 18 2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. … the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 11… The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. …I know my sheep and my sheep know me … and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

Hebrews 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 2: 24-25 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Revelation 7: 16-17 Never again will they hunger; …(or)… thirst…. 17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

v1 How can we be confident that "I shall not be in want." ?

Do we need to align our "wants" with God’s will?

Psalm 37: 23-25 If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; 24 though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. 25 … I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.

Matthew 6: 25-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. … 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they… O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' … your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:10 – 13 … I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4: 18-19 … I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

v2 How does God provide "green pastures" and "quiet waters?"

Revelation 7:17 above

John 14: 16-17 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the Spirit of truth. … you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

v3 How does God restore your soul?

Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. …

Psalm 62:1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

Psalm 63:1-5 1 O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you,… in a dry and weary land where there is no water. 2 I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld …your glory. 3 … my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live,… 5 My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.

Psalm 116:1-8 1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy… I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the LORD :"O LORD, save me!"….when I was in great need, he saved me. 7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you. 8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,…

Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, …, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, …, and you will find rest for your souls.

Hebrews 4:1-3a 1Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it…. 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, …

Hebrews 6: 17-20 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath….we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. 19We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, …

1 Peter 2:25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

We have responsibility to choose the way in which our souls will be restored.

Jeremiah 6: 16 This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; … ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, 'We will not walk in it.'

1 Peter 2: 11…, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

How does God guide you in paths of righteousness?

Psalm 119:33-35 33 Teach me, …to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. 34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 35 Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight.

Romans 8: 12-15 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it… if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. … you received the Spirit of sonship….

Hebrews 12:1-13 … let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6because the Lord disciplines those he loves,… 7Endure hardship as discipline; … God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13"Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Why does God guide you in paths of righteousness? For his name’s sake. For our benefit.

v4 Where is the "valley of the shadow of death?"

Isaiah 43:1,2 1 But now, this is what the LORD says—"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;…

Why don’t we have to fear evil? God is with us. God comforts us.

Matthew 10:28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

rod … weapon against enemies staff … bring back wandering sheep … God corrects us, disciplines us when we go astray

Matthew 28:19…go and make disciples of all nations, …. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Romans 8: 38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

v5 What does it mean to have a table prepared for you? God is providing, protecting.

The sheep can eat with the wolves around them when the shepherd is there.

Will we have enemies? Yes, the world.

John 15: 18-19 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. … you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you

2 Corinthians 12: 7-10 …there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." … for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

How does God anoint us?

Exodus 29:1-7 1 …consecrate them, so they may serve me as priests: … 4 …bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and wash them with water. 5 Take the garments and dress Aaron with the tunic, the robe of the ephod, the ephod itself and the breastpiece. …6 Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. 7 Take the anointing oil and anoint him by pouring it on his head.

1 Samuel 10: 1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul's head and kissed him, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?

with the Spirit

Acts 4: 31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Ephesians 5:18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:20-22 … 21Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

1 John 2:20-21 20But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.

1 John 2:26-27 As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

Healing James 5:13-15 … 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.

Does your cup overflow?

"The Full Life Study Bible NIV" D. Stamps ed. Zondervan Publishing House (1992) page 783 The picture is a 40 gallon hollowed out rock used to water the sheep. So you can water others.

Does goodness and love follow you?

Do you expect to dwell in the house of he Lord forever?

John 14:1-3 … Trust in God; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me….

Read Psalm 32