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well good evening welcome back to the you to the Lord's house just again in case you weren't out this morning a couple of people weren't out this morning so just by way of announcements pastor Butler has been off for the last two weeks but he'll be back in the office starting on Tuesday the Lord willing he is in Surrey at Surrey Reformed Baptist Church tonight preaching and Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick from Surrey is with us again tonight so we look forward to hearing from the Lord in regards to from from through through Pastor Mike Bible site will probably resume after the first week in September probably around September 4th but we'll announce that next Sunday Lord William and finally Roger and Melissa are moving this this week and just the reason I bring up the announcement up again is that they're hoping I said the seat that I said this morning they were hoping to get into their new place at 5 o'clock they're hoping to be able to move that up to a little bit earlier in the day so I appreciate is a workday Tuesday as a work day for anyone but a teacher I guess who's who's off all summer and they should bill to help but if there's anyone able to help move in we very much appreciate he's going to send out an email probably about noon on Tuesday just to say yes we we can come in earlier so if there's anyone available at some time the afternoon when you see that email he would appreciate they would appreciate the help both Roger and Melissa so having said those announcements let's turn to God's Word to begin worship this this evening please turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 24 Psalm 24 to to prepare our hearts for worship this evening Psalm 24 a psalm of David the earth is the Lord's and all its fullness the world and those who dwell therein for he has founded it upon the Seas and established it upon the waters who may ascend into the hill of the Lord or who may stand in his holy place he who has clean hands and a pure heart who has not lifted up his soul to an idol nor sworn deceitfully he shall receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the god of his salvation this is Jacob the generation of those who seek Him who seek your face Sayla lift up your heads o ye gates and be lifted up you everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in who is this King of glory the Lord strong and mighty the Lord mighty in battle lift up your heads o you gates lift up you everlasting doors and the King of glory shall come in who is this King of glory the Lord of Hosts he is the king of glory Sayla a man will please turn in your hymn books to him number 24 sorry hymn number 164 hymn number 164 I'll ask you to please stand [Music] [Music] and let's go to God in prayer ask his blessing to be upon our time here this evening that's prayer our gracious and our loving Heavenly Father we come into your holy presence once again this evening through your son the Lord Jesus Christ thank you Lord that we have this privilege to come twice on the Lord's Day to worship you but we know Lord you are not to you know to God just to be worshiped on the Lord's Day we thank you that as we as we walk as we as we sit down as we go about our business even throughout the week father we can worship you we can be worshipers of the true and living God thank you Father that we get to experience the life in this lore world with a with a with in a relationship with you thank you that you or not to God who was just afar off but you were a God who is who was eminent who is personal who is who is who is a our friend and who calls us his friend how we praise you father that you have chosen to Tabernacle amongst us as your people even here in the in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you Father this is the place that you have established where your presence to be on the Lord's Day and and how we praise you Father for the gift that you have given to us of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ thank you Father that you've established the churches down through the centuries as much as the enemies of God the enemies of the of the of the King of Kings the Lord of lords have sought to disperse the church and challenge the church and shut the church down yet father here we continue to exist and here we continue to to be able to meet and we just gave you our grateful thanks for that father how we praise you that it is you that will safely see us through to a Manuel's land it is not we ourselves Father but rather it is your grip upon us that will ultimately see us through into into the eternal into our eternal home Lord how we praise you that you have you have chosen us before the foundation of the earth the Father you set your love upon us and we know that that you will complete that good work that you have begun in each and every one who is your child now we pray Lord that you would be pleased to help us to live in a manner worthy of the gospel we pray that each and every day we might be a thankful people people who are grateful to the to to the lord of lords and the king of kings for the gift of salvation for the gift of life for the gift of being able to enjoy that that lock with you that relationship with you and we pray look we would live in light of those things live in light of eternity for a law that you would help us to make the most of each day and and that we might that we might claim each day for you and and cause us father to to walk in a manner that would be pleasing to you how we praise you Lord for the gift of your son the Lord Jesus Christ we praise you and thank you for that that that salvation that we have in Christ and we pray Lord that you would be pleased even this night to wash as a fresh in that precious blood of your son the Lord Jesus Christ cleanses afresh this night we know Lord that we do sin against the holy God and how we pray that you would be pleased to wash us this night cleanse us afresh and we pray Lord that we would hear from you thank you for the good word that was preached this morning and we pray Lord that should bless the word again here this evening as we gather together to hear the word of God we pray that you would by your gracious Holy Spirit take that word and and help it to find its mark in each one of our hearts and minds and cause it Lord to to be for the edification of saints for the building up of saints and also for the salvation of sinners cause lord your spirit to come here into this place and and be in our midst we do pray thank you Lord for the unity that we enjoy as a local church and praise you and thank you for these things we we know that how sweet and good it is for brethren to dwell in unity and Lord we just gave you our grateful things and pray you would be pleased to continue to give us that unity into the future as well and how we praise you Father for the blessing of knowing that so that this is your church and you you walk amongst your your lamp stands and Father we do just continue to look to you and pray your blessing your rich blessing to be upon this place and what we pray for ourselves we pray for the Church in Vernon we pray over the church in Surrey as well that's rather you'd be pleased to bless these churches and cause them to dwell together in unity and love for one another love for their pastor and their elder we amongst them we pray though that she would cause these churches to be built up as well and we do pray for specifically for the Vernon shirts that in due time you would send to them a man who would be an elder a shepherd among salmon and we do pray Lord to that end that she would be pleased to to give to them not that good gift of an under shepherd to look after their souls and Lord we just thank you for the blessing of knowing that that you are amongst us this night and we pray though that we would that we would glorify you in our worship this night and it's in Jesus precious name we pray amen well please turn with me in your Kim books to him number 45 B 45 B and I'll ask you to stand please [Music] and please turn with me your Bibles to Genesis Genesis chapter 11 as we continue through the Old Testament Genesis chapter 11 beginning verse 1 now the whole earth had one language in one speech and it came to pass as they journeyed from the east but they found a plain in the land of Shinar and they dwelt there then they said to one another come let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly they had brick for stone and they had asphalt for mortar and they said come let us build ourselves a city and a tower whose top is in the heavens let us make a name for ourselves lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth but the Lord came down to see the city in the tower which the sons of men had built and the Lord said indeed the people are one and they all have one language and this is what they begin to do now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them come let us go down and there confuse their language that they may not understand one another's speech so the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth and they ceased building the city there for its name is called Babel because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth this is the genealogy of Shem Shem was one hundred years old and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood after he begat begat Arphaxad Shem lived five hundred years and begot sons and daughters our facts had lived thirty-five years and begot salem after he begat Sayla Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years and begat sons and daughters Sayla lived thirty years and begat eber after he begat eber Sayla lived four hundred and three years and begat sons and daughters Ebert lived thirty four years and begot Peleg after he begot Peleg eber lived four hundred and thirty years and begat sons and daughters Peleg lived thirty years and begot Ryou after he begot riu Peleg lived two hundred and nine years and begot sons and were you lived 32 years and begat serug after he begat serug ryo lived two hundred and seven years and begat sons and daughters see Ruth lived thirty years and begat nahor after he begat nahor sirrah see ruk lived two hundred years and begat sons and daughters nahor lived twenty nine years and begat terah after he begat terah nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years and begot sons and daughters now Tara lived 70 years and begot Abram Nahor and Haran this is the genealogy of Tara Tara Tara begat Abram Nahor and Abe and Heron Heron be outlawed and Haran died before his father Terah before his father Terah in his native land in ur of the chaldeans then Abram and Nahor took wives the name of Abraham's wife was Sarai and the name of nahor his wife Milka and the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and the father of iske but Sarai was barren she had no child and Terah took his son Abram and his grandson lot the son of Haran and his and his daughter lost Sarai his son Abraham's wife and they went out with them from ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan and they came to Haran and dwelt there so the days of Terah were 205 years and Terah died in Haran a man well it's certainly a good introduction to the to the history that we heard in this morning's sermon this is kind of the I guess the back story to where we eventually ended up this morning so it just helps us again see that this is not a once upon a time story that has come to us through the Word of God but rather these are specific people in specific places that that God had dealings with down through the centuries to the point where we can trace our genealogy a genealogy of Christ right back to to these to these Old Testament times and that is the wonderful thing about Chris and M about Christianity is that it's not a once upon a time it truly is real history in real time of which we are part of well that's prayer again Lord we give you our great thanks for the blessing of your word and we know Lord that every word every jot and tittle of your word is inspired by you these are the words of God himself and father it's important that we can see the historical background in the Old Testament that that be spoke of Christ and we see that that that promise of Christ being held to and and being secured down through very messy times as we're reminded of this morning and this morning's message and how we praise you Father that you preserved that seed down through the centuries to the point where in the New Testament the Lord Jesus Christ was born and how we thank you and praise you for for such a wonderful Savior as the person of Christ who who ultimately was was in seed form here in this passage the passage that we read of this morning and certainly that covenant that promised to Abraham that began here in Genesis as a covenant is a promise that that that we are recipients that we are heirs to in the New Testament we praise you father we worship you for such a great God it's the one who would bring to us our eternal salvation and we just gave you our grateful thanks and pray your rich blessing upon the Word of God it's once again too opened up we pray that your spirit might attend the word that you would come upon upon pastor Kirkpatrick cause him Lord to speak only that which you give him to speak keep a hedge him in and keep him in truth and we pray though that your blessing might be upon the words it's opened up here this evening and it's in Jesus precious name we pray amen well please turn with me for our last him before we do go to the Word of God for for the preaching of for the preaching our and that would be to him number 213 213 and I'll ask you to stand please [Music] well good evening everyone it's a blessing to be with you once again this Lord's Day you can turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 23 Psalm 23 we'll begin reading at verse 1 a psalm of David the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want he makes me to lie down in green pastures he leads me beside the still waters he restores my soul he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake yea 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 runs over surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever amen well let us pray our Great God we are thankful that we can call upon you as our Shepherd or thank we call upon the Covenant Lord as our guide for thankful Oh God for the Good Shepherd the Lord Jesus Christ and whom none will be snatched from his hand or thankful O God that he came to do what was right and perfect for the sake of your name for the sake of your glory but also for the sake of sinners that he came to die for his special people he came to diet die for his fold he came to die for his elect and were thankful O God that when we walked to the valley of the shadow of death we can confess our faith and trust in you knowing that you are our Shepherd and we shall not lack our thankful Oh God that you protect us and keep us for your name's sake you lead us in the paths of righteousness for your name's sake O God and we know that even these paths are difficult even these paths are tough for us yet we know that you watch over us each and every day you watch over us each and every one of us in the Christian life and we thank you for that and so God as we come tonight help us to be reminded that you are God and we are man help us be remind that we need you day in and day out that we need the Lord Jesus day in and day out as the author and perfecter of our faith as the protector of his people and so God help us to be reminded of your goodness help us to express our faith and trust and you always may we turn our attention on to you the God who protects the God who keeps and the God who promises never leave nor forsake his people and O God we're thankful that you strengthen us and keep us day by day we're thankful o God that you keep us in the daily grind we know God we need help with that especially as it is difficult so God for the bussines tonight we pray that you'd strengthen us that you'd remind us of your Grace and goodness remind us of your protection o God remind us of the abundance that we have when we have the Lord Jesus Christ and O God if there any here today who do not know you we pray that you give them eyes to see and ears to hear the wonders and glories of the Lord Jesus Christ as that good shepherd that they might believe on him and find hope and trust in him that they might to dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever you know God we're thankful that we have your spirit we pray that your spirit once again give us illumination to better understand these things O God for we are weak and feeble feeble our minds wander help us to be awake and attentive to the things that you have for us O God we do pray in all things that you would be glorified we pray these things in the name of Christ amen well as we consider the salt or we must consider it as a whole before we dive into a specific Psalm really the psalm just means praise it's the pray book of praise for God's people it's many different authors spanning many different centuries in the life and times of Israel it was meant to be both for individual use and for corporate use individuals typically penned them but then they were used in the temple as well and they really are the prayer in songbook for God's people both in the Old Testament it was the prayer and songbook for Christ and it is also the prayer in songbook for us as well it is the prayer in songbook for God's covenant people perhaps as you've read the Psalter throughout your own devotional life you see that there are many different types of Psalms there are wisdom Psalms royal Psalms about the King hymns of praise lament and Thanksgivings and most the Psalms are actually lament that's a little odd because they're praised right that's what it means but typically Psalms the lament Psalms even do turn to praise but when we come come to Psalm 23 we come to a hymn of trust a hymn of confidence a hymn of trust in Yahweh of Israel here in Psalm 23 now perhaps all of you know this off by heart perhaps you didn't need to read your Bible as we are reading through it because that's the one everyone doesn't grade to because it's easy and short and perhaps easy to remember what's interesting is there is the DES setting is difficult for us to understand there's no clear superscript on what it means there's no clear specific with what's there so we have to kind of do some digging as we think through it there's no hard-and-fast with respect to that but also it's difficult with respect to the structure you ever read through in both purses one through four and it's all about shepherds and awesome five comes along you're like where'd this banquet come from so the structure is a little difficult for us as we go through how does versus five to six fit with verses one through four and will seek to look at that as we go through four regardless of those difficulties that we see in the psalm the problem is very clear the realities of the shadow of death and Christians will be led through the valley of the shadow of death Christians will go through that path on the way to the celestial City Christian Christians will go through difficulties to make it until the end we will walk through danger and it will be something that every Christian does face and they look different for every one of us but we all face that danger in the valley of the shadow of death but regardless of what valley of shadow of death we face we can like the psalmist in Psalm 23 express faith in the covenant Lord and that's what David does he expresses his faith in the Covenant Lord to protect him along the way and will seek to look at this under two headings this evening first of all a shepherd who provides in verses one through four then secondly a host who prepares in verses five and six so a shepherd who provides and a host who prepares so let's first look at the shepherd who provides in verses one through four and notice we see the confidence right away as the psalm begins the Lord is my shepherd it's a confession of intimacy and even starts with the Lord the Covenant name that one who says I am Who I am the one who appeared to Moses with the burning bush the one who appeared to Moses in the cleft of the rock and said the Lord the Lord slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love who will know by no means that the guilty go unpunished even down to the third and fourth generation this is that Lord he does not change he does what he said he would do he's made promises to David he's made promises to is real and even though sometimes there are crises that come about his promises will remain even until the end the Lord is his shepherd the Lord is my shepherd now the imagery was well known in the ancient Near Eastern world and perhaps even specifically for our author David was what a shepherd David tended the sheep David cared for the Sheep and what's interesting is throughout the Psalms up to this point we've seen different ways to describe God King deliverer Rock Shield then we come to Shepherd and Shepherd really encompasses so many different things he's the guide of the Sheep he makes sure they walk the straight path but he's not just the guide to the Shepherd he's the physician when they're hurt when they have a broken leg he nurses them but he's not just a physician he's also the protector he has that staff he has that rod ready to beat down any wolves that come against his sheep the shepherd imagery encompasses so many different things and we'll see that as we go through and perhaps it can help us understand Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10 which I think John 10 does allude back to some 23 now as I said the setting is difficult some view it as a time of prosperity David sitting in his kingdom he's looking back on everything that's happened and it's a time of goodness but I take a different view I view it as a time of flight a time of difficulty you see we don't just read the Psalms in a vacuum we all have our favorite psalm and we come to it we turn to and we just look at that on its own without consideration to the songs that surround it I think there is a structure I think there is a flow with respect to the Psalter there are five books and as the saw you know there's not a hard-and-fast but generally you see kind of laments at the beginning difficulties struggles he comes the end of book three with Psalm 89 it talks about the Davidic covenant God has made his promises but things don't look good so there's a crises what's going to happen with God's promises then books four and five come and there's this change there's this tone that shifts to praise and confidence and trust in God all the way to the end we see those praises praising God for what he has done and so really we're in the book 1 in Psalm 23 lament difficulty what came before Psalm 23 Psalm 22 that's pretty easy right 22 23 but it says in Psalm 22 my God my God why have you forsaken me and then perhaps in Psalm 26 vindicate me O Lord for I've locked in my integrity I've trusted in the Lord I shall not slip examine me O Lord or Psalm 25 to you Lord I lift up my soul o my god I trust in you let me let me not be ashamed let not my enemies triumph over me I think it is a difficult time David is going through in Psalm 23 yet in Psalm 23 amidst the difficulties amidst the struggles he still confesses faith in his God you see when struggles come our way we're typically like Psalm 22 my God my God why have you forsaken me vindicate me O God how long O Lord like Psalm 13 but Psalm 23 Zod doesn't act in a time of difficulty in a time of struggle what does he do Lord you are my shepherd I shall not lack that is the laki shall not have his daily provisions he shall not he shall have what he needs day in and day out even in the difficult times that's tough for us to understand sometimes even though we go through difficulties even though we go through struggles the reminder is we shall not want David knows he shall not want for God keeps him God protects him as his shepherd here he confesses his faith and trust in the God who provides for him but any unpacks further what that means continuing the shepherding imagery in verses 2 through 3 it continues verse 2 he makes me to lie down in green pastures he leads me beside the still water the idea here the imagery here is permanent provision that is the shet the sheep will always be provided for and again we have to go back to the ancient Near Eastern world just for a moment you see you think of Jerusalem it gets really hot in the summer doesn't it so what does shepherds have to do they have to search out green pastures they have to search out quiet waters they have to search out provision for the Sheep and so here the imagery David uses is you don't have to search it out God leads you to this permanent place God leads you to this provision God keeps you and protects you and gives you your daily need day in and day out he gives me still waters he restores my soul you see I don't think it just refers to spiritual restoration I think that is part of it too we need restoration we need rejuvenation we need God to do that but I also think there's some physical aspect here as well brethren we're not disembodied spirits we can't go long periods of time without food and water and sleep we need to sleep we need to eat we need to drink water sometimes if you're a little grumpy have a snack drink some food or drink some water you can't drink food I guess some people do drink food but how you know take a nap those things help and I think that's what's provision here the daily needs not just physical but spiritual both I think are in play here for us and God is the provider of his people I think there's an illusion back here to numbers 1033 the people have received the adversity of the exodus has happened the laws come down leviticus with the temple and sacrifices and worship numbers the census the people are about to leave sinai in numbers 1033 and this is what moses records so they departed from the mountain of the lord on a journey of three days and the ark of the covenant of the lord went before them for the three days journey to search out a resting place for them and the cloud of the lord was above them by day when they went out from the but the Lord goes ahead as the provider of Israel as the Shepherd of Israel so he gives them food he gives them shelter he restores their life or their soul but notices well God also leads them along the path of righteousness now once again I think there is a moral aspect here the right way is the way of God and one thing I didn't say at the outset is when we look at the entire Psalter Psalms 1 and 2 are very important for that Psalm 1 gives us the purpose for the entire Salter Psalm 2 gives us the message Psalm 1 the way of happiness not in the counsel of the wicked but in the law of the Lord that's the way of happiness that's the right path that's the narrow way in the path of what God says to do and that's where happiness shall be but happiness or the way of happiness is found only in someone else that's found in the king that's Psalm 2 that's the message of the Psalter the one who said today you are my son today I have begotten you this is all about the king and what he has done or what he will do it's all focused on him and tied and connected with him and what's interesting is in Israel you know things begin to narrow and narrow throughout redemptive history God saves Israel gives them a law they do good or they do bad based as a covenant whole and then the King comes along and what happens if the King does right the people typically do right if the King does bad the people typically do bad but it's all tied to and connected with the king how he would live how he would function how he would do and so there is only one way and that is the way of God the way of happiness and again we go back to the ancient Near Eastern world the imagery again there is only one way there's only one right way to get to that Sweetwater to get to that green pasture and the Shepherd would find the most direct route regardless of the terrain regardless of the difficulty regardless of what would come he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake and the Shepherd's motive is to care and love his sheep that's what Jesus does but even more important than that it is for his own glory you see this in Ezekiel 36 he does what he you know he gives that heart of stone for the sake of himself because the people have profaned it yet he brings them back and opens up their hearts removes the heart of stone gives a heart of flesh but everything in this life is for God's glory that's the first and most important thing even for the shepherd of even for the sheep as we walk along it is for his name's sake so he keeps us he protects us he gives us daily provision but notice as well he protects us in danger verse 4 yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil and the key theme here is that idea of death once again think about Jerusalem the cliffs it was dark out it was shadowy and yet the Shepherd had to take his sheep to get to the pasture and so the best way to go rather than going around and risk certain other things he had to go difficult ways and he had to go past perhaps that were very narrow one seal one your slip of the sheep and down they go but even to not just perhaps that there's a ravine down there but also perhaps wolves were following closeby wolves were near and the Wolves knew where they were going to be they only had one way to go and so they walked there's extreme danger danger on all sides that's the point that's what Christians go through and I think Bunyan yoyou beautifully illustrates this in pilgrims progress as Christians going along the way he talks about hearing hobgoblins and dragons and scary things because it's dangerous the Christian walk is dangerous the Christian walk is difficult the Christian walk is trying and that's what everyone does face and notice yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death that is the path of righteousness brethren that is the path on the way to the celestial city there's nowhere else to go but through the valley of the show of death we must go through it we must pass through it we must walk by it without falling one way or the other but continue on that path Christians must walk through it this is a non-negotiable all Christians will go through the valley of the shadow of death will go through extreme danger but there's comfort I will fear no evil for you are with me notice the tents change in verses one through three the psalmist David is saying the Lord is the shepherd he makes me lie down he leads me he restores me and then a shift yea 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 see brethren it's so odd but when we go through difficulties we sense God more don't we we sneeze sense a nearness of God in those difficult trials we have this intimacy with God because there is nowhere else to go that's why trials are good for us that's why trials are important for the Christian walk because it turns our attention off ourselves turn our turns and turns our attention to God that's why difficulties are good for us to help us be sanctified to die to our sins day by day and turn our attention unto God and God does so through difficulties but you are with me and I shall fear no evil and you see brethren our God does not change does he we're the ones that change our senses of God change but that doesn't change the fact that God is near listen to Davis it is not that Christ is closer in the valley but that we realize in the valley how close he has always been that's our Lord he is always near us but for some reason and for our good in those really deep valleys it's when we have a sense of God's nearness or has have a closer sense of him close to us and the same is true for David I will fear no evil for you are with me and he says your rod and your staff they comfort me now I think sometimes we have a false view of what Shepherds look like I think we view them you know it lying down with their sheep gentle and they are gentle and rolling hills and very kind and I'm not denying that they're kind but we forget another portion about the Shepherd's they were probably buff dudes they're probably strong men why there to take out Shepherds or sorry take out take out wolves they had to take out those bears that came along the way what did David do brethren he fought bears and he fought lions so much so that one lion grabbed one sheep he would go grab it by the beard and remove it from its mouth they were strong men they weren't afraid of the things that came along they were protecting the sheep and they were strong mighty warrior like dudes your rod and your staff the rod wolf comes smack that thing ain't getting to the Sheep a bear comes smack a lion comes smack it ain't happening they're ready to speak fiercely against those bears and lions and wolves to make sure the sheep are protected but also notice as well not just the rod but your staff the staff was for the Sheep the staff was to keep them along the way to make sure they wouldn't fall to keep them along the path of righteousness easy that's what God does for us sometimes we don't see the wolves coming our way or the Bears of the Lions but God smacks them out of the way anyway for us but God also as well sometimes we will see when we're about to stumble ourselves and yet he corrects us now with his staff or with his staff that's what the staff was your rod protects your staff guides your staff keeps your staff keeps the sheep in the line shepherds were strong and mighty men and the Lord Jesus there's warrior-like language throughout the Bible about Christ but in John 10 no one snatch them from my hand no one will snatch them from my hand now as we looked at these four verses we see daily provision throughout here and I think we must be reminded of the fact the Christian walk is a daily grind and the fact that Christ as our Shepherd protects us day by day you see sometimes we always want mountaintop experiences we're looking for the next big moment in our lives the next big time where I feel great I'm sorry there are gonna be times when you feel good and times when you don't but the Christian life is one of continual perpetual daily walking in Christ and thankfully we have such a shepherd to keep us and protect us in the daily grind you see he gives us food he gives us water he gives us protection he guides us and keeps us and he's given us what we need as Christians to grow in grace and knowledge you see most theologians point out the fact that backsliding and the Christian walk does not happen overnight you see I like I had one illustration I heard that works really well it's like the Christian walk is swimming upstream but if you stop swimming you're not staying in the same spot you're floating back down to the abyss you're flown back down to the waterfall that's what the Christian life is it's not one of neutrality and we must continually swim upstream to get to where we are going but that backsliding doesn't happen it's a very subtle erosion night day after day night after night it's so a sanctification sanctification is a daily grind sanctification is a daily battle and God has given us the means by which we grow in grace and if we neglect the means I'm going to say this right now you will not grow you're gonna be the one floating back down to the waterfall heading that way you see God's giving us his word read it day by day Christ assumes it commands us to pray he says that in Matthew 6 when you pray daily provisions provide for my daily needs that's what the Christian must do when our smoothers you know in our private lives there's also the corporate and public lives the corporate and public means of grace the preaching of the word don't absent yourself from the means of grace brethren just don't do that I know sometimes we're tired sometimes we're weary yes there are providential reasons for being hindered you have a flat tire you're sick I get all that I get that they're ours legit things like that but if you're just I'm just gonna sit around and do nothing that's on you but he says the writer through Hebrews says do not forsake the assembling of yourself even as you see the Day approaching if when the world ends go to church not just for our good you know it says right before that stir one another up to love you deprive us of yourselves to some degree but it's not really about us it's primarily about God but you know God doesn't need us but we need each other but he still does say in Hebrews 10 stir 1 or not other one another up to love and good works how by not forsaking the assembling of your selves people whine about all the things churches don't have just just come to church chat with people say hello stir one another up to good works hear the word of preached hear the word preached and grow in grace and knowledge and it's not just preaching it's not just the preached word it's the singing of the word pay attention when you're singing the hymns hopefully it's not just rote okay here comes to him I'm gonna you know tune out first know be awake and attentive during that be awake and attentive during the prayer when the pastor says Amen you should be saying Amen because you should be paying attention to what he's saying so you can say Amen let it be and what the what he says but not just that the visible word do not absent yourself from the Lord's Supper it is for our spiritual growth spiritual nourishment that's how we grow day by day if you're struggling with the sin pray read your Bible come to church you're struggling with the difficulty pray read your Bible come to church because Christ is where we hear about Christ his goodness who he is as the shepherd and the one who is adequate for every day Davis says Jesus Christ is the shepherd who is adequate for every day who again and again restores my life and the Christian must learned to walk with Christ here in the daily round so we have a shepherd who provides for us in the daily battles we face let's then look secondly and a host who prepares in verses five and six now again this is an odd shift theme change what's happened how does it tie in with verses one through four now I still think it's the idea that one is being led to a certain place but perhaps the metaphor changes to focus on the human sheep he gives it in plain words Calvin says that same language same ideas but repeated in plain words and even in Psalm 78 it talks about God preparing a banquet for his people for his people his sheep that he leads and so I do think it changes and shifts and Tyson still similar themes and it is really more about a host who prepares but it still focused on the shepherd who provides for his human sheep but let's unpack it for us I think that's the best way to think through that again there's a lot of different differences on that but that's perhaps one the best ways to explain it but let's look at it specifically verse five again oddness the psalms are just odd you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies now some view this is the idea that perhaps they've defeated the enemies and the enemies are being marched through the city and they're rejoicing I don't think that's the case I think the idea is they're having a feast in the midst of their enemies that's weird that's odd how is it that when you know your enemy is going to break down the door that you're having a big Thanksgiving or Christmas roast turkey how is it you're sitting down for a long meal you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies that's odd because typically when you know your enemy's going to come in you eat quickly then hide but here they don't do that they prepare a table and they're eating and chowing down their enemies are walking by you prepared a table before me in the midst of my enemies and once again I think it's a comfort in a dark time once again surrounded by Psalms you prepare a table surrounded by laments so it's a difficult time and I do think Alec Moe tear and Dale Ralph Davis point out the fact that perhaps behind verse five is actually second Samuel 17 David has fled his son Absalom and he comes to the llaman knights in 2nd Samuel 17 and one of the ammonites do for him verses 27 and 29 of 2nd Samuel 17 now it happened when David had come to Mahon i''m the shittest that shall be the son of Nahash from riba of the people of ammon makeer the son of a meal from lode a bar and barzillai the gileadite from rogue Arrigo lien brought beds and basins earthen vessels and wheat barley and flour parched grain and beans lentils and part seeds honey and curds sheep and cheese of the herd for David and the people who are with him to eat for they said the people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness you have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies Davis points out the point is there is not a circumstance where he won't sustain his disciples there's not a time where Christ won't be with his people and protect us along the way and so he prepares this banquet he goes on to speak of you anoint my head with oil typically at banquets that's what they did you walked in you smelt nice Oh fine and dandy you see this in Luke 7 remember Jesus chastises the Pharisees for not giving him oil yet delay that Mary you seal cries and anoints him so a similar idea here but they made them smell nice when they walk in it's a good thing it's a blessing my cup runs over probably just means the best is given care and provision everything I have is from the Lord God's but then the weirdness continues verse 6 surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life that's weird we walk through the valley of the shadow of death yet goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life that is when we go through difficulties once again we have the promise that God's love God's mercy it is God's covenant kindness of mercy there for through were referred to throughout the Psalms in the Old Testament of his covenant keeping even though we have danger and difficulty and struggle God will be with his people there will not be a circumstance where he want to sustain his people how is it that goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days it's not negated in the bad times brethren surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life think of some missionaries think of men who were tortured think of men who were persecuted I'm really reading about a Bulgarian pastor right now who was tortured under under the Soviet rule during the Cold War and he went through some very difficult things they weren't there to kill them they were there to break them and they made sure the men found in prison did not die and what they would do is this brother what they would do to interrogate him they would make him stand for two weeks straight and they would say you can't sleep had to keep his eyes open the entire time he moved smack he shut his eyes smack all those dummy I just can't imagine what that would be like how he did the video God through that his only God's grace and goodness and he still writes you know when he's taken back to his cell after those fourteen wretched days he's never had sweeter communion with God all the earthly yo distractions all the earthly things that you'll find my attention he realizes that all those things are gone he focuses on his God and he's reminded of the promises that yeah you shall never leave me nor forsake me John Paton the missionary to the cannibals when he's running for his life he hides in a tree what does he say I've never had sweeter communion than when I been in that tree because Christ is with me through the times when the cannibals want to eat me and skinned me and boil me for dinner he's never had a time where he knew that God was closer with him that sense that God was near and close to him and I'm not saying we go look for that that's not what I'm saying we're not masochist that's not what we do but the point is God helps us God is with us and in the good times and the bad surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life and the promise continues I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever for the language beyond days beyond days you know there's a contrast goodness and mercy show be with be with me all the days of my life and then I will dwell in the house of the Lord beyond days I think he's turning his attention to eternal things his eternal inheritance the eternal of a communion with God dwelling with God forever and ever it's one of the key themes in the psalm and the Psalms Psalm 27 so I'm 65 but especially some 84 how lovely is your tabernacle o Lord of Hosts my soul longs yes even faints for the courts of the Lord my heart and flesh cry out for the Living God even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow and nest for herself where she may lay her young even your alters Oh Lord of Hosts my king and my god blessed are those who dwell in your house they will still be praising you say la blessed is the man whose strength is in you whose heart is set on pilgrimage at the pass of the valley of baka they may get a spring the rain also covers it with pools they go from strength to strength each one appears before God in Zion the Lord God of hosts hear my prayer give your Oh Jacob say la oh God behold our shield and look upon the face of your anointed for a day in your courts is better than a thousand I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my god than dwell in the tents of wickedness for the Lord God his son and shield the Lord will give Grace and glory no good thing will he withhold from those who walk uprightly oh Lord of Hosts blessed is the man who trusts in you better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere and that's what Christians look forward to that's what Christians long for that's also why we come to church as well church is a glimpse of what that will be like church is the place where the new creation comes together and worships God you see forever and ever when weird welling with God with him it'll be singing his praises if you don't like singing his praises you're not gonna like heaven very much that's what we're gonna be doing forever and ever world without end because he saved sinners like us we will dwell and have communion with God in his house for ever and ever beyond days and that is for our forever blessing for God's people that's what the Shepherd of the sheep came to do to lead his people to the flock and even to that pilgrims progress at a you know II allegory all the way leading through the valley of the shadow of death through difficulty through struggle all the way till finally they pass through the river of death and enter into that celestial City that's what every Christian looks forward to that's what we long for that's where our joy is found in hope is found in the fact that Christ shall come back and his people will dwell with him world without end we go through the dangerous places and the scary places we will make it to that place of Yahweh's house forever and ever it's an assurance for God's people of his present protection protection not just eternal things but present protection and eternal dwelling what's interesting is revelation I think 7:17 refers back to Psalm 23 I think there's an allusion there in revelation 7 17 the question is asked in revelation 6:17 who shall stand in the great day of his wrath then we have an interlude about who shall stand in the great day of his wrath his people the hundred and forty-four thousand though the elect the Church of God but what is it that he will do for his people verse 14 and 15 and all the way to 17 these are the ones who come out of the Great Tribulation and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb therefore they are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in his temple and he who sits on the throne will dwell among them they shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst any more the shunts son shall not strike down them nor any heat for the lamb who is in the midst of the throne will Shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes the language is recapitulated that is set again in another way in Revelation 21 that is we see the same event that endtime glory of the new heavens new earth and 21:4 and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying there shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away this is where the Shepherd is leading us this is where the Shepherd is guiding us and have assurance brethren that God is with us and keeps us and protects us and if you're an unbeliever here today I implore you to believe on the Good Shepherd if you look to him you shall have everlasting life you shall have the promises given to David you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever and ever you shall have protection not saying it's gonna be easy if you show how protection from God in the daily grind as Davis says the grassy pastures may be the normal place the valley of the shadows the fearful place in front of the enemies the dangerous place and the house of Yahweh the abiding place well let's pray O God we are thankful once again for your mercy towards sinners like us and O God we are thankful to your the Shepherd of the sheep and we're thankful that Christ is that Good Shepherd who came had the bright motive to die on behalf of the Sheep to lay down his life and we're thankful that he did so well God we are in need of a great shepherd who woodlands delight lay his life down for us and we're thankful that he did die you know God we pray even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death whatever that might look like for each and every one of us that we would trust in you day in and day out that we would remember this Psalm and that we would recite it that you are our Shepherd we shall not lack and you shall lead us by green pastures by still waters lead us in the paths of righteousness for your name's sake help us not to fear for you are with us comfort us and strengthen us by thy word we're thankful O God then in the midst of our enemies you prepare a place or thankful of God that you anoint us with oil our cup overflows and we will dwell with you for ever and ever o God may you strengthen your people this day as we go out into the world give them strength from the daily grind in the daily battle and oh God if there any here today who do not know you we pray that you open their eyes then you help them to see their need for Christ who is that righteous one who is that good one that they would find faith and trust in him and look to him that you might be glorified O God help us remember and everything that we do whether we eat or drink it is for your glory and O God we pray that you keep us and protect us and we're thankful for your sea or the fact that you are the Lord slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and so God we ask and we acclaim to your promises for what you've said both in the old and the New Testaments that you promise never leave us nor forsake us we pray that now O God that you would never leave us nor forsake us you'd watch us and keep your church corporately watch and keep each and every one of us individually and we do pray in all things you would be glorified we pray these things in the name of Christ amen well close with a brief time meditation when the pianos finished you are dismissed you