Singing the Shepherd Song

Singing the Shepherd Song
Psalm 23
May 12, 2024

Where do you go or what do you do when you are uncomfortable — when you are discouraged, sad, hurting, uncertain about the future (or even today)?  You could go to the internet for some suggestions:

• Comforting Smells — Scents from lavender to rose, cinnamon to vanilla, delivered through plants, essential oils or a soothing stovetop simmer, signal your brain to relax and stay in the…moment.
• Childhood Objects — Turn to simple items like a blanket, stuffed animal or even an action figure. They might be hidden in a closet, but they soothed you in your younger years, they can do so now.
• Nature — It’s permanent, yet ever-changing. Being in nature’s presence can remind you that your life, like the oceans, mountains, and forests, can remain steady through a lot of change.
• Reliable Reads — Cozy up to books that you have read again and again. My go-to is my collection of Cathy comics that I discovered during my teen years and never fail to put things in perspective.
• Instrumental Music — It’s music that won’t invade your already-stressed mind with emotionally triggering lyrics, but will occupy your ears with soft, soothing sounds.
• Soothing Self-Talk — Positive self-talk can remind you what you already know—that you are loved, safe and strong enough to weather life’s storms. It can also help you let go of any guilt or negativity…

It seems to me they forgot food — pancakes, ice cream, mac and cheese, a grilled cheese and tomato soup. 

They also forgot the best place of comfort — God and His Word.  You have uncomfortable situations and people in your life.  For your comfort and steadfastness, I want to remind you of an old song to sing.  You’ve sung it before.  It’s very familiar to you.  In fact, it’s probably the most well-known song in the world.  Say the first four words of the song to an unbeliever, and they will almost certainly be able to give you the next five — “The Lord is my…Shepherd, I shall not want.” 

For your comfort, we are going to look at the Shepherd song, Psalm 23, where we will be reminded…

In our harsh circumstances, God is a constant comfort — our only comfort.

In three vignettes, we see God’s character (and our fitting responses) in hard circumstances.

1. The Shepherd and His Sheep (vv. 1-4)

• The nature of the Shepherd
• The provision of the Shepherd
• The leadership of the Shepherd
• The declaration of the Sheep: “I shall not want”
• The declaration of the sheep: “I fear no evil”

2. The Host and His Guests (v. 5)

• The provision of the Host
• The declaration of the sheep: “My cup overflows”

3. God and His People (v. 6)

• The provision of God
• The declaration of the sheep: “I will dwell in the house of Lord”

Download the rest of this sermon on Psalm 23.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.

Jon Tyson jontyson, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.