"Catch Me If You Can"

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 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. 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.
- Psalm 23:1-5

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.
- Psalm 23: 6

As we follow the Lord, His goodness and mercy follows us

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.
- Psalm 23:6

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.
- Psalm 23:6

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
- James 1:17

Not everything you go through is good, but God will always bring good things out of what you go through.

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.
- Psalm 23:6

Radaph - to pursue with extreme energy; to chase; to run after

Jesus says My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me.
- John 10:27

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.
- Psalm 23:6

God is good in this life and the next

Jesus says I am the good shepherd, He laid his life down for his sheep. Because of what Jesus did on the cross, we can be assured that we will continue to dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
- John 10:11 

In the Battle

5 You prepare a table before me...
- Psalm 23:5

Life is interrupted by battles.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies...
- Psalm 23:5

Most of us want to leave our battles.

11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid. 
- 1 Samuel 17:11

God wants us to receive in our battles!

Three Ways We Can Receive in Our Battle:

1. God can bless us in our battles.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies...
- Psalm 23:5

2. God prepares us in our battles.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil…”
- Psalm 23:5

36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 
- 1 Samuel 17:36

3. God can use us in the battle.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
- Psalm 23:5

We receive in the battle when we resolve to follow God forward.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me…
- Psalm 23:6

"God’s Presence in the Valley"

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.
- Psalm 23:4

Valleys are temporary

God’s divine presence is always with you

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.
- Psalm 23:4

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:18-20

We have assurance in God’s guidance and protection

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.
- Psalm 23:4

"Project: Restoration"

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
- Psalm 23:3

HE RESTORES MY SOUL

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” 
- George Macdonald 

OUR SOULS ARE PRONE TO FAIL

 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
- Psalm 23:3

 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
- Psalm 23:3

THE LORD TAKES OWNERSHIP OF YOUR WELL BEING

"Living Backwards"

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  
- Psalm 23:2

“In pastures green He makes me to lie down Beside the waters still He leads me.”
-Psalm 23:2, written from right-to-left as it was in Classical Hebrew.

God designed us to begin from a place of rest.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:1

24 … you loved me before the foundation of the world.
- John 17:24

And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
- Genesis 1:5

We’re trying to navigate a restless world with our restless hearts.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  
- Psalm 23:2

A Cycle of Works

1. Work

2. Significance

3. Sustenance

4. Acceptance

Jesus lived in our restless world with a rested heart.

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
- Matthew 11:28-29

Jesus restores us to God and the way He designed us to live.

A Cycle of Grace

1. Acceptance

2. Sustenance

3. Significance

4. Work

"Is God your Guide or Your Ride?"

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
- Psalm 23:1

THE LORD

Jehovah or Yahweh - the self revealing God

Rohi - To feed; to lead.

the Lord IS

Is - Present tense. God is with you right now

the Lord is MY 

David’s relationship was personal and intimate 

4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
-  Luke 15:4

The Lord is my SHEPHERD

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not WANT

My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me.
- John 10:27