Protection in Danger

Series on the Psalms

Text: Psalm 23

Title: Protection in Danger

Introduction

The twenty third Psalm is not only one of the best known psalms, it is a portion of Scripture which even non-believers are familiar with. This is a testimony to both its simplicity and beauty as well as its ability to pluck the heart strings. More books have been written about this psalm than any other in the Psalter, and I myself have preached on it numerous times, frequently at Memorial services where it is often requested as a Scripture. In spite of all this I am not convinced that most people plumb the depths of the riches in this Psalm. Ultimately only those who know Jesus Christ as their Savior can appreciate this Psalm because as Jesus said, I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd gives his life for the Sheep. Perhaps one source of the power of this Psalm is that it comes from the pen of a poet-king who was a Shepherd. In I Samuel 16 , Samuel the servant of the Lord is sent to anoint the new king of Israel who will replace Saul. He surveys the whole family of Jesse and God has not chosen any of them. Are these all the sons you have he asked. There is still the youngest, Jesse answered, but he is tending the sheep. The implication is that he is inconsequential. In fact when he comes down to the plain of Elah to meet Goliath, his oldest brother accuses him of endangering the flock to satisfy his own curiosity and he even says, with whom did you leave those FEW sheep in the desert? This Psalm picturesquely and poignantly describes what it means to be in a covenant relationship with God from the standpoint of that godly shepherd boy. It suggests to the believer what God is to Him in this relationship. God is his hope, his help, and his host.

I. Yahweh my Hope

We read in verses 1 and 2, The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters. The Lord is MY shepherd implies God’s electing grace. David’s hope is fastened upon the Lord from his youth because he has understood the favor of the Lord. This is revealed many times later in his life of sin and failure. For example in Psalm 32, He says, Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him. The beautiful pastoral description of God’s care is rooted in the saving grace of almighty God. In place of my poverty and emptiness he gives abundance. In the place of the noisy rough places he gives me places of softness and quiet. In place of hunger and thirst he brings refreshment. Long before the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep, David understood the intimacy of God’s love for him. But now we who know the Lord in the fullness of his revelation understand that he is our hope even more clearly in John 10:14-16, I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-just as the Father knows me and I know the Father-and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. Perhaps there is something in the idea of a sheep that even we citified Americans can appreciate in spite of our difference in culture. We recognize that sheep are helpless and that they need a shepherd and something in us responds to this image, because we are without God and without hope apart from His grace.

II. Yahweh my Help

But the image changes somewhat in verses 3 and 4 to that of a guide and a traveler, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. The elect child of God is like Bunyan’s Pilgrim on the way to the celestial city, and there are many dangers and pitfalls along the way. Indeed the city cannot be reached without crossing the Jordan river which is in the valley of the shadow of death. This is the process of restoration which has begun, “my soul he does restore again.” God renews my life. This too is the result of God’s gracious love, for David says God is our guide for his own name’s sake. It is nothing in us that elicits this compassion. He has chosen, praise to his glorious grace. But there are two parts to this guidance. On the one hand it leads the pilgrim into covenant obedience. He walks in paths of righteousness because he is guided by his Savior. But he is also comforted in the face of fear because God is with him. Are we to see no connection here? Is it possible to walk through the valley of the shadow of death boldly if we are not walking in the paths of righteousness? One is reminded of the wisdom of Amos the prophet who says, Can two walk together unless they are in agreement. I am not suggesting that we are abandoned when we slip and fall. Quite the contrary, for He is there to help, but I am saying that the direction has to be the same and the goals must be identical. Is this not what John the Apostle means when he says, If we walk in the light as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, purifies us from all sin. To the degree that this is true, then we can say, “The way I go is dangerous and dark; the track lies over bleak mountains and through fearsome ravines; and assailants are to be met at every turn of the way. Yet on I go, never losing the track, for he guides me, not alone for my comfort, but for the honor of his name.”

III. Yahweh my Host

The image changes a second time to that of a host and guest in verses 5 and 6, You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. As I have mentioned before, I must reiterate. We have little understanding of the extremity of eastern hospitality. The strange story of Abraham’s nephew Lot in Genesis 19 will serve to illustrate. Angelic visitors are entertained in Abraham’s tent and then depart for Sodom to warn Lot of the impending destruction. While they are in Lot’s home the men of Sodom besiege the house and demand that they be sent out so they may abuse them. Lot says, I have two virgin daughters . Let me bring them out and you can do what you like with them. But don’t do anything to these men for they have come under the protection of my roof. Now we are properly offended by Lot’s view. This is taking hospitality too far. Thank God we have a different view of women. This, however is not the point. The point is the extremity of the eastern view of hospitality. Read that into this portion of Psalm 23. The shepherd comes to the tent of a stranger. He is pursued by enemies. The stranger takes him in. He is forever under this man’s protection. He is treated royally, and all the wealth, and strength, and power, and wisdom of the host is now pledged forever to his guest. When the host is God the advantage is incalculable. And this is surely what David is talking about. Ponder for a moment the love of the Lord Jesus in laying down his life for you and paying the price of your sin and securing you from the enemy of your soul by defeating him at the cross . This is your portion as his guest. This is what it means to be in a covenant relationship with Almighty God, and David understood this wonderful grace.

Summary of Psalm 23

The beloved Shepherd’s Psalm is much more than a tranquil and serene release from the pressures of our busy cosmopolitan lives. It is a simple yet intense picture of what it means to have a relationship to the living Lord of Israel. It is written by King David, the Shepherd, who was called from tending the sheep to become the earthly representative of the Good Shepherd of Israel. The foundation of the Psalm is the grace of God. He becomes our Shepherd because he chooses to care for us and Jesus the Son of God demonstrates this by giving his life for his sheep. As our Shepherd he guides us in the right way which is both righteous and safe. But he is also our host who receives us into his tent and grants us his protection. That almighty protection abundantly provides for our needs and guarantees that we will never again be threatened by our enemies. Thus the words of Jesus in John 10 are fulfilled, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.