The Shepherd of the Sheep

By Russell Taylor

Psalm 23 is probably the most well-known passage in the Bible with the possible exception of the Lord’s Prayer. It comes over as a testimony of David’s relationship with God.

These studies look at that relationship and how believers today should have that same relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the ‘Good Shepherd’ as His flock.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Russell Taylor
• Release date: Oct 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005913281

Russell Taylor

Russell Taylor was employed for many years in the engineering department of a large steelworks in North East Wales. Following the closure of a large part of the works in 1980 he worked in Local Government in Management Services and Housing Maintenance. After taking early retirement in 1996 he joined the staff of Emmaus Bible School UK where he was involved in their prison ministry. he has also been involved in a broadcasting ministry with GBS Radio but is now enjoying writing.He is married with one daughter and two grandchildren and is active as an Elder in an independent chapel in North Wales.

Book preview

THE SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP

A series of short studies based on Psalm 23

Russell Taylor

Copyright © 2019 Russell Taylor

Published by Russell Taylor

All rights reserved

No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment.

Scripture, unless otherwise stated is taken from the New King James Version.

Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson Inc.

Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Unfortunately, I do not know the origin of the information given in the appendices or I would acknowledge their authorship.

Table of Contents

Prologue

1. The LORD is my shepherd. (Part 1)

2. The LORD is my shepherd. (Part 2)

3. I shall not want.

4. He makes me to lie down in green pastures.

5. He leads me beside the still waters.

6. He restores my soul.

7. He leads me in the paths of righteousness.

8. For His name’s sake.

9. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.

10. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

11. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

12. You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.

13. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

Appendix 1: God’s promises in Psalm 23

Appendix 2: The Names of God in Psalm 23

About Russell Taylor

Books by Russell Taylor

Prologue

Psalm 23 is one of the most well known and loved passages in the Old Testament, if not in the whole Bible.

These studies are based on a series I delivered at the Village Temple Congregational Church, Mynydd Isa, North Wales. They were converted from my notes into a readable manuscript at the request of a man serving a prison sentence in Scotland.

1. The Lord is my shepherd

In these studies we are going to look at Psalm 23 which is one of the most well known and loved passages in the Old Testament, if not in the whole Bible. It is probably the most recited passage with the possible exception of the Lord’s Prayer.

The heading at the top of the psalm tells us that it is, A Psalm of David, indicating that David is the author of it. Although we usually think of David being a shepherd when he was a young lad, I like to believe he wrote this when he was much older because the psalm comes over as a written testimony of how the Lord has kept him during his life.

When we think of some of the events in David’s life we can see how, on many occasions, David went against the Lord’s guidance in some of the things he did. In fact he probably left God out of many of the decisions he made, yet God was good to him.

This psalm, therefore, is a testimony of how God showed grace to an undeserving sinner, but a sinner who, judging by what he has written here, has repented and become closer to God and was therefore already a member of God’s family when he wrote this psalm.

As you read this psalm you can imagine David looking back at the time when, as a young man he was a shepherd looking after his father’s sheep.

The first time we read anything about David is when Samuel goes to Bethlehem at God’s command to anoint a successor to Saul as king of Israel. We are told that he (Samuel) invited Jesse and his sons to a special sacrifice that was being made to the Lord. Jesse accepted the invitation and attended with seven of his eight sons. He didn’t bring his youngest son, David, because he was out in the fields or on the hillside looking after his father's sheep. You can read this in the first book of Samuel, chapter sixteen and verse 11.

This experience of looking after his father’s sheep enabled him to write these wonderful words of testimony. He was able to relate how God had looked after him over the years, with the way he looked after his sheep.

We are going to look at the first few words of this psalm.

In this psalm David looks at himself as one of the sheep of the flock. If he is one of the sheep, who is the shepherd? We are given the answer to this in the first verse where he writes, The Lord is my shepherd. Notice the word, "Lord is written in small capitals in your Bible. This means it refers to Jehovah, the God who we read in Genesis chapter 2, made the earth and the heavens," and who formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. He is the Triune God consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who said in Genesis chapter one and verse twenty-six, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. This is the God who David refers to as shepherd. But he is not just a shepherd to David. David has this special