Psalm 23:5 Sermon Notes

Psalm 23:5

Follow Me: The Lord is my Shepherd

David is in a situation that is desperate, but he is completely confident in his Shepherd and he is at peace in his heart. As the Lord has been faithful to him in the past, David believes the Lord will continue to be faithful. He’s been through too much with the Lord to stop believing in Him and to quit living for Him. Today we will learn just how David believes the Lord is being faithful to him in the present moment, and we can apply it to our own lives. READ TEXT

I. ”You prepare." David is commenting on the reality that Jesus brings and/or allows every circumstance to come to him. There is a divine purpose for instruction, discipline, strength and faith building in every situation and relationship we experience or are involved in. Jesus also "prepares us" by allowing us to witness the faithfulness or lack there of in others whom we come into contact with during life's journey.

Two possibilities of meaning for "Table" in verse 5. 1) an actual table where a meal was provided. 2) a flat place in the mountains and hills was called a table. It was a great place to rest the sheep after a hard climb (battle). 

II. ”In the presence of my enemies." The shepherd brought the sheep back to the fold each evening. It was usually a circular stone walled structure with a small entrance way that the sheep would go through one at a time. The shepherd placed himself in that small opening during the night, even as he slept. Any enemy of the shepherd, any thief, any wild animal looking for a free meal would have to go through the shepherd to get to the sheep. No where in Scripture does it say that or did God promise to remove our enemies, but He does promise that we can overcome them, experience victory over them. This gives me a mental picture of being engaged in a fight and winning. Fights aren't clean and pretty, nor are they easy. You hit and get hit. You bleed when you're in a real fight. Soldiers get wounded and need to have medical attention. But in all of this King Jesus is with us. "He has overcome already all those things that come against us.

The good man has his enemies. He would not be like his Lord if he had not. If we were without enemies we might fear that we were not the friends of God, for the friendship of the world is enmity to God. (Spurgeon)

We tend to be frightened when confronted with an enemy. Perfect love casts out all fear. "In the midst of the storm, you remain in control. In the middle of the war, you are guard my soul. You alone are the anchor when the sails are torn. Your love surrounds me, in the eye of the storm."

III. ”Anoint my head with oil." The shepherd would apply oil and ointment to the heads of the sheep to keep flies and biting insects away. It was protection on one hand and healing on the other. Many commentators point to the NT and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit in the life of each believer and the church. The Holy Spirit is here to guide us, protect us, guard us, comfort us, mend what’s broken, strengthen what is weak, confront what is sinful, bless what is godly.

The sheep were always secure when the shepherd was close at hand.

IV. ”My cup overflows." It's not that you have too little or just enough when you follow King Jesus as your shepherd. Walking His paths and trust His heart will lead you to a cup that is full and overflowing. Notice that the verb is present tense. It is currently overflowing which indicates that the one pouring into the cup has no plans to stop pouring. James 1:5, Prov. 3:5-10, Luke 6:38, II Cor. 9:8-12.

Don’t forget, don’t allow the enemy to steal away from you the reality of the faithfulness of God toward you. If you walk out of here today with a firm and renewed belief that God has been, is being, and will be faithful to you, your life will be different and you will walk in victory. If you win, Satan loses. He wants to steal that victory from you. He wants you to live defeated. In King Jesus, you are a winner. Claim the victory. Cling to the victory. Lead someone else to victory.