 6 verses words  Written by a king but has not remained in the possession of royalty  Has 17 personal pronouns “I” “me” “my” “mine”  Christianity is personal  Favorite text of many

“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. Psalms 23:1-2 David’s needs would be provided God will provide for our every need Neh. 9:21 “…and they lacked nothing.” Ps. 37:25 “…not seen the righteous forsaken” Matt. 6:31-33 “…all these things shall be added to you.”

His Shepherd figure of speech Spiritual as well as physical "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” Eph 1:3 "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

“He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” Psalms 23:3 A good shepherd leads to food and out of danger John 10:3-4 “the sheep follow him” Paths of righteousness Man cannot lead himself - Jer. 10:23 “I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps”

God does not force He Leads He never leads into places of danger and sin God Leads us Through His Word “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word” Ps. 119:9 ESV. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Ps 119:105 2 Tim. 3:16-17

“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.” Ps. 23:4 David would not be afraid -- Because God was with him God will protect us Ps. 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the Lord…” Heb. 2:14-15 “…deliver all those…” Rev. 14:13 “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.”

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 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.” Ps. 23:5-6 God had been kind to David God has been good to us also - blessings abound James 1:17 NKJV “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, …”

“my cup runneth over” Good things provided by Jehovah “all the days of my life” Looks forward to living a good life A foretaste of what was to come “Dwell in the house of the Lord forever” In his time was the Tabernacle Reward in heaven

1. 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. 6. 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.

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Morning February 17, 2013