The Church of Divine Guidance Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study Group studying the book Psalms: A Guide to Prayer and Praise by Ron Klug. The Psalms are some of the most widely read and best-loved portions of the Bible. For thousands of years these songs of faith have spoken to the hearts and minds of people around the world. The Psalms are songs–music our spirits sing to the Creator. They are poems–full of vibrant imagery and strong rhythms. And they are prayers–our deepest emotions expressed to the Lord who feels with us. Most importantly, the Psalms are God’s Word to us, revealing the truth about him and our relationship with him. Study along with us by getting a copy of the book by clicking this LINK or the image of the book at the end of the study notes.
Psalm 23 is one of the most
famous and most quoted scriptures in all the Bible. Countless people have found comfort and strength in the richness of its imagery and meaning. This timeless passage of scripture promises us that we can trust God to meet all of our needs.
1. If
you could choose a picture or comparison to express God’s care for you, what
would it be?
A child in their parent’s lap or wrapped in
their arms.
Psalm
23:1-6 (NIV) The Lord is my shepherd, I lack
nothing. He makes me lie down in green
pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s
sake. Even though I walk through the
darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your
staff, they comfort me. You prepare a
table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my
cup overflows. Surely your goodness and
love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of
the Lord forever.
2. Verse 1 states the theme of the psalm. Why is
a shepherd a good picture of God?
This psalm “strikes a positive note. It is not
beseeching God to be something orto do something. It is stating positively that
he is and does all that is required by man”
2 Peter
1:3-4 NIV His divine power has given us everything we
need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own
glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious
promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having
escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Philippians
4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according
to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Matthew
6:31-34 NIV So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we
eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things,
and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
3. What
do you think are the characteristics of a good shepherd? Why do sheep need a
good shepherd?
First, to better understand the purpose of a
shepherd during the time that David wrote this Psalm. This is from the site Got
Questions? “It is helpful to realize
that sheep are utterly defenseless and totally dependent upon the shepherd.
Sheep are always subject to danger and must always be under the watchful eye of
the shepherd as they graze. Rushing walls of water down the valleys from
sudden, heavy rainfalls may sweep them away, robbers may steal them, and wolves
may attack the flock. Driving snow in winter, blinding dust and burning sands
in summer, long, lonely hours each day—all these the shepherd patiently endures
for the welfare of the flock. In fact, shepherds were frequently subjected to
grave danger, sometimes even giving their lives to protect their sheep.”
4. Can
you say with confidence, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want”? Why
or why not?
5.
According to verses 1–3, what does the Lord do for us? Which of these actions
means the most to you right now? Why?
Psalm
23:1-3 NIV The Lord is my shepherd, I lack
nothing. He makes me lie down in green
pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s
sake.
He leads me beside quiet waters. Peace means
most to me right now.
6. Why
does God do all this for us? How would you paraphrase the expression “for his
name's sake” (verse 3)?
Because He loves us.
He guides me just like He promised.
7. Why
can the sheep feel safe even in the valley of the shadow of death (verse 4)? Does
this mean that nothing bad can happen to a Christian?
Psalm
23:4 (NIV) Even though I walk through the darkest
valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they
comfort me.
Because God is protecting us, no matter what
happens.
This verse implies that we will face
difficulties, death, and evil. But our hope and comfort lie in God’s
unchangeable and steadfast presence with us.
Deuteronomy
31:6 (NIV) Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid
or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will
never leave you nor forsake you.”
2
Corinthians 4:8-12 (NIV) We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not
in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We
always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus
may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given
over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our
mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
1.
Hebrews 13:5-6 (NKJV) 5 Let your
conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For
He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my
helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
2.
Psalm 34:17 (NKJV) 17 The
righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their
troubles.
3.
Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV) When you pass
through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not
overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor
shall the flame scorch you.
4.
Psalm 46:1-3 (NKJV) 1 To the
Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A song for Alamoth. God is our refuge
and strength, A very present help in trouble.2
Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though
the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
5.
Romans 4:20-22 (NKJV) 20 He did
not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in
faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being
fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him
for righteousness."
6.
Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) You will keep
him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
7.
Lamentations 3:21-23 (NKJV) 21
This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.22 Through the LORD'S mercies we are not
consumed, Because His compassions fail not.23
They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
8.
James 1:2-5 (NKJV) 2 My brethren,
count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith
produces patience. 4 But let patience
have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him
ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be
given to him.
9.
Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV) Let us
therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find
grace to help in time of need.
10. Psalm 27:14 (NKJV) Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He
shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD!
8. What do God’s rod and staff signify?
Protection and guidance.
The rod and staff were standard equipment for
shepherds. The rod was a short club with a heavy knob at the end and was used
as a weapon against wild animals or marauders.
The staff, a long stick sometimes curved at the end, was used to guide
the sheep and pull them back when they began to stray.
Jesus said the He is our shepherd.
John
10:1-18 (NIV)
“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep
pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the
shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper
opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own
sheep by name and leads them out. When
he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow
him because they know his voice. But
they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because
they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”
Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand
what he was telling them. Therefore
Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who have come before me are thieves and
robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will
be saved. They will come in and go out,
and find pasture. The thief comes only
to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it
to the full. “I am the good shepherd.
The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not
own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs
away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand
and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am
the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the
Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them
also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one
shepherd. The reason my Father loves me
is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of
my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up
again. This command I received from my Father.”
9. What
do the actions in verse 5 mean to you? Who or what are the enemies in your
life? How does God help you feast in their presence?
Psalm
23:5 (NIV) You prepare a table before me in the
presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NIV) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Ephesians
6:12-18 (NIV) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done
everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around
your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet
fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to
all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and
requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the
Lord’s people.
10.
What confidence did the psalmist express in verse 6? Discuss the meaning of
goodness and love.
Psalm
23:6 (NIV) Surely your goodness and love will follow
me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
He expresses his trust. The scene changes to
show the psalmist as the guest of honor at God's house. He is under God's protection. His head is
anointed with perfumed oil. His every need is completely satisfied. On the
basis of this trust, every moment of his life will be filled with God's richest
blessings. The greatest blessing will be an intimate fellowship with God
through continued worship of Him.
11.
What does it mean to you to “dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (verse 6)?
Salvation!!!
12.
Read John 10:11–15 below. How did Jesus fulfill the description of the good
shepherd described in Psalm 23?
See #8
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