Title: Jehovah Is My Shepherd
Contents
Psalm 23 is David's famous psalm that we can recite.
Therefore, the poem of the text is often parodied when it shows the benefit of something else.
Yes) Golf is my shepherd...
TV is my shepherd...
Ex) Gyeongsang-do/ Jeolla-do version
Through the contents of this text, this morning, I am going to tell you three things.
First, God must be my shepherd.
Verse 1 sings, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
In order to have a life without lack, Jehovah God must be my shepherd.
As David recalls his past life, he spends his youth as a shepherd, thinking and confessing the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep.
What are the characteristics of sheep?
It's that they can't find their own way because they have bad eyesight.
Just as Jesus said to us like sheep, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Sheep have no defense.
We are sheep, so to speak.
We have no ability to defend ourselves and no means to live on our own.
Therefore, what we most need is a shepherd.
The ancient Puritans said, "God's people find peace when they live by God and not by themselves."
In fact, we often think we can do something for ourselves.
But sooner or later, he discovers his own powerlessness.
As the philosopher Russell put it, “Man seems to be strong enough to conquer the universe, but sometimes he is a feeble being who cannot control his own body.”
Therefore, only when our hearts return to God and receive His guidance and protection are we safe and at peace. Augustine's first words of confession after returning to God are meaningful.
“God, there is no satisfaction or peace until we are in your arms, for you made us humans for you.”
That's right.
We humans find satisfaction and peace only when we return to God.
Sheep are dependent animals.
The same goes for us Christians.
Therefore, when we say, “God is my shepherd,” he enjoys the blessings that come because he trusts in God.
Moreover, it is meaningful to say that “God is my shepherd”.
Not our shepherd, but my shepherd.
In other words, your relationship with God is a personal relationship.
Neither the parents' shepherd nor the wife's shepherd is useless.
I must make you my shepherd.
Second, it is always protecting you.
Verse 4: “Even 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 comfort me.”
If God is with you and protects you, even the place of death or the lion's den is all right.
In 1 Samuel 17, David is confident in his battle with Goliath.
Where did that power come from?
1 Samuel 17:34-35 "David said to Saul, "If your servant is guarding his father's sheep, and a lion or a bear comes and robs the young from the flock,
I followed and struck it and rescued the young from its mouth; and if it arose and wanted to harm me, I took its beard and struck it to death.”
A huge Goliath is standing in front of the reality of today, but God's grace and victory, which saved him from the claws of terrifying beasts and bears in the past, made David stand proudly before the trembling Goliath.
Richard Gaylord, in his book 'The Seven Spiritual Secrets of Successful People', has an incident where David put five slingshots in his pocket (1 Samuel 17:40). In addition to Goliath, he prepared five Explain that you picked up a stone
As proof of this, 2 Samuel 21:22 is quoted as saying, “These four men, the sons of the grandest of Gath, died by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.”
Everyone!
How are we?
In today's reality, what attitude should we take when we are faced with a problem like a giant Goliath?
Yesterday's small victory, the grace of experiencing God can destroy today's Goliath.
Furthermore, it demands an attitude of faith to prepare for the time called tomorrow.
Third, He allows us to dwell in the house of God forever.
Verse 6: “Surely goodness and kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
‘House of Jehovah’ here means the church and the kingdom of God.
Ex) experience in migration
Living in a foreign country as a foreigner is never easy.
However, we received the visa to enter the eternal kingdom of heaven as a gift through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This is the culmination of God's love that cannot be expressed in any words.
Also, through the church, you can meet God, worship, the Word, fellowship, and give praise.
David's life was full of sorrow, disappointment, and frustration.
In the midst of this, he came to know God. God knows the needs of his children and provides them abundantly, revitalizes our souls, and casts out all fears.
With the God he knew, David was convinced that the sun would surely shine brightly tomorrow, even when he saw dark clouds on the horizon.
The Lord also said to his beloved disciples, “Look! I will always be with you, even to the end of the world.”
Organize your words.
The beginning of the text begins with “Yeohwa is my shepherd”.
And David concludes:
“I Will Abide In The House Of The Lord Forever”
Even if our lives are sometimes in a situation where it seems that a tsunami is coming, rather than a green pasture, if you have this kind of confession to you, God will help you overcome it.
“Jehovah is my shepherd…”
If God becomes your shepherd, you will be able to overcome today's hardships and pains just like David did, and you will experience God's grace to prepare you for the future, and the peace of God's kingdom will abound.