Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb19960414.htm

PSALMS: DIARIES OF GODLY OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS
Psalm Twenty-Three: The Benefits Of Having God As One's KING
(Psalm 23:1-6)
  1. Introduction
    1. The benefit of believing on Christ as personal Savior from sin is that one escapes Hell and gains Heaven!
    2. But once one believes in Christ, is it possible for him to go "too far" in making Christ "Lord of all"?!
    3. Psalm Twenty-Three answers this question quite profoundly!
  2. The Benefits Of Having God As One's KING, Psalm 23:1-6.
    1. David wrote Psalm Twenty-Three to describe what happens to the one who submits to God's lordship:
      1. Psalm 23:1a shows David calling God ("Jahweh") his "shepherd."
      2. This term was used by ancient Near Eastern kings in relation to their subjects, B.K.C., O.T., p. 81 1.
      3. Thus, David describes what happens as a result of God being his Absolute Sovereign in life!
    2. In summary, David states that BECAUSE Jahweh is his King, David has no livelihood needs, Ps. 23:1b.
    3. The rest of the psalm is an itemized proof of this claim as follows, Ps. 23:2-6:
      1. Since God is his King, David lacks no mental peace about meeting his livelihood needs, Ps. 23:2a. The phrase, "He causes me to lie stretched out in pastures of fresh, tender grass" pictures a sheep that has eaten to the fill so that he can afford to rest on the grass of his livelihood, v. 2a.
      2. Since God is his King, David lacks no mental peace concerning his geographical location, v. 2a.
        1. Due to the erratic nature of Palestine's rainfall, shepherds in David's era relocated their flocks to different pastures to give them adequate grazing, Zond. Pict. Enc. of the Bible, vol. Five, p. 386.
        2. Since David is pictured as a sheep lying down in pastures of "fresh, tender grass", he indicates that his geographical location to receive blessing is not his worry, Ps. 23:2a.
      3. Since God is his King, David lacks no peace concerning the WAY his livelihood needs are met, 23:2b.
        1. God leads David as a sheep beside "waters for repose" in leading him to drink, Ps. 23:2b.
        2. As sheep will not drink from rushing streams due to timidity, David reveals he is at peace about the WAY God addresses his livelihood needs. Everything is edifying, not disturbing to him!
      4. Since God is now his King, David finds refreshment from the former WEAR on his inner man (lit. nephesh = "soul") that was created while trying to address his livelihood needs WITHOUT God, 3a.
      5. Because God is his King, David lacks no assurance that he is headed in the right direction, for God certifies David's correct obvious, established and straight direction with His reputation, Ps. 23:3b.
        1. Sheep are known to be easily misled into dangerous situations, Ibid., B.K.C.,O.T., p. 1108.
        2. However, God leads David in the "well-worn wagon ruts of righteousness", indicating that His leadership is obvious, through an established route easily recognized and straight. This leading is certified to occur to protect God's name, a picture of protecting His reputation, Ibid., p. 812.
      6. Since God is his King, David lacks no comfort that all will go well in life's WORST provision crises:
        1. Shepherds would lead their sheep through steep ravines in search of good pasture.
        2. In the process, shepherds needed a rod to beat off predators and a crooked staff to gather up sheep that slipped off the trail due to weaknesses as sheep and direct them aright accordingly.
        3. David claims that God handled both predators and his own weaknesses in such times, Ps. 23:4!
      7. Since God is his King, David lacks no fulfillment even when enemies try to destroy him, Ps. 23:5.
        1. When a host dined with a guest in the ancient Near East, he was obligated to protect that guest after the meal for three days or 100 miles from leaving the table, cf. Ibid., Z.P.E.B., vol. Three, p. 214.
        2. At banquets, honored guests were anointed with oil as David describes in verse 5b.
        3. The cup's overflowing indicates rejoicing at a banquet in verse 5c.
        4. Thus, when enemies try to destroy David, God lavishly protects him and even honors him and gives him abundant joy while the enemies can only look on and languish in frustration!
      8. Since God is his King, David lacks no confidence of his FUTURE provision needs, either, Ps. 23:6!
        1. God has loyal love to His promises to David (Hebrew chesed) which lead to blessings of "goodness."
        2. As such, the consistency of God's loving expressions producing all these goodnesses were sure to follow David throughout his earthly sojourn, Ps. 23:6!
Lesson: Not only is it eternally worthwhile to believe in Christ for salvation; it is temporally worthwhile to submit to His lordship in life as it produces comprehensive peace-of-mind regarding life's provisions.