Psalms 23:1-6 (ESV) 1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Yahweh is my shepherd:

• Who is leading you?
• Yourself?
• Your friends?
• Your culture?
• I AM BEING LED THROUGH LIFE BY YAHWEH!

I shall not want:

• “There will be no lack”
  • Psalm 34:10 (NLT) — 10 Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.
  • Psalm 84:11 (NLT) — 11 For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.
• Preach to yourself - I shall not want! 

Three Scenes:

1. The field - I’m CARED for
   1. He makes me lie down in green pastures - My physical needs are met
      1. “Makes” is a forceful, not passive word. 
      2. God will bring you into a place of abundance, you will not need to trust yourself.
   2. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. - My spiritual needs are met
      1. Your soul needs restoration. Life is hard. The good Shepherd will lead you to a place of restoration for you soul. 
   3. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. - My directional needs are met.
      1. He WILL lead you. Don’t worry about that. 
      2. His paths will be perfect. 
      3. “For His name’s sake” - means that He will get the glory in your path. 
2. The valley - I’m COVERED
   1. The focus of this point is hardship. 
   2. I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
      1. I will not fear! 
      2. No evil - Absolutly nothing! 
   3. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 
      1. Rod was used for protection
      2. Staff was used for guidance and correction
3. The banquet - I’m CROWNED
   1. The focus of this point is promotion, elevation, vindication. 
   2. A table in the presence of my enemies 
      1. A table is a place of friendship, joy, conversation.
      2. A table is a supposed to be a relaxed environment
      3. There can be no greater statement of dominance than to enjoy a meal in the presence of enemies. It means that you are absolutely unafraid. 
      4. There is not greater vindication than your enemies having to watch you enjoy a banquet with God. 
   3. An anointed head
      1. David’s brothers watched him get anointed. 
   4. An overflowing cup

Concluding thought:

• Goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
• Goodness - Good things, abundance
• Mercy - HESED - covenetnal unfailing love will follow me.
  • A mother’s love will follow me. 
  • God’s not about to give up on you anytime soon.

He restores my soul - He turns us back to a place.