“The Spirit of God leads the people of God to submit to the Word of God.”
John R.W. Stott
Passage
A Psalm of David.
1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Psalm 23:title–6 (NASB95)
Background
Quote-John Robert Walmsley Stott CBE (27 April 1921 – 27 July 2011) was an English Anglican priest and theologian who was noted as a leader of the worldwide evangelical movement. He was one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974. In 2005, Time magazine ranked Stott among the 100 most influential people in the world.
Passage-The genre of Psalms is Songs and Poetry of all kinds. It is written by multiple authors; David wrote 73, Asaph wrote 12, the sons of Korah wrote 9, Solomon wrote 3, Ethan, and Moses each wrote one (Ps. 90), and 51 of the Psalms are anonymous. They were written over the span of approximately 900 years (Beginning at the time of Moses 1440 B.C. and through the captivity in 586 B.C.).
The Psalms include praises of joy, laments, blessings, and thanksgivings. They are directed at God and they help us to express and communicate ourselves to Him. We read about the Psalmist’s emotions from one extreme to another, from praising, delighting in and worshiping God with fervor, to repentance and crying out to Him in despair.
Psalm 23 is a profound testament to God's loving care, guidance, and provision for His people. It is an assurance that no matter how difficult or dark the circumstances may be, we can always find peace and strength in the Lord. As we trust in God and follow His guidance, we are reminded that His goodness and mercy are everlasting, and that we can look forward to an eternal dwelling in His presence.
Written by Jay Smith, Biblehub.com
Opening Statement
We like to be in control, but only when good things happen. If we see bad outcomes in our lives our instinctive reaction is to look for someone to blame. Some blame God, but that is misplaced.
Ask: What does verse 1 of Today’s Passage imply if we read it as a statement by itself?
Point: We follow God as our leader in life. Please read the following:
12“He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.
13“He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.
14“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
15even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.
John 10:12–15 (NASB95)
Ask: Green pastures and quiet waters from verse two are good things but are there any conditions in that passage on receiving them?
Point: Yes. “He makes” and “He leads.”
Ask: What do those conditions mean if we want to find green pastures and quiet waters?
Point: He makes and He leads. Not we make and we lead. Please read the following:
20Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord,
21equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20–21 (NASB95)
Ask: God is doing wonderful things for me in verse 3 but why? What does it mean “…For His name’s sake?”
Point: For His purposes, not mine. Please read the following:
7This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,”
8and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.
9But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
10for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:7–10 (NASB95)
Ask: What is the difference between a rod and a staff and why should that comfort us?
Point: A rod is a weapon to fend off attackers and a staff is used to guide showing the way in which those guided are to go.
Ask: In verse five what does it mean that God “prepares a table before me” and why would He do that in the presence of my enemies?
Point: It means God prepares all the things my life needs for me to fulfill His goals for me. He does it to show those who are opposed to Him, not me, that He is God. Please read the following:
19Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
20“But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:19–21 (NASB95)
Ask: At the end of verse five God promises “my cup overflows” but how does that help me overcome evil with good?
Point: What does your cup overflow with? The answer to that is personal but addresses how we individually overcome evil.
Ask: Verse six is a hope at the end of the Psalm, but what is that hope based on?
Point: It is based on God doing all the good things the Psalm says He will do.
Ask: How do we ensure we obtain all the good things promised and hoped for in this psalm?
Point: By choosing God, His Word, and His Ways. Please read the following:
15“If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15 (NASB95)
Ask: Is there one more promise at the end of the Psalm?
Point: Yes, to be with God forever. Please read the following:
1“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
2“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
3“If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
4“And you know the way where I am going.”
John 14:1–4 (NASB95)
Closing Statement
“And you know the way where I am going.” Jesus said that in verse four of John chapter 14, but do we know the way? We complain sometimes that we wish we had a manual for life because we don’t know what to do in some circumstances. Jesus said we do. Some still doubt, but perhaps it isn’t doubt but forgetfulness. Maybe that’s what happened to Thomas and why Jesus gently reminded him. 5Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. 7“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” John 14:5–7 (NASB95)
Thanks Mark, well done. Shalom, Emily