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Jehovah is my shepherd

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Bible verse : Psalm 23:1 (NIV)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

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Today, let’s listen and read together the words of Psalm 23 of the Old Testament.
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

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.

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

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell

in the house of the LORD forever.

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Psalm 23 is a poem written by David, the king of Israel, who was recognized by God for the center of his heart. In this poem, David expressed that God is his shepherd.
He confesses that God has guided his entire life well, just as a shepherd guides his lamb safely.

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Before David became king, he lived as a shepherd raising sheep in Bethlehem.
David did his best to keep the sheep entrusted to him safe.

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David always relied on God to keep the sheep entrusted to him safe. David was a man well liked by God. One day, he said, God sent the prophet Samuel to Bethlehem. And through him,
God anointed the head of David, the young shepherd.

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The ceremony of pouring oil on the head is God's promise to make David king of Israel in the future. God did not choose David as an adult.
God was paying attention to young David tending sheep in the field.
He knew that David had faith and love for God at the center of his heart, and decided to make him the future king of Israel.

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During the time of King Saul, there was a great war between Israel and the Philistines. At that time, the Philistines had a very strong general named Goliath. Goliath cursed God and shouted for anyone who had the courage to defeat him. None of the frightened Israeli soldiers wanted to fight Goliath.

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David, who went to the battlefield on an errand for his father, could not sit still and watch Goliath insult the name of God. David said he would fight Goliath.
However,
King Saul thought that David could never defeat Goliath and stopped him.

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At that time, David tells King Saul that God was with him when he was a shepherd. “Jehovah saved me from the lion and the bear.
The Lord will save me from this Philistine as well.” David confessed that he always relied on God and was with him when he was a shepherd.

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Psalm 23, which we read today, is a poem in which David confesses that God was with him with great love.
As we look at each verse, we will learn together what kind of person God is.
[The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,]
David says that God led him to a place with green pastures and abundant water. David confesses that God was the one leading him to the best place.
God is the one who guides us to the best place.

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[he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.]
David says that God gave his soul new strength to live according to God's will.
He confesses that God guided David on a righteous path so that God's name would be revealed through David's works. God is the One who renews our souls and guides us to live according to God's will.

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[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.]
David was chased all his life because of King Saul and suffered many difficult times. However, he confesses that the reason he was able to overcome those fears at that time was because he had faith that God was with him.
He confesses that God protected him in difficult and dangerous times,
like a shepherd protecting his sheep with his staff. God is the One who helps and protects us when we encounter difficult and dangerous things.

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[You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.]
God was with David and enabled him to win through faith. Many enemies tried to kill David, but God defeated them and made David king of Israel.
David confessed that his cup was overflowing because of the great grace that God had given him.
God is the one who protects His chosen children from going wrong due to evildoers.

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[Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.]
Now David makes a promise. He confesses that he has faith and confidence that God, who has been with him until now, will be with him until the day he dies.
He also concluded his poem by confessing his hope in faith that he would live with God forever in heaven, the eternal kingdom of God.

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The God who became David’s shepherd also becomes our shepherd. Another name for Jesus is Emmanuel. The meaning of Immanuel is [God is with us].
The greatest grace we have received after being saved by believing in Jesus is that Immanuel God is always with us and protects us all our lives like a shepherd protects his flock.

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The confession that David made through Psalm 23 is a confession that all of us who believe in Jesus must make.
God chose me and set me apart before I was born, and has cared for us like a shepherd cares for his sheep.
Today, like David, let’s confess the grace that God, our shepherd, has bestowed upon us. Like David, I hope that those who are good at writing poetry will give glory to God through poetry, and those who are good at praising praise through praise and prayer.

(This is the sample conclusion provided by CTM. Please feel free to change the conclusion to best suit the listeners of your sermon.)