引言：

大卫少年时放过羊。他根据自己的经历，把主描写成一位牧羊人，见证耶和华神对他自始至终的眷顾、引领、保护、供应赐福。

一、供应我的需要（v1-2）

因着我们与神的关系，他必会引导、保护我们，与我们同在，供给我们一切的需要。而且，神的供应是及时的，是丰盛的，是超过人所想所求的。因此，我们必不致缺乏。

另外，祂使我们躺卧在青草地上，代表祂要让我们得到心灵的安息。祂也要领我们到可安歇的水边，使我们不干渴，可以得生命的活水。

二、引导我走义路（v3-4）

大卫一生也多经患难，行过死荫的幽谷，被扫罗追杀、被自己的儿子追杀、被手下人反叛，但都蒙神特别的保守。因此他经历是神「使我躺卧在青草地上，领我在可安歇的水边」，而且「你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我」，「因为你与我同在」。 这是他很深刻的经历。

我们要如何在艰难中，还是可以得胜呢？我们在艰难中要相信「耶和华是我的牧者」。在信靠当中，也许现实环境没有变，但我们的灵里却有平安、有力量。

三、保护我不受害（v5-6）

每一次，当我们经过「死荫的幽谷」，都让我们经历神的信实和大能，生命得着了一次更新和建造。大卫一生征战，他也经过无数次的死荫的幽谷，因为有许多敌人要寻索他的命。但神却为他摆设筵席，亲自保护他，抬举他，尊荣他，并膏立他为以色列之君。

当我们可以看见每一次我们所经历的不好的际遇都有神的恩惠和慈爱随着我们，我们就要住在神的殿中，赞美祂、敬拜祂，永远与祂一起。

总结：认定我们的大牧者

弟兄姐妹，我们认识我们的大牧者吗？主是好牧人，祂会在我们前面为我们引导正路并保护我们免受敌人的攻击，使我们不需要害怕面对灾害。因此，我们要认定祂是我们的大牧者，在患难中信靠祂，并相信必有神美好的心意在其中，使我们一生一世都有祂的恩惠慈爱随着我们！

Psalm 23 Our Great Shepherd
GK611 Morning Devotion
07/12/2023
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Stella Ling

Introduction:

As a teenager, David tended his sheep. Based on his own experience, he depicted the Lord as a shepherd, testifying to the Lord God’s favour, guidance, protection, and provision of blessings to him from the beginning to the end.

1. Provide for my needs (v1-2)

Because of our relationship with God, He will guide and protect us, be with us, and provide for all our needs. Moreover, God’s provision is timely and abundant, exceeding all that man can think or ask. Therefore, we shall not lack.

Furthermore, He causes us to lie down in green pastures, representing that He will give us rest for our souls. He will also lead us to waters where we can rest, so that we will not thirst, but may have the living water of life.

2. Lead me in the way of righteousness (v3-4)

David’s life was full of troubles, he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, he was pursued by Saul, he was pursued by his own son, he was pursued by his own men, and he was rebelled against by his own men, but all of these times he was preserved by God in a special way. Therefore, he experienced that God “made me lie down in green pastures, and led me beside the still waters”, and “Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”, “for You are with me;”. This was a very profound experience for him.

How do we overcome in the midst of hardship? In the midst of hardship, we have to trust that “the Lord is my shepherd”. In the midst of trust, the reality may not change, but we have peace and strength in our spirit.

3. Protect me from harm (v5-6)

Each time we pass through the “valley of the shadow of death”, we experience the faithfulness and power of God, and our lives are renewed and built up. Throughout David’s life of warfare, he passed through the valley of the shadow of death countless times, for many of his enemies sought his life. But God made a feast for him, protected him, lifted him up, honoured him, and anointed him king of Israel.

When we can see that every bad encounter we go through has God’s goodness and love with us, we will dwell in the house of God, praising Him, worshiping Him, and being with Him forever.

Conclusion: Acknowledging our Great Shepherd

Brothers and sisters, do we know our Great Shepherd? The Lord is the Good Shepherd who will go before us to guide us on the right path and protect us from the attacks of our enemies, so that we do not need to be afraid to face disasters. Therefore, we need to acknowledge Him as our Great Shepherd, trust Him in times of trouble, and believe that God’s goodness will be in it, so that His goodness and love will follow us all the days of our lives!