The Secret of a Protected Life

 Temple Baptist Church - 11-10-2024

Psalm 23:4-5

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Psalm 23 is one, if not the, best of all the Psalms.  It shows the life of the believer from salvation to eternity. 

 

1.  The Secret of a Happy Life – Verse 1.  “The LORD is MY shepherd; I shall not want.”    Mankind will never find true happiness outside of the LORD who made them for Himself. 

 

Psalms 100:3  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us (God created man), and not we ourselves (man did not create God); we are his people (ownership), and the sheep of his pasture (salvation).

 

2.  The Ingredients of a Happy Life – verses 2-3.  “He maketh … He leadeth … He restoreth” 

 

John 10:4  And when he putteth forth his own sheep (He directs), he goeth before them (He leads), and the sheep follow him (sheep follow): for they know his voice.

 

3.  The Secret to a Happy Death.  Verse 4a.  “Yea … I will fear no evil”

 

Psalms 56:3  What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

 

B.  Tonight, we will find the secret of a Protected Life.

 

C.  Our lives are in His hands!  We need to both understand and trust that fact.  Our lives are not our own they belong to the One who created us, the One who sees our tomorrows and the One who holds us in His hand!

 

Proverbs 3:5-6  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  (6)  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 

D.  In our verses for tonight, we find the secret of a Protected Life revealed.

 

1.  Correction – “thy rod”  “they COMFORT me”   When we think of correction, it is normally in the area of sinfulness.  It is so much more than that.  Correction can be a very positive thing as it can simply mean a correction in the way that we work or a response to an unknown that pops up. 

 

a.  We find here that there is comfort in correction.  I received much correction from my mom and dad that had nothing to do with punishment.  I thank God for the guidance in the days of my youth as well as later in life.

 

b.  The rod holds significant symbolism in the Bible, representing correction, discipline, guidance, and authority. It represents God’s power to lead and protect His people, as seen in the staff of Moses or the rod of Aaron that blossomed.

 

c.  Sometimes, we need correction in areas of our lives as to continue in the perfect will of God.

 

1)  Correction in our Thinking.

 

2)  Correction in our Direction.

 

3)  Correction in our Purpose.

 

4)  Correction in our Methods.

 

2.  Direction – “thy staff”  “they COMFORT me”  A staff in the Bible can be: Rest, Rescue, and Guidance.

 

a.  A walking stick.  As we get older, we rely more upon canes, walkers, etc. to stabilize us when we are on our feet. 

 

b.  A crutch to lean on.  The older that I get, just standing still in the same place becomes problematic.  As I preach, my hands are often on the pulpit.  The Lord’s staff not only guides us, it stabilizes us.

 

c.  A symbol of Authority.  The older that I get, the more that I understand that the Lord is the final Authority.  As we submit to Him, our way becomes clearer and His help available.

 

3.  Communion – “Thou preparest a table before me”  In Biblical times, the “table” was more than just a place of eating.  It was a place of discussion and reflection.

 

a.  Today, very few families gather around the table for a meal.  Family members are in and out, catch as catch can, and little conversation.  I watch people in restaurants playing on cell phones instead of talking to one another. 

 

b.  I saw a young man and young lady sitting at a small table with both playing on their phones.  I walked up to the table, got their attention, smiled, and asked if they were texting one another.  They laughed. 

 

c.  The table of the Lord is a prepared one where we can communicate the Him.  Converse with Him.  We can have a personal communion with and communication with God!

 

2 Corinthians 13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

 

4.  Protection – “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies”

 

a.  The enemies of God and the children of God will neither go away nor will they diminish.  The godly shall suffer persecution but God can give His children rest in the midst of tribulation. 

 

b.  I love the verse in “Stand By Me,” that says: “In the midst of tribulation, stand by me … when the host of hell assails, and my faith begins to fail, thou who never lost a battle stand by me.”

 

Hebrews 13:5-6  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  (6)  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

 

5.  Presence – “Thou anointest my head with oil”  With God’s eternal presence goes His limitless approval evidenced in the oil, a metaphor for the presence of the Holy Ghost who resides within the child of God.

 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?  (20)  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

 

6.  Joy – “My cup runneth over”  When your cup runs over, the saucer gets a blessing.

 

I've Never Made A Fortune
and It's Probably Too Late Now
but I Don't Worry About That Much
i'm Happy Anyhow

As I Go Along Life's Journey
i'm Reaping Better Than I Sow
i'm Drinking From My Saucer
'cause My Cup Has Overflowed

 

I haven't Got A Lot Of Riches
and Sometimes The Going's Tough
but I've Got Loving Ones Around Me

and That Makes Me Rich Enough

I Thank God For His Blessings
and The Mercies He's Bestowed
I’m Drinking From My Saucer
'cause My Cup Has Overflowed

 

O, Remember Times When Things
went Wrong
my Faith Wore Somewhat Thin
but All At Once The Dark Clouds Broke
and Sun Peeped Through Again

So Lord, Help Me Not To Gripe
about The Tough Rows That I've Hoed
I’m Drinking From My Saucer
"cause My Cup Has Overflowed

 

If God Gives Me Strength And Courage
when The Way Grows Steep And Rough
I’ll Not Ask For Other Blessings
I’m Already Blessed Enough
and May I Never Be Too Busy
to Help Others Bear Their Loads
then I'll Keep Drinking From My Saucer
"cause My Cup Has Overflowed!"