Bible Study - GOD is --- (5) - Our Shepherd - Psalm 23:1-6 -April 8, 2018

Bible Study – GOD is --- (5) – Our Shepherd – April 8, 2018

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “GOD is --- )

Our focus scripture is Psalm 23:1-6.

GOD guides us as HE walks with us and us with HIM.

Once a person becomes a Christian, through faith in JESUS, JESUS/GOD never leaves him or her. This is because he or she has been born Spiritually into the family of GOD by the Holy Spirit through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth.

How is this possible? Let’s consider human conception. Once a person has been conceived nothing will ever change who his or her biological parents are. A person may leave home and change his or her name but he or she will always be the child of his or her earthly father and mother.

As Christians encounter life, they build a relationship with JESUS and GOD. In our focus scripture, we get to see into the mind of David and his expression of his relationship with GOD. Such an expression comes from interacting with GOD and GOD interacting with him as he journeyed through life. There will be ups and downs but GOD will never abandon us. Once you are GOD’S child, you are always GOD’S child.

One key thought is that when we are GOD’S children our desire needs to be to get to know HIM more and more each day by studying HIS Word, prayer, obediently serving HIM and worshiping with fellow Christians.

As GOD’S Son or Daughter, our natural desire is to be fed Spiritually. How are Christians fed and how do they thrive? JESUS said it best in John 15: 1-5:

1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 

2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 

3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 

4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 

5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 

Nutrients flow through the vine, JESUS, and Christians are grafted into the vine through the miracle of rebirth.

I have printed our focus scripture in both the Holman and New King James Translations. The message is the same. Let’s explore!

Our focus scripture is a Psalm written by David.

Let’s read Psalm 23:1-3:

A Davidic psalm.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. 

2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 

3 He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name's sake. (Holman)

David expressed his relationship with GOD/YAHWEH which resulted from David’s walk with GOD through the ups and downs in his life, which spanned from being a shepherd boy to adulthood. Notice in verse one, the LORD (YAHWEH) is my shepherd. Ground zero is knowing the one true GOD/YAHWEH through faith and confirmed through relationship.

Abraham knew and trusted GOD and by faith believed in GOD. As recorded in Genesis 15:6:

6 Abram believed the Lord, and He credited it to him as righteousness.

Abraham had faith in GOD and David had faith in GOD. How is faith defined? It is a dual, dynamic relationship. Since the passion of JESUS, we know that faith in JESUS guarantees the right relationship with GOD. How?

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:5:

5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit (Holy Spirit) as a guarantee.

David had the assurance that GOD was his shepherd. There was no doubt in David’s mind that GOD had a personal relationship with him and he had a personal relationship with GOD. That is exactly the relationship GOD desires for us to have with HIM, which Christians have as guaranteed by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Do you know that GOD is your shepherd? Since GOD’S only Son, JESUS, was born 100% human and willingly gave HIS physical life by the shedding of HIS blood and was resurrected by GOD, the only way to GOD is through faith in JESUS.

In John 14:5-6 – JESUS was speaking to HIS disciple Thomas:

5 "Lord," Thomas said, "we don't know where You're going. How can we know the way?" 

6 Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

David knew what was expected of him as a shepherd and he saw these same attributes in GOD as his shepherd. A shepherd would lay down his life for his sheep. The shepherd was to:

-      Care or tend for his sheep

-      Protect his sheep

-      Lead his sheep carefully and safely

-      Corral his sheep, especially at night and even lay across the entrance to the corral. Nothing could get to his sheep without going through him.

-      Make certain that his sheep were fed, watered and nursed

-      Rescued his sheep when they wandered. Sheep would wander off searching for green grass.

-      Search for his lost sheep

-      Knew his sheep by name

The shepherd provides for all the needs for the sheep, thus the sheep need nothing. Their role was to be obedient to the shepherd. The shepherd directed the activities of the sheep. He plans rest, grazing and water breaks for the sheep. He selects still or quiet waters for them to drink because sheep do not drink from moving water.  The shepherd orchestrates breaks to rejuvenate their willingness to obediently follow the shepherd. This is building trust between the sheep and the shepherd. The shepherd has a vested interest in tending the sheep and assuring their safety, wellbeing so they can serve their intended purpose.

Do you see how this reflects the relationship GOD has in mind for us as HIS children? It would be wonderful if we, as Christians, could be sprinkled with magic Spiritual dust and instantly find ourselves in this ideal relationship. But that is not how it works.

As we function in life, if we are not Christians, GOD is very much involved in our lives to lead us to a saving knowledge of HIS only Son, JESUS. As Christians, HE is seeking to build a personal, dynamic relationship with us through the issues we encounter in life and seek solutions as we obediently walk with HIM.

Often, as Christians, we expect our lives to run smooth as silk because we are Christians. The issues in life cause us to either turn more toward JESUS or turn away from HIM. I am the first to admit that it is no fun going through this team building process with GOD but often necessary based upon our human nature. The issues we encounter in life are designed to root out the false and to reinforce that which is true.

Let’s read our scripture again in the New King James translation and apply it to the issues we encounter in our life experiences:

A Psalm of David

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

(NKJV) 

“For His name’s sake” is GOD’S promise to see HIS children to completion.

First, each person must have a personal relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Then, GOD provides for our needs, makes us take a pause in life, leads us be refreshed, when we are refreshed, HE restores our vigor to obediently serve HIM, which draws us closer to HIM in the right relationship.

Let’s read Psalm 23:4-5:

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, 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. (Holman)

When we are in right relationship with GOD, we can face the dark issues in life. We do not fear these dark times when they come into our lives but face them with confidence. Why? It is because GOD is with us and we trust HIM because HE has the power and wisdom to see us to a wonderful conclusion. HE is armed with HIS Rod and Staff.

The shepherd’s rod was a club about 2 feet long used to fight off the wild animals or thieves that would harm or steal the sheep. His staff was used to guide and rescue the sheep. This relationship produced such a secure environment that we can celebrate GOD’S care by relaxing and enjoying a sumptuous banquet of this realization in the middle of what others would see as chaos. The victory is won and rewarded by the actions of GOD for all to see. When we behold HIS care and victory, we overflow with unspeakable joy.

What do you think GOD’S rod and staff are from a Spiritual point of view? Could GOD’S Word be HIS rod and could the Holy Spirit be HIS staff?

When we realize GOD’S power, care and guidance, we can truly rejoice with overflowing praise in the midst of life because GOD is our protector. This joy is the result of building a trusting relationship with GOD. 

Now, let’s read the New King James Version:

4 Yea, 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 runs over. (NKJV)

This trusting relationship results in -----

Let’s read Psalm 23:6:

6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live. (Holman)

Building such a relationship with GOD, through faith in JESUS, assures us that no matter what life brings our way, GOD reigns supreme in our lives. We have no fear or hesitation in obediently following GOD each day as we continue our journey to dwell eternally in Heaven. But while we are upon earth, we will know that we dwell in the house of the LORD. We have no fear or doubt whether we are in our earth suits/human body upon earth or we exit our earth suits in physical death, we dwell in the presence of GOD.

Let’s read the New Kings James version:

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. (NKJV)

This is the process of sanctification. Every Christian is fully equipped at the instant of salvation with all he or she needs to be fully sanctified or made into a saint. The issues we encounter in life motivate us to turn inward to mine the treasure that GOD has placed in us to be discovered as we journey through life upon earth. Is it easy? No, it can be very difficult but the discovery of the precious stones and metals mined bring unspeakable joy and confirm our relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

When we study the life of King David, we see the various issues he faced in his life’s journey. Yes, he sinned and he repented, and the results of his sins impacted lives.  GOD punished him. Yet, he was a man after GOD’S heart. Christians sin and GOD forgives when sins are confessed but the consequences for sins may not be removed.

How would you define your relationship with GOD through your faith in JESUS? If you wrote such a Psalm what would the words be? In fact we are writing such a Psalm or a book in the Bible of our lives each day.  

“You are writing a Gospel,
A chapter each day,
By deeds that you do,
By words that you say.

Men read what you write,
Whether faithless or true;
Say, what is the Gospel
According to you?”― Paul B. Gilbert 

Blessings!!!