Psalm 23

God as the Shepherd

Last week we discussed Isiah 40. V11 says:

¹¹ Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs
And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

This morning I’d like for us to talk about understanding God using the Shepherd picture and go through Psalm 23.

READ Psalm 23

The first 3 verses describe actions. What are the 4 actions ascribed to Him?

Makes me lie down, Leads me, restores my soul, and guides me

When has God done one of these for you?

Why is the reason behind these actions important? It’s not all about me!

The next 2 verses (4 and 5) describe some actions, but they also show that God has power. What can we determine that God has power over through these verses?

Death, Evil, enemies

God doesn’t usually (lately) demonstrate his power over death by miraculously reviving dead people. He has done it a few times in the Bible, but that is not usually how He demonstrates His power over death. How does God show His power over death to us?

Evil is all around us. I sometimes drive down streets not that far from my house and see people that look like they are up to no good. I am probably wrong a lot of the time, but sometimes I’m not. I see evil in this world. How does God demonstrate His power over evil?

V6 sounds like if the Lord is your shepherd, your life will be all roses and happiness. The last part of the verse is eternal life, but we know that Christians have lots of challenges in this earthly life. What is the promise in V6 for today?

Isaiah 40

God's Power

Intro – Favorite football team or player

What do you notice about football players? Their size and strength.

Isaiah 40 talks about human strength so let’s look at what it has to say about it.

1-8

ALL flesh is grass. Grass withers, flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.

When we compare our strength with God’s there is really no good way to get the proper scale. The grass in my yard is looking pretty sorry right now.

9-17 Isaiah uses rhetorical questions to describe God in this section. As we read it, think about what he is saying about God and how it helps us understand God’s power.

Read 9-17

What does this section tell us about God?

                He will come with MIGHT

                His Arm ruling for him

                His reward is with him

                His recompense is with him

                He is like a shepherd

                He tends his flock

                He carries the lambs and gently leads the nursing ewes.

                He is so awesome that He holds the waters in the hollow if His hand.

                He has a Spirit, no one council him

Skip to 28-31

                He does not become weary

                V30 –football players

                If you wait on the lord you will not get weary.

How many of us have the kind of patience Isaiah is talking about in v31?

Why do you think God wants us to wait on Him?

Isaiah went to such great lengths to describe God’s power and contrast it with human frailty, then at the end of this section he says that we can gain strength through patience. (My paraphrase).

Do you think understanding God’s power affects our ability to be patient?

Romans 16

Friends

Romans 16: 1-5 Paul sends a lot of greetings to people.

It is a little odd to find such a list in Romans, because Paul had not been to Rome. He identifies 27 men and 9 women (7 by name).

It is unclear whether he knew the people by reputation or by personal relationship, but he spends a lot of ink on them.

What I’d like us to talk about this morning is the importance of relationships we develop when we serve the Lord together. I think those relationships we form with other believers, while we are serving, are very different than the relationships we might have with others.

Richard Williams

Johnny Morrison 

Paul sent greetings to these folks because he was not in close proximity to them. Can I get a few of you to describe someone who you have served in ministry with, but with whom you no longer have frequent contact?

Do you think the relationships we build with believers in service is different than the relationships we have otherwise? Why or why not?

I think the “serving God”-based relationships are rich in trust, and allow us to do more than we might be able to do alone.

Ecclesiastes 4:12: Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

After listing all the people he wanted to greet, Paul ends his letter with a few warnings.

17-20 Last Advice/Warnings

Unity is critical. (has been done)

Smooth talkers can deceive the unsuspecting. (false teachers)

Be wise in what is good and innocent in what is evil.

God will crush Satan.