WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.740 --> 00:00:04.380 What does it really mean to trust God as your shepherd? 2 00:00:05.070 --> 00:00:08.750 Most of us know the words, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 3 00:00:09.350 --> 00:00:13.900 We may have heard them at funerals, or we've read them during difficult seasons, 4 00:00:14.100 --> 00:00:15.850 or even memorized them as children. 5 00:00:16.579 --> 00:00:20.260 But Psalm 23 is more than a familiar passage of comfort. 6 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:25.220 It is a declaration of confidence in the character and the care of God. 7 00:00:26.030 --> 00:00:29.490 David describes a shepherd who provides when we are in need, 8 00:00:29.490 --> 00:00:34.780 who restores us when we are weary and leads us when we don't know which way to go. 9 00:00:35.510 --> 00:00:39.750 But then the scene changes. The green pastures give way to a dark valley. 10 00:00:40.270 --> 00:00:43.370 Enemies are present. The circumstances are no longer peaceful. 11 00:00:43.900 --> 00:00:46.210 And yet David's confidence remains. 12 00:00:46.810 --> 00:00:50.050 Why? Because the shepherd has not changed. 13 00:00:50.620 --> 00:00:54.790 Today, we'll walk through Psalm 23 and discover what it means to trust the Lord 14 00:00:54.790 --> 00:00:58.230 as our shepherd, to trust his provision, follow his guidance, 15 00:00:58.440 --> 00:01:04.800 and depend upon his presence, and rest in his goodness even when the path leads through a valley. 16 00:01:05.510 --> 00:01:10.300 This is The Lord is My Shepherd, today on... 17 00:01:29.630 --> 00:01:37.680 Welcome to Bible Bytes, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one byte at a time. 18 00:01:38.170 --> 00:01:41.960 I'm your host, Randy Black. I'm an educator, technology specialist, 19 00:01:41.960 --> 00:01:44.810 and podcaster who's been a Christian for over three decades, 20 00:01:45.180 --> 00:01:51.650 and I'm glad that you've joined me as we continue studying God's Word together here on Bible Bytes. 21 00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:58.360 In our previous episode, we looked at Psalm 22 and considered the suffering of the Savior. 22 00:01:58.860 --> 00:02:04.210 We saw how David's words moved from anguish and suffering toward praise and 23 00:02:04.210 --> 00:02:06.130 proclamation, and how the New 24 00:02:06.130 --> 00:02:10.800 Testament points us to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of that suffering. 25 00:02:11.580 --> 00:02:17.470 Today, we move from Psalm 22 into one of the most familiar and perhaps beloved 26 00:02:17.470 --> 00:02:21.470 passages in all of Scripture, Psalm 23. 27 00:02:22.260 --> 00:02:27.460 After seeing the suffering Savior, we now encounter the shepherd who cares for his sheep. 28 00:02:28.220 --> 00:02:33.270 Psalm 23 gives us a beautiful picture of God's guidance, provision, 29 00:02:33.530 --> 00:02:35.110 protection, and presence. 30 00:02:35.840 --> 00:02:39.900 David describes the Lord as the shepherd who leads him beside still waters, 31 00:02:40.270 --> 00:02:45.740 restores his soul, guides him in paths of righteousness, and remains with him, 32 00:02:46.230 --> 00:02:49.550 even when he walks through the valley of the shadow of death. 33 00:02:50.270 --> 00:02:56.000 But there's a question at the heart of this psalm that we need to consider. 34 00:02:56.930 --> 00:03:01.260 What does it really mean to trust the Lord as our shepherd? 35 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:06.880 Today, we're going to walk through Psalm 23 and consider what this familiar 36 00:03:06.880 --> 00:03:11.500 passage teaches us about trusting God when he provides, when he leads, 37 00:03:11.870 --> 00:03:15.370 and even when he takes us through difficult places. 38 00:03:16.510 --> 00:03:20.600 Before we do that and open God's Word together, let's begin with a word of prayer. 39 00:03:22.360 --> 00:03:26.090 Heavenly Father, we come before you today with grateful hearts, 40 00:03:26.090 --> 00:03:30.350 thankful for your word and for the opportunity to study it together. 41 00:03:31.310 --> 00:03:36.120 Lord, as we open Psalm 23, help us understand what it means to know you as our shepherd. 42 00:03:37.030 --> 00:03:42.000 Teach us to trust you and your provision, to follow your guidance, 43 00:03:42.910 --> 00:03:44.430 and ultimately rest in your care. 44 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:51.300 We are weary, restore our souls. When we are uncertain about the path that lies 45 00:03:51.300 --> 00:03:54.240 ahead, give us wisdom to follow where you lead. 46 00:03:55.040 --> 00:03:58.950 Father, for those who are listening who are walking through difficult circumstances, 47 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:01.600 remind them that they do not walk alone. 48 00:04:02.170 --> 00:04:06.240 Give them confidence in your presence, even in the darkest valleys. 49 00:04:06.770 --> 00:04:11.100 Help us trust your character when we cannot see what lies ahead. 50 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:16.589 Open our hearts and minds to your truth today. 51 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:22.680 Strengthen our faith, deepen our trust in you, and help us follow you more faithfully. 52 00:04:23.490 --> 00:04:27.640 We ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 53 00:04:28.800 --> 00:04:34.630 Our primary scripture today is Psalm 23. Unlike some of the longer passages 54 00:04:34.630 --> 00:04:37.980 that we've studied from time to time, this psalm is pretty short, 55 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:41.290 so we're going to take the time to read it in its entirety. 56 00:04:42.420 --> 00:04:47.540 As we read through it, pay attention to the way David describes his relationship with the Lord. 57 00:04:48.100 --> 00:04:53.200 Notice what the shepherd provides, where he leads, and what he changes when 58 00:04:53.200 --> 00:04:54.730 David enters the valley. 59 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:59.960 Most importantly, listen for the reason David can remain confident even when 60 00:04:59.960 --> 00:05:03.120 the circumstances around him become difficult. 61 00:05:04.100 --> 00:05:05.700 Psalm 23. 62 00:05:06.720 --> 00:05:09.779 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 63 00:05:10.690 --> 00:05:16.390 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. 64 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:21.930 He restoreth my soul, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 65 00:05:22.600 --> 00:05:25.910 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 66 00:05:26.180 --> 00:05:28.850 I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. 67 00:05:29.220 --> 00:05:32.399 Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 68 00:05:33.010 --> 00:05:36.210 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. 69 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:40.300 Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. 70 00:05:40.850 --> 00:05:45.560 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, 71 00:05:45.930 --> 00:05:49.390 and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 72 00:05:51.000 --> 00:05:54.370 There is a beautiful progression in this psalm. 73 00:05:55.300 --> 00:06:00.720 David begins with the shepherd's provision, green pastures, still waters. 74 00:06:01.490 --> 00:06:06.160 Then we see the shepherd's restoration and guidance as he leads his sheep into 75 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:07.680 the paths of righteousness. 76 00:06:08.710 --> 00:06:13.050 But the psalm doesn't promise that the sheep will never encounter danger. 77 00:06:14.050 --> 00:06:17.260 David says, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 78 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:23.660 The circumstances become darker, but notice what changes. David doesn't say 79 00:06:23.660 --> 00:06:25.210 that the shepherd disappears. 80 00:06:25.930 --> 00:06:30.120 Instead, he says, for thou art with me. 81 00:06:31.140 --> 00:06:36.730 Then the psalm moves beyond the valley toward God's continued provision, 82 00:06:37.260 --> 00:06:43.050 goodness, mercy, and ultimately dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. 83 00:06:44.020 --> 00:06:49.820 So, Psalm 23 is not simply a promise of peaceful circumstances. 84 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:56.930 It is a declaration of confidence in the shepherd through every single circumstance. 85 00:06:57.820 --> 00:07:01.570 And that gives us an important question as we begin our study today. 86 00:07:02.590 --> 00:07:08.900 What did David understand about God that allowed him to trust the shepherd even 87 00:07:08.900 --> 00:07:11.530 when the path led through that valley. 88 00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:18.590 To understand that, we got to step back. We got to consider the historical and 89 00:07:18.590 --> 00:07:20.900 the biblical setting of this familiar psalm. 90 00:07:22.490 --> 00:07:25.830 Psalm 23 is identified simply as a Psalm of David. 91 00:07:26.550 --> 00:07:31.780 That brief description is significant because David knew the life of a shepherd firsthand. 92 00:07:32.500 --> 00:07:37.290 Before he became king of Israel, David spent years caring for his father's sheep. 93 00:07:37.990 --> 00:07:43.200 He understood the responsibility of leading a flock, of finding places where 94 00:07:43.520 --> 00:07:47.180 the sheep could feed and drink and protecting them from danger, 95 00:07:47.870 --> 00:07:51.400 and staying with them even when they were vulnerable. 96 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:58.030 That experience gives us helpful context for the imagery that David used in this psalm. 97 00:07:58.680 --> 00:08:03.610 When David says, the Lord is my shepherd, he isn't using a random illustration. 98 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:09.440 He's drawing upon something that he knew personally, and he's using it to describe 99 00:08:09.440 --> 00:08:10.840 his relationship with God. 100 00:08:11.780 --> 00:08:14.930 In the ancient world, sheep were dependent upon their shepherd. 101 00:08:15.620 --> 00:08:20.740 They needed to be led to food and to water. They needed protection from predators and other dangers. 102 00:08:21.300 --> 00:08:23.760 They could wander away. They could become vulnerable. 103 00:08:24.370 --> 00:08:30.290 The shepherd's presence and his leadership were therefore essential to their well-being. 104 00:08:31.380 --> 00:08:35.760 Throughout the Old Testament, shepherd imagery is also used to describe God's 105 00:08:35.760 --> 00:08:37.150 relationship with his people. 106 00:08:37.809 --> 00:08:42.770 God is portrayed as the one who leads, protects, and cares for Israel. 107 00:08:43.470 --> 00:08:49.240 Psalm 23 takes that larger biblical picture and makes it deeply personal. 108 00:08:50.380 --> 00:08:53.790 Notice David's wording, the Lord is my shepherd. 109 00:08:54.490 --> 00:08:58.260 It isn't simply a statement about what God does for people in general. 110 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:03.220 David is expressing personal confidence in the Lord. 111 00:09:04.170 --> 00:09:09.299 That confidence becomes especially important when we consider the progression of the psalm. 112 00:09:09.920 --> 00:09:15.840 David begins beside green pastures and still waters, but eventually he walks 113 00:09:15.840 --> 00:09:18.250 through the valley of the shadow of death. 114 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:22.429 The psalm, therefore, doesn't describe a life without difficulty. 115 00:09:23.850 --> 00:09:28.900 David knew what it meant to face danger. He had lived through seasons of conflict. 116 00:09:29.270 --> 00:09:32.070 He pursued enemies and faced uncertainty. 117 00:09:33.140 --> 00:09:38.170 Yet his confidence, it wasn't based on the assumption that God would prevent 118 00:09:38.170 --> 00:09:40.350 every difficult circumstance. 119 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:46.500 His confidence was based on the presence and the character of his shepherd. 120 00:09:47.350 --> 00:09:53.510 That is an important distinction for us to see as we approach Psalm 23. 121 00:09:54.210 --> 00:09:59.429 The promise isn't that God's people will never face uncertainty, hardship, or fear. 122 00:10:00.010 --> 00:10:05.049 The promise is that the shepherd remains faithful through all of it. 123 00:10:06.900 --> 00:10:08.490 As we move into our deeper study 124 00:10:08.490 --> 00:10:12.290 of this psalm, we'll begin with the first thing that David emphasizes. 125 00:10:12.809 --> 00:10:14.960 The shepherd provides for his sheep. 126 00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:20.179 The first truth we see in Psalm 23 is simple, but it is foundational. 127 00:10:20.590 --> 00:10:22.650 The shepherd provides for his sheep. 128 00:10:23.160 --> 00:10:29.040 David begins with these words, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. 129 00:10:29.950 --> 00:10:33.429 Think about the confidence that is contained within that statement. 130 00:10:34.260 --> 00:10:39.270 David doesn't begin by describing what he has accomplished, how capable he is, 131 00:10:39.420 --> 00:10:41.540 or how secure his circumstances are. 132 00:10:42.090 --> 00:10:44.860 He begins with who the Lord is. 133 00:10:45.610 --> 00:10:47.809 The Lord is my shepherd. 134 00:10:48.870 --> 00:10:54.760 Because the Lord is his shepherd, David can now say, I shall not want. 135 00:10:55.910 --> 00:10:59.470 David then gives us a picture of what provision looks like. 136 00:11:00.460 --> 00:11:05.710 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. 137 00:11:06.670 --> 00:11:11.200 The imagery is peaceful. Green pastures provide nourishment. 138 00:11:12.110 --> 00:11:18.190 Still waters provide refreshment. The shepherd knows where his sheep need to 139 00:11:18.190 --> 00:11:19.960 go, and he leads them there. 140 00:11:21.110 --> 00:11:25.200 But we need to be careful about what David is saying here. He isn't claiming 141 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:32.020 that God's people will always have everything they desire or that life will always be comfortable. 142 00:11:32.710 --> 00:11:37.740 Psalm 23 is not a promise of a trouble-free life. 143 00:11:38.530 --> 00:11:43.970 Instead, David is expressing confidence that the Lord knows what his sheep need 144 00:11:44.250 --> 00:11:46.280 and he is able to provide it. 145 00:11:47.220 --> 00:11:53.040 That distinction matters because we often confuse what we want with what we need. 146 00:11:53.830 --> 00:11:59.660 We may ask God to provide a particular outcome, a particular opportunity, 147 00:11:59.850 --> 00:12:04.790 or a particular amount of money, a particular relationship, or a particular solution to a problem. 148 00:12:05.750 --> 00:12:10.799 And when God doesn't provide exactly what we requested, we may begin to wonder 149 00:12:10.799 --> 00:12:12.830 whether he's really caring for us. 150 00:12:13.660 --> 00:12:17.570 But the shepherd sees what we cannot see. 151 00:12:18.370 --> 00:12:24.179 Jesus made this same point whenever he taught his disciples not to live consumed 152 00:12:24.179 --> 00:12:28.900 by anxiety about what they would eat or drink or wear. 153 00:12:29.530 --> 00:12:35.860 In Matthew 6 verses 31 and 32, he reminded them that their heavenly father knows 154 00:12:36.080 --> 00:12:38.840 that they have need of these things. 155 00:12:39.710 --> 00:12:44.310 Our confidence in God's provision isn't based on getting everything that we want. 156 00:12:44.910 --> 00:12:48.760 It's based on knowing that our Father knows what we need. 157 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:55.550 Paul, he expressed that confidence in Philippians chapter 4, verse 19. 158 00:12:56.350 --> 00:13:01.180 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches and glory by Christ Jesus. 159 00:13:02.050 --> 00:13:06.820 Again, notice the wording, all your need. 160 00:13:07.590 --> 00:13:11.990 Scripture consistently points us toward God's faithful provision rather than 161 00:13:11.990 --> 00:13:15.670 promising that he's going to satisfy every desire we might have. 162 00:13:16.110 --> 00:13:19.560 And that brings this truth into our daily lives. 163 00:13:20.220 --> 00:13:25.100 There are times when we live as though everything depends upon us. 164 00:13:26.070 --> 00:13:27.440 We worry about the future. 165 00:13:28.420 --> 00:13:33.490 We try to control every single outcome. We become consumed with accumulating 166 00:13:33.490 --> 00:13:39.600 enough, with planning enough, with saving enough, or protecting ourselves from 167 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:41.930 every possible difficulty. 168 00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:48.150 There is wisdom in responsible planning, but there's a difference between being 169 00:13:48.150 --> 00:13:53.610 responsible and believing that our security ultimately depends upon ourselves. 170 00:13:54.690 --> 00:13:58.150 David says, the Lord is my shepherd. 171 00:13:58.990 --> 00:14:02.550 That means we can trust him to lead us to what we need. 172 00:14:03.350 --> 00:14:08.350 And sometimes his provision looks like green pastures and still waters. 173 00:14:09.230 --> 00:14:12.540 Sometimes it looks different from what it is that we expect. 174 00:14:13.450 --> 00:14:18.080 And sometimes we may not recognize his provision until we look back and see 175 00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:20.450 how faithfully he carried us through. 176 00:14:21.470 --> 00:14:26.940 So the question for us is this. Am I trusting the shepherd to provide, 177 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:32.410 or am I constantly trying to become my own provider and my own source of security? 178 00:14:33.430 --> 00:14:38.860 Psalm 23 begins by reminding us that we have a shepherd who knows us, 179 00:14:39.270 --> 00:14:41.620 cares for us, and knows what we need. 180 00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:47.870 And if we can trust him with our provision, we can also trust him with our direction. 181 00:14:49.160 --> 00:14:55.870 That then brings us to the next truth in this psalm. The shepherd guides and restores his sheep. 182 00:14:57.500 --> 00:15:01.820 The shepherd doesn't simply provide for his sheep. He also restores them and 183 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:04.060 he leads them in the right direction. 184 00:15:04.900 --> 00:15:09.560 David continues in Psalm 23, 3, He restoreth my soul. 185 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:14.220 He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 186 00:15:15.310 --> 00:15:20.420 Those are two closely connected ideas here, restoration and guidance. 187 00:15:21.140 --> 00:15:24.340 First, David says, He restoreth my soul. 188 00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:29.410 The shepherd cares about the condition of a sheep. He doesn't simply make sure 189 00:15:29.410 --> 00:15:32.060 they have somewhere to go and have something to eat. 190 00:15:32.760 --> 00:15:35.440 He restores them when they are weary. 191 00:15:36.490 --> 00:15:42.690 We know what it feels like to become spiritually and emotionally exhausted. We all experience it. 192 00:15:43.610 --> 00:15:50.560 There are seasons when the demands of life leave us tired, discouraged, and even uncertain. 193 00:15:51.330 --> 00:15:56.470 And sometimes we could become so focused on simply getting through the day that 194 00:15:56.470 --> 00:15:59.820 we don't recognize how much our souls need to be refreshed. 195 00:16:01.030 --> 00:16:05.080 But David here reminds us that restoration ultimately comes from the Lord. 196 00:16:06.130 --> 00:16:09.610 Then he says, he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness. 197 00:16:10.570 --> 00:16:16.240 The shepherd doesn't restore us so that we can simply remain where we are. He leads us forward. 198 00:16:17.730 --> 00:16:23.160 This is important because we often want God's guidance without actually wanting to follow him. 199 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:29.410 We want God to show us the right path, but we may already have our own path in mind. 200 00:16:30.410 --> 00:16:35.990 Proverbs 3, verses 5 and 6 gives us a familiar reminder of this. 201 00:16:36.800 --> 00:16:42.210 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. 202 00:16:42.880 --> 00:16:46.970 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 203 00:16:48.020 --> 00:16:52.790 Trusting the shepherd means acknowledging that his understanding is greater than ours. 204 00:16:53.700 --> 00:16:56.640 There will be decisions we don't know how to make. 205 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:02.480 There will be seasons when the future isn't clear. There will be circumstances 206 00:17:02.830 --> 00:17:08.810 where we desperately want God to show us what is going to happen next. 207 00:17:10.040 --> 00:17:13.640 But Scripture doesn't tell us that we will always see the entire road ahead. 208 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:16.890 It tells us to trust the one who does. 209 00:17:17.580 --> 00:17:25.869 Psalm 119 verse 105 says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 210 00:17:26.780 --> 00:17:32.690 Notice something, that a lamp doesn't necessarily illuminate the entire journey. 211 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:37.240 It provides enough light for us to see the next step. 212 00:17:38.000 --> 00:17:42.280 Man, that's often how God's guidance works in our lives. 213 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:48.070 We want a detailed map of the future, but God often gives us just enough light 214 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:50.150 to take that next faithful step. 215 00:17:51.080 --> 00:17:56.340 And David gives us another important reason for this guidance. For his name's sake. 216 00:17:57.290 --> 00:18:00.880 God's leading is ultimately about his character and his purposes. 217 00:18:01.520 --> 00:18:07.560 He leads his people in righteous paths because that is consistent with who he is. 218 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:13.859 This means we don't have to be paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong decision 219 00:18:14.180 --> 00:18:17.910 when we are genuinely seeking to follow him. 220 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:25.280 We can pray, study his word, seek wise counsel, and then trust him to direct our steps. 221 00:18:26.680 --> 00:18:30.800 And notice something else about the shepherd's guidance. He isn't merely interested 222 00:18:30.800 --> 00:18:32.130 in getting us somewhere. 223 00:18:32.750 --> 00:18:36.369 He is concerned with who we become along the way. 224 00:18:37.310 --> 00:18:42.420 The path of righteousness, those aren't simply routes to a destination. 225 00:18:43.130 --> 00:18:47.080 They are paths that shape our lives according to God's will. 226 00:18:48.010 --> 00:18:53.140 And Jesus used similar language when describing his relationship with his followers. 227 00:18:53.770 --> 00:19:01.830 In John 10, verse 27, he said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 228 00:19:02.930 --> 00:19:08.640 The sheep hear the shepherd's voice. They know him, and they follow him. 229 00:19:09.520 --> 00:19:13.780 That gives us a practical question here to consider. Are we actually following 230 00:19:13.780 --> 00:19:19.119 the shepherd, or are we asking him to bless the path we've already chosen? 231 00:19:20.609 --> 00:19:25.770 There may be an area of your life right now where you don't know what comes next. 232 00:19:26.760 --> 00:19:32.480 Perhaps you're facing a big decision or a transition or a season of uncertainty ahead. 233 00:19:33.390 --> 00:19:38.340 You may not have the answers you want, but you can still trust the shepherd. 234 00:19:39.359 --> 00:19:41.210 He knows the path. 235 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:48.500 He knows where the path leads. And he knows what you need along the way. 236 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:56.230 So remember the shepherd provides the shepherd restores and the shepherd leads, 237 00:19:57.270 --> 00:20:03.040 but what happens when the path he leads us on takes us somewhere difficult, 238 00:20:04.140 --> 00:20:08.810 that's where psalm 23 becomes especially powerful because david doesn't say 239 00:20:08.810 --> 00:20:10.460 the shepherd always leads his 240 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:15.700 sheep around the valley He says the shepherd walks with them through it. 241 00:20:17.030 --> 00:20:21.599 The first two truths we've seen in Psalm 23 are that the shepherd provides for 242 00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:24.109 his sheep and that he restores and guides them. 243 00:20:24.910 --> 00:20:27.740 But then David takes us someplace that's unexpected. 244 00:20:28.550 --> 00:20:30.730 The green pastures give way to a valley. 245 00:20:31.590 --> 00:20:37.200 Psalm 23 verse 4 says, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of 246 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:38.800 death, I will fear no evil. 247 00:20:39.310 --> 00:20:44.960 For thou art with me thy rod and thy staff they comfort me notice what David 248 00:20:44.960 --> 00:20:49.920 does not say here he doesn't say I will never enter the valley, 249 00:20:51.080 --> 00:20:55.570 he doesn't say because the Lord is my shepherd nothing difficult is ever going to happen to me. 250 00:20:56.910 --> 00:21:01.310 Instead, he says, though I walk through the valley. 251 00:21:02.470 --> 00:21:08.010 The shepherd who leads us beside the still waters may also lead us through difficult places. 252 00:21:08.920 --> 00:21:14.480 That is important because sometimes we can develop an expectation that trusting 253 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:18.080 God means he's going to keep every painful circumstance away from us. 254 00:21:18.840 --> 00:21:21.730 But Psalm 23, it doesn't make that promise. 255 00:21:22.580 --> 00:21:27.160 What it does promise is something much deeper. when we enter the valley, 256 00:21:27.830 --> 00:21:29.710 the shepherd is still there. 257 00:21:30.670 --> 00:21:34.450 Look at the change in David's language. Earlier in the psalm, 258 00:21:34.450 --> 00:21:42.400 David speaks about God when he says, He maketh me, he leadeth me, he restoreth my soul. 259 00:21:43.590 --> 00:21:50.890 But when David reaches the valley, he begins speaking directly to the shepherd, for thou art with me. 260 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:56.380 The valley brings David into a deeper awareness of God's presence, 261 00:21:57.020 --> 00:22:00.060 and that is why he can say, I will fear no evil. 262 00:22:01.099 --> 00:22:07.070 David's confidence isn't based on the absence of danger. It's based on the presence of God. 263 00:22:08.710 --> 00:22:14.090 The rod and the staff become sources of comfort because they represent the shepherd's 264 00:22:14.090 --> 00:22:19.330 care and protection, and David knows that he's not walking through the valley alone. 265 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:25.790 We look to Isaiah 43, verse 2, and it expresses that same confidence. 266 00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:31.570 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee, and through the rivers, 267 00:22:31.849 --> 00:22:33.450 thou shalt not overflow thee. 268 00:22:33.950 --> 00:22:37.210 When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned. 269 00:22:37.590 --> 00:22:40.200 Neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 270 00:22:41.010 --> 00:22:45.670 Again, the promise isn't that God's people will never pass through the waters 271 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:50.460 or the fires, but the promise is, I will be with thee. 272 00:22:51.270 --> 00:22:54.070 And that distinction matters when we face suffering. 273 00:22:55.010 --> 00:22:59.070 There may be a diagnosis that we didn't expect, a relationship that falls apart, 274 00:22:59.310 --> 00:23:05.650 a financial difficulty, the loss of someone we love, or a season when we simply 275 00:23:05.650 --> 00:23:08.380 don't understand what it is that God is doing. 276 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:14.030 We may pray for God to remove the valley, and sometimes he does. 277 00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:19.619 But sometimes he takes us right through it. And when he does that, 278 00:23:19.619 --> 00:23:21.990 his presence is not evidence that we have failed. 279 00:23:22.970 --> 00:23:27.340 The valley itself is not proof that the shepherd has abandoned us. 280 00:23:28.230 --> 00:23:34.340 He is still our shepherd in the valley. Jesus gives us an even fuller picture 281 00:23:34.340 --> 00:23:36.030 of this relationship in John 10. 282 00:23:36.349 --> 00:23:41.869 He describes himself as the good shepherd who knows his sheep and gives his life for them. 283 00:23:42.670 --> 00:23:49.060 That brings us back to the connection that exists between Psalm 22 that we studied 284 00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:51.310 last episode and Psalm 23. 285 00:23:52.280 --> 00:24:00.080 In Psalm 22, we saw the suffering Savior. In Psalm 23, we see the shepherd who cares for his sheep. 286 00:24:01.210 --> 00:24:06.240 And in the New Testament, Jesus identifies himself as that good shepherd. 287 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:11.520 The shepherd isn't asking us to walk through suffering along a path that he's 288 00:24:11.520 --> 00:24:12.840 never traveled himself. 289 00:24:13.590 --> 00:24:19.070 Christ entered into suffering, experienced rejection and death, 290 00:24:19.650 --> 00:24:21.570 and ultimately conquered the grave. 291 00:24:22.609 --> 00:24:26.000 So when we walk through our own valleys, we can look to him with confidence. 292 00:24:26.990 --> 00:24:32.550 But David doesn't stop at the valley. He continues, Thou preparest a table before 293 00:24:32.550 --> 00:24:33.990 me in the presence of mine enemies. 294 00:24:34.260 --> 00:24:37.930 Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runneth over. 295 00:24:38.920 --> 00:24:45.430 The circumstances haven't necessarily disappeared. The enemies, they are still present. 296 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:48.640 Yet God's provision and goodness remain in place. 297 00:24:49.790 --> 00:24:55.849 Then David reaches the conclusion. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me 298 00:24:56.000 --> 00:25:01.090 all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 299 00:25:03.410 --> 00:25:06.510 What a way to end the psalm. David's 300 00:25:06.510 --> 00:25:09.630 confidence isn't merely about getting through today's difficulties. 301 00:25:10.280 --> 00:25:14.570 He's looking at the shepherd's faithfulness across his entire life and beyond. 302 00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:22.380 Goodness and mercy will follow him. And ultimately, he will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 303 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:26.590 That gives us a powerful perspective when life becomes difficult. 304 00:25:27.370 --> 00:25:30.670 We may not know how every circumstance is going to turn out. 305 00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:34.080 We may not know how long the valley is going to last. 306 00:25:34.910 --> 00:25:36.140 But we do know the shepherd. 307 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:41.960 We know that he is with us, we know that he is faithful, and we know that the 308 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:44.170 valley is not our final destination. 309 00:25:45.320 --> 00:25:49.820 The shepherd provides, the shepherd restores, the shepherd guides, 310 00:25:50.230 --> 00:25:54.920 and when the path leads us through the valley, the shepherd remains with us. 311 00:25:55.670 --> 00:26:00.460 That is why we can trust him even when we cannot see what comes next. 312 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:08.710 So how do we take what we've learned from Psalm 23 and apply it to our daily lives? 313 00:26:09.640 --> 00:26:12.770 First, trust the shepherd's provision. 314 00:26:13.800 --> 00:26:18.970 There's always going to be things that we cannot control and needs that we cannot meet on our own. 315 00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:25.030 When anxiety begins to take over, remember that the Lord knows what you need. 316 00:26:25.640 --> 00:26:30.980 Instead of allowing worry to become our focus, we can bring those concerns to 317 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:33.010 God and we can trust him with them. 318 00:26:33.980 --> 00:26:39.510 Second, we need to follow the shepherd's direction. We don't always know what lies ahead. 319 00:26:40.150 --> 00:26:44.840 There may be decisions we need to make or seasons of uncertainty where we wish 320 00:26:44.840 --> 00:26:46.810 God would show us the entire path. 321 00:26:47.750 --> 00:26:50.610 But our responsibility isn't to see everything that's ahead. 322 00:26:51.090 --> 00:26:54.560 It's to follow faithfully where it is that he leads us. 323 00:26:55.210 --> 00:26:59.240 That means spending time in His Word, seeking His wisdom, praying about our 324 00:26:59.240 --> 00:27:05.070 decisions, and ultimately being willing to follow even when His direction isn't 325 00:27:05.070 --> 00:27:06.130 what we would have chosen. 326 00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:12.250 Third, when you become weary, allow the shepherd to restore you. 327 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:18.120 Sometimes we become so busy dealing with everything around us that we neglect 328 00:27:18.120 --> 00:27:19.260 our spiritual condition. 329 00:27:20.130 --> 00:27:24.860 Psalm 23 reminds us that the Lord cares about our souls. 330 00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:30.010 We don't have to carry every burden in our own strength. We can come to him, 331 00:27:30.620 --> 00:27:36.230 rest in his presence, and we can allow him to restore what has become weary within us. 332 00:27:37.620 --> 00:27:43.030 And finally, when you enter a valley, remember that you're not walking through it alone. 333 00:27:43.790 --> 00:27:47.780 You may not be able to change the circumstances. You may not understand why 334 00:27:47.780 --> 00:27:49.500 God has allowed them to occur. 335 00:27:50.030 --> 00:27:54.150 But you can remember David's words, For thou art with me. 336 00:27:55.620 --> 00:28:00.200 So here's the challenge for this week. Identify one area of your life where 337 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:01.800 you're struggling to trust God. 338 00:28:02.910 --> 00:28:07.340 Is it a need you're worried about? A decision you don't know how to make? 339 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:09.900 A weariness that you're carrying? 340 00:28:10.670 --> 00:28:16.220 Or maybe a difficult circumstance that you're just simply trying to understand. 341 00:28:17.260 --> 00:28:23.390 Bring that situation honestly before the Lord. Then return to Psalm 23. 342 00:28:24.870 --> 00:28:30.570 And take the time there to remind yourself of what you already know about your shepherd. 343 00:28:31.690 --> 00:28:36.190 He provides. He restores. He leads. 344 00:28:36.930 --> 00:28:42.600 He's with you in the valley, and his goodness and mercy, they are not limited 345 00:28:42.930 --> 00:28:44.560 to the circumstances of today. 346 00:28:45.560 --> 00:28:51.290 You may not know what comes next, but you can trust the shepherd who does. 347 00:28:53.380 --> 00:28:58.590 There are six truths from Psalm 23 that I want us to remember from today's study. 348 00:28:59.820 --> 00:29:01.380 First, the Lord is our shepherd. 349 00:29:02.760 --> 00:29:08.200 Psalm 23 begins not with a description of our circumstances, 350 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:11.280 but with a declaration about who God is. 351 00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:16.360 And when we know the Lord is our shepherd, we can place our confidence in his 352 00:29:16.360 --> 00:29:18.010 character and in his care. 353 00:29:19.390 --> 00:29:25.290 Second, the shepherd provides for his sheep. God knows what we need, 354 00:29:26.250 --> 00:29:31.150 and we can trust him to provide according to his wisdom and his purposes. 355 00:29:32.160 --> 00:29:35.300 Our confidence isn't based on receiving everything we want. 356 00:29:35.880 --> 00:29:41.020 It's based on knowing that our shepherd knows what it is that we truly need. 357 00:29:42.710 --> 00:29:45.610 Third, the shepherd restores and guides us. 358 00:29:46.510 --> 00:29:51.350 He restores our souls when we're weary, and he leads us in the paths of righteousness. 359 00:29:52.410 --> 00:29:57.660 We don't have to know the entire path that's ahead. We can trust him enough 360 00:29:57.970 --> 00:30:00.260 to simply follow where he leads us. 361 00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:06.080 Fourth, God's presence doesn't disappear whenever we enter a valley. 362 00:30:07.150 --> 00:30:10.870 Psalm 23 doesn't promise a life without difficult circumstances. 363 00:30:11.570 --> 00:30:14.850 Instead, it gives us the assurance that when we walk through the valley, 364 00:30:15.580 --> 00:30:17.940 our shepherd, he's with us. 365 00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:23.370 Fifth, we can trust God even when our circumstances are difficult. 366 00:30:24.370 --> 00:30:28.020 David's confidence wasn't based on everything around him being peaceful. 367 00:30:28.790 --> 00:30:33.140 His confidence was based on the character and the presence of his shepherd. 368 00:30:34.770 --> 00:30:40.250 And finally, God's goodness and mercy extend beyond our present circumstances. 369 00:30:41.280 --> 00:30:45.480 Psalm 23 ends with David looking toward a continuing relationship with the Lord. 370 00:30:46.060 --> 00:30:50.350 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. 371 00:30:51.420 --> 00:30:54.240 Our hope isn't limited to getting through today's difficulty. 372 00:30:54.920 --> 00:31:01.890 We belong to a shepherd whose care extends throughout our lives and even into eternity. 373 00:31:03.530 --> 00:31:07.300 So when life becomes uncertain, remember your shepherd. 374 00:31:08.470 --> 00:31:12.020 Trust his provision. Follow his guidance. 375 00:31:12.670 --> 00:31:17.620 Receive his restoration. and when you find yourself in the valley remember that 376 00:31:17.620 --> 00:31:21.620 you're not walking through it alone the shepherd is with you. 377 00:31:23.890 --> 00:31:32.240 Psalm 23 is a familiar passage, but familiarity can sometimes cause us to move 378 00:31:32.240 --> 00:31:35.890 past its message without allowing it to examine our hearts. 379 00:31:37.430 --> 00:31:41.170 When you think about the Lord as your shepherd, are you actually trusting Him 380 00:31:41.170 --> 00:31:46.340 to provide for you, or are you carrying the responsibility for your future as 381 00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:48.150 though everything depends upon you? 382 00:31:49.630 --> 00:31:54.400 Is there an area of your life right now where you're struggling to follow God's direction? 383 00:31:55.230 --> 00:31:59.310 Are you willing to trust him even when you cannot see the path ahead? 384 00:32:01.080 --> 00:32:06.820 David says, he restoreth my soul. What condition is your soul in today? 385 00:32:07.870 --> 00:32:13.000 Are you spiritually weary, discouraged, or maybe carrying burdens that you've 386 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:15.740 been trying to handle in your own strength? 387 00:32:17.430 --> 00:32:22.400 What valley are you walking through right now? When you think about that situation, 388 00:32:22.400 --> 00:32:25.790 do you find yourself focusing primarily on the circumstances? 389 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:31.350 Or are you remembering David's words, For thou art with me. 390 00:32:32.980 --> 00:32:36.890 Have there been times when difficult circumstances caused you to question whether 391 00:32:36.890 --> 00:32:38.340 God was still caring for you? 392 00:32:39.170 --> 00:32:43.940 Looking back, can you identify ways he remained faithful even when you didn't 393 00:32:43.940 --> 00:32:45.570 understand what it was he was doing? 394 00:32:46.980 --> 00:32:52.840 And finally, what would change in the way you approach this coming week if you 395 00:32:52.840 --> 00:32:57.510 genuinely lived with the confidence that the Lord is your shepherd? 396 00:32:58.730 --> 00:33:03.720 Take some time to consider those questions honestly. Bring your answers before 397 00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:09.190 the Lord and ask Him to help you to trust His provision, to follow His guidance, 398 00:33:09.590 --> 00:33:12.980 to receive His restoration, and rest in His presence, 399 00:33:13.510 --> 00:33:15.850 even when the path leads through a valley. 400 00:33:18.470 --> 00:33:24.240 There may be someone listening today who needs the reminder that they're not 401 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:25.780 walking through this life alone. 402 00:33:28.230 --> 00:33:32.120 Maybe you're facing a decision and you don't know which direction to take. 403 00:33:33.670 --> 00:33:37.200 Maybe you're exhausted and feel like you have nothing left to give. 404 00:33:38.600 --> 00:33:42.140 Maybe you're carrying a burden that you've been trying to handle on your own. 405 00:33:43.390 --> 00:33:49.150 Or perhaps you're walking through a valley right now and you wonder how you're 406 00:33:49.150 --> 00:33:50.430 going to make it through. 407 00:33:51.770 --> 00:33:55.230 Psalm 23 gives us a simple place to begin. 408 00:33:56.020 --> 00:34:03.450 The Lord is my shepherd You may not know what tomorrow holds But your shepherd does, 409 00:34:04.540 --> 00:34:10.219 You may not understand why he's allowed you to walk this particular path But 410 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:11.570 he's not stopped leading you, 411 00:34:12.980 --> 00:34:18.920 You may be tired But he's able to restore your soul And if you're walking through 412 00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:24.739 a valley, remember David's words For thou art with me The presence of difficulty 413 00:34:24.739 --> 00:34:26.330 does not mean the absence of God. 414 00:34:27.060 --> 00:34:31.530 Your shepherd has not abandoned you because the path became difficult. 415 00:34:32.600 --> 00:34:36.770 He's not forgotten you because you cannot see what comes next. 416 00:34:37.730 --> 00:34:41.940 His character hasn't changed because your circumstances have changed. 417 00:34:42.870 --> 00:34:45.930 And look at where David's confidence ultimately rests. 418 00:34:46.890 --> 00:34:52.060 Surely the goodness and mercy shall follow me all of the days of my life. 419 00:34:53.590 --> 00:34:58.750 That is the hope we can carry with us this week. We don't have to understand everything. 420 00:34:59.340 --> 00:35:03.469 We don't have to control everything. We don't even have to see the entire path ahead. 421 00:35:04.230 --> 00:35:06.239 We simply need to trust the shepherd. 422 00:35:07.190 --> 00:35:10.739 So whatever it is you're facing today, remember who walks with you. 423 00:35:11.650 --> 00:35:14.219 When you're uncertain, trust his guidance. 424 00:35:15.270 --> 00:35:21.130 When you're in need, trust his provision. When you're weary, trust his restoration. 425 00:35:21.699 --> 00:35:24.660 And when you are in the valley, remember his presence. 426 00:35:25.510 --> 00:35:28.850 The Lord is your shepherd and you can trust him. 427 00:35:30.610 --> 00:35:34.610 As we finished our study, let's go ahead and again go to the Lord in prayer. 428 00:35:36.820 --> 00:35:41.239 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the truth of your word and for the reminder 429 00:35:41.239 --> 00:35:43.180 that you are our shepherd. 430 00:35:44.210 --> 00:35:48.370 Thank you for your provision, for the way you restore our souls, 431 00:35:48.949 --> 00:35:51.730 and for the paths of righteousness on which you lead us. 432 00:35:52.630 --> 00:35:56.330 Help us to trust you when we do not understand the road that's ahead and to 433 00:35:56.330 --> 00:35:59.989 follow you rather than relying upon our own understanding. 434 00:36:01.290 --> 00:36:05.880 Father, for those who are walking through a valley today, remind them that you are with them. 435 00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:11.219 Give them peace in your presence and comfort in knowing that you never will 436 00:36:11.219 --> 00:36:12.730 allow them to walk alone. 437 00:36:13.940 --> 00:36:17.100 Help us to trust your character when our circumstances are difficult, 438 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:22.080 to rest in your care whenever it is that we are weary, and to remember that 439 00:36:22.080 --> 00:36:25.290 your goodness and mercy follow us all of our days. 440 00:36:26.270 --> 00:36:32.090 Keep our eyes upon you, our shepherd, and help us faithfully follow you wherever you lead. 441 00:36:33.050 --> 00:36:36.900 We ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen. 442 00:36:38.750 --> 00:36:42.840 Before we close out today's episode, I want to again take the time to thank 443 00:36:42.840 --> 00:36:45.040 you for being a part of the Bible Bytes community. 444 00:36:46.250 --> 00:36:49.860 Today's study has reminded us that the Lord is our shepherd. 445 00:36:50.780 --> 00:36:56.710 He provides for us, restores us, leads us, and remains with us even when the 446 00:36:56.710 --> 00:36:58.640 path takes us through difficult valleys. 447 00:36:59.900 --> 00:37:03.320 If someone came to mind while you were listening today, 448 00:37:04.250 --> 00:37:08.900 someone who's facing uncertainty, who's carrying a heavy burden, 449 00:37:09.150 --> 00:37:14.260 or simply needs to be reminded that God has not forgotten them, 450 00:37:14.800 --> 00:37:17.370 I encourage you to please share this episode with them. 451 00:37:18.230 --> 00:37:23.630 Sometimes a simple reminder that the shepherd is still present can make a tremendous 452 00:37:23.630 --> 00:37:25.070 difference in someone's life. 453 00:37:26.880 --> 00:37:31.530 As always, if you have a prayer request, a testimony of God's faithfulness, 454 00:37:31.530 --> 00:37:34.070 or something you'd like to share with the Bible Bytes community, 455 00:37:34.489 --> 00:37:35.930 I would love to hear from you. 456 00:37:36.540 --> 00:37:41.160 Your messages, prayers, and encouragement are meaningful and are a part of what 457 00:37:41.160 --> 00:37:42.730 makes this podcast possible. 458 00:37:43.430 --> 00:37:48.140 Please reach out through the contact form you can find on our website at Bible-Bytes, 459 00:37:48.140 --> 00:37:52.449 that's Bytes with a Y, B-Y-T-E-S dot com slash contact. 460 00:37:52.739 --> 00:37:56.790 Again, Bible-Bytes dot com slash contact. 461 00:37:58.219 --> 00:38:01.140 I also want to thank those of you who continue to support Bible Bytes through 462 00:38:01.140 --> 00:38:04.250 your prayers, your encouragement, or financial support. 463 00:38:04.730 --> 00:38:09.010 Every message, every prayer, every share, every contribution helps us to continue 464 00:38:09.010 --> 00:38:12.630 producing these episodes and reaching more people with God's Word. 465 00:38:14.100 --> 00:38:17.830 If you'd like to sup port Bible Bytes, you can find information about doing so 466 00:38:18.140 --> 00:38:23.170 on our website at bible-bytes, with a Y, B-Y-T-E-S.com/support. 467 00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:27.030 Again, that's bible-bytes.com/support. 468 00:38:28.710 --> 00:38:30.980 And if financial support isn't something that you can provide, 469 00:38:30.980 --> 00:38:32.360 that is completely fine. 470 00:38:32.850 --> 00:38:36.820 One of the best ways you can support the podcast, again, is simply to share 471 00:38:36.820 --> 00:38:40.360 an episode with someone who might be encouraged by God's Word. 472 00:38:41.580 --> 00:38:44.020 If you'd like to stay connected with Bible Bytes between episodes, 473 00:38:44.300 --> 00:38:46.380 we've recently launched the Bible Bytes newsletter. 474 00:38:46.620 --> 00:38:51.739 It's a simple way to share biblical encouragement from us to give you updates 475 00:38:51.739 --> 00:38:55.489 about the podcast and other resources and announcements that we might want to share. 476 00:38:55.850 --> 00:39:00.210 If you'd like to receive these updates, you can subscribe by visiting bible-bytes.com. 477 00:39:00.570 --> 00:39:05.090 Again, bytes with a Y, B-Y-T-E-S.com slash newsletter. 478 00:39:05.690 --> 00:39:09.050 We'd love to have you join us, and we're grateful for the opportunity to continue 479 00:39:09.050 --> 00:39:11.070 encouraging you through God's Word. 480 00:39:11.890 --> 00:39:16.070 Thank you for listening Thank you for praying And thank you for being a part 481 00:39:16.449 --> 00:39:17.949 of the Bible Bytes community. 482 00:39:20.160 --> 00:39:27.310 Today, we've walked through Psalm 23 and considered what it means to trust the Lord as our shepherd. 483 00:39:28.340 --> 00:39:32.410 We've seen that the shepherd provides for his sheep, restores us when we are 484 00:39:32.410 --> 00:39:36.100 weary, leads us in the paths of righteousness. 485 00:39:36.880 --> 00:39:39.739 And we've seen that when the path takes us through a valley, 486 00:39:40.400 --> 00:39:44.080 the shepherd doesn't abandon us. He remains by our side. 487 00:39:45.280 --> 00:39:48.400 So when you don't know what lies ahead, trust the shepherd. 488 00:39:49.420 --> 00:39:53.489 When you're uncertain about what you need, trust his provision. 489 00:39:54.620 --> 00:40:00.280 When you're weary, look to him for restoration. And when you find yourself in 490 00:40:00.280 --> 00:40:04.080 a valley, remember his promise, for thou art with me. 491 00:40:05.080 --> 00:40:09.960 The Lord is our shepherd, and we can trust him through every season of life. 492 00:40:12.110 --> 00:40:16.250 Next week, our journey through the Psalms continues with Psalm 24. 493 00:40:16.880 --> 00:40:20.989 Psalm 23 has shown us the shepherd who cares about his sheep. 494 00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:26.160 Psalm 24 turns our attention toward the King of Glory. 495 00:40:27.000 --> 00:40:31.580 We'll consider the holiness and the kingship of God and ask an important question. 496 00:40:32.280 --> 00:40:36.710 What does it look like to prepare our hearts for the King? 497 00:40:37.730 --> 00:40:44.360 That's episode number 109, The King of Glory, coming next week on Bible Bytes. 498 00:40:45.180 --> 00:40:51.199 Until then, keep growing in your faith and keep trusting the shepherd in every circumstance. 499 00:40:52.050 --> 00:40:57.820 Join us next time on Bible Bytes, the podcast where we work to inspire faith one byte at a time.