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. 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 righteousness.”
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.
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.