Psalm 23
Sermon on Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
— Psalm 23:1 (KJV)
Big Idea
Because the Lord Himself is our Shepherd, every season of life — green pastures or the valley of death — is met with His sufficient care.
Context
David, once a shepherd boy, writes from the heart of a man who has both led sheep and been led by God. The psalm moves from pasture, to valley, to banquet table, to the house of the Lord — a sweeping arc of the believer's whole life.
Expository Outline (verse-by-verse)
1. The Shepherd Provides (v. 1–3)
Psalm 23:1–3
- •The covenant name 'LORD' (YHWH) is the source of every following promise.
- •'I shall not want' — not the absence of desire, but the absence of true lack.
- •Green pastures, still waters, restored soul — body, emotions, and spirit are all under His care.
2. The Shepherd Walks With Us (v. 4)
Psalm 23:4
- •Note the pronoun shift: 'He' becomes 'thou' — intimacy increases in the valley.
- •The 'shadow of death' is not death itself; it is the threat that hangs over every life.
- •Rod and staff — discipline and direction — are received as comfort, not threat.
3. The Shepherd Brings Us Home (v. 5–6)
Psalm 23:5–6
- •A table 'in the presence of mine enemies' — God's provision is not delayed until the war is over.
- •'Goodness and mercy shall follow me' — the Shepherd's covenant chases us down.
- •'Dwell in the house of the LORD for ever' — the goal of the journey is His presence.
Topical Outline (one big idea)
1. What Does It Mean That God Is My Shepherd?
- •He chose me — sheep do not choose their shepherd.
- •He knows my name (John 10:3).
- •He laid down His life for me (John 10:11).
2. What the Shepherd Promises Today
- •Provision (Phil. 4:19) — not always abundance, always sufficiency.
- •Presence (Heb. 13:5) — never alone, never forsaken.
- •A future (John 14:1–3) — the Father's house at the end of the road.
3. How a Sheep Lives Under This Shepherd
- •Listen for His voice in His Word.
- •Stay close to the flock — the local church.
- •Trust His leading even into the valley.
Cross-references
- John 10:11 — Jesus claims this psalm — 'I am the good shepherd.'
- Ezekiel 34:11-16 — Promise that God Himself will shepherd His people.
- 1 Peter 5:4 — Christ as the Chief Shepherd at His return.
- Isaiah 40:11 — He gathers the lambs with His arm.
- Revelation 7:17 — The Lamb shepherds those who come out of the great tribulation.
Illustrations
- "A shepherd's rod was used both to defend the flock from predators and to gently push wandering sheep back to the path. Same tool — protection and correction."
- "Phillip Keller, a shepherd himself, wrote that sheep will not lie down until four things are settled: freedom from fear, freedom from friction, freedom from flies, and freedom from hunger. Verse 2 implies the Shepherd has settled them all."
- "Soldiers in WWII said the most-quoted scripture in the foxholes was Psalm 23. People reach for this psalm precisely when the valley is darkest."
Application questions
- Where in your life this week are you in 'green pastures'? Have you stopped to thank the Shepherd?
- Where are you walking through a 'valley'? Will you let Him walk with you, or insist on walking alone?
- Is there a place where God's rod is correcting you — and you've been calling it suffering instead of love?
Closing prayer
Good Shepherd, we confess we have all gone astray, every one to his own way. Lay Your rod and staff upon us today. Lead us beside still waters. Walk with us through every valley. And bring us at last to dwell in Your house for ever. Amen.