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Verse 1 – The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The LORD is my shepherd. This is the one and only LORD. This is the creator of the entire universe. This is the LORD that sets up kings and takes them down. This is the judge of the entire world. This is the one and only Saviour of this entire world. There is no king like my king. There is no Saviour like my Saviour. There is none that has mercy like my God.

The LORD is my shepherd. The word LORD means the eternal Jehovah, the eternal creator. This is not some false god made of stone, but a living breathing KING. My LORD has absolute control of everything that happens on this earth. My LORD also has absolute control over me and every situation of my life. Nothing happens to me that God does not know about, control and work for my good and his eternal glory.

The LORD is my shepherd. My LORD is not trying to be my LORD. He is my LORD. My LORD will not be my LORD only in the future, but is my LORD now!

The LORD is my shepherd. My LORD is a very special LORD to me because he is a very personal LORD. My LORD watches over me as an individual. My LORD answers my prayers personally, and works various circumstances to bring about his will in my life.

The LORD is my shepherd.

a. As my Shepherd, my LORD rules over me, not with a rod of iron, but with tender mercies and graces.

b. My LORD guides me in my life. All I need to do is follow wherever he leads. He will never lead me into wickedness or sin. He will never lead me toward harm or danger. There may be danger present, but my LORD will always protect me from that danger. Like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were cast into the burning fiery furnace, God will keep me safe and will walk with me during that danger so everybody will know he is with me.

c. As my Shepherd, my LORD feeds me with good food. My LORD not only provides my daily necessities, he also provides spiritual food for me that others know not of. Christ in John 4:32, was filled physically because the woman at the well was saved. There were people who followed Christ because they ate what he provided for them, and God will provide physical food for us, but the most important food is not physical, but spiritual.

d. My LORD also protects me. Like David who was a shepherd and protected his flock from the lion and the bear, Jesus protects me.

e. My LORD loves me and desires the very best for me, therefore he chastens me. My LORD is not mean to me when he chastens me, but is merciful and pitiful toward me when he chastens me, never hurting me, but always getting my attention so I can willingly yield myself to him.

f. For all these things my Shepherd does for me, he compels me to do the following for him.

1) I willingly follow my Shepherd because I know he will always lead me in the right way, to the right place, in the right time, for the right purpose, for my benefit and his eternal glory.

2) I willingly obey the commands of my Shepherd. His commands are not grievous to me, but pleasant. I am not forced to obey his commands, but love to be obedient to all his commands. I do not want to yield myself to my own desires and pleasures, but my pleasures is to do his will and obey as close as I can.

3) I love my Shepherd, not because I chose him, but because he chose me. I know my Shepherd loved me before I ever loved him, or knew him. I love the love of my Shepherd, because his love toward me is perfect, without any fault, and is consistent, pure, and more than I can ever know. My Shepherd loved me before the foundation of the world. I did not have to do anything to make my Shepherd love me, nor do I have to anything to make him continue to love me. My Shepherd loved me because I am me, not because of anything I do, have done, or will do.

4) I trust my Shepherd. He always leads me correctly, protects me from danger, and supplies all my necessities and luxuries. If my Shepherd does not supply what I think I need, when I think I need it, it is because I do not need it. As Christ appeared to be four days late getting to Lazarus, he sometimes appears to be late attending to my necessities. But he is not ever late. He is always right on time.

1. I know I am a "sheep" and not a "goat". It is not because of any good I have done, but because there are many things I have tried to do that God will not let me get away with.

I remember not paying my tithes one time when I was still living at home with my parents, because I thought I had to buy tires. My dad told me God would take care of that and he did. I had to buy more tires right away, and I determined I would pay my tithes on time from then on.

I remember washing my car on Sunday afternoon. Everybody else was washing their cars and mowing their grass and doing all sorts of other stuff. I do not know what happened, but I blew out two mufflers on the way to church services that evening.

I remember taking a job where I had to work on Sunday and miss services to work. I stepped through a metal grating about 10:00 a.m. one Sunday morning and missed a month of work.

I have seen many people do many things I could not do because I now God would chasten me for it.

I have seen many Christian people continue to go to church and worship God even though they were persecuted by family members, and sometimes even suffered sexual abuse from church leaders. These dear people have rejected the false teachers, but somehow cannot stay away from services, or use their abused past life as an excuse to not attend services and worship God.

Verse 2 – He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

1. God makes me lie down in green pastures. He forces me to take rest from the business of this life, when I do not think I should take it.

2. God provides green pastures for me, not burnt withered grass.

3. God leads me beside the still waters, not roaring, turbulent waters. Still waters refers to deep settled waters, plenty of good water for me to relax by.

Verse 3 – He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Only God can restore and refresh my soul. I get so tired in this life, but being with Christ refreshes me, and give me encouragement to face another day. Without the encouragement of the Lord and without his constant, consistent leadership, I would surely get exhausted with this world and give up on serving him.

God always leads me in the paths of righteousness. He never leads me into sin or wickedness. God understands that sin and wickedness leads to destruction and death. James 1:15 states, Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. I willingly follow sin and reap the consequences of disobedience, but the blessings of God continually give life, hope and fellowship with righteousness.

I am on the path of righteousness because of God’s continual leadership. Matthew 7:13,14 speaks of two paths. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. God commands all to enter in at the strait gate, the single way of living that is pleasing to God. Many go through the wide gate, the broad way that leads to destruction, but that path is not for true believers. There are few that find the right way, because that way is completely against our sinful natures.

I am on the path of righteousness for his name’s sake, not my name’s sake. Much religion today preaches "follow Christ and you will have all good things". Christ declares we should follow him for his name’s sake, not for any benefit we might receive. Following Christ for his name’s sake involves giving up our elusions of grandeur, prosperity and the "good life", dedicating ourselves completely to Christ and allowing him to give us what he considers best; even if that is not what we consider best.

Verse 4 - Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

If Christ does not come in the rapture, I will walk, not run, not shuffle, not fall, not jump through the valley of the shadow of death. Walk indicates a purposeful action on my part, an action forward, that is another part of life. I will not be surprised by death when it comes, but will welcome it as one more trial of this life from which I, by the power of God upon me, shall emerge victorious.

Death is a valley to be sure. It is a low place as far as this flesh is concerned. Christ did not make death, but death came as a result of rebellion against his command. Death is surely "unnatural" as the body is made by God to continue living, without even sickness. Today, we look down upon death from the mountain peak of health and the good life. But there is soon coming a day when we will walk down into the valley of the shadow of death. We will feel the coolness of that low place, but even in that valley, we will have the peace and confidence of God, because he said he would never leave us, nor forsake us.

The valley of the shadow of death. Believers will walk through the valley, to be sure, but we will not be hurt by death any more than walking through a shadow hurts. Death casts its shadow over the valley of death, but the believer will walk safely through that shadow. Unbelievers will not walk through the valley of the shadow of death: they will crash headlong into death itself. Unbelievers will not have the peace of God, nor the comfort of God when they die, but will die alone, with no comfort from a most holy and righteous God. Unbelievers will die and be eternally injured by death. Unbelievers not only pass from this life to the next when they die, they also pass the time when they could come to Christ, confess their sins and receive him as their very own personal Saviour. Unbelievers enter into eternity, just as believers enter into eternity: never to return to this time, to this earth, or to the opportunity to be saved.

There is no fear of evil in the valley of the shadow of death, because there is personal knowledge that Christ is with me. He is my constant Shepherd, my guardian and fulfilling companion, not only in this life, but during the time when I pass from this life to eternity, and on into eternity itself.

Death has been said to be the worse enemy any person will ever face, but that is far from the truth. Death is an enemy, but the sting of death has been removed by Jesus Christ, who died that we might have life and not only life, but life more abundantly.

Death is a release from sin, not the final chapter of our lives. At death, sin has done its worse, but God has only begun to do good. Think how horrible it would be to live eternally in these mortal bodies. Have you ever visited a very old person in the nursing home? Sometimes old people are unable to help themselves, or even to feed themselves. They must depend on others for their daily bodily functions, sometimes unable to control their bowels. I have visited with people in the hospital, who cried out to God to take them on home, to get them out of their present pain and to give them his peace and comfort. These believers are looking forward to being with their heavenly father, and in the midst of the blessings he has for them.

Think what Adam would look like if he had not died. He would be 6,000 years old in a very wilted body, his bodily functions ceased many years ago, yet he would continue to live. It is very likely he would be completely filled with pain and agony because of stiffness, soreness, and other torments in his body. Whether he would be able to think clearly is unlikely. What torment he would be in! Yet what peace he is in because he has died. Adam is now in the presence of God, experiencing perfect peace and tranquility.

Paul said in II Timothy 4:8, Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Paul was not dreading death, but welcomed it as a friend. He knew there was waiting for him a crown of righteousness, which God would give him at that day.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not dread death, but would willing die if God desired.

The rod and staff of God gives comfort because it is:

a. God chastening of us.

1) Proverbs 22:15 – Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.

2) Proverbs 23:13 – Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

3) Proverbs 29:15 – The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

b. The authority of God over us.

1) Revelation 12:5 – And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.

2) The rod and staff is the "walking stick" of the Shepherd, which he uses to drive away predators, and to correct the sheep when necessary.

3) Psalms 110:2 – The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

Verse 5 – Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

1. God always supplies our daily necessities; even in troublesome times. I can have perfect confidence in the supply of God’s continual blessings. I need not worry about any earthly things, therefore I can completely devote myself to spiritual things, and the welfare of those God has given me: my family, my church, and others.

2. God does not hide his blessings. God will provide my everyday necessities in the presence of my enemies. Those that would wish me harm will not have their wish realized.

3. All the time David was in the hold, running from King Saul, God continually supplied everything he needed.

4. God supplied the daily necessities of the Apostle Paul on all his journeys, just as he provided for Jacob in his day.

5. Not only will God supply my necessities in the very presence of my enemies, he goes many steps forward, as he anoints my head with oil, and give me more blessings than I ever know. God makes me prosperous, not necessarily with material possessions, but with that which is more valuable and precious. God gives me grace, mercy, peace, and an everlasting home with him. God has given me eternal life, but also life more abundantly. God has also given me the greatest joy there is – the joy of hearing that my children walk in truth, III John 1:4 states, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. When God gives peace in the family, it is a great peace indeed. When parents do not have to worry or be overly concerned and anxious about their children, it is a great blessing. Many parents are afraid to leave their children alone in the house because they do not know what they will be doing, but when God puts in our children’s heart to be obedient to him, it is an indescribable blessing. If you do not believe that, then speak to parents who do not truth their children.

6. My cup runneth over because of God’s blessings upon me. I have more than heart could wish, again, not necessarily in material things, but I have the true peace that passes all understanding. I have true confidence in God, and eternal peace through him. This world is struggling to find peace, doing everything their own way, yet they do not have peace or comfort. Many people are suffering the wages of sins they committed while they were seeking to enjoy this world a little bit more. But there is no enjoyment in this world like the enjoyment of worshipping God, and being at peace with him. There is no peace like mediating on the Word of God, letting God quietly speak to us while we let this world hurry on by.

Verse 6 – Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

All the days of my life, and on into eternity, I will enjoy the goodness and mercy of God.

a. Goodness because everything God does for me, to me, and with me is good for me. Even things that appear to be bad on the surface, God uses to cause me to seek his face and find great comfort in the midst of the storm. Romans 8:28 states, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. I may not think a certain event is good for me, but in the end it will be. I do not enjoy going through bad times, troubles and tribulations, but those times cause me to kneel before my most holy Father, asking for his guidance and his deliverance. God provides all these very time, for which I am thankful, and will be thankful for all eternity.

b. Mercy because I am in need of mercy. I do not want the judgment or the justice of God upon me. I am a sinner saved by the grace of God. I am guilty, therefore I do not want or desire justice. I do not want what I deserve, because that would, first of all, be hell, and even after I am saved, I would not receive any good thing from God.

There is a very great blessings awaiting me in eternity, as I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. I will be wherever God is. If I am "raptured out", I will be with my precious Saviour. If I die, God has promised he will be with me through that valley of the shadow of death. He has said he will never leave me, nor forsake me. When I get into eternity, God will be there, and I will be able to worship him without being fettered with this sinful body, mind and continual tiredness. There is some discussion as to where believers will be when this world is burned with fire. The answer: I will be with the LORD, and I will be safe and secure. When Christ returns to the new earth to establish his eternal kingdom, I will return with him, and will be with him, ruling and reigning with him. That is his promise to me. I will not rule and reign because I have earned the right, but because is good to me and continually merciful.