The 23rd Psalm from a Sheep's Perspective

[Music] the 23rd psalm from a sheep's perspective Psalm number 23 was written by King David possibly looking back over his life and old age to when he had been a shepherd as the young boy David lived almost a thousand years before Christ throughout the Bible God and in particular Jesus is presented as the great Shepherd and believers as his sheep as a city kid who grew up in late twentieth century America my first-hand experience with sheep is limited but it's a student of the Bible I know them to be skittish dim-witted animals in constant need of care and protection well this much is true there is a lot more to appreciate in the imagery of the thumb as we honor God's loving vigilance over us let's look at it together the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want a better way to put this might be I have everything that I need in the sheep's case is food water rest and a shepherd who knows where to find these things he makes me lie down in green pastures sheep will not lie down when they're hungry the terrain of Israel is rugged and hilly wilderness and the climate is arid a good Shepherd must know where to find a new safe place for his flock to graze each day and the best way to lead them there which may be a fairly long walk but the Sheep do not worry about having grass for the next day they trust their Shepherd will provide he leads me beside still waters a sheep will not drink from a fast-moving stream so sometimes the Shepherd must temporarily dam the water thus making it still so the animals can drink he restores my soul he leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake cheaper better led than driven they willingly follow their Shepherds gentle voice when driven from behind it's often chaos sheep move directly to the Shepherd unmindful of obstacles in the way it is the Shepherd's responsibility to lead the sheep in long straight zigzags up and down the hills avoiding any hazards in Hebrew the word for street is the same as the one for righteous thus has of righteousness we must know God's voice and follow him alone when we wander off following a new exciting path like sheep will often get into trouble moving on even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil for you are with me this valley of darkness can be any difficult experience in life that makes it the freight including depression and even death sheep do not see very well especially in the dark and the presence of the Shepherd decide that makes them calm your rod and your staff they comfort me a rod is a relatively short club or cudgel used for fending off predators like lions and hungry wolves a staff or crook was not only the Shepherds walking stick but used to lean on during long hours on watch it was used to guide the Sheep get their attention when they were in need of correction and rescue them from thickets deep water and ravines when they'd wandered off knowing that the Shepherd had the tools and power to defend and rescue the Sheep must have been a comfort you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies a table by definition is a long flat surface from a sheep's point of view it is not a piece of furniture but a flat place in the hill country where the Sheep could eat and rest think of a Mesa which in Spanish actually means table enemies like wolves are always lying in wait even when we think we're in a safe place the Shepherd is always vigilant among the Sheep not only for predators but also closely inspecting them for injury and for sickness for meeting poisonous plants you anoint my head with oil my cup overflows the Shepherd rubbed olive oil on the heads and horns of the Sheep keeping the flies and other insects away a large two handled Shepherd's cup carved from a single piece of wood which used to bring water to thirsty sheep only goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life follow in this case means to pursue God doesn't wait for us to come to him but pursues or seeks us out because it is his pleasure to do good things for us and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever this means not just all the days of our earthly life but in heaven with the Lord for eternity you will discover many more meanings in the words of the song each time you study it just like you will find new illumination every time you immerse yourself in God's Word [Music] you [Music]

Channel: A Source of Encouragement

Views: 36,543

Keywords: iMovie, rod and staff comfort me, prepare a table before me, you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows, I shall not want, Psalm 23, Psalm of David, David, sheep, lamp, wolf, sheep fold, paths of righteousness

Id: GJId9-0BeEs

Length: 5min 32sec (332 seconds)

Published: Thu Oct 10 2019