Psalm 23:4-5 (Part 3 of 4)
II. He Looks Out After Our Worries
Our Good Shepherd meets our second need by taking care of our worries. We are afraid of many things in life and death. We have many fears. There is no natural way for sheep to protect themselves. They are scared and shy. They need the shepherd when they go through the "deep, dark valleys."
#1 We Have His Presence
Look at what He does for us to calm our worries and fears. Often, we are afraid of death. In verse 4, pay attention to the phrase "the valley of the shadow of death." Jesus died on the cross for the sheep. Jesus came back to life to defeat sin and death. Jesus took the pain of death. We don't have to be afraid.
In Hebrew, the phrase "valley of the shadow of death" means "valley of deepest darkness." I believe this verse could refer to death, but in Hebrew, it could mean any time of deep discouragement, fear or doubt, physical illness, grief, or loss. He is with us through whatever dark valley we are in. We don't have to be afraid of life, death, or eternity.
We don't have to be afraid because He is with us. Verse 4 says, "Thou art with me." Even when I'm in a dark valley of despair and can't see what the future holds, I know who holds it. I can find peace in Him. Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5). We don't have to be afraid in the deep, dark valleys because He is with us.
#2 We Have His Protection
Verse 4 says that He protects us from our fears. "Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." That's how He protects me. The rod was a stick. Thank God the club wasn't for the sheep! The shepherd had a club to beat off the predators so the sheep could stay safe. David said that a bear tried to get his sheep and that he killed it. He also killed a lion that attempted to attack his sheep. David did everything with a slingshot and faith in God. The sheep could see the rod that was meant to protect them, which made them feel better.
The staff was for guidance. It had a hook on the end, which the shepherd used to bring straying sheep back to the right path.
#3 We Have His Provision
Then, thirdly, He looks out for our ways. We have what He provides us. We don't have to be scared because He is with us, protects us, and gives us what we need. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over," says verse 5.
David talks about the Lord at the end of verse 4, but at the start of verse 5, he talks to the Lord. The picture changes from a shepherd and his sheep to a host and a guest at a party.
It could still be a picture of a shepherd, but it could also be a picture of God as our host, inviting us into His house. In biblical times, when you visited someone, they would pour oil on your head, wash your feet, give you something to wear, and then you would sit down and they would fill your cup. That is a beautiful picture of what God gives us.
This gives us another idea of the Lord Jehovah. The name "Jehovah Jireh" means "God provides." The word "Jireh" means "seeing," which is intriguing because it means "seeing." Whatever God knows and sees, He provides for.
Have you ever needed something and prayed, "God, do you know what's going on down here? Do you know that we can't pay the mortgage this month? Do you see the issues? Do you know what's happening in our lives? Do you know what's going on in my marriage?" You cry out to the Lord. He sees and looks. God's provision is always where God's vision is. They're the same thing. God does something about everything He sees and takes care of it.
You don't have to wonder if God sees what you're going through because He always provides when He does. We call him Jehovah Jireh, which means "the Lord shall provide."
The psalmist said in Psalm 37:25, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread." I like that verse. When I was a young preacher, I couldn't say that because I was still young and hadn't gotten old yet. There are some good things about getting older now. You see things in a new way that you didn't when you were younger. Youth is full of energy, optimism, and uncertainty. As you age, you may experience a shift in perspective, yet you can reflect on the kindness and mercy of God and recognize the lessons you've learned.
How important it is to realize that when you're old, you can look back and see how good God has been in a whole new way. You can then see how He led you, cared for you, and took care of you.
I have often shared the text of Proverbs 3:5-6 with young people: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." He will direct your path, and He won't leave you or let you down. You can count on the Lord. As I age and look back, I can see the hand of God. I've been young, and now I'm old, and I've never seen the righteous "forsaken" or "begging bread."
In Philippians 4:19, Paul said, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This means that if the Lord is your shepherd, you have everything you need and don't have to worry. You have His presence, protection, and provision.
Our Good Shepherd meets our second need by taking care of our worries. We are afraid of many things in life and death. We have many fears. There is no natural way for sheep to protect themselves. They are scared and shy. They need the shepherd when they go through the "deep, dark valleys."
#1 We Have His Presence
Look at what He does for us to calm our worries and fears. Often, we are afraid of death. In verse 4, pay attention to the phrase "the valley of the shadow of death." Jesus died on the cross for the sheep. Jesus came back to life to defeat sin and death. Jesus took the pain of death. We don't have to be afraid.
In Hebrew, the phrase "valley of the shadow of death" means "valley of deepest darkness." I believe this verse could refer to death, but in Hebrew, it could mean any time of deep discouragement, fear or doubt, physical illness, grief, or loss. He is with us through whatever dark valley we are in. We don't have to be afraid of life, death, or eternity.
We don't have to be afraid because He is with us. Verse 4 says, "Thou art with me." Even when I'm in a dark valley of despair and can't see what the future holds, I know who holds it. I can find peace in Him. Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5). We don't have to be afraid in the deep, dark valleys because He is with us.
#2 We Have His Protection
Verse 4 says that He protects us from our fears. "Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me." That's how He protects me. The rod was a stick. Thank God the club wasn't for the sheep! The shepherd had a club to beat off the predators so the sheep could stay safe. David said that a bear tried to get his sheep and that he killed it. He also killed a lion that attempted to attack his sheep. David did everything with a slingshot and faith in God. The sheep could see the rod that was meant to protect them, which made them feel better.
The staff was for guidance. It had a hook on the end, which the shepherd used to bring straying sheep back to the right path.
#3 We Have His Provision
Then, thirdly, He looks out for our ways. We have what He provides us. We don't have to be scared because He is with us, protects us, and gives us what we need. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over," says verse 5.
David talks about the Lord at the end of verse 4, but at the start of verse 5, he talks to the Lord. The picture changes from a shepherd and his sheep to a host and a guest at a party.
It could still be a picture of a shepherd, but it could also be a picture of God as our host, inviting us into His house. In biblical times, when you visited someone, they would pour oil on your head, wash your feet, give you something to wear, and then you would sit down and they would fill your cup. That is a beautiful picture of what God gives us.
This gives us another idea of the Lord Jehovah. The name "Jehovah Jireh" means "God provides." The word "Jireh" means "seeing," which is intriguing because it means "seeing." Whatever God knows and sees, He provides for.
Have you ever needed something and prayed, "God, do you know what's going on down here? Do you know that we can't pay the mortgage this month? Do you see the issues? Do you know what's happening in our lives? Do you know what's going on in my marriage?" You cry out to the Lord. He sees and looks. God's provision is always where God's vision is. They're the same thing. God does something about everything He sees and takes care of it.
You don't have to wonder if God sees what you're going through because He always provides when He does. We call him Jehovah Jireh, which means "the Lord shall provide."
The psalmist said in Psalm 37:25, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread." I like that verse. When I was a young preacher, I couldn't say that because I was still young and hadn't gotten old yet. There are some good things about getting older now. You see things in a new way that you didn't when you were younger. Youth is full of energy, optimism, and uncertainty. As you age, you may experience a shift in perspective, yet you can reflect on the kindness and mercy of God and recognize the lessons you've learned.
How important it is to realize that when you're old, you can look back and see how good God has been in a whole new way. You can then see how He led you, cared for you, and took care of you.
I have often shared the text of Proverbs 3:5-6 with young people: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." He will direct your path, and He won't leave you or let you down. You can count on the Lord. As I age and look back, I can see the hand of God. I've been young, and now I'm old, and I've never seen the righteous "forsaken" or "begging bread."
In Philippians 4:19, Paul said, "But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This means that if the Lord is your shepherd, you have everything you need and don't have to worry. You have His presence, protection, and provision.