Introduction: 

Psalm 23 A Psalm of David.

[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
[2] He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
[3] 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. 

Chances are most of us have heard this Psalm before, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some who even have it memorized. It is arguably one of the most popular passages in scripture. Psalm 23 has brought comfort to many who were facing death or going through trials, and there is something about it that resonates with our hearts just by hearing it read. Charles Spurgeon called it the Pearl of the Psalms. My goal this morning is to have us look at it from a different lens than we may have considered before. Over the past few weeks, we have been in a new series for the summer titled Summer in the Psalms: Learning to Pray. Our hope in this series is to see how the Psalms can inform the way we pray in various ways and seasons of life. Using the psalms in this way has been a practice of mine for many years now. Usually, at least two or three times a year, I take an entire month to study and meditate on every psalm, using a method that has you read 5 psalms a day.

The reason I keep going back to this practice, is that I have seen it time and time again shape and transform my prayer life in many ways. It has provided me with words to pray when I don’t have them. It has led me to pray for things that I may not typically pray for. And I have already seen this series having a similar effect. One thing that has stood out to me as we have been considering how the psalms guide our prayers, is how we should continually pray in such a way that our requests are interwoven with theology. That we move in and out of making our requests known to God and proclaiming truths about God. We saw this in Psalm 13 two weeks ago, and again in Psalm 42 last week. In prayer, and praise, we are shown through the psalms that we should both talk to God and about God. 

We will see it again this week, as we examine Psalm 23 in order to learn how to pray to strengthen our faith. Faith is the foundation of the entire Christian life. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please God…” You might say faith is where the Christian life begins and ends. So, this is a vital way to learn how to pray. But, before we look at how to pray to strengthen our faith, we must understand a truth revealed through the beginning of this Psalm,

All Prayer Must Begin with Saving Faith 

I don’t think we dwell on this truth enough when we are seeking to learn how to pray, that we cannot even begin to pray if we lack saving faith. In order for us to pray for things like our faith to be strengthened, we must have our faith placed firmly in God as the one who will satisfy, and who provides everything we need. Notice how David opens up in verse 1, and think with me about all that he is saying,

[1] The LORD is my shepherd; 

The image is clear, God is a shepherd to him. This is a beautiful confession of confidence that God leads, guides, protects, and cares for him as a shepherd would his sheep. And the rest of this psalm will flesh that out. But notice another side of this confession. David confesses that he is like a sheep. This may not fully land on your heart yet, but this really is a profoundly humble confession. Sheep are notoriously helpless animals. The Nelson Bible Dictionary notes that

“sheep are curious but dumb…, often unable to find their way home even if the sheepfold is within sight,” and, often, they would “wander into a briar patch or fall over a cliff in the rugged Palestinian hills.” 

Because of their helplessness, sheep fully rely on their shepherd and become a model of submissiveness. David’s confession, then, includes a recognition of his own need for a shepherd. This is where faith in God always begins. Isaiah 53:6 says,

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;”

We must start with a realization that we are as helpless as sheep and in need of a shepherd. Then we understand the glorious proclamation of Jesus Christ, in John 10:11 & 14-15, who says,

“[11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep…[14] I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, [15] just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Oh, and what an amazing statement that is. The Son of God, the King eternal, humbled himself to become a shepherd in the first place. And as that humble shepherd, dwelling among his sheep, he laid his life down for us. Have the eyes of your heart been opened to the glory of Christ in this way? Have you heard of him suffering and dying on the cross for your sin? And have you realized the second half of Isaiah 53:6 to be true?

“[6]…and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Saving faith starts with understanding all of this, and then we repent of our foolishness and turn to Christ for forgiveness, salvation, and the satisfaction of our souls. And it is through that trust that we begin to freely submit ourselves as sheep to this great shepherd. 1 Peter 2:25 says,

“For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”

If this is not true of you, then the rest of this Psalm will make little sense. If you are not beginning with saving faith, your prayers for faith to be strengthened will fall flat. So, before we move on, let me ask, Have you returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your soul? All Prayer Must Begin with Saving Faith. Let’s now consider how this Psalm helps us learn how to pray to strengthen our faith. First, we should,

Pray with Confidence in God’s Loving Care 

Four simple words can communicate so much truth. Look at the end verse 1,  

[1] The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

The translation here may not communicate the true sentiment. The word for want doesn’t mean desire, as much as it means lack. David is not saying, “I shall not desire,” but “I shall not lack.” He is expressing complete confidence that he will always have what he needs as he is following the shepherd. We will continue to see what this means, but even this might need to be thoughtfully considered. If we really stop to think about it, there are times in life that we may experience some level of lacking some things as we follow Jesus. Jesus said to take up your cross and follow him. He also promised persecution and said there would be division in families on account of him. Paul spoke of facing “hunger…and need” in Philippians 4:12. And in 2 Corinthians 8:2, the Macedonian believers were in extreme poverty. There may be times in our lives as we follow Jesus that we lack many things, food, friendship, family, financial provision. Yet, that does not deny the truth that David speaks of and shouldn’t shake our confidence in it. We will never lack for anything that the shepherd deems is good for us. Psalm 84:11 says,

“No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” 

So, when you are praying to strengthen your faith, Pray with Confidence in God’s Loving Care like this.

“I know God never withholds good from His children. He graciously gives His spirit to those who ask. Father, I know that you care and love me because of Christ. And I am confident that I can trust in your loving hand to supply my every need.”  

Next, we should,

Pray with an Understanding of God’s Faithful Guidance

Verses 2-3 center on 4 statements of what the Lord does as our shepherd to reveal why we shall not want. Start in verse 2,  

[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.

Did you notice all the ways God guides us? He makes us “lie down in green pastures,” and leads us “beside still waters.” The poetry is such that these two are communicating a similar refrain. The term for green pastures signifies tender grass that is easy food to eat. The idea is that the sheep have been fed and satisfied. 

In his book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23,” Philip Keller writes about how sheep won’t lie down until certain conditions are met. They won’t lie down if they are afraid, if there is friction among the sheep, if flies trouble them, or if they are anxious about food. Rest, he says, comes after the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies, and famine. The waters we are led by are quiet and calm, gentle flowing streams that set our hearts at peace.  We are fat and happy so to speak, resting in calmness after our needs have been satisfied. God deals with all the things that makes us restless at time and brings us to places of perfect rest.

In verse 3, the attention is turned to God’s concern for our soul’s satisfaction and holiness. When David speaks of restoring his soul, he speaks of reviving his spirit when exhausted. The paths God is guiding us down are paths of righteousness, designed to produce holiness that sets us apart. Charles Spurgeon says,

“When the soul grows sorrowful he revives it; when it is sinful he sanctifies it; when it is weak he strengthens it.”

And we are given insight into why the Lord cares for us in these ways at the end of verse 3, it is “for His name sake.” 

God is zealous for His glory and he is working in and through our lives to bring glory to His name. And church, this is good news because it reveals that His faithfulness isn’t dependent on us. Even when we are stubborn and wander off the path a little, He remains faithful. Now, notice how else David sees God’s faithful guidance, or where else he sees it, in verse 4,

[4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

I think this is such an important truth to see. Sometimes we can be tempted to think that the only times we walk through difficult seasons is because of our sin and failure to follow the shepherd. But notice in the flow of these verses that the shepherd is leading and guiding David the entire time. In fact, David’s reference to the rod and staff, which we will examine in a minute, show that the Shepherd was there leading him. Notice also that David is walking through the valley not in the valley. Albert Barnes sums this up well, as he comments,

“The meaning of this in the connection in which it occurs is this: “God will lead and guide me in the path of righteousness, even though that path lies through the darkest and most gloomy vale – through deep and dismal shades – in regions where there is no light, as if death had cast his dark and baleful shadow there. It is still a right path; it is a path of safety; and it will conduct me to bright regions beyond.”

So as you pray to strengthen your faith, Pray with an Understanding of God’s Faithful Guidance, along these lines,

“The Lord is my shepherd, my guiding light. He is leading me through all of life’s paths for His glory. I know you are faithful, Father, to guide me for your name’s sake to exactly where you would have me be. Refresh and revive my soul and lead me to righteousness.”

As we acknowledge the ways in which God is leading us, and his purpose in this, we then should,

Pray with an Understanding of God’s Constant Presence

Pick back up in verse 4,

[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.

As we noted, David understands that God has not left him in the valley but is leading him through it. He is ever present with him to guide him, and so he looks up with spiritual eyes to see the rod and staff of the shepherd and these comfort him. There are some debates among scholars as to whether the rod and staff are two different things or one instrument serving different purposes. I am persuaded they are two different things, a rod being a thick stick used to beat off attacking animals and the staff a walking stick with a hook designed to keep the sheep from falling off cliffs. Regardless, the main point is that these comforted David in the valley. So much so that he feared no evil. He wasn’t afraid of the enemy’s attacks or the dangerous terrain. This was all ultimately because he knew the Lord was with him, guiding him through the valley.

This reminds me of the promise of Christ’s constant presence as we go and make disciples of all nations. Hear these comforting words in Matthew 28:20, the one who holds all authority in heaven and on earth says to you, “behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” The same God who was with Moses, Joshua, and David says “I will never leave you or forsake you.” So as you pray to strengthen our faith, in trials and tribulations, Pray with an Understanding of God’s Constant Presence, like this, 

“Though I am in this valley of despair, I will not fear, because I know you promised never to leave me. You are with me. Remind me of your rod and staff. Comfort me with your authority and power. For I know you will be with me to the end of the age.” 

We have seen that we should pray with an understanding of God’s guidance and presence, but there is more to understand as we pray. We should,

Pray with an Understanding of God’s Abundant Provision

Look at verse 5, and pay attention to the shift in imagery.

[5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Verses 1-5 pictured God as a shepherd, but here David shifts to God as the host of a banquet. The term table represents a feast and the anointing is probably a practice of welcoming an honored guest into one’s home. The idea of abundance gets even more clear when we see that his cup is overflowing. Where verse 1 speaks of not having any want, verse 5 speaks of receiving lavished provision. David is the guest of honor at the feast of the king.

And did you see that this table for David has been prepared “in the presence of his enemies”? The enemies aren’t out of the picture, they are looking on while David receives the abundance of God’s goodness towards him. It has even been suggested by one scholar that this might signify the culmination of a covenant. Could it be that David made his way through the valley and to the house of the Lord? One thing is for certain, no one would be thinking of the darkest of valleys when dining at this table. Church, this is a present reality at times for us here but a certain reality that awaits us in a way we could never imagine in the future. God abundantly provides for His children. Do you see how understanding this strengthens faith? 

So as you pray to strengthen your faith, Pray with an Understanding of God’s Abundant Provision, along these lines,

“Father, you have richly provided me with all things good. There is a feast prepared before me even while enemies surround me. You supply me with joy, peace, comfort in all my times of need. Help me to trust in these truths.”   

Finally, as we come to the end of this Psalm, we learn that we should,

Pray with Confidence in God’s Everlasting Promises 

As we read verse 6, take note of David’s confidence.

[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.

I just love the way this verse starts out, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me.” Isn’t that good? But the reality of what this is saying gets even better when we understand that follow may not communicate the strength of what is being said here. You see, something that follows us carries the idea of it trailing behind in some way. That is not the sentiment. It might be better to use the word pursue as the Christian Standard Bible does.  

[6] Surely goodness and mercy shall pursue me…

David recognizes that God’s goodness and mercy actively pursues him. I love the imagery H. A. Ironside used when he says,

“that goodness & mercy are the 2 sheepdogs that help keep the sheep where they belong.”

This brings David’s confidence to culmination where he says,  I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. While there may be reason to wonder whether David is referring to future, eternal, heavenly glory or anticipating a return to the tabernacle, I think, on this side of the cross, we can faithfully take this to refer to eternal rest in the house of the Lord forever. In all this, we must see that David is joyful in this confidence, not because of the things that dwell in the house of the Lord, but because of the one who dwells there. He writes in Psalm 27:4,

“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.”

David’s greatest joy is being fully with the Lord, gazing on his beauty forever. And this is our greatest promise and hope. I shared this with our Home Group leaders this past week. Paul tells Titus in Titus 2:13 that we are

“waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

We long to dwell in the house of the Lord forever, because of the glory of the one that we will gaze upon there. And this is the promise to all who trust and hope in him. So as you pray to strengthen our faith, Pray with Confidence in God’s Everlasting Promises, like this,

“I know that goodness and mercy will pursue me all of my life. My God has set his affections upon me and promises to lavish me with kindness forever. Father, help me to trust in your promises. To see the glory of Christ as my greatest joy and know that one day my hope will be realized” 

Conclusion:
Psalm 23 not only helps us to learn how to pray to strengthen our faith, it also helps us to understand what faith truly is. It teaches us that faith in Christ is more than some kind of belief that God will do good things for you. It is more than believing that he will save you from sin, death, and hell. Faith is more than believing he will heal you, provide you with a job, or keep you from any harm. Church, from this Psalm, we see that faith is a deep lasting trust that God is with you, working through every season of life. Faith is trusting that He is your shepherd, king, and greatest treasure.

You see, faith knows that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is the creator and sustainer of all of life. It understands that this God stooped down to walk among us in order to lead and guide us to His glory. It trusts that His word is true when He said “Come to me… and I will give you rest.” Faith looks beyond that which is seen in the valley, into the unseen comfort of the shepherds rod and staff, and is assured that future glory is guaranteed to those who trust in the death of Christ on a roman cross over two thousand years ago. Faith doesn’t just believe God will do good things, but that everything that comes to those who believe is good because it is conforming us to the image of Christ. Faith is a trust in God whether you are lying in green pastures, facing spiritual exhaustion, walking through the valley of despair, or dining at the table of provision. This is the kind of faith we need more of. And the kind I encourage you to pray for.

Please stand with me as I pray this over us.