Title :

1. It is called the Golden Psalm of the Bible.
2. It is called the Sweetest Song of King David.
3. It is called the most Loved Song of Christian.

Background :

1. Most probably King David might have written this song while he had run away to the wilderness from the city and palace of Jerusalem in fear of his son Absalom.
2. In this song David portrays God as the Shepherd and himself as His sheep.
3. In this psalm David tells of his past experiences in green pasture, his present struggles in the valley and his future hope to dwell in the house of the Lord.

The Shepherd in the Bible

1. The life of a shepherd is very familiar in both Old Testament and New Testament periods.
2. This is the most familiar picture of God Himself applied in both the Testaments.
3. This title is applicable to all the 3 major offices of Old Testaments: Priest, Prophet and King, as well as 3 major offices of New Testament: Apostle, Pastor and Evangelist.

A deep view of the Palms will reveals the works of the Trinity in a believer’s life.



Prominent Shepherd Passages in the Bible :-

1. God as the Shepherd to Israel. Ezekiel. 34
2. God as the Shepherd to David. Psalm. 23
3. God as the Shepherd to Church. John 10

The 3 Prominent Shepherd Stories in the Bible:

Among many stories and incidents about the shepherd, 3 are very much familiar and found prominent to us:-

1. A Shepherd killed a giant : David & Goliath . II Sam
2. A Shepherd who lost his sheep and found: John 10
3. A Shepherd group of shepherd of Bethlehem received the Good news of Savior’s birth. Luke. 1


Two Great Leaders of Israel were Shepherd : Moses & David

1. Moses was a Shepherd spent his 40 years became the greatest leader of Israel. David was too a shepherd spent his teen age with his sheep became the beloved king of Israel.
2. Moses was the leader of Israel for 40 years and David ruled successfully Israel for 40 years.
3. Moses brought back Israel to the promise land. David brought back the land to the Israelites.
4. Moses wrote the Pentateuch and David wrote the Psalms.
5. Moses received the delivered the Law and David meditated and proclaimed the Law (ps.19 & 119)
6. Moses was commanded to build the Tabernacle of God and David had desired to build the Temple and to dwell in it.
7. Moses represents the Prophetic Shepherd hood of Jesus and David represents the Kingly Shepherd hood of Jesus.

The Relationship with other Psalms :

1. Palms 22: The Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep for our Justification.
2. Palms 23: The Great Shepherd who cares for His sheep for our Sanctification.
3. Palms 24: The Chief Shepherd who is coming again for His sheep for our Glorification.

The Characteristics of the Palms .23

1. It is a Personal Song of King David
2. It is a Promising Song to David
3. It is a Proclaiming Song by King David

The Title Shepherd Palms is so accurate to this :

1. The Palms is by a shepherd : Written by David
2. The Palms is about the Shepherd : Portrays about God
3. The Palm is for a shepherd : Mentions qualifications of leader.
Because the Lord is my Shepherd Ps.23

1. I am supplied : 1 – 3
2. I am safe : 4 – 5
3. I am satisfy : 6

The Promise of the Shepherd : 1
The Provision of the Shepherd : 2 – 3
The Presence of the Shepherd : 4 – 5
The Preservation of the Shepherd : 6

Our Provision in Christ ( v.5)

a. The Fullness we have in Christ. 5a
b. The Freshness we have in Christ. 5b
c. The Freedom we have in Christ. 5c

The Psalm of Trust : 27

a. My Confidence : 1 – 6
b. My Cry : 7 – 12
c. My Calm : 13 – 17

3 Experience of David’s Life is the experience of every Christian : Ps.23

1. In the Green Pasture & Still Water .1- 3 : Our past experience of Salvation in Jesus ( Green Pasture is a type of God’s Word and Still Water is a type of Holy Spirit. Every Christian is born again by the conviction and regeneration of the Holy Spirit who does it by His Word, the eternal seed, which is the power unto salvation.

2. In the Valley of the Shadow of death 4 – 5: Our Present experiences of Sanctification in Jesus. Every Christian is in war with the power of darkness.

3. In the House of the Lord. 6: Our Future experiences of Glorification in Jesus. Every Christian has the definite future in Heaven, our eternal House for ever.

3 Works of the Holy Spirit in believer’s life we see in Ps.23

1. Staff and Rod that Chastises and Comforts David: Holy Sprit is the Divine Comforter of all His people.
2. Table of the Lord before his enemies that Refreshes and gives David Victory: Holy Spirit is the One Who is in us Greater than he that is in the World to give us victory over our foes.
3. Overflowing Cup that Satisfies and Anoint David: Holy Spirit is the One who leads us to His Fullness and fills us with His joy.

The Presence of God (Psalm 23)

1. There is Provisions in the Presence of God (1 – 2)
2. There is Restoration in the Presence of God (3)
3. There is Protection in the Presence of God (4)
4. There is Victory & Joy in the Presence of God (5)
5. There is Goodness & Mercy in the Presence of God (6)

The 3-fold blessings of the Shepherd to His sheep:

1. The Shepherd Provision for David is Personal (1 – 3)
2. The Shepherd Protection is Pervasive (4 – 5)
3. The Shepherd Pleasure is Paramount (6)

Eternal Security of the believer’s in Jesus revealed in Palms. 23

1. The Lord is my Shepherd



No one else Creator Personal Prophet
Redeemer Priest
Covenant God King

When the Lord, our Creator, Redeemer, and Covenant God alone is the Shepherd, how can he fail to secure His children’s salvation.

He as Prophet gives us the complete revelation of His will and plan about our salvation and life; He as the Priest intercede for our weaknesses before the righteous throne in heaven that He would forgive our sins, correct us in righteousness and mold us daily into His holiness; and He as the King rules over our lives and have absolute control over the whole creation. And all things happen for good to those who love Him. Thus He is able to protect our eternal life given to us by Him.

2. He makes me …..leads me.

The green pasture talks about the Word of God which is ever green and never fades away. It never fails but rather nourishes the believer’s faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ. A believer’s faith rested on God’s word is sound faith like still water. Since His Word is the eternal Word, which never passes away, our salvation in Him is too secure in His Word alone.

3. He restores my soul…in righteousness.

When there is destruction in the soul He restore it and never destroys it. He cleans our soul in righteousness for His name same ( Ps. 51 : 10 – 12)
4. You are with me….

Before Jesus ascended to heaven He gave a great promise to His disciples i.e. Lo! I am with you always even to the end of the world. His unceasing presence in and with us in the guarantee of our eternal salvation.

5. Your rod and staff…comfort me…

With His rod He chastises us and with His staff He directs us in the path of righteousness. His chastisement proves that He loves us as His own children and punishes us when we do against His will and Word. (Heb 12: 5 – 10).

6. You prepare a Table before my enemies…

The Lord gives us victory. Bible says we are more than conqueror and He is our Jehovah Nisshi. He has proclaimed that He would build His church and the gates of the hell will never prevail against it. How can then our salvation be lost?

7. You anoint my head with oil.

Anointing is God’s selection and choice for special task. its authority on us and God pleasure in us in choosing for His glory alone. If God has chosen us by His won authority and pleasure, He has definite purpose behind done it’ when purpose no one can depose. And His choice will never fail.

8. My Cups runs over…

In God given eternal life and blessings there is no lack of God’s supplies. Thus our salvation will not be half done. If it is half done salvation, how can it be called the salvation from the Lord? It is failure on God’s side when our great salvation if lost due to the lack of His blessing on us.

9. Surely goodness and mercy will follow all the days of my life…

All the days of life is our life span on this earth, from the days of our birth to till we die. If God’s goodness and mercy never finish on this earth for our life, how can His gift of salvation vanishes away in between?

10. I’ll dwell in the house of Lord for ever.

Dwelling – Not just staying, but permanent dwelling with Him, for this cause He came down to us and dwelt among us.

House of the Lord – This is our destiny and hope. We are called to be the citizenship of heaven and to treasure up our treasures in heaven. Jesus promised us to take us to the Father’s House.
Forever – it is about the period after our life span on this earth and it never end rather beginning of eternity. And so our salvation is for ever and ever.



GOD: The Good Shepherd

• The Good Shepherd Leads Us to the Peace of God.
“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5, NIV).

• The Good Shepherd Leads Us to the Presence of God.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

• The Good Shepherd Leads Us to the Palace of God.
…and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6, NKJV).

Jesus the Shepherd in Psalm 23:1-6

I. Jesus Is Our Personal Shepherd, v. 1
II. Jesus is Our Providing Shepherd, v. 1-2
III. Jesus Is Our Pardoning Shepherd, v. 3
IV. Jesus Is Our Protecting Shepherd, v. 4
V. Jesus is Our Preparing Shepherd, v. 5-6

1. God’s Provision (Vs 1 – 2)
2. God’s Path (Vs.3 - 4)
3. God’s Palace ( V 5 – 6)

Passion Week Experience of Jesus in Ps. 23:-

The Green Pasture – Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Praying)
The Valley of Death – Calvary (Carrying the Cross)
The House of the Lord – Mt. Olive (Ascension)

Scripture’s use of “valleys” in our lives”

• The valley of ___________________ (Joshua 7:26, LB)
• The valley of ___________________ (Psalm 84:6, LB)
• The valley of ___________________ (Hosea 2:15, NCV)
• The valley of the shadow of Death (Psalm 23:4)

Valley in the Life of David

1. The Valley of Shepherded hood turn into the Valley of Anointing
2. The Valley of Fight turned in to the Valley Victory
3. The Valley of Flight turned into the Valley of Discipline

Shadow…

• Shadows are always bigger than the substance.
• Shadows cannot kill / overcome / shallow you.
• There is no shadow without substance.