The Gospel in Psalm 23

Introduction.  The twenty-third Psalm is one of the most well-known Scriptures in all of the Bible. Many a child could recite each verse of this beautiful Psalm. Although it is part of the Old Testament, and written by a man inspired by the Holy Spirit, who lived under the Old Covenant, it uses many figures that mirror (or parallel) some of the very promises that lie at the heart of the gospel. This morning for a few moments I’d like for us to consider a few of these elements.

I.  “The Lord is My Shepherd, I shall not want” (23:1).

A.    Lost Sheep  (Luke 15:1-7). Here Jesus pictures human beings as sheep that God cares about. He wants to keep them and bring them back to Him when they are lost. This is what Jesus does for those willing to accept the gospel.

B.     The Good Shepherd  (John 10:1-11). Jesus is the entrance to protect for the sheep and the shepherd of the sheep. But we must also note that being one of His sheep means that we follow Him and listen to His voice (John 10:22-30).

II.  “He restores my  soul: He leads  me in the  paths of righteousness for His  name’s sake” (23:3).

A.    Two paths (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus here describes two different paths that men can follow, but both do not offer the same destination. Jesus narrow gate and difficult way is the “path of righteousness” that restores the soul of the one faithful to Him.

B.     Jesus is the way (John 14:4-6). Man cannot guide himself. Jesus is the “gate” of entrance to protection. Following Jesus is “the way” to eternal life and “the way” to a relationship with God, because only in Jesus can we find the “paths of rightoueness.”

III.  “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil…” (23:4).

A.    “Shadow of death.” (Matthew 4:12-16)  The Psalmists description is echoed in this Scripture about what Jesus was to those in Galilee. They, like all men live in the “shadow of death.” This is true of physical death, but even more true of spiritual death.”

B.     “Wages of sin” (Romans 6:23).  Sin leads to spiritual death, which is separation from God. To die physically in such a spiritual state is to condemn ourselves to eternal separation from God.

1.       “All have sinned” (Romans 5:12). Like Adam, all at some point follow his example of sin, and die spiritually just as he did in his sin.

2.      Death destroyed (1 Cor. 15:20-28). Christ’s death and resurrection conquered physical death and offers mankind deliverance from spiritual death.

3.      “I am the resurrection” (John 11:21-27).  For those who follow Jesus He offers this deliverance from physical and spiritual death.

IV. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies…” (23:5).

A.    Parable of the Banquet (Luke 14:15-24). A banquet is a special meal of celebration and honor. It is a great thing to be invited to such an event. The gospel offers mankind a special invitation. But it also offers mankind the sustenance they truly need.

B.     “Living Bread” (John 6:27-35). Jesus’ life, teaching, and identity offers us the true substance we need for this life and that which is to come. If we will recognize it, He is to us the “table prepared before us” in the presence of our enemies.

V.  “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (23:6).

A.    A place prepared (John 14:1-3). The Psalmist acknowledges that God prepares and reserves a place for His people. Jesus promises the same thing. Yet, we must recognize that God in Christ does not just prepare one place, but two.

B.     Two places prepared (Revelation 21:1-8). Which place “prepared” will be ours? The lake of fire, or a dwelling in “the house of the Lord forever?” The choice is up to us.