[Pastor Ralph]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

[Tabatha]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

The Lord is my Shehherd...........That's Relationship!
I shal not want...............That's supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures........... That's rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters...............That's refreshment!
He restorth my soul.................. That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness............ That's guidance!
For His Name sake.......... That's purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...............That's testing!
I will fear no evil................That's protection!
For thou art with me..............That's Faithfulness!
Thy Rod and staff they comfort me...........That's Displine!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.............. That's hope!
Thou anointest my head with oil.............That's consecration!
My cup runneth over............. That's abundance!
Surley goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life............... That's blessing and hope!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.............That's security!

[KelvinJC]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

1) In Psalm 23, it is a very comfortble and peaceful song. The overall message is about a rest and cofidence in God that the sheep experiences with a good sheperd. It says that the Lord will lead the sheep to watering holes and fresh green pasture when they had eaten off the grass in one place. Not only that, He will also protect the sheep from dangers such as wolves, lions, and bears. Moreover, he heals the sheep when they were injured and help during birthing.
Rescue the lost sheep. If a sheep wandered off, the shepherd would look for it until he found it. From these points, it really has given us the confidence that God will help us in everywayw do.

2)We can find these illustrations in Psalm 23:

a. "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters." (Psalm 23:2) ------ He reassures me that He will provide food for us
b. "He restores my soul" (23:3a). ---- He provides restoration and refreshment
c. "He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake" (23:3b) ---- He guides us in a righteousnss way
d."Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4) ----- He will protect us and will have assurane in fear times
e. "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (Psalm 23:5) --- He has provided a home for us.
f. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (Psalm 23:6). ---He has promised us that we will have eternal life.

Through these verses in Psalm 23, it really encourages and builds up my confidence on my trust towards Him.

[Rosemary NoVA]

quote name='Pastor Ralph' date='Aug 18 2007, 05:50 PM' post='28566']
Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?
[/quote]
He attentively shepherds – the sheep do not want for anything:
-- providing green pastures where the sheep can safely have their fill
-- providing quiet waters – where the sheep can safely drink without fear of falling in a water with a current.
-- restoring the soul by his provision.
-- leading the sheep on right paths
-- protecting the sheep along difficult paths
-- carrying the right tools to protect the sheep from predators.
The shepherd is valiant, confident, not intimidated and unafraid:
-- providing well and lovingly for the sheep though the enemy looks on.
--attending to the sheep’s needs – such as healing oils and comforting touches.
--abundantly caring for his sheep.
The shepherd’s flock experience his consistent, unfailing goodness and love and have every expectation that it will continue all the days of their life in his care.

[charisbarak]

The Lord, our Shepherd, gives me all I need to sustain my life and prepare me for life eternal. He is there with me to give me security & to provide for me.

He is with us:
to provide for our physical needs
to provide for our spiritual needs
to restore us to wholeness in Him
as we walk--even in dark times, perhaps with death awaiting us...
and our enemies can see how He cares for us...
His goodness, His mercy allows us to live in His house FOREVER! Amen!

[Roxanne]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

HE TAKES AND IS WITH THEM IN EVERY TRAIL OR TRUIMPH HE COMFORTS THEM IN ALL THEY DO DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME AND WILL NEVER LEAVE THEM FOREVER!
THERE ARE ALOT OF WAYS ..HE MAKES THEM REST ,REST IS VERY IMPORTANT ,,,NO HARM CAN EVER COME TO THEM AT ALL ..HE COMFORTS THEM WITH HIS ROD AND STAFF.

[Ms CJ]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence?

* The presence of the shepherd offers comfort to the flock. Sheep are content merely to be in the same field with their shepherd; Christians are comforted by the very presence of the Lord. This thought is especially comforting when darkness overshadows the believer. Jesus is our Door; nothing can touch our lives without touching Him first. This is a perfect picture of the shepherd. He literally becomes the living door of the sheepfold. He curls up in the door or in the entrance of a cave. He puts his body between the sleeping sheep and ravenous animals or thieves.


How many ways can you find in this psalm?

1) He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
2) He leads me beside the still waters.
3) He restores my soul;
4) He leads me in the paths of righteousness
5) For You are with me;
6) Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
7) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
8) You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
9) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, All the days of my life;
10) And I will dwell[a] in the house of the LORD, Forever.

[EuniceC]

The Shepherd stays with the Sheep throughout. He does not leave them unattended, and in so doing, he provides everything we can ever think of, ever imagine: 1 Cor 2:9 "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him."
1. He identifies with us and gives us His identity, we are no more orphans, because He is our Shepherd.
2. He makes sure that we have all that we need.
3. He gives us rest, not anywhere, but in a place of quietness and fruitful pastures
4. He refreshes our souls, ensuring that the calm of the still waters give us His peace
5. When we lie down to rest He restores us and everything we may have lost in the journey to how far that He has brought us.
6. He cleanses us so we can walk in the place where the righteous alone can walk, He actually leads us into those places, so we know that with Him, there is no condemnation, we are cleansed by the Blood. Because that was why He took on the name, Saviour, Redeemer, and for teh sake of this title, He will let us walk in that righteous place.
7. Even when we walk in the dark fearful places, He protects us, takes away our fears. He even gives us His weapons to comfort us
8. He provides a meal in abundance for us, welcoming us into that righteous place by annointing us, and He makes us settle to enjoy the feast because He has assured us that no one can touch us.

In all this, after the meal, He assures us that we will live with Him forever, because for the sake of the Name, we have access to the Father's presence, His home, where He came to take us.
We must go on that journey, and experince Him to get to the place He has prepared for us. And that journey is onlt worth taking if He, the Shepherd is with us!

[JustJeff]

The Lord is our provider and we never lack. He gives us peace and security. We are protected from the raging flood of worldly desires. Adonai is the lifter of our souls and keeps us on the straight and narrow that He might be glorified.
In times of danger from the Adversary it is Yahweh who will rebuke the Devourer by His name, keeping us from the evil. We are shielded by the power of the Almighty.
We shine as His own, in a world that would care to remove us, and we light the world thereby.
As we stay under Jesus' umbrella of love, mercy and grace, we will be Him in our testimony, for all our days in this life and forevermore with Him in heaven. Amen.

[davidjjj]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

Our Shepherd provides for our need- we shall not be in want, He prepares a table, His goodness and loving kindness is present all the days of our lives

Our Shepherd makes us lie down in green pastures…and restores our soul

God has just done this in my world, prompting me to have a small retreat (I have also known enforced rest! E.g. Sometimes when I have been sick, and my body has gone on strike, I have realized God has been active in me stopping- giving my mind, heart and soul a forced break from a busy schedule, and allowing it to fix again on Him)

Our Shepherd leads us beside still waters… and guides us in paths of righteousness. The Lord’s leadership in my life gives me confidence; He will lead us in the right places to bring Him glory and to find rejuvenation

Our Shepherd protects us- David speaks of the rod a Shepherds weapon to deal with predators – we can walk through dangerous places because He is with us- we know comfort

Our Shepherd disciplines us- David speaks of the staff which keeps sheep in control, getting them back on the right path- this comforts those who long in their heart of hearts to walk in paths of righteousness for His Names sake- He will help us not to stray!

[Elwood C O'Dell]

The shepherd quiets his sheep and gives them confidence by his continuous presence with them as he provides for them, supplying their every need, as he goes before them leading in the right paths, protecting them even in the times of uncertainty and danger, and offers to them an optimistic hope that goes beyond the immediate, to a place where he will be ever present with them. Their part is to simply trust, put their faith in him, walking where he leads. What a beautiful picture this is of what our relationship can be with the Master of all shepherds.

[Loisb]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

1. The shepherd quiets his sheep and gives them confidence by leading them safely, protecting them from harm and danger, feeding them food and water, heals their bodies, and letting them rest in peaceful surroundings.

2. The Shepherd leads, protects, heals, rescues when lost, feeds them, restores and refreshes, guides, protects, provides rest and assurance. If we can just stop and think how God does all of these things for us daily. What a mighty God he is.

[Stan]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

He watches over them and cares and shelters them from danger. He leads them in paths of righteousness. He provides for all their needs. He comforts them from their fears. He leads the to places of safety. Even though they go through bad times He is there taking care of them giving them strenght to endure.

[Don W]

According to Psalm 23, the Lord our Shepherd, in this very beautiful Messianic Psalm, quiets His sheep (us) by being their (our) Shepherd so that we will not have any wants, but He will fulfill all the things we need in Himself for He already knows what we need even before we ask of Him, and He will give us all of it in abundance. Also, He quiets us, His sheep, by not only leading us to very green and abundant pastures, but also the quiet waters where He restores our souls—refreshes us and helps us to rest in Him even in the midst of all the things we battle in the world. This picture of His leading reminds me of the Lord Jesus giving us Himself as our food of life just as He gave manna to the Israelites of old so that we can partake or eat of Him, i.e. at the Lord’s Supper, as well as His “living waters” so that we can drink of Him; and in all these situations, we are so utterly privileged to be able to enjoy His presence with us as He refreshes our souls with our communion with Him as we rest in the Lord Jesus. Also, the Lord guides us in our lives in His paths of righteousness for His name’s sake—to honor and glorify Him with our lives; and even when we go (or are going) through hard and very dark times (even in death) He will be there with us with His comforting touch so we need not fear anything at all but just to trust in Him as our Lord and Savior for He has overcome all things and even our enemy, death, when He died for our sakes and was resurrected from the dead to eternal glory in heaven, so will we resurrected when we go through our “valley the shadow of death” and brought by Him to heavenly glory to be with Him forever and ever!!!!! Amen! I had another thought about the usage of the word “shadow” with this phrase and I believe that when we know the Lord and He is with us, even in death, our deaths are only a shadow of the real thing, in other words, our death is not to be feared at all but rather, to be our victorious graduation party as we then enter into His presence in heaven for eternity! Our death is in a valley but only a shadow of what’s to come on the way up to the most hill-top experience we will ever have when we enter into eternity with our Lord Jesus!!!!! I have had a few deep valley experiences as well as some hill-top experiences with the Lord Jesus but they are only as the “frosting on the cake” as I await the most hill-top experience of all times, that of being present and bowing in worship before the Lord Jesus as He is the King of kings and Lord of lords throughout eternity. The Psalm ends stating this fact as we who know Him as our Lord and Savior will “dwell (with Him) in the house of the Lord forever.” Amen and Hallelujah, Lord Jesus!!!!!! “Come quickly, Lord Jesus!”

[Patricia A]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?
He makes me to lie down in green fields: these were fields where the grass was new. Grass is a plant that grows in fields. Cows and sheep eat grass. Green fields means that the sheep would find plenty to eat and would sleep easily. He leads me to waters where I can rest: this was the best water. It was probably a well, not a river.

God brought David through the shadow of death. He will do the same for us ~ if we believe in Jesus.

To restore the soul is to revive it or bring it back from its errors and wandering

The shepherd provides rest, refreshment, nourishment, fellowship, guidance, deliverance from fear, comfort, security, victory over enemies.

David gladly anticipates Gods' guidance in the future and is confident that he will continue to be a guest in God's house all the days of his life and receive His material and spiritual blessings.

[Helen Williams]

The Lord our shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence by the abundant care God gives His people. STILL WATERS: Sheeps are afraid of fast flowing streams. God provision of still water has a soothing effect and calms the sheep. God refreshes his people with his quiet voice and gentle touch. When we face the dark and difficult trials of life, God our protector can lead us through the dark and difficult valleys to eternal life. God stands over us, make provisions, abundant provisions. Goodness and mercy is God's loyal love. We can enjoy life in God's presence, eternally.

[Jen]

According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?
1. He MAKES me to lie down in green pastures.
2. He LEADS me beside the still waters.
3 He RESTORES my soul
4. He LEADS me in the paths of righteousness
5.He COMFORTS me in times of darkness
6. He PREPARES a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
7. He ANNOINTS my head with oil
8. He FILLS my cup to overflowing
9. He PURSUES me with goodness and mercy
10. He TAKES me home to be with Him forever

God Bless!
Jen
Numbers 6: 24-26

[nerradb]

God is our shepherd (We are comforted to know He is there for us)
We are never in need (We are comforted to know He will not let us go without, does a father give their son a stone to eat...)
He makes me lie down in green pastures (We are comforted in the word of God)
He leads me beside peaceful waters (We are comforted with wisdom from God when things could be raging around us)
He renews my soul (We are filled with the Spirit)
He guides us along the paths of righteousness (We are directed in Godly living, through biblical teaching)
Even though we walk through the dark valley of death, we fear no harm (We are comforted with His protection)
Your rod and your staff give courage (We are comforted as God goes before us and knows what danger is coming and prepares us)
You prepare a banquet for us, while my enemies watch (God lives in us, which our enemies see making them curious to eat and drink from the same place)
You anoint my head with oil (We are anointed and trusted by God, which lifts us up)
My cup overflows (God wants the best for us, as he loves us, we we quiet in awe)
Goodness and mercy will stay close with us all the days of our lives and we will remain in the Lord's house for days without end (We are comforted in the knowledge that one day we will be with Him in heaven)

[csreeves]

Q2. According to Psalm 23, how does the Lord our Shepherd quiet his sheep and give them confidence? How many ways can you find in this psalm?

Yahweh means "My shepherd" and he provides me a pasture to rest, drink, food, and all my other needs. He leads me beside the still waters which refer to a quite stream where he restores my soul. He guides me in his righteous ways not where I would lead someone but his ways restoring my soul like a sheep that wanders his own way and Jesus gently prods him back into the fold with protection and assurance in fear. Jesus our gracious host setting us down at a picnic with food overflowing our stomachs--"my cup overflows" and he goes on to give us life eternally. Two loves for a small amount of trust and obedience. I am well satisfied with surely and goodness (God and Jesus) forever and forever.

[emmaus]

God quiets us and gives us confidence by providing for our physical and spiritual needs, giving us rest, guiding us by his holy spirit, protecting us and assuring us with his love as we go through this life and giving us the promise of eternal life with him. When we accept Jesus into our lives and stay focused on him we will have peace and confidence even through the storms.
God provides for us in every way, for our physical, spiritual and eternal needs.