Psalm 23
[Week II]

Notes

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Shepherds have authority over their flock; they manage the movement of their sheep throughout the day. Like a shepherd, the Holy Spirit guides us in our steps and illuminates the Word of God to us. In spite of trouble, the shepherd would get the sheep to where they needed to be.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

The shepherd’s rod and staff are tools of protection and guidance. The rod warded off predators, and the staff guided the sheep. Together, the shepherd’s tools provided comfort to the sheep.

When we are going through tough times, and to reach our full God-given potential, we need to come under the leadership of our shepherd.

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

“All Scripture” means just what it says - every letter of God’s Word is useful, even today. But we won’t get anywhere by taking it out of context. Instead, it’s important to read the Bible in its context; don’t twist its words so it seems to say something it doesn’t. Study who a passage was written to and what was going on in their culture at the time. The Bible is an aid to our life. It teaches, corrects, rebukes, and disciplines. It contains timeless truths. What was true then is also true now, we just live in a different context.

But Jesus replied, “I have a kind of food you know nothing about…” Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work.

Don’t do the work of God without the nourishment of God or you will become malnourished. In the same way, exercise by doing the work God has for you. Find the balance between sitting down with God to feast on His nourishment and doing the work He has set out for the Church to do. Meditate on God’s Word and let it get in your heart, and then let it pour out of you. When we do what God says, our lives will be transformed.

Group Questions

• In what ways is the Lord our shepherd?
• How does the Holy Spirit protect and guide us?
• What does it mean to read the Bible in context?
• Have you found the balance between being spiritually nourished and doing work for the Kingdom?

Prayer

Thank you for being our shepherd, and for giving us not only your protection, but your guidance over our lives. We give you full authority over our steps.