Line Upon Line with Lawrence Yap
4 August 2020 | Psalms 23

Psalm 23 is one of the most read Psalm and the favourites among many people. 

• It is so comforting and assuring. 
• It is being read both in weddings as well as in funerals! 

Psalm 23:1 – “The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.” (NIV) 

                     – “God my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.” (MSG). 

                     – “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.” (KJV) 

For some of us – we may have preferred words like – 

• “The Lord is my banker.” 
• “The Lord is my healer.” 

The language being used is simply because David was using his language as a shepherd. 

What is David communicating about God? What does a shepherd do? 

God says in Isaiah 40:11 – “He tends to his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” 

 I)A Shepherd PROVIDES.  

• He provides food, shelter, the basic necessities for his sheep. 

 II)A Shepherd PROTECTS. 

• He defends against enemies, harm. 
• The shepherd’s staff is to defend them from other wild animals as well as to draw them back when they may be near a cliff. 

III) A Shepherd POINTS the way. 

• He leads sheep when they’re confused and don’t know which way to go. 

There are also many other verses that talk about the Shepherd. 

1) John 10:11 – Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” 

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. 

But why is He called the Good Shepherd? 

• He laid down His life to save us from our sins. 
• All my wrong doings of the past was washed by His blood. 

That was what Jesus did.  

• While we were yet sinners, Christ has died for us. 
• He has already an answer for our past. 
• This is important because our past can haunt us; it can stifle us; it can condemn us; it can cause regrets and fears and therefore stop us from making progress. 

As the Good Shepherd – He has taken care of my past. 

2) Hebrews 13:20, “Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep.” 

Jesus is the Great Shepherd  

And why is He known as the Great Shepherd? 

“He is known as the Great Shepherd because He is not only the God of the Past but He is also the God of the Present.” 

• He has risen from the dead and He lives in the present, providing for me. 

3) 1 Peter 5:4, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.” 

Jesus is the Chief Shepherd  

Why is He known as the Chief Shepherd? 

 “He is known as the Chief Shepherd because He is coming again for us. 

“The Chief Shepherd has taken care of my Future!” 

Conclusion:- 

The Lord is my Shepherd. 

He has taken of my Past, my Present and my future! What more do I want? 

No wonder David said, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.”