I Have All I Need
Let us learn together how our good shepherd is so good to us.
Psalm 23:1-6 ESV The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 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. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
A content life is satisfied and at rest. I shall not want, or I have all I need, is a result of knowing that God is the all-sufficient and supreme shepherd over our lives. Contentment is also a result of knowing that when we are in need or not at rest, God has the ability to provide and restore us back to a place of peace. Provision of food and clean water is extremely important to a flock of sheep, for without it they cannot rest or be restored. In the same way, God has provided and continues to provide what we need to be spiritually satisfied and at rest.
V. 2a He makes me lie down in green pastures
Phillip Keller, a shepherd, scientist, and pastor, offers excellent insight into the life of shepherding. Keller says it is almost impossible for sheep to lie down unless four requirements are met. Sheep need to be free of fear, free of tension, free of aggravation, and free of hunger.
Free of Fear
Sheep are easily frightened. Something as small as a rabbit can frighten one sheep and cause a whole flock to run in blind fear. Sheep are timid, tender, and have no defenses except to run.
Keller wrote, “One morning at dawn I found nine of my choicest ewes, all soon to lamb, lying dead in the field where a cougar had harried the flock during the night” (pg 25). From then on he slept with a rifle and flashlight by his bed ready to respond with his faithful collie.
But what quieted and calmed the fear of his sheep, day or night, the most? His presence among the sheep.
For followers of Christ, we know God never leaves us nor forsakes us.
Isaiah 41:10 says, Do not fear, for I am with you.
We must remember the words of Psalm 121:3-4: The one who watches over you does not slumber or sleep
2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Many things can stir up fear and anxiety, but it’s important to remember who is with us. He is the one who knows all and sees all before it ever even happens. What’s happening on the outside doesn’t have to dictate how we think and feel on the inside. We can rest knowing our God is nearby, protecting us.
Free of Tension
As if being feeble and helpless among a variety of predators isn’t enough, sheep have to deal with friction, rivalry, and conflict within the flock.
Like chickens have a “pecking order” or cattle have a “horning order,” sheep have a “butting order.”
Keller shares, “Generally, an arrogant, cunning, and domineering old ewe will be boss of any bunch of sheep. She maintains her position of prestige by butting and driving other ewes or lambs away from the best grazing or favorite bedgrounds…Because of this rivalry, tension, and competition for status and self-assertion…The sheep become edgy, tense, discontented, and restless” (pg 28).
What stops the friction? When Keller came into view, his presence attracted their attention: “the sheep quickly forgot their foolish rivalries and stopped their fighting. The shepherd’s presence made all the difference…” (pg 29).
The pursuit we see in our society for self-recognition, striving to get ahead of others or keeping up with the Joneses, should not be adopted in the family of God. This is often a selfish pursuit that does whatever it takes, even if it means hurting others.
People of His presence can live a life of contentment because in Christ, position and status are not praised or elevated. Success is not measured in material wealth or powerful positions.
Godliness with contentment is great gain 1 Timothy 6:6
Paul said, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” Philippians 4:11
Jesus has a different take on greatness. Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. Matthew 20:26
Philippians reminds us, Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:3-4
Free of Aggravation
Sheep cannot rest if pesky nasal flies, bot flies, warble flies, and ticks are among them. Not only are these insects annoying or reduce productivity in sheep, but they also can cause bacterial infections and, in severe cases, death. Instead of lying down, sheep stand upright, stamp their legs, shake their heads, and run away to get relief.
The remedy once again is the presence of the Shepherd’s attentive care. A good shepherd will apply a variety of repellents, such as olive or linseed oil, and tar on the heads and noses of sheep to keep flies away. (More on this as we progress in the series).
Followers of Christ can be annoyed and bugged too. "Flies" can represent destructive thoughts, anxieties, temptations, and lies from the enemy. We can become irritable and restless by common things or even one another. The remedy? God has given us the oil of the Holy Spirit!
David is very familiar with oil on the head… So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. -1 Samuel 16:13
Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Bible. The Holy Spirit comes into our lives at salvation, sanctifying and setting us apart as holy and identifying us as a child of God (Romans 8:1-17).
When the enemy or your own proclamations try to shame, condemn, or convince you that you are unloved, unforgiven, and unsaved, you go ahead and proclaim out loud Romans 8:1-2: There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 5:10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
The Holy Spirit also enables us to live as we should. The Spirit develops in us the holy character of Christ: The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. -Galatians 5:22-23
You can apply this to friction in the flock and grace to yourself and others.
As you can see, the Holy Spirit is here for us to fight off the pesky whispers of the enemy and to be patient, gentle, and gracious with ourselves and fellow followers of Christ.
Free of hunger
Finally, for sheep to lie down, they need to be free from the fear of hunger.
Keller shares an important fact about this subject: “Many of the great sheep countries of the world are dry, semiarid areas. Most breeds flourish best in this sort of terrain. They are susceptible to fewer hazards of health or parasites where the climate is dry. But in those same regions it is neither natural nor common to find green pastures…Where David wrote this psalm…near Bethlehem, is a dry, brown, sun-burned wasteland.” Green pastures are often produced by the hard labor of a shepherd clearing rough, rocky land; tearing out brush, roots, stumps, deep plowing, careful soil preparation; seeding, planting, irrigating water, and ongoing care” (pg 33). A lot of work!
Keller goes on to say, “But green pastures are essential to success with sheep. When lambs are maturing, and the ewes need green, succulent feed for a heavy milk flow, there is no substitute for good pasturage…On such forage it was common to have lambs reach one hundred pounds in weight within one hundred days from birth…The secret to this was that the flock could fill up quickly, then lie down quietly to rest and ruminate” (pg 34).
“In the Scriptures the picture portrayed of the promised land to which God tried so hard to lead Israel from Egypt, was that of a ‘land flowing with milk and honey’ [Exo. 3:8]...In agricultural terms, ‘milk flow’ and ‘honey flow’ mean the peak season of spring and summer when pastures are at their most productive stages. The livestock that feed on the forage and the bees that visit the blossoms are said to be producing a corresponding ‘flow’ of milk or honey. So a land flowing with milk and honey is a land of rich, green…pastures” (pgs 34-35).
The promised land God promised His people was a life of peace, abundance, contentment, joy, and victory. Moving from Egypt into the promised land is a picture of us moving from oppression in sin into a life of freedom, joy, victory, and life more abundantly. Obviously, this points to the Kingdom of God now, and the eternal home which is being prepared for us.
God has done everything to give us life. God gave us THE source of life, Jesus Christ. Jesus came into the world to bring us to God. Jesus planted the seeds of the Kingdom and proclaimed the gospel. Jesus, the good shepherd, sacrificed his life; He gave His blood, sweat, and tears, and rose again to provide redemption from our “Egypt” into new and eternal life. The Holy Spirit tills the soil of our hearts, convicting us of sin, righteousness, and judgment. If that’s not enough, our good shepherd sits at the right hand of God, always interceding for us so we can approach the throne of grace in our times of need without fear.
V. 2b He leads me beside still waters
Cultural Context
Although sheep thrive in dry, semiarid land, they still need water. Water for sheep is essential to their strength, vitality, and overall well-being.
Keller says, “When sheep are thirsty, they become restless and set out in search of water. If not led to the good water supplies of clean, pure water, they will often end up drinking from the polluted potholes where they pick up such internal parasites as nematodes, liver flukes, or other disease germs.
Water for sheep came from three main sources: dew on the grass, deep wells, or springs and streams.
Keller: “Sheep by habit, rise just before dawn and start to feed. Or if there is bright moonlight, they will graze at night. The early hours are when the vegetation is drenched with dew” (pg 40), providing enough water to stay healthy just by grazing forage.
So a good shepherd will make sure his sheep have access to the early and evening grazing as needed.
Spiritual Connection
Spiritually, “To drink” means “to take in, accept, or believe.”
Jesus was clear that mankind's thirst can only be quenched by drawing on him.
As Jesus tells the multitudes, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Then Jesus gives us His Spirit to quench our thirst. Again He promises, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37–38). -The Preacher's Commentary, Complete 35-Volume Set: Genesis – Revelation (Function). Kindle Edition.
Jesus said, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. - Matthew 5:6
Just as sheep wake up early to graze or return at night, we too are led by God to meditate or feed on the Word day and night:
Psalm 1:1-2 Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
It has been observed that “those who are often the most serene, most confident, and most able to cope with life’s complexities are those who rise early each day to feed on God’s Word. It is in the quiet, early hours of the morning that they are led beside the quiet, still waters,” (Keller, pg 40) absorbing the very life of Christ for the day.
Keller tells a story to illustrate the importance of following our shepherd: “I watched one (a bunch of sheep) that were being led down to a magnificent mountain stream. The snow-fed waters were flowing pure and clear and crystal clean between lovely banks of trees. But on the way, several stubborn ewes and their lambs stopped instead to drink from small, dirty, muddy pools beside the trail. The water was filthy and polluted…with manure and urine of previous flocks. Still, these stubborn sheep were quite sure it was the best drink obtainable” (pg 44-45).
Let us be careful not to seek out other sources we think will satisfy our souls and desires. Many have tried only to get sick. When we avoid our true source, we can also get so thirsty that when we return to God, we are impatient in the journey. Let us pursue God daily and let Him lead us to times of refreshing and abundance, little by little.
Some may think rivers of rushing waters would be a joyful sight to see. But a shepherd knows a sheep could drown if their heavy coat gets wet. We don’t need a deluge if we have our daily supply of God.
Closing Application
“O God! Thou hast made us for Thyself, and our souls are restless, searching, ‘til they find their rest in Thee.” -Saint Augustine of Africa
Am I resting in what my Shepherd provides, or am I still searching somewhere else?
David was not speaking about material or physical poverty when he made the statement…”I shall not be in want.” No matter the physical needs or social class, poor or rich, one is never satisfied without Christ. Have you ever stopped to think and ask how we live in the wealthiest nation in the world, have more money and more belongings than most people, but we’re not content and still want or need more? People in our nation have an abundance of material possessions but are bankrupt inside, living without true peace, true love, and true joy.
For the good shepherd, there is no greater reward and joy than to see His people content, fed, safe, and thriving in His care. John 10:10-11: “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full…The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Restless wanting and wandering are not the life of Christ followers. We have contentment, rest, and peace in having Christ.
As Phillip Keller says about Jesus, “He will go to no end of trouble and labor to supply them with the finest grazing, the richest pasturage, and clean water. He will spare himself no pains to provide shelter from storms, and protection from ruthless enemies and the diseases and parasites to which sheep are so susceptible.” (Keller, pg 19)
Keller, W. Phillip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Zondervan, 2007.
Discussion
What does contentment look like for a follower of Jesus? What are some things that can cause us to become restless or dissatisfied even when God is faithfully providing for us?
Sheep struggle to rest when they experience fear, tension, aggravation, or hunger. Which of these four most often keeps you from experiencing God’s rest? How can an awareness of the Shepherd’s presence change the way you respond?
How can focusing on the Shepherd help us stop comparing ourselves to other people?
What are some “muddy pools” people turn to today, trying to satisfy needs that ultimately can only be satisfied in Christ? What practices help you regularly “drink” from what God provides?
Read John 10:10–11 and then return to Psalm 23:1–2. Where in your life are you currently struggling to trust the Shepherd’s provision or leadership? What would it practically look like this week to stop searching elsewhere and rest in what Christ provides?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
If Jesus isn’t the shepherd of your soul, the Savior and Lord of your life, are you ready to make that decision today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!