Psalm 23

Order of Service

• Hymn — The Lord My Shepherd I'll Not Want (Psalm 23)
• Scripture Reading — Psalm 23
• Prayer of Invocation
• Sermon
• Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Lord Our Shepherd and Sovereign King

Scripture: Psalm 23

I. The Lord as Shepherd to His People (verses 1–4)

A. David, himself a former shepherd, confesses Yahweh as his personal Shepherd

1. "The Lord" (Yahweh) is the covenant God of Israel who keeps his promises personally and perpetually
2. The declaration "I shall not want" — those brought into God's fold through covenant will never lack what they need

B. God is the active agent throughout the pastoral scene

1. He makes me lie down in green pastures — Psalm 23:2
2. He leads me beside still waters — Psalm 23:2
3. He restores my soul — Psalm 23:3
4. He leads in paths of righteousness for his name's sake — Psalm 23:3

C. Jesus fulfills the role of the Good Shepherd

1. In John 10:14 Jesus says: "I am the Good Shepherd; I know my own and my own know me"
2. Jesus's claim is the culminating affirmation of all Old Testament statements about God shepherding his people — it was the Son with the Father all along
3. One flock, one Shepherd — Jesus brings sheep from every fold — John 10:16

II. The Lord as Sovereign King over All (verses 5–6)

A. At verse 5 the Psalm shifts from pastoral to royal imagery

1. Yahweh is not merely a rural shepherd but a mighty Sovereign King hosting a victory banquet before David's enemies
2. Psalm 23 is a kingly declaration of God's victory — David's Shepherd King

B. The shepherd-king connection in the ancient world

1. In ancient Egypt, pharaohs claimed a divine charge to "shepherd" the earth; Egyptian art depicts pharaohs holding the rod and staff (e.g., the sarcophagus of Tutankhamun)
2. What Psalm 23 does is transcend the rural metaphor — Yahweh is sovereign King, not merely shepherd

C. David as Yahweh's vassal under-shepherd

1. By calling Yahweh his Shepherd, David acknowledges his own role as Yahweh's appointed under-shepherd over Israel
2. David is a vassal king paying tribute to Yahweh his heavenly suzerain and covenant Lord
3. The Shepherd of Psalm 23 is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords — the King of Glory extolled in the very next Psalm, Psalm 24

D. The blessings Yahweh bestows on David as his anointed

1. A lavish victory banquet in the presence of enemies — Psalm 23:5
2. The hope of a perpetual vice-regency in Yahweh's temple-palace — Psalm 23:6
3. These blessings extend through David to all of Yahweh's flock, Israel

E. Psalm 23 ultimately points to Jesus and his church

1. Jesus as Good Shepherd claims to be David's greater Son and God's appointed Messiah
2. His sheep constitute the true Israel of God
3. Double security for believers: no enemy can snatch them from Jesus's hand, nor from the Father's hand — John 10:28
4. As the Son is granted a perpetual throne at God's right hand, those united to Christ will rule and reign with him forever

III. How Psalm 23 Teaches Us to Pray

A. Come to the Lord as to a Shepherd King and loving Father

1. He knows each of his sheep by name and knows every detail about them
2. He supplies all needs in every season and gives freely to all who ask
3. Even his discipline works for good toward his people in Christ Jesus

B. Pray in light of the Lord's power and grace

1. He is mighty in war — conquering all his and our enemies
2. He is gracious — while we were still his enemies, Jesus our Good Shepherd died in our place
3. Pray with thanksgiving that a seat at his banqueting table is not merely possible but certain through faith in Christ

C. Pray with confidence because the Lord is faithful

1. He will never leave nor forsake his people, even in their darkest valley — Psalm 23:4
2. He leads his people through darkness, not around it, because he is near
3. Every one of his sheep will be brought home in victory and welcomed into the banquet hall of the Lord to live and reign with Christ forever
4. Therefore pray with confidence, hope, joy, and peace — the Lord is your Shepherd