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Mosaic Mansfield
Psalm 23 | A Poetic Reminder of Reality
Much of what we need to know about life with God is contained in this one location. It has been such a nourishing gift in my life and even as I prepared to teach this weekend, I have found new depths of life within it. I am convinced that this section of scripture can never be over-meditated on and would commend it to you for memorization and meditation!
Locations & Times
Mosaic Mansfield
296 Park Ave W, Mansfield, OH 44906, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:50 AM
As we begin by reading this Psalm I want us to remember that what we are about to read is not only a beautiful poem, though it is, but also is an invitation to our souls into Reality if we are in Christ (or Christians.) The poetic, the beautiful, and the alluring is often what helps us take into our very hearts that which is true. It is not in contrast to the truth, but is often the very means by which we take that which is true into our depths.
C.S. Lewis put it like this in his work “Mere Christianity”:
“For me, reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning. Imagination, producing new metaphors or revivifying old, is not the cause of truth, but its condition.”
C.S. Lewis put it like this in his work “Mere Christianity”:
“For me, reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning. Imagination, producing new metaphors or revivifying old, is not the cause of truth, but its condition.”
A great reflection on the value of memorizing Psalm 23
https://www.soulshepherding.org/a-little-bag-for-a-big-psalm-23/v1a. “The Lord is my Shepherd…”
● Why a Shepherd? - David was a Shepherd and knew what it meant. As a shepherd David willfully risked his life against lions, bears and frequent threats for the sake of the flourishing of the sheep.
○ 1 Samuel 17:33-38
○ Ezekiel 37:15-28
● The One who spoke the universe into existence is your shepherd - do you believe it?
○ It’s easy for us to believe that such a thing could be true - but does the truth of this shape your life? Does this reality, that in Christ God is your Sovereign and you are his - that he is with you in the heights and depths - leading you with his presence in every moment of every day shape how you look out over your day each morning? He is. Do you believe it?
○ Here’s the litmus test David gives us - Do We Want?
● Why a Shepherd? - David was a Shepherd and knew what it meant. As a shepherd David willfully risked his life against lions, bears and frequent threats for the sake of the flourishing of the sheep.
○ 1 Samuel 17:33-38
○ Ezekiel 37:15-28
● The One who spoke the universe into existence is your shepherd - do you believe it?
○ It’s easy for us to believe that such a thing could be true - but does the truth of this shape your life? Does this reality, that in Christ God is your Sovereign and you are his - that he is with you in the heights and depths - leading you with his presence in every moment of every day shape how you look out over your day each morning? He is. Do you believe it?
○ Here’s the litmus test David gives us - Do We Want?
v1b “...I Shall Not Want”
● The person who knows God is their shepherd knows they lack no good thing and therefor long for no other thing:
○ Psalm 34 & Psalm 27
○ Nothing else can satisfy like knowing God as shepherd. No Title, Person, Job, Income, Purchase Degree, or Relationship.
● The person who knows God is their shepherd knows they lack no good thing and therefor long for no other thing:
○ Psalm 34 & Psalm 27
○ Nothing else can satisfy like knowing God as shepherd. No Title, Person, Job, Income, Purchase Degree, or Relationship.
v2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
● Only because God is my shepherd and I follow him, can I truly rest
○ There are very real threats to our souls and lives in this world. Daily we are tempted, tried and often attacked. There are countless seemingly good reasons to be afraid, anxious worried, to over work, toss and turn and to be depressed but if we know the LORD himself is our shepherd we can rest.
● Only because God is my shepherd and I follow him, can I truly rest
○ There are very real threats to our souls and lives in this world. Daily we are tempted, tried and often attacked. There are countless seemingly good reasons to be afraid, anxious worried, to over work, toss and turn and to be depressed but if we know the LORD himself is our shepherd we can rest.
v3“He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
● In our anxious lives we look for fulfillment of our souls in friendships, work, possessions, children, romantic relationships, hobbies and in our vices - but none of them ultimately satisfy.
● But as we look to God our Shepherd, we find that regardless of our circumstances, we are renewed and restored. We are made right again. He never fails. He never will. How can we know this?
● God has united himself to us in Christ - His glory is on the line. He has made us his people and himself our God - our flourishing is tied to the worth of his name. This reality fuels David’s next line.
● In our anxious lives we look for fulfillment of our souls in friendships, work, possessions, children, romantic relationships, hobbies and in our vices - but none of them ultimately satisfy.
● But as we look to God our Shepherd, we find that regardless of our circumstances, we are renewed and restored. We are made right again. He never fails. He never will. How can we know this?
● God has united himself to us in Christ - His glory is on the line. He has made us his people and himself our God - our flourishing is tied to the worth of his name. This reality fuels David’s next line.
v4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
● God leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. He does not promise a life without temporary trouble. He only promises a life without eternal lack. God’s leading us through paths of righteousness sometimes means we go into the very valley we’re afraid to enter. David knew this: See Psalm 22.
● We need not be afraid though - for God himself is with us. What’s the worst that could happen to us in Christ? Eternity with God.
● God leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. He does not promise a life without temporary trouble. He only promises a life without eternal lack. God’s leading us through paths of righteousness sometimes means we go into the very valley we’re afraid to enter. David knew this: See Psalm 22.
● We need not be afraid though - for God himself is with us. What’s the worst that could happen to us in Christ? Eternity with God.
v5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
● David is dead set on showing us that God is our shepherd not in some ideal spot in our lives, but in the very midst of all our brokenness, in the midst of the valley. See Online Teaching Notes.
● David is dead set on showing us that God is our shepherd not in some ideal spot in our lives, but in the very midst of all our brokenness, in the midst of the valley. See Online Teaching Notes.
v6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
● Surely God will be faithful to himself and me all the days of my life
● Surely he will be enough. Surely I have nothing to fear.
● I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
For what or who could ever overcome the LORD, my Father and my shepherd?
● Surely God will be faithful to himself and me all the days of my life
● Surely he will be enough. Surely I have nothing to fear.
● I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
For what or who could ever overcome the LORD, my Father and my shepherd?
Matthew Henry Commentary
These are but a few of the delight-filling words of Matthew Henry’s Commentary linked above. Prayerfully walking through his Commentary can be a wonderful practice for your upcoming week. I know it ministered to me greatly.He remembered what need they had of a shepherd, and what a kindness it was to them to have one that was skilful and faithful; he once ventured his life to rescue a lamb. By this therefore he illustrates God’s care of his people; and to this our Saviour seems to refer when he says, I am the shepherd of the sheep; the good shepherd, Jn. 10:11 . He that is the shepherd of Israel, of the whole church in general (Ps. 80:1 ), is the shepherd of every particular believer; the meanest is not below his cognizance, Isa. 40:11 . He takes them into his fold, and then takes care of them, protects them, and provides for them, with more care and constancy than a shepherd can, that makes it his business to keep the flock. More is implied than is expressed, not only, I shall not want, but, "I shall be supplied with whatever I need; and, if I have not every thing I desire, I may conclude it is either not fit for me or not good for me or I shall have it in due time.’’ The greatest abundance is but a dry pasture to a wicked man, who relishes that only in it which pleases the senses; but to a godly man, who tastes the goodness of God in all his enjoyments, and by faith relishes that, though he has but little of the world, it is a green pasture, Ps. 37:16 ; Prov. 15:16, Prov. 15:17 . The way of duty is the truly pleasant way. It is the work of righteousness that is peace. In these paths we cannot walk unless God both lead us into them and lead us in them. (3.) They are well helped when any thing ails them: He restoreth my soul. [1.] "He restores me when I wander.’’ No creature will lose itself sooner than a sheep, so apt is it to go astray, and then so unapt to find the way back. The best saints are sensible of their proneness to go astray like lost sheep (Ps. 119:176 ); they miss their way, and turn aside into by-paths; but when God shows them their error, gives them repentance, and brings them back to their duty again, he restores the soul; and, if he did not do so, they would wander endlessly and be undone.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/psalms/23.html