A Psalm of David

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Short Summary
The discourse explores Psalm 23 as a metaphor for the relationship between God as the shepherd and believers as His sheep, emphasizing personal care, guidance, and protection through life’s challenges. It highlights the importance of following God’s voice, recognizing Jesus as the good shepherd, and embracing both trials and blessings as part of spiritual growth, with the assurance of God’s continual goodness and mercy leading to eternal dwelling in His presence. The message encourages believers to internalize these lessons personally, trusting in God’s faithful provision and guidance.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse on Psalm 23 and Related Scriptures

Introduction to Psalm 23
– Psalm 23 is one of the best-known and most quoted passages of Scripture.
– Composed by King David likely in the latter part of his life, reflecting on his earlier experience as a shepherd.
– The psalm uses the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to symbolize David’s personal relationship with Jehovah God.
– This metaphor is symbolic, not literal, and applicable especially to the Lord’s consecrated people in the gospel age.

Characteristics of the Lord’s Sheep
– The Lord looks for sheep who are repentant, recognize Jesus as Savior, and fully consecrate themselves unto death to do God’s will (based on Acts 13:22).
– True sheep follow a covenant by sacrifice (Psalm 50:5) and live a life of self-denial and cross-bearing (Matthew 16:24).
– Examples from ancient worthies like David, “a man after God’s own heart,” serve as models for believers.

Relationship with Jehovah and Jesus
– Jehovah God is the “great shepherd,” Jesus is the “good shepherd” and under-shepherd (John 10).
– Jesus calls his sheep by name (John 10:3), implying a personal, individual relationship.
– Sheep know and follow the voice of their shepherd (John 10:4), which is a special blend of God’s character qualities.
– They do not follow strangers, reflecting loyalty to true doctrine and rejection of false teachings (John 10:5; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16).

Jesus as the Door and the Good Shepherd
– Jesus declares “I am the door” (John 10:9), meaning he is the only way to salvation.
– Acts 4:12 confirms no other name under heaven can save.
– “Good shepherd” (Greek meaning “beautiful” or “ideal shepherd”) gives his life for the sheep (John 10:11).
– Jesus sacrificed for the little flock (faithful believers) and the great company (future millennial believers) (John 10:16).
– Jesus knows his sheep intimately, and they progressively come to know him (1 Corinthians 13:12).
– Sheep also discern faithful under-shepherds (church leaders).

Examination of Psalm 23 Verse by Verse
Verse 1: “Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
– Jehovah personally cares for David, meeting every real need.
– Distinction between “needs” and “wants” is important; God withholds nothing truly beneficial (Luke 11:11; Psalm 84:11).
– Our needs are primarily spiritual: discipline, trials, instruction, encouragement, and assistance.

Verse 2: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
– Life’s spiritual rest and refreshment are precious amid a “wilderness” world.
– “Still waters” represent pure truth; sheep drink only from gently flowing streams, not stagnant or raging waters.
– False teachers pollute the flock’s pasture and water (Ezekiel 34:18-19).
– True sheep gladly follow the Lord’s lead, treasuring his words and providences.

Verse 3: “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
– God lovingly restores the soul when we err.
– He leads us in righteousness to maintain honor to His Name.
– Even when weak or unworthy, God’s guidance and forgiveness uphold us (Numbers 14:11-21).

Verse 4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
– The psalmist acknowledges dangers and trials (the valley of the shadow of death).
– God protects us from external dangers and even ourselves.
– The shepherd’s rod (discipline) and staff (guidance) provide comfort and correction (Hebrews 12:6-8).
– Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
– Psalm 91:10 promises no evil shall befall the faithful.
– The “valley” also symbolizes the world in its fallen state but the faithful have hope for deliverance (Malachi 4:2).

Verse 5: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
– Shift from sheep metaphor to a personal reflection by David.
– “Anointing with oil” symbolizes the Holy Spirit (Psalm 133:2).
– God’s protection extends even amid adversaries (Ephesians 6:12).
– The “table” is a bounty of spiritual blessings and privileges, including the “bread from heaven” (John 6).
– The “cup” overflowing symbolizes both suffering and joy; believers partake of both (John 18:11; 1 Corinthians 10:16).
– The Apostle Paul encourages rejoicing amid tribulation.

Verse 6: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
– God’s goodness and mercy pursue and sustain the faithful constantly (Romans 8:28).
– Nothing can separate us from God’s love except ourselves if hearts become unfaithful.
– “Dwelling in the house of the Lord” refers to eternal life with God in heaven (John 14:2-3).
– The faithful living in the second presence of Christ will experience the heavenly hope and transformation.
– The goodness and mercy of God begin now and continue beyond the veil.

Summary and Application
– Personal relationships with Jehovah (great shepherd) and Jesus (good shepherd) are foundational.
– The Lord seeks repentant, loyal, and consecrated “sheep.”
– Our needs are met; periods of rest and spiritual refreshment are provided.
– God protects us from dangers, including our own weaknesses.
– We partake of the Lord’s banquet of truth and spiritual blessings.
– We share in both suffering and joy, following Jesus’ example.
– God’s goodness and mercy are with us daily and eternally.
– Faithfulness assures us a permanent place in God’s heavenly house.
– The psalm was divinely inspired for personal application and daily encouragement.
– Believers are encouraged to internalize and live by its promises and lessons.

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Key Bible Verses Referenced:

– Psalm 23 (entire psalm)
– Acts 13:22 — David a man after God’s own heart.
– Psalm 50:5 — Covenant by sacrifice.
– Matthew 16:24 — Self-denial and cross-bearing.
– John 10:3-5,9,11,14,16 — Jesus as Good Shepherd and Door.
– Revelation 2:17; 3:12 — New name given to faithful sheep.
– Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 6:20; 2 Timothy 2:16 — Warning against false gospels.
– 1 Corinthians 14:8 — Importance of clear spiritual teaching.
– Acts 4:12 — Salvation only through Jesus’ name.
– Psalm 133:2 — Anointing with oil as Holy Spirit.
– Ephesians 6:12 — Spiritual warfare.
– John 6:31-33, 48-51 — Bread from heaven.
– John 18:11 — Jesus’ acceptance of the Father’s cup.
– 1 Corinthians 10:16 — Communion cup.
– Hebrews 12:6-8 — God’s discipline.
– 1 John 4:18 — Perfect love casts out fear.
– Psalm 91:10 — Protection from evil.
– Malachi 4:2 — The Sun of righteousness.
– Romans 8:28 — All things work for good.
– John 14:2-3 — Promise of dwelling in the Father’s house.
– 1 Corinthians 13:12 — Knowing as we are known.

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This comprehensive summary captures the discourse’s main points on Psalm 23, the spiritual relationship with God and Jesus, the nature of true sheep, and the practical and eternal assurances given to believers.

Transcript

I don’t know if you’ve already guessed which psalm this is going to be about, but it’s probably one of the best known and most often quoted passages of Scripture, and it’s the 23rd song, and we know this song was composed by David and most likely during the latter part of his life when he was king of Israel and probably reflecting on his earlier years as as a shepherd. It’s important to keep in mind that David is speaking about his relationship with Jehovah God, and of course he uses the metaphor of a sheep with his shepherd, the relationship between those, and also we realize it’s not talking about literal sheep, but it’s about David and how his relationship with God was like the relationship between a shepherd and his sheep, and so therefore that part of the psalm is symbolic and it’s especially applicable to the Lord’s consecrated people during the gospel age.

One aspect of this psalm which is often overlooked is the portrayal of what kind of sheep the Lord is looking for. Some examples of these lived in the past. Like David and others of the ancient worthies. They were friends of God and not sons. Nevertheless, we can learn from their example and endeavor to be like David, who was a man after God’s own Heart.

Acts 13:22. So there’s three steps, and normally these are the things that we would present to a candidate for immersion. To to become a true sheep, we must follow number one, repentance from sin, number two, recognition of Jesus as our personal Savior, and number three, the most important full consecration unto death to do God’s will and not our own. It’s this covenant by sacrifice, Psalm 50, verse 5, that is the way into the sheepfold and then follows the course of self denial and crossbearing that is necessary to maintain our discipleship as shown in Matthew 16, verse 24. Now, there’s other characteristics of true sheep which we will touch upon as this study Progresses.

Now, Psalm 23 is about Jehovah God, but the relationship we have with our Lord Jesus is also important. It’s unique to this gospel age. Jehovah God is our great shepherd, and Jesus is our good shepherd and under shepherd or representative of jehovah, and the 10th chapter of John elaborates on this aspect, and it’s appropriate for memorial season that we spend a little time on John chapter 10.

There are many precious promises that are contained there. We start with verse 3 of John 10. He calleth his own sheep by name. What does this mean? What does it mean to you?

It means to me, and I think to you too. That we have a personal acquaintance with our shepherd, and that our shepherd has a personal, individual interest in each one of us, and eventually, if faithful, will be given a new name. Revelation 2:17, Revelation 3:12. He calleth his own sheep by name.

Verse 4. The sheep follow him, for they know his voice. The voice of Jesus is a special blend of all God’s character qualities. We’re attracted. We’re attracted to this voice just as metal is attracted to a magnet.

The important thing for us is to become more and more familiar with this voice, and this requires study in order to gain knowledge. But more than this, we must have the spirit of the truth. We must have the love of the truth, and we must have loyalty to the truth. Just as a sheep is loyal to its shepherd based on a knowledge of the Shepherd’s character. Verse 5 of John 10.

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not the voice of strangers. None of the true sheep will be satisfied with any other gospel. As mentioned in Galatians 1:6:9, as Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:20 and 2 Timothy 2:16, the voice of strangers is profane and vain babblings and will not be heeded.

There’s a dual responsibility here, and it’s related to First Corinthians 14, verse 8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? And what’s the lesson? We should neither listen to nor. Nor give forth any such uncertain sounds.

Moving on to verse nine. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture. Well, you go in and out through the gateway, the door, and there’s only one gateway. We know that that gateway is Jesus.

And in the tabernacle in the wilderness, there was only one way into the court, and only one way into the holy, and this thought is also presented in Acts 4, verse 12. There is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Verse 11. I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. The thought in the Greek of this phrase, good shepherd, has a very special meaning. It has the idea of the ideal shepherd. It literally means in the Greek the beautiful shepherd. But by definition, it’s a shepherd that is well adapted to its needs.

And certainly that’s true for us. Jesus gave his life for the little flock, but also for the great company and eventually for the other sheep in the millennial age, and that’s the whole world of mankind. As mentioned in verse 16 here when Jesus spoke these words, he was in the process of giving.

Verse14 I am the good shepherd and and know my sheep, and am known of mine. Jesus know us, knows us better than we know ourselves. We now know Jesus only partially, but we come to know him progressively more and more, even in this present life. Eventually we will know even as we are known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 the sheep will also know or discern who are faithful under shepherds.

And that’s an additional lesson.

These are all precious thoughts from John chapter 10. But the main focus of our lesson is the 23rd Psalm and our relationship with our Heavenly Father. So the remainder of our time will be spent in an examination of that psalm. It’s one of the shortest psalms, but it is one that is full of meaning. We’ll quote briefly from reprint 42784278 while it is proper for us to love all the sheep and the under shepherds and the good shepherd of the flock, it adds to our joy to know who is the great shepherd and to hear the good shepherd, his Son, assure the sheep of the Father’s love, saying, the Father himself loveth you.

That’s the end of that quotation. Well, let’s look at Psalm 23 and begin, of course, with verse one. A literal translation is Jehovah is my shepherd I shall not be in need I shall not be in need. David recognized Jehovah God as the one who had personal care for him. As a result of this care, his every need was taken care of.

The many facets of this personal care and supplying of every need is detailed in the succeeding verses. But notice again it says need not want, as in the English King James Version. David knew that he would never lack anything that was truly needed. Again from reprint 4278 A kind earthly father would not give a stone instead of bread, nor a serpent instead of fish. Our heavenly Father, much more loving and tender, will withhold from us nothing that will be for our good.

And that’s from Luke 11:11.

We should not pray for earthly prosperity, as this would often be to our detriment. It would not be A good Psalm 84:11 for the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. The lessons for us are obvious.

Jehovah is our great caretaker. Jesus is also known as the good shepherd, as previously mentioned, but we have a special relationship with our Heavenly Father. In fact, our relationship with God is far superior to David’s, and this inspired psalm, we believe, was recorded especially for our benefit.

We must be careful to distinguish between wants and needs in our consecrated life. Oh, we may have many desires for the things that the Lord sees fit not to give us because they’re not needed and in many cases would actually be injurious to us. Our needs are spiritual. We shall not want, we shall not lack anything, and that includes some things we might not think of.

It includes disciplines, it includes trials, it includes instructions, it includes reprieve, reproofs, as well as the encouragements, the promises, and the assistances that we need to make our calling an election. Sure, and we’d like to read the December 15th manna.

The Lord in calling. Oh, it’s the Lord is my Shepherd. 20, verse 23, verse 1. The Lord in calling his people, his sheep, shows a very significant emblem of the character he would have manifested in them. The most notable characteristics of the sheep are meekness, docility, and obedience to the shepherd, to whose care they fully entrust themselves.

The true ship sheep will carefully listen for the faintest accents of the voice of the shepherd. In other words, he will treasure up his words in his heart, that is the words of God in the believer’s heart. He will study his, the Lord’s providences, and he will cultivate that communion and personal fellowship with the Lord which are his privileges. Those who thus abide in him can never go astray. They can never, never lose their way.

We move on to verse two. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. You know, when I think of this psalm, and it’s one of the few things I’ve memorized, and I often repeat it to myself and I. I visually, I mentally visualize each verse as I go through it, and I think of a scene and as being one of the sheep, and you know what it would entail in going through these verses.

The initial verses, verse 2. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. The life of a sheep in David’s time was largely spent in wilderness conditions. The life of one of the Lord’s sheep is much the same.

For this reason, the periods of rest and refreshment given to us by our shepherd, our Heavenly Father, are all the more precious and meaningful. This world is truly a wilderness full of barren, worldly hopes and ambitions. But our shepherd carefully guides us through the labyrinth of this present evil world to the green pastures and still waters that give us the needed spiritual refreshment.

We need to look to him for guidance in all these matters. He knows when we need to rest. We should trust him that he will provide these periods of rest, and in his way and time, we need to be careful to follow his will in this matter and not ours. Oh, there may be times when we want rest, but God does not see that we need rest at that particular time.

Remember the opening phrase already considered, I shall not be in need.

There is a rest which should be continuous, of course, and that is the rest of faith, and such a rest depends on us.

Our Heavenly Father leads us. We must follow Him. A proper shepherd does not have to compel his sheep by force. They follow him willingly based on experience.

Now, these still waters mentioned in this verse two, these still waters, they’re not stagnant pools. Sheep won’t drink out of stagnant pools, and it’s not a raging torrent. They won’t drink out of that either. But it is a gently flowing stream.

The correct thought is contained in the Hebrew word and water here, as elsewhere, represents truth. God will lead us to pure truth, and it’s up to us to follow that leading and to drink deeply. There are false shepherds who compel the Lord’s sheep to partake of the muddied waters of unscriptural tradition and error. Ezekiel 34 contains contains some powerful condemnations of these false teachers. Note especially verses 18 and 19.

He’s speaking to these false teachers.

Seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture? But must you tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures? And to have drunk of the deep waters? But must you foul the residue with your feet? And as for my flock, they eat that which you have trodden with your feet, and they drink that which you have fouled with your feet.

This entire chapter shows a sharp contrast with the proper care that Jehovah has for his sheep and these condemnable activities of false teachers. Foreign we must stay very close to our shepherd and never go looking for other greener pastures on our own. If we did that, what would be be like? Well, we would not be sheep like, we would be more goat like and that would not be pleasing to the shepherd, and we must never listen to the voice of false shepherds.

We must follow only God’s leadings and also the Lord Jesus, and this goes back to John 10, verse 5. Another they will not follow verse 3 of this Psalm. He restoreth my soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. For his name’s sake.

Well, we’ve looked so far at the importance of following the leadings of the shepherd. But what happens if we fail to follow him?

The illustration here is a powerful one. Everything that we are, our soul, our being, is under God’s care, and even when we fall into difficulty, he does not cast us off forever, but he lovingly, gently restores us. He restoreth my soul, and I’m sure all of us have had these experiences in our lives.

We must be receptive to these leadings, because if we don’t, we could be putting our very lives into jeopardy, and the second part of this verse is one that is particularly special to me. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. We should all have a strong desire to honor the Lord, to honor his name, his character, and everything that represents him.

That’s a big job. That’s a high standard. But we have this promise in this verse that even if we err in judgment or deed due to a weakness of the flesh and against our heart’s desire, God will not permit this to bring dishonor upon his name or his truth. He not only restores us when we get into difficulty, but he leads us in the paths of righteousness, and not only does he lead us in the paths of righteousness, but he does this for His Name’s sake.

It’s difficult for me to express adequately what that means. We can always approach God on this basis, even as Moses did in Numbers 14, Verses 11 through 21, and we would refer you to reprint 1842. 1842 Foreign.

Quote from reprint 4280. 4280. Our Lord the shepherd has undertaken to do a shepherding work to gather a flock. His promise is involved. His honor is at stake.

We may be sure that not only because of his love for us, for us, will he guide us aright, but because it would be a dishonor to him to make the slightest respect, to make the slightest mistake in respect to our guidance, even though we may feel unworthy of God’s forgiveness and overruling at times. That is not relevant, because why, as we we had this lesson repeated yesterday, none are worthy. In our own right we are made worthy. Of course, we must not be careless about such matters. But we can always ask God to overrule our mistakes for His Name’s sake.

Such sincere requests are sure to be answered in the affirmative.

Verse 4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

So far we’ve considered the Lord’s care for us in matters pertaining to our personal behavior. This verse broadens our perspective to include his care for us against the dangers around us.

And again, try to picture, you know, the change of scene here from the the flowing waters and the green grass, and he’s restoring us from our mistakes. Well, sometimes this path of righteousness leads us more deeply into the valley of the shadow of death.

Well, in one sense the whole human race is walking through that valley. But this verse seems to include the thought of special dangers to us to the Lord’s sheep at various times in our lives, and as stated, the valley of the shadow of death is in sharp, stark contrast with the green pastures and still waters that prevail at other times in our Christian walk.

We must keep in mind that the Lord our shepherd is leading us through this valley. We are safe from evil as long as we follow his leadings. I will fear no evil. But even if we stray from the path, his staff will direct us back to the right course. That’s why it can be a comfort to us.

These are disciplinary actions that every child of God experiences, and Hebrews the twelfth chapter is a precious chapter, and especially verses six through eight regarding this concept, and even if we get into serious trouble, his rod and I believe that’s the shepherd’s crook and you know, he can use that to pull you out where you shouldn’t be or to pull us out of wherever we might ever pit we might fall into. Viewing these matters from this perspective, we can understand more clearly why the psalmist wrote that this rod and staff of the Lord, g of the Lord Jehovah are a comfort to us.

A Sentence from reprint 5643 5643. We learn from our own stumblings and difficulties to appreciate the desirableness of his ways and the undesirableness of every other way. End of that quotation.

There’s another aspect here, and we read in 1st John 4:18, that perfect love casts out fear. It is because of our love for God that we are able to cast out any improper or slavish fear. We fear no evil. In contrast, the world is largely under the influence of the unscriptural and God dishonoring creeds of the nominal church, namely, eternal torment, the immortal soul, and the idea that God is this vicious tyrant that Jesus somehow had to try to placate in order to remove that tyranny. Well, that is indeed blasphemy.

We fear no evil because we believe the promise of Psalm 91, verse 10 there shall no evil befall thee. Nothing will be permitted to harm our new creature.

Dear brethren, the end of this valley of the shadow of death is near, and that’s understood not merely in the context of our individual lives, but also in the sense that we have already entered into the dawn of the new day, and soon the Son of righteousness shall arise fully with healing in his beams, as stated in Malachi 4, verse 2, and then the whole world will begin to emerge from this death valley, and friends, if we’re faithful, we’ll have the privilege of helping them.

Would like to read next from The man of September 21st September 21st Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Psalm 23, verse 4.

The sheep of the little flock fear no evil because of the Lord’s favor, because he is with them on their side and has shown his favor in the redemption price already paid. He is with them too, in his word of promise, his assurance that death will not mean extinction of life, but merely until the resurrection and undisturbed sleep in Jesus. What wonder that these can walk through the valley of the shadow of death, singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord, calling upon their souls with all that is within them to praise and loud and magnify his great and holy name, who loved us and bought us with his precious blood, and has called us to joint heirship with our dear Redeemer. That’s the end of that. See also the exceeding great and precious promise for Psalm 23, verse 4.

It’s also very precious. Well, friends, so far we have journeyed from the green pastures and the still waters, and being pulled out of danger and going through that valley of the shadow of death, and that’s the metaphor of the shepherd in his sheep. But we don’t want to lose sight of a point that was made at the beginning that this is a metaphor. It’s David applying this to himself personally.

And so should we. Especially so should we.

David continues in verse 5. But in this verse it changes. It starts a reflection by David on God’s overrulings and provisions for him in the past. Verse 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over, and indeed the remainder of Psalm 23.

It’s still David talking, but he’s talking about himself. The metaphor ends in verse four. Sheep don’t eat at tables as far as I know, and they certainly don’t drink from cups and a Brief quote from reprint 4278 Again 4278 Let us not spoil this beautiful picture with any thought of anointing a sheep’s head, etc. But rather take the higher and grander and nobler view that our Lord Jesus is the Christ the anointed and that this anointing was typified by the anointing of Aaron with precious oil, which typified the Holy Spirit, which ran down his beard and under the skirts of his garment, and that’s from Psalm 133, verse 2, end of that quote.

David’s words in this verse are drawing on specific experiences that he had in his life. God took care of him and provided for him, especially in those seven years that he was in the wilderness, fleeing from the wrath of King Saul, and so too for us God protects us from our enemies, including the adversary, and including the wicked spirits in high places. As stated in Ephesians 6, verse 12, reprint 4278 is a very good reprint, and the whole reprint is good, but we’re quoting little bits and pieces and here’s another sentence yet even in the presence of the opposition of the world and our adversary, and all of the besetments of the host of demons, we are privileged to partake of these rich blessings and privileges. End of that sentence.

And he has spread before us a bountiful table of rich things from his storehouse, things old and new, Matthew 13:52 and friends, this is especially true for us, the Lord’s people, who are living now during the time of our Lord’s presence as king since 1874 Matthew 24, verse 45 Jesus girds himself and serves us through that servant, and see also Luke 12, verse 37 Revelation 3, verse 20. Additionally, we have the bread from heaven, and John 6 is the entire chapter is good, but especially verses 31 to 33 and 48 through 51.

God arranged for David to be anointed, and we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit at our consecration and Spirit begetto 2nd Corinthians 1, verse 21 1st John 2:20 and 27. This anointing oil has flowed down over all the members of the church, which is the body of Christ from our Lord Jesus our head, our high priest, as we read in Psalm 133, especially verse 2. But the whole psalm again is precious.

David’s cup of experiences did overflow similar to our own for him and for us. The cup is one is one of both suffering and joy, and it overflows in both respects, and we must be willing to drink of this cup in both senses and to have this attitude that Jesus had when he said in John 18:11 the cup which my Father hath poured me, shall I not drink it? And also we must remember the words of the APostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 10:16 the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion or common union of the blood of Christ?

We wait for that future time when we shall drink of the cup of new wine in the kingdom that will be a cup overflowing with joy, which will more than compensate for any bitterness of the present time. Well, we’re going to read from another mana text because there’s so many that are good about Psalm 23 and this one’s about Psalm 23, verse 5 the anointest my head with oil my cup runeth over.

The fullness of the cup running over has a double significance. It is a cup of joy and a cup of sorrow, and in both respects it overflows. He who would partake of the joys of the Lord must also partake of his cup of suffering. We must suffer with him if we would reign with him. But we count the sufferings of this present time as not worthy to be compared with the glories that shall be revealed in us.

And hence we are enabled to rejoice in tribulation, so that as the tribulations will overflow, the rejoicing likewise overflows, and with the apostle we can say rejoice, and again I say rejoice.

Verse 6 of Psalm 23 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Another thought from reprint 4278, where brother Russell clarifies the correct meaning in the Greek Goodness and mercy shall pursue me is the more correct thought. God’s goodness and mercy are pursuing them, keeping after them, watching over them, assisting them, caring for them, upholding them in trials. End in that sentence.

Yes, the Lord’s goodness and mercy is constantly pursuing us day by day, hour by hour, and sometimes minute by minute. Truly all things work together for our good, because we love the Lord, our God, our great shepherd, and the good shepherd, our Lord Jesus. Romans 8, verse 28, and you know we know that Scripture by heart, but it’s good, especially at this time of year, to think about what follows. Romans 8:28 we won’t quote that here, but all the way to the end.

There’s precious promises there about what shall separate us. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Well, there’s one thing. It’s not on that list, and you know what that thing is?

It’s ourselves. That’s the only thing that can separate us, but only if our hearts are not right.

A brief quote from reprint 5653again 5653. Then the grand finale is signified. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, in the heavenly house of which the Redeemer said, in my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, and I will come again and receive you unto myself. John 14, verses 2 and 3 Then at his second coming, with our glorious change, we shall enter the Father’s house in the fullest sense of the Word, on the Spirit plane, which flesh and blood does not inherit.

And friends, we know that we’re in the period of his second Presence, and we have that special blessing that we shall not sleep, but we shall be changed in the moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when we finish our course.

And of course there’s amana on verse 6, Psalm 23, and that’s September 22nd. September 22nd. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

The goodness and mercy which we anticipate beyond the veil has its beginning here already, and is thus to be appreciated. Whoever knows nothing of the joys of the Lord in the present time will evidently not be prepared for the joys of the Lord in the King kingdom. Whatever blessings and joys he may attain to under the administration of the kingdom during the millennial age, there is then joy and rejoicing granted to the Lord’s faithful ones, not a momentary matter connected with their first acceptance of the Lord and their consecration of themselves to Him. The goodness and mercy of the Lord is not to be looked back to as a thing of the remote past, but is to be recognized in and appreciate it as a thing of the present day. By day, God’s goodness and mercy follow us, refresh us, strengthen us, bless us, end of that manner well, brethren, let’s try to summarize what we’ve considered together on this precious psalm, and here are the key points.

We have a personal relationship with God as our great shepherd, and a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus as our good shepherd. We’ve looked at what we are Told as to the kind of sheep that the Lord is looking for and how to become good sheep. Our every need is taken care of. The Lord gives us periods of rest and refreshment when we need them. The Lord protects us from every danger, even from ourselves.

And sometimes I think that’s the greatest danger there was. There was a young person once that asked me, he said, what are you afraid of? He says, you know, I’m afraid of spiders, and I says, well, yeah, I’m kind of afraid of spiders. But, you know, the thing that I’m afraid of the most?

I’m afraid of myself, and of course, we’re not speaking about the new creature. We’re talking about the flesh. We have the privilege of feasting at the Lord’s banquet table, especially at this time. He’s come forth and he’s serving us.

It’s his truth. It’s through the faithful and wise servant we have been anointed with the Holy Spirit. We are privileged to partake of the cup of suffering as well as the cup of joy. The Lord’s goodness and mercy are with us every day of our lives, and if we are faithful, we will dwell in the house of the lord forever.

The 23rd Psalm was written under divine inspiration for you and me. We need to take it personally and to apply the lessons and the promises contained there to ourselves in our daily lives. May the Lord help us so to do. May the Lord add His blessing and overrule anything not according to his will.

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