Most weeks, you will hear me encourage you to keep your eyes on Jesus, and I will often reference kingdom alignment, obedience to the word, and the process of sanctification, in which we are changed and transformed by the word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.

This morning, I want to share with you why we talk about it so much.
First, it is the message of the kingdom, the surrender to His rule and reign.
Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Secondly, it is about the king in the kingdom and how good He is.

This psalm reveals core elements of our relationship with God. David calls the Lord his shepherd, and in John 10:11, Jesus declares that He is the good shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep.

Here are the core biblical characteristics of a shepherd:
1. Shepherds Protect. They don’t run when the predator or threat appears. They stand their ground and defend the flock.
2. Shepherds know their sheep. They know the specific needs, quirks, and injuries of every individual animal.
3. Shepherd’s Guide and Provide. Sheep are dependent. Shepherds of sheep do not drive the animals forward. They lead the animals from the front.
4. Shepherds seek for lost sheep. If one has gone astray, they will leave the 99 to go after the one.
5. Biblical shepherds are gentle and compassionate to the sheep.
In this Psalm, David as shepherd and king, is verbalizing his awareness of how God does these very things for us. The message of the kingdom is one of repentance, submission, and transformation, but it is also weaved within the understanding of who it is we are submitting to.

The beauty of the kingdom of God is that the Lord is our shepherd. He protects us Psalm 91, knows us Jeremiah 1:5, guides and provides Proverbs 3:5-6, seeks us when we have gone astray Luke 15:4-7, and He is gentle and compassionate with us Psalm 103:8, Matthew 11:28-30.

Let’s catch a glimpse of who God is through the word.

In the moments of uncertainty when you have difficulty seeing or understanding, you must learn to trust God’s heart and His character.

When you struggle to see the way through, lean into the fact that God offers you, His presence. You may not have all the answers, but you can have confidence knowing that He will never leave you or forsake you Hebrews 13:5.

His strength and might are unmatched. His wisdom surpasses all. In the unknown, rest in Him. Recall His faithfulness in your life and where He has brought you from.

Our strength is finite, His is infinite. Wait on the Lord, and He will renew your strength.