The Lord Is My Shepherd

ILL. A Christian drama depicts a little boy working in his parent’s carpentry shop in Jerusalem. He protests his chore, which is to assist in building a cross. The parents insist that he help because Rome has given them a contract for construction of crosses.

In Scene 2 the boy is weeping. "What is wrong?" his parents ask. He responds, "I went to the market place & I saw Jesus of Nazareth, the Man we love to hear speak, & He was carrying OUR cross! They took Him to Golgotha & nailed Him to MY cross."

The parents insist, "Oh no, son, that wasn’t our cross. Other people in Jerusalem build crosses. That wasn’t our cross."

"Oh yes, it was! When you weren’t looking, I carved my name on the cross that we were making. When Jesus was carrying His cross, He stumbled right beside me, & I looked, & my name was on His cross!"

APPL. My name was on His cross, too. So was yours. He died in our place. He went to the cross to restore our souls.

That is why the Apostle Peter wrote, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins & live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.

“For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd & Overseer of your souls" (1 Peter 2:24 25).

E. David continues on in Psalm 23:3, "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." A careless shepherd might lead his sheep over steep & dangerous paths where they could fall. But a caring shepherd leads his sheep over paths that are safe.

The Bible clearly teaches that there are 2 paths we can take. One leads to destruction, & Satan tries to lead us along that path. It is such a broad & smooth road. It often seems like the logical way to go.

The other is the path of righteousness that leads to the glory that God is preparing for us. Sometimes this way is narrow & difficult & filled with obstacles. But the good Shepherd knows which way His sheep are to go, & He leads them on that path of righteousness.

SUM. So here is something for us to be thankful for. Thank God that in this life He provides us with everything we really need.

II. IN THE FACE OF DEATH THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS US FROM EVIL

Secondly, David says, "Be thankful, because in the face of death the Good Shepherd protects us from evil."

A. Listen to David as he says, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." (Psalm 23:4) The fear of death can really disturb us.

Hebrews 2:15 speaks of people who "all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."

The Bible clearly states that death is Satan’s weapon, the last enemy to be defeated. But David said, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Why? Because "you are with me."

ILL. A 1st grader stood in front of his classroom to tell about "What I want to be when I grow up." He said, "I’m going to be a lion tamer & have lots of fierce lions. I’ll walk into the cage & they will roar."