Title Page. Lesson Six Psalm 23:1-5 1 The L ORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to...

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Title Page

Lesson Six

Psalm 23:1-5

Psalm 23:1-51 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalm 23:6

Psalm 23:66 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Focus Verse

Psalm 23:1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Focus Thought

David perceived the shepherd about whom he wrote as One who could meet all his needs as demonstrated in the compound

names of Jehovah.

IntroductionIntroductionAs the Good Shepherd, Jehovah spoke through the prophet Ezekiel, saying, “For thus saith the LORD God; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. . . . I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the LORD God” (Ezekiel 34:11, 15). Although Jehovah set up many undershepherds over His people Israel, He alone was the Great Shepherd who watched over them.

Ezekiel 34:23-24, 30-31

“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. And I the

LORD will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the LORD

have spoken it. . . . Thus shall they know that I the LORD their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God. And ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord

God” (Ezekiel 34:23-24, 30-31).

IntroductionJehovah God would become incarnate in the Son of David, Jesus Christ, so that the people of Israel might have one Shepherd, who also is their God. Generally, the people of Israel rejected their Messiah at His first coming, but the day will come when the righteous remnant will rejoice at the second coming of Jesus Christ. They will recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd and bow before Him in worship. (See Isaiah 40:9-11.)

IntroductionTo the Old Testament prophets, Jehovah (Yahweh) was the one true Shepherd who was to come. Today, we know the one true Shepherd through Jesus Christ, the visible image of the invisible God. As the forerunner of the Messiah, John the Baptist bore witness to Jesus and thereby fulfilled Isaiah 40:3: “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

I. The Lord Is My Shepherd—Jehovah-roi (A-B)

The Lord Is My Shepherd—Jehovah-roi

A. He Is the Good Shepherd

The Jews of Jesus’ day understood that Jehovah was the true Shepherd of Israel and that they were His flock. He alone was the Good Shepherd who cared for the sheep.

Many false shepherds had come pretending to have the people’s best interest in mind, only to take advantage of them for their own selfish profit. They had scattered the flock of Israel and left them wounded and defenseless before their enemies. Some had even feigned to be the Messiah, only to be discredited, leaving the people disillusioned and skeptical of the promise of the Messiah.

When Jesus asserted Himself as the Good Shepherd who would give His life for the sheep, He was claiming to be Jehovah God. “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:14-16).

B. He Is the Chief Shepherd

When Jesus declared that He had all power in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18), He identified Himself as God. Jesus Christ indeed demonstrated authority and judgment as God manifested in flesh. Moreover, one day He will return in the power and authority of the Father to establish His kingdom in the earth.

The apostle Peter referred to Jesus Christ at His second coming as the Chief Shepherd: “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (I Peter 5:4). All others who serve as pastors and teachers are undershepherds of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

II. The Shepherd Will Provide (A)

The Shepherd Will Provide

A. The Origin of Jehovah-jireh

When Abraham by faith was ready to offer up his son Isaac on the altar of sacrifice, God intervened and provided a substitute ram, which was caught by his horns in a thicket. Hearing the voice of God, Abraham looked up and saw the ram, which he offered gladly instead of his son.

Thus, Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh, which means “Jehovah will see (to it); Jehovah-Jireh, a symbolical name for Mount Moriah” (Biblesoft’s New Exhaustive Strong’s Numbers and Concordance). In other words, Jehovah-jireh means “the LORD will provide.”

“Jehovah-jireh = ‘Jehovah (Yahweh) sees.’ Symbolic name given by Abraham to Mount Moriah in commemoration of the interposition of the Angel of Jehovah (Yahweh) who prevented the sacrifice of Isaac and provided a substitute” (The Online Bible Thayer’s Greek Lexicon and Brown Driver & Briggs Hebrew Lexicon).

II. The Shepherd Will Provide (B)

B. He Supplies All Our Needs

The greatest need of mankind is salvation. Fallen man is under the condemnation of sin and death without the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. Through the Incarnation, God was able to give His only begotten Son to achieve mankind’s redemption. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was given to die in our stead so that we might obtain eternal life.

The Good Shepherd leads His flock through the dry, barren wilderness of life to find green pastures. He supplies sustenance to feed both the natural and the spiritual part of His people, and He will care for their needs.

The psalmist David wrote, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psalm 37:25). By trusting in the providence of God, we are certain that He will meet all of our needs.

As the people of God, we are to place our trust and confidence in Him. As we seek after His righteousness and abide in His Word, we will see that God is faithful, and He will not withhold any good thing from His children who trust in Him. The apostle Paul wrote, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

III. The Shepherd Leads Beside Still Waters (A-B)

The Shepherd Leads Beside Still Waters

A. The Origin of Jehovah-shalom

Because of the oppression of the Midianites, Gideon crouched in fear while threshing grain behind the winepress. Suddenly, the angel of the Lord appeared to him and commissioned him to fight against Midian.

When Gideon perceived that he had been visited by an angel of God, he was in great fear lest he should die. “And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die. Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites” (Judges 6:23-24). God gave supernatural peace to Gideon in his time of fear.

Strong’s Concordance defines Jehovah-shalom as “Jehovah (is) peace; Jehovah-Shalom, a symbolical name of an altar in Palestine.”

B. He Is Our Peace

God has not given us the spirit of fear, but He has given us peace by the power of the Holy Spirit. (See II Timothy 1:7.) Having received the spirit of love, power, and self-control, we trust not in our own power, but in the power of God.

III. The Shepherd Leads Beside Still Waters (A-B)Walking with God emboldens the believer to face

uncertainty and danger without doubt and trembling. With God, we have nothing to fear. If God is with us, who can prevail against us? Moreover, He has promised never to leave us or forsake us.

III. The Shepherd Leads Beside Still Waters (A-B)The Good Shepherd knows that His people need to

drink from the still waters where the peace of the Lord brings comfort and quietness, not from this world’s rushing streams of anxiety and fear.

III. The Shepherd Leads Beside Still Waters (A-B)No matter how dark the clouds that brood over our

thoughts, we can find peace in the arms of Jesus. Jesus promised, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

III. The Shepherd Leads Beside Still Waters (A-B)As we learn to release ourselves from every thought

that engenders fear and doubt and learn to focus our thoughts on the goodness of God, we will experience the peace of God, which passes all understanding. (See Philippians 4:7.)

III. The Shepherd Leads Beside Still Waters (A-B)By refusing to allow the cares of this world to

occupy our thoughts, we can abide in the peace of the Lord and make our petitions known to Him through fervent prayer and supplication. As we cast our cares on Jesus, however, let us also remember to offer thanks for all of His many blessings. As we live by faith in Him, the God of peace will comfort our hearts by the Holy Ghost.

IV. The Shepherd Restores (A)

The Shepherd Restores

A. The Origin of Jehovah-rapha

God miraculously led the people of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground and caused the waters to come crashing down on Pharaoh and his army.

Following this marvelous and miraculous deliverance, Israel traveled three days into the wilderness where there was no water. Finally, they came upon the waters of Marah where they had hoped to quench their thirst, but the waters were too bitter to drink. Forgetting the great miracles that God had done for them, the people began to murmur and complain.

When Moses cried to the Lord, God directed him to cast a certain tree into the waters, and the waters were healed so that Israel was refreshed and restored. (See Exodus 15:25.) It was at Marah that God revealed Himself to Israel as Jehovah-rapha, “the LORD that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26).

IV. The Shepherd Restores (B)

B. He Is Our Healer

There are times in our lives when God tests us to prove our faith in Him. When we murmur and complain instead of calling on Him for guidance and direction, we bring shame and sorrow on ourselves. God wants to turn our sorrow into joy, if only we will call on His name in faith.

Jesus Christ bore stripes on His back for our healing. (See Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 2:24.) As the healer of both the body and the spirit, there is no disease or wounded spirit that He cannot heal. Cancer, polio, epilepsy, heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, ataxia, AIDS, Ebola, and all other diseases are subject to the power and authority of the name of Jesus.

As our healer, Jesus will respond to the fervent, effectual prayers of a righteous man or woman of faith. The gifts of healing will operate in a healthy body of faithful believers who have been empowered by the Holy Ghost.

God’s Word admonishes the sick to call for the elders of the church, who will anoint them with oil in the name of Jesus and pray for their healing (James 5:14-16). By confessing our needs and praying for one another, we can have confidence of receiving the healing grace of God.

Psalm 103:2-3

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who

forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases”

(Psalm 103:2-3).

Matthew 4:23

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and

preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness

and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23).

V. The Shepherd Leads in Paths of Righteousness (A)

The Shepherd Leads in Paths of Righteousness

A. The Origin of Jehovah-tsidkenu

Jeremiah prophesied of a time when God would raise up a Messiah who would restore the scattered flock of Israel and Judah. When the Messiah came, He would cause the people to be clothed with the righteousness of God.

Further, He would gather all of Israel from the lands where they had fled. They would return again to the land of Israel so that a righteous remnant could be saved. God promised that He would lead them in paths of righteousness and that they would dwell safely in the land of promise.

Jeremiah 23:5-6“Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is

his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”

(Jeremiah 23:5-6).

Jehovah-tsidkenu is the Hebrew name for the phrase “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” in Jeremiah 23:6. As He was the promised source of Israel’s righteousness, so He is the source of righteousness for believers today.

V. The Shepherd Leads in Paths of Righteousness (B)

B. Following the ShepherdBrings Righteousness

All those who will follow the Good Shepherd in fulfilling the righteousness of God’s law will inherit eternal life. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus was willing to give His life for the sheep. Therefore, all who would follow Him must be willing to lay down their lives through serving others.

V. The Shepherd Leads in Paths of Righteousness (B)

True Christianity is demonstrating the love of God through mercy and forgiveness. If we are to follow Christ’s example, we must bear no ill will toward our neighbors. Rather, by longsuffering and patience we are to bear one another’s burdens and exalt the name of Jesus through our actions.

VI. The Shepherd Is Always Present (A-C)

The Shepherd Is Always Present

A. Origin of Jehovah-shammahGod is an omnipresent and eternal Spirit. He always has been universally present, and He shall be throughout eternity. As the Good Shepherd, the Lord will never forsake His people. Whenever danger comes to them, He is faithful to fight their battles and protect them from destruction.

Ezekiel prophesied that God would dwell in the midst of the tribes of Israel as Jehovah-shammah, “The LORD is there,” which would be the name of Jerusalem (Ezekiel 48:35). God always has desired to dwell among His people so that He could fellowship with His creation.

Just as the shepherd found companionship with his sheep, and the sheep found comfort in his presence, God tabernacled Himself in flesh that He might live among His people and redeem them. Now, through the indwelling presence of the Holy Ghost, He abides with us to lead us and guide us in the way of truth.

B. He Promised Moses He Would Be with Him

After the Lord plagued the Israelites because of the golden calf, He told Moses to continue leading the people to the Promised Land. God refused to go up in the midst of the people because of their stubbornness and rebellion.

When Israel heard this, they wept and stripped themselves of their ornaments. When Moses went into the Tabernacle to talk to the Lord concerning the people, God appeared unto Moses in a cloudy pillar, and all the people arose and worshiped the Lord as they watched from their tents.

In that meeting with the Lord, Moses received the assurance of His divine presence on the way to the Promised Land. God spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to a friend, and Moses urged the Lord to lead them. In response to his request, God promised to go before Israel and to go with Moses because he had found favor with the Lord. God said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest” (Exodus 33:14).

C. He Never Leaves Us

Jesus promised His disciples that He would never leave them or forsake them. As our Lord and Savior, He will go with us wherever we go. We are never alone because He dwells within us through the Holy Ghost.

We should find comfort in knowing that He will fight our battles because of His love for us. When troubles come and trials test our faith, He is present. He is a friend that is closer to us than our own family, and He sustains and refreshes us with His Spirit in our times of great adversity.

Hebrews 13:5

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5).

The constant presence of God in our lives drives away our doubts and fears when we face difficult moments. We know that He loves us and that He will sustain us during those seasons.

VI. The Shepherd Is Always Present (D)

D. He Blesses Us in the Midst of Trials

Trials only make us stronger because we learn to lean on God. Through each trial and test, our faith grows stronger as we rely on Him to deliver us from our affliction. Our most difficult hours often are crowned with the glory of God’s deliverance and strength. We can be certain that the Good Shepherd will lead us out of the valley of despair if we will follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

VI. The Shepherd Is Always Present (D)

Even when we go astray, our Savior will not abandon us to our enemies, but He will guide us through the instruction of His Word. “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

VII. The Shepherd Will Fight Our Battles (A)

The Shepherd Will Fight Our Battles

A. Origin of Jehovah-nissiIn Exodus 17, God demonstrated His presence with the people of Israel through the leadership of Moses. When God directed him to strike the rock at Mount Horeb (Sinai), Moses obeyed and God gave them water.

Following that, the Amalekites fought against Israel. Moses stood on a hill overlooking the fight against Amalek, and as long as Moses lifted up the rod of God, they prevailed against the Amalekites. Whenever Moses grew weary and he let down the rod, however, Amalek would begin to prevail against Israel. Consequently, Aaron and Hur held up the hands of Moses until the setting of the sun, and Israel was able to finish the battle against Amalek with complete victory.

It was in this setting that the people of Israel discovered that the Lord was their banner, or standard. As long as He was on their side, they could be certain of complete victory.

Exodus 17:14-16“And the LORD said unto Moses,

Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua:

for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under

heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovah-nissi: for he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation” (Exodus 17:14-16).

The Lord was their banner! Throughout Israel’s history, the descendants of Amalek rose up to destroy Israel, but the Lord continued to be the banner of their victory over all their enemies.

Amalek, a descendant of Esau, was the ancestor of the wicked Haman, who plotted the destruction of the Jews, and of the sinister King Herod, who tried to destroy the infant Jesus after the visitation of the wise men at Bethlehem. As long as the Lord is leading His people, nothing can destroy them.

Isaiah 59:19

“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory

from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the

Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

VII. The Shepherd Will Fight Our Battles (B)

B. We Can Do All Things through Him

The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but spiritual and mighty through God (II Corinthians 10:4). The Holy Ghost that dwells within us is our enabler that we might defeat the powers of darkness that war against us. Through faith in God, nothing is impossible if we will call on the name of the Lord.

VII. The Shepherd Will Fight Our Battles (B)

Human wisdom and might are no match for the devil and his imps, but the power that works within us through the Holy Ghost can accomplish more than we can even imagine. Through faith in the name of Jesus Christ, every demon must flee because our strength lies not within ourselves but in the Holy Spirit. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13). The battle is not ours but the Lord’s.

VIII. The Good ShepherdThe Good ShepherdJesus Christ is the Good Shepherd. Further, He is God incarnate, Immanuel, which means “God with us.” As God in flesh, He was able and willing to purchase our redemption by laying down His own life.

VIII. The Good ShepherdBecause He was Jehovah-salvation (Yeshua), Jesus could lay down His life as a sinless, spotless sacrifice for the redemption of lost humanity. Moreover, He had the power to lay His life down and take it up again because He was the Almighty and Creator of heaven and earth.

VIII. The Good ShepherdEvery good and perfect gift comes from God above (James 1:17) who delights in pouring out His blessings on those who love Him. God will not withhold any good thing from those whom He loves. (See Psalm 84:11.)

VIII. The Good ShepherdIt is the desire of God to cause His people to prosper and to be in health. (See III John 2.) Those who trust in Him will not be disappointed, because He is faithful. When we put God first in our lives, He will provide for all our temporal needs according to His Word.

Psalm 34:8

“O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth

in him” (Psalm 34:8).

Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love

God, to them who are the called according to his purpose”

(Romans 8:28).

VIII. The Good ShepherdThe psalmist David expressed his desire to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Indeed, God desires to dwell among the sheep of His pasture. As the shepherd kept watch over his sheep, Jesus, our Good Shepherd, dwells among us to watch over us and care for us.

VIII. The Good ShepherdHe also desires to give us an eternal home in the heavens where we may forever be with Him. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

VIII. The Good ShepherdIn my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

VIII. The Good ShepherdWhen Jesus returns to earth again, He will reward the righteous who have remained faithful to the end. To His faithful servants He will give honor, fellowship, authority, a crown of glory, and an incorruptible body. He will make those who have been faithful over a few things rulers over much, according to the faithfulness of their stewardship.

Matthew 16:27

“For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man

according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).

VIII. The Good ShepherdChrist will reward every good work according to the lovingkindness of God, no matter how great or how small.

ReflectionsWe know that the Good Shepherd will supply all of our needs. His provisions are without limitation, for all that is in heaven and earth belong to Him. His bountiful blessings belong to us who are His people. Like the shepherd leads his sheep through green pastures, Jesus leads His people through places where He may care for their spiritual and material well-being.

ReflectionsAll that we have need of we may find in Jesus Christ. We are confident that He will complete the good work He has begun in our lives. (See Philippians 1:6.) He will lead us and guide us through the wilderness of this world so that we might inherit eternal life. He will be with us and protect us from our enemies, for He is the sustainer of life.

Title Page. Lesson Six Psalm 23:1-5 1 The L ORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to...

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