Revealing the Power of Psalm 23

By Dr. Felix J. Rolle

Here is your personal key to unlocking the power of the twenty-third Psalm. This is also your opportunity to equip yourself with some of the promises, which were made available and free of charge to every believer. Just like David the shepherd, you, too, can enjoy the goodness of the Lord right here in the land of the living. Understanding what David wrote will empower you to boldly declare "The Lord is my Shepherd. My future is secured!"

Your confidence in God's promises concerning His provisions for you, your emotions, your spiritual life, your enemies, your position in His kingdom, and your overall future will come alive as you meditate on and internalize what gave David the inspiration to pen this psalm. Just as this psalm stands out, so will your life when you begin to identify with and personalize the Creator's comforting thoughts and plans for you.

You are of the Lord's sheepfold; therefore, you must know the truth and the whole story behind His blessings, tender care, and love for you. As you follow Him, you will come face to face with His abundant supply of goodness, uncompromising tenderness, and steadfast faithfulness. Upon experiencing the Lord like David did, then you too will enthusiastically choose to dwell in His house forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Nov 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685702625

Book preview

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Revealing the Power of Psalm 23

Dr. Felix J. Rolle II

ISBN 978-1-68570-261-8 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68570-262-5 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Dr. Felix J. Rolle II

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Passages marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Passages marked BSB are from The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible. Copyright by Bible Hub. Used by permission.

Passages marked NKJV are from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Copyright 1982, by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Nashville, TN. Used by permission.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Verse 1

Verse 2

Verse 3

Verse 4

Verse 5

Verse 6

Conclusion

Bibliography

Notes

About the Author

To all the people who know that they deserve more from their relationship with the Lord and are ready to go wholeheartedly after that desire, and to the spiritual leaders who are responsible for tending to the flock for which Jesus Christ is the Chief Shepherd.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth 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 thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

—Psalm 23 KJV

Foreword

One of the most important, yet intriguing, elements of the Christian faith is understanding the dynamics of our ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as a newborn baby has a unique and strong bond with its mother, so must the child of God when he or she comes into the kingdom at salvation. He or she develops a strong bond with his Savior. There is a dependency that is automatically developed and enhanced as the child of God grows in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Our Savior is the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. Each day of our lives, we are under His watchful eyes, and we experience His provision, His peace, His protection, and His promises. As we navigate through these very unstable and uncertain times, we need the assurance that we are not alone and that there is One who has promised to be with us, even to the end of the world.

In this awesome and insightful book, Dr. Felix Rolle offers a fresh and revelatory perspective on a familiar psalm. He has embraced the challenge of opening Psalm 23 and allowing it to speak as you have perhaps never seen done before. As you open this book, you are instantly thrust into a dimension of reliving what the patriarch David must have been contemplating when he penned this psalm, perhaps while gazing at his sheep and watching them move about the pasture so trustingly. As you read, you get a clear visual of the magnificent relationship between the shepherd and his sheep. You can imagine a scenario of Dr. Rolle interviewing David and asking him to walk him through each word of this psalm and to expound upon each dimension of truth.

The lessons that are highlighted in this riveting book are timeless. I am very grateful that Dr. Rolle took the time and discipline to write this book at this present time when the world is so unstable. Even true believers who are not grounded in the Word of God are living in fear and panic as the pandemic of 2020 has created a dark cloud of uncertainty and fear over the entire world. This reality makes this book so appealing and timely.

I am so moved by the precision that Dr. Rolle exercises. What stands out to me most is the remarkable way that he marries the theological truths with practical application, without compromising the integrity of the original text. He is able to elevate each high point of the psalm and offer a practical and relevant real-life application for each truth. He has found a brilliant way to get you to elevate your faith as you deepen your trust in Christ as your Shepherd.

I am convinced that anyone who reads this book will find it to be an instant faith-builder and a practical aid to living the Christian life. This book is destined to be a classic for believers of this generation and ones to come. I would advance this book to pastors and spiritual leaders to use as a teaching tool for their congregation and followers. I urge you to have a pen and a notebook handy so that you can document the truths that come alive to you.

This is a phenomenal book written by a phenomenal man of God. Read it! Love it! Live it!

Dr. Clement M. Neely

Senior Pastor

The Word Church

Nassau, Bahamas

Acknowledgments

I give special thanks to my daughter Simone Daley, who helped me again in ways I cannot recount because of the number of times and various circumstances, and to my dear friend Lana Ross, who again assisted me far beyond my expectations. Their confidence in me, assistance with everyday matters, and caring hearts allowed me to complete this work, making it possible for you to have it in your hands.

To all my other children (Daron, Ricardo, Trevan, and Felix III) and their children, who are too numerous to list, for your encouragement.

I extend special gratitude to all my prayer partners at Worship & Soar Ministries International, especially Pastor Roseann Christie, Minister Dianna Andrews, and Apostle Nicole Andrews, whose prayers kept me going.

To all the persons who planned, schemed, prayed, prophesied, and networked to strip my family and I apart, that I would fail and come to nothing, that I would abandon my faith in Jesus Christ, I am happy to inform them that all their efforts have been aborted, and I have forgiven them. Their relentless attacks on me have driven me to strengthen my prayer life and go deeper with my heavenly Father. Thanks to them for forcing me to stay committed to Jehovah and giving opportunity for this psalm to come alive in me.

May God bless them all!

Introduction

It is good to memorize the psalms. My primary school and Sunday school teachers had me memorize many psalms, especially this one. In doing so, I did not pay attention to their context nor their significance. I was simply proud that I could recite so many of them. They were just like other poems. But when I became a believer in Jesus Christ and began to study the Word of God, they began to reveal a whole new world to me.

The church I fellowshipped with taught me to pray the psalms, so I would put myself in the seat of the author. As they are the written word of God, I personalized them. I was no longer merely reciting them but using them by faith to build my spiritual and socioeconomic life. The more I used them, the more revelation I received, and the more significant they became to my life—helping me to grow spiritually and to successfully deal with the everyday routines of life.

I began to use the scriptures, cross-referencing them to reveal the promises, prophecies, principles, and declarations associated with the passage in discussion. By doing so, I got a deeper appreciation for Jehovah and His grace, mercy, and amazing love for mankind. The God Jehovah is so multifaceted that He is in a class all by Himself, with none to second Him. The numerous names of God are used to reveal His presence in every situation.

In this presentation, each verse of the psalm is a chapter. The first three verses were written from an animal-sheep perspective while verse four is the pivot point. The rest is written from a human-sheep perspective. This division was formed because animal-sheep don't drink from cups; they are not anointed, and neither do they expect to live forever.

As you leave the comfort and safety of the sheepfold, whether as a mature sheep or a lamb, you will need a shepherd. Some time or another, you have to leave the protection of your parents, your home, or your bubble and go into life because you can't stay locked in (sheltered, isolated) forever. You have to go into the real world. You will be released at some stage, then you must face life for yourself. That's why you will need a shepherd who will not only provide for you but make those provisions above and beyond your expectations.

Also, soon, your fears will become a reality. You will not be able to have church as you do now. Government regulations will make it illegal, you could be locked-in, your physical movements constrained, group assemblies will be outlawed, and Christian leaders will be persecuted, rendering Christian gatherings a thing of the past. Meanwhile, you will still