His Sheep Am I

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by elizabethaudet

by elizabethaudet

   Psalm 23 is a Royal Psalm. It is prophetical of Jesus as the Good Shepherd whose flock Trust Him. (John 10:7-18; King-Luke 23:2-3; LAMB-Revelation 17:14). There are two movements in Psalm 23. The Lord as my Shepherd caring for the sheep in verses 1-4; and the Lord as my Shepherd extending mercy for all in verses 5-6.
   David was a Shepherd so he understood the ways a Shepherd used to care for his sheep. (1 Samuel 16:11-13). Imagine David's surprise! One minute he is killing flies in the pasture, and then next he is getting oil poured over his head and told God has chosen him as king over Israel!   After the anointing he returned to his sheep to care for them. No thunder clap, no musical encore, no lightening flashes, just oil over his head and a promise. But David was not a self-serving person but a God-serving person. Beyond what he could see, God was moving in mysterious ways and this was proving it. God provides for His children suddenly and without ceremony. God's selection is sovereign and sure. David, the Shepherd boy, gazed at his reflection in the pool of water; he doesn't see a nobody Shepherd boy; he sees the person God created him to be; he is looking at a king!
   His care of the sheep entailed leading the sheep, as an Oriental Shepherd never drove his sheep. He led them, as they loved him and followed him willingly. He sought out the best place for them to graze on grass. The best water holes where the water didn't rush by scaring them as it pounded on its way over the rocks. Sometimes this required him to dig out an area beside the stream so it would fill with water. He spent some nights with them in the fields, awake to protect them from becoming prey to the lions, bears, or wolves. David sang to them as he played his harp beside the fields of grass. He bound up their wounds, bruises from rocks and scratches from briars or attacks from bugs, snakes, or animals. He knew them all by name. He searched for any who strayed until he found them.his rod was used to punish them or to drive off preying animals. He brought the stray, wounded, or sick back to the fold carrying them in his arms. He defended them at the cost of his own life. He slept before the sheepfold when they were penned up for protection. He used the staff to walk among them and to lift or move them from danger on slopes or rocky precipices. He examined them carefully, picking bugs, leaves, and briars or any other foreign object from their coats before bedding them down for the night.
   The word Shepherd was also a title given to a king who shepherded his people; David was both!
Let's study Psalm 23:1-4 all together from (NCV)and 5-6-(TEV)-I choose to use a personal study outline form for this chapter:
I. "The Lord is my    Shepherd;" (Isaiah 40:11).
"I have everything I need." (Philippians 4:19)
A. I shall not want rest-
1. "He let's me rest in green pastures."
a. Ezekiel 34:14
   B. I shall not want refreshment-
   1. "He leads me to calm waters."
   a. Revelations 7:17
   C. I shall not want restoration-
   1. "He gives me new strength."
   a. Psalms 5:8; 31:3
   D. I shall not want counsel-
   1. "He leads me on paths that are right for the good of His Name."
   a. John 10:14. (He is the Good Shepherd)
E. I shall not want companionship-
1. "Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid because YOU ARE WITH ME."
   a. Job 3:5; 10:21-22; 24:17
   b. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
F. I shall not want comfort-
1. "Your rod and Your walking stick comfort me."
   a. The rod was used for correction and against enemy
   b. The staff was used for walking as well as protection and care.
G. I shall not want provision-
1. "You prepare a banquet for me, where all my enemies can see me;"
a. Psalms 92:8-9; 104:14-15
H. I shall not want power-
1. "You welcome me by pouring ointment on my head and filling my cup to the brim."
   a. Psalm 92:10
I. I shall not want anything here-
1. "Surely goodness and love will be with me as long as I live;"
   a. Proverbs 15:24; Hebrews 9:14
J. I shall not want anything hereafter-
1. "And YOUR HOUSE WILL BE MY HOUSE FOREVER."
   a. Psalms16:9-11; 17:15; 49;15

Now we have the essence of Psalm 23 in a nutshell.
I SHALL NOT WANT! I HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED-I SHALL NOT WANT FOR REST, REFRESHMENT, RESTORATION, COUNSEL, COMPANIONSHIP, COMFORT, PROVISION, POWER, ANYTHING HERE, OR ANYTHING HEREAFTER!
   It is all up to my choice: DO I ACCEPT JESUS CHRIST AS MY GOOD SHEPHERD OR NOT?
I will close this Psalm withHebrews 10:19-23:
   WHEREFORE BRETHREN, HAVING BOLDNESS TO ENTER THE HOLIEST BY THE BLOOD OF JESUS BY A NEW AND LIVING WAY WHICH HE CONSECRATED FOR US, THROUGH THE VEIL THAT IS, HIS FLESH, AND HAVING A HIGH PRIEST, OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART IN FULL ASSURANCE OF FAITH, HAVING OUR HEARTS SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE AND OUR BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER. LET US HOLD FAST THE CONFESSION OF OUR HOPE WITHOUT WAVERING, FOR HE WHO HAS PROMISED IS FAITHFUL."

HE IS OUR GOOD SHEPHERD LEADING US TO THE HEAVENLY FOLD IN GOD'S PRESENCE!

PRAISE AND WORSHIP TO OUR SHEPHERD!

   Next time...