In the deepest recesses there are hungers that people cannot satisfy. The 23rd Psalm is one of the greatest pieces of literature in the world. It is used in many weddings and funerals. This familiarity could breed contempt. When David wrote this there were many “gods” in the lands but David refers to “Thee”. The Lord is “My God”. The Lord God is a personal God.

1 – Our Sovereign God (vs. 1)

This word “LORD” is a translation of the word that is the most sacred word for God, “Jehovah”. He is the great I am, the self existing one. It was whispered only once a year by the high priest. The LORD is my shepherd. He is the same one who made the world and everything in it. He is the great I am.

2 – Our Shepherd God (vs. 1)

The Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament. Jesus is the good shepherd. It was Jesus that David was talking about. It speaks of the humanity and sympathy of the LORD. Jesus is described three times in the New Testament.

• The good shepherd (lies down his life for his sheep – John 10).
• The great shepherd (He arose for the sheep. What good is a dead shepherd? He dealt with sin and can lead us in the ways of righteousness – Hebrews 13).
• The chief shepherd – the ministry of Jesus. He is coming to take us back home – 1 Peter 5:4.

I shall not want. Things will never satisfy you. You need to desire the things of God for satisfaction. You will be like a fish out of water unless you know what God has for mankind. The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Is the Lord your shepherd? How can you know?

Is the shepherd your Lord? It is a personal relationship with the shepherd. It is a permanent relationship with the shepherd. A shepherd loses sheep but Jesus never loses a sheep, even when one goes astray. Eternal salvation cannot be lost in 50 years. It is permanent because it is a protected relationship. If you are saved by grace you are kept by grace. The Lord is my shepherd; I’ve got all I want!

Categories: Psalms