Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Do you ever find life hard?
• Example of friend
  
• Example of tweet
• Human beings have not been designed for modern living
• Examples of Covid and the Ukraine war
  
• Example of the life of 21st century Christians and persecuted Christians
• If you don't believe in God - where is your source of help in hardship?
• People can turn to the things of the world - but they are short-term
• The Christian has the Person in Psalm 23
• Psalm 23 - familiar words
• A psalm of confidence and comforting images - examples
• We should have confidence in the person
• The Shepherd
• The Host

The Shepherd

• In Wales, we have 10 million sheep
• The ancient shepherd is different to the modern shepherd
• Yet they totally depend on their shepherd for food, water and protection
• People in ancient times often talked about kings and shepherds - ruling justly and wisely
• David saw God as his own King and Shepherd
• The qualities of this Shepherd
• God transcends the whole universe - but He has dealings with David on an individual level
• The Lord - Yahweh (Ex 34:6)
• The Lord is my Shepherd - v1
• He cares not just for the collective but for the individual
• Therefore, David will not be in want - he has everything that he will need
• There is a completeness of God's provision to David - food, water, rest
• He restores my soul - v3
• Not just physical but spiritual rest
• He directs his paths - v3b
• Ex 3:12
• God's care is not limited just to the good times but in dark times too - v4
• God is with David every step of the way
• The rod and staff provides divine protection/guidance and discipline - this is a comfort to David
• Those in the Old Testament believed even though they had little 'light'
• What about us with the 'light' we have as New Testament believers
• John 10:11, 14-16
• Is Jesus your Shepherd?
• Do you believe He laid down His life for you?
• Do you know Him and follow His voice?
• If so - then Psalm 23 is for you
• Jesus has come to bring 'life to the full' - John 10:10
• Jesus is all we will ever need
• Phil 4:11-12
• Isa 40:11 – He is the mighty warrior King who knows exactly how to deal with His sheep
• Do you really love Jesus - is He more than life to you?
• We are never alone with Jesus
• Hold onto Him for He is holding onto you

The Host

• We see the rich image of being at a banqueting tablet (v5-6)
• David's experience - he was 'having the time of his life' with the Lord
• What is our experience of God?
• There is intimacy between David and God
• He is an honoured guest - he is anointed with oil
• It is a victorious banquet
• It is a lavish banquet - his cup runs over
• Ps 16:5
• This is not an isolated event - God's blessings will follow him for all his days (v6)
• Goodness and mercy will 'pursue' David all his life
• He will dwell with God forever
• His confidence runs into eternal life
• The Old Testament believers only saw these things from a difference
• We see things greatly multiplied this side of Calvary
• Example of the Passover
• We can step directly into the presence of God
• We have 3 vanquished foes: death, sin and hell - explanation
• The Christian's cup overflows - have we normalised our blessings?
• Do we ever really think about our salvation in Christ - and bowl us over?
• It is all of Jesus
• His love pursues us to the end
• We are adopted into His family
• 1 Cor 13:12

Closing Remarks

• This Psalm is for the Christian only
• If you are not a Christian - do you want Him to be your Shepherd?
• Do you want His blessings and protection?
• Do you want to dwell in the house of the Lord forever?
• You can have it all