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Hello, and welcome to this Bible study. Today we will be talking about the book of Psalms, chapter 23, verses 1 to 6. We will be taking it seriously, focusing on verse 1 of Psalm 23. It says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."
People often quote this verse in times of danger or fear to gain confidence. But the question is, do you really understand what you are reciting? Do you understand what you are quoting, or are you just saying it because you feel you need it in a time of fear or danger? If that's the case, I want you to understand that you might be wasting your time. Today, you will understand what this chapter and verse mean, so when you recite it, you will know exactly what you are saying.
Now, let us go into verse 1. It says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." What does this mean? The man who wrote this book is David. David was a psalmist who wrote this verse in Psalm 23:1-6. He was a man after God's own heart, who dedicated his entire life and family to God. He held God tenaciously and never let go.
David himself was a shepherd, tending the sheep of his father. He understood fully the role and activities of a shepherd. He looked at himself as a shepherd and compared it with God, seeing that God is the perfect shepherd. Using his own experience as a shepherd, he said, "The Lord is my shepherd."
Now, what do we mean by "shepherd"? We know that a shepherd tends the flock of sheep, using staff and rod to direct, guide, and lead the sheep. A good shepherd ensures the sheep are always safe, secure, and well-fed. David realized that all these qualities are found in God more supremely, and so he said, "The Lord is my shepherd."
You cannot say the Lord is your shepherd if you are not part of the flock of God. You have to be a sheep in God's flock, led by God. Only then can you confidently say, "The Lord is my shepherd." David allowed himself to be led by God, unlike Saul, who disobeyed God's command to slay every man, woman, boy, girl, and animal. Saul spared the fat animals and brought the king of that land, but Samuel told him that obedience is better than sacrifice.
David gave himself wholly to God, allowing God to lead and direct him, dictating his footsteps. That is why he had the confidence to say, "The Lord is my shepherd," meaning that God is taking the lead in his life. Turn with me to 1 Peter 2:25: "For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." If you have strayed and not returned to God, then God is not your shepherd, and reciting Psalm 23:1-6 is pointless.
David was confident in saying, "The Lord is my shepherd" because he was a sheep listening to the master's voice and following the master's lead. What about you? Are you a sheep in God's flock? Are you being led by God? Are you following God's leadership? If not, there is no need to say that the Lord is your shepherd. First, you need to return to God, tracing your footsteps back and reconciling with Him.
In your business, do you allow God to be your shepherd? Do you let Him take the lead, dictate how you do business, how much you charge your customers, and what you need to do to make your customers happy? Does God dictate the activities of your business? If not, then the Lord is not your shepherd. You are the shepherd of yourself because you haven't allowed God to take the lead.
In your workplace, do you let God lead your decisions? When faced with decisions that require your signature, do you let God dictate your actions? If not, the Lord is not your shepherd. What about your neighborhood? Do you allow God to take the lead, direct, and oversee your activities there? If not, the Lord is not your shepherd.
For the Lord to be your shepherd, you must let Him lead in every aspect of your life: your business, your workplace, your neighborhood, and in all decisions you make. Proverbs 3:6 says, "In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." If you don't do this, the Lord is not your shepherd.
Matthew 15:8-9 says, "These people draw near to Me with their mouth, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men." Reciting Psalm 23:1-6 without truly making the Lord your shepherd is vain.
Today, I urge you to make the Lord your shepherd so that when you recite Psalm 23:1-6, you can do so with confidence. The second point is that if the Lord is your shepherd, you will hear His voice. John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." Jesus’ sheep know and follow Him, and He knows them.
Does Jesus know you? If not, you are not part of His flock. Trace your footsteps back to God, and Christ will acknowledge you as part of His flock. The sheep of God hear His voice, obey His voice, and are known by Him. Obedience is crucial. Saul disobeyed God and was told that obedience is better than sacrifice.
Deuteronomy 11:13-14 says, "And it shall be that if you diligently obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil."
This is why David said, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." He never lacked because the Lord provided everything he needed. Obedience is equivalent to allowing God to be your shepherd. A stubborn sheep that doesn't obey the shepherd will be disciplined or cast aside.
Return to God, obey His commandments, and allow Him to lead you. Then, the Lord will continue to be your shepherd. Before we conclude, let’s look at Mark 3:35: "For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother." Jesus emphasized that those who obey God's will are truly His family.
In conclusion, when you obey God's will, you become part of His flock, and He will supply all your needs. Remember this. Today, we focused on Psalm 23:1, and in the next video, we will look at Psalm 23:2. To get notified when the next video is released, subscribe to my channel and click the bell icon.
God bless you today, in Jesus Christ's name. Amen.
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