Hello, we’re continuing on our lesson in Psalm 23. By way of review, I mentioned yesterday that David in Psalm 23 is now a seasoned man with a life full of experiences in the valleys as well as on the mountaintops. I mentioned also that it’s been said experience is the best teacher. In Psalm 23, David tells us some things that he learned. Let’s start with that first verse. It says, “David lists these things for us revealing God’s character.” By the way, when he did this, when he lists the things that he will never lack, he also revealed the character of God, which is interesting enough is also revealed in the names of God that we’re going to cover this week. It says, “Shepherd, what is that? Jehovah-Roy or some say Jehovah-Raham, the great shepherd of the sheep.”

Why is that important to David? Because David is saying that he’s not just a shepherd, he is my shepherd. “The Lord is my shepherd.” David is saying, “I have a personal relationship with God.” By the way, as Christians, we too have a personal relationship with the good shepherd. In John chapter 10 verse 14, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. And know my sheep, and I’m known of mine.” And by the way, Jesus is not just saying he knows about us. No, actually, in verse 3 of that same chapter, he’s talking about a shepherd, but he’s referring to himself as well. He says about the shepherd, “To him the porter openeth, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calleth his own sheep by name.” Ain’t that a wonderful truth? God knows us, praise God, by name. And it says, “And leadeth them out.” David learned that the Lord is his shepherd, Jehovah-Roy. And we can claim that as well. Jesus is our shepherd, the good shepherd, who knows his sheep by name. David also learned about Jehovah-Jireh. God is the provider. In the last part of that verse, it says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”

What we need, God supplies. The Lord asked Abraham to bring Isaac to Mount Moriah and offer him as a sacrifice. The next day, he took Isaac and headed there. And Isaac is wondering by this time. On the way there, he said, “Father, here’s the wood, and here’s the fire. Where’s the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham answered, “The Lord will provide. Jehovah-Jireh.” We know the rest of the story. God did provide. Let me read you that in Genesis 22 verse 13. Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by the horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-Jireh. As it is said today in the mount of the Lord, it shall be seen.

The Lord is my shepherd, Jehovah-Roy, a personal shepherd. My shepherd. He knows my name. That’s what David learned. He also learned about Jehovah-Jireh. God provides. And because he provides, I shall not want.

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Tom Apusen

Tom Apusen, Assistant Pastor

Tom Apusen is an Assistant Pastor at North Valley Baptist Church. He is the pastor of the Filipino Department, and he heads up the missions, security, and transportation ministries.