A Christian Voice Nanosermon
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Nanosermon Script:
The twenty-third psalm is the best-loved passage in the whole Bible. We keep sheep on our farm, and I’ll show you how psalm twenty-three moves from a shepherd’s care for his sheep seamlessly to the Lord’s provision for his people.
It’s not a prayer, this, it’s a declaration!
It begins by saying The LORD, or Yehovah, is my shepherd and if that is so, I am not going to be in want or in need. Take that word into your heart.
Moving on to verse two, the shepherd finds, literally, in the Hebrew text, ‘pastures of tender grass’ in which, after they have eaten, the sheep can lie down and chew the cud.
Sheep need water just like us, and they like their water to be not stagnant, not a torrent, just flowing gently, ‘waters of quietness’ in the Hebrew.
He restoreth my soul
Sheep are notorious for only showing they are sick when they’re at death’s door. But if you’re watchful enough you can catch them early, and help the one who is sick to recover.
When David says: ‘He restoreth my soul’ in verse three he means being brought back to full physical health. Your ‘soul’ in the Bible is the Hebrew word ‘nephesh’. Animals have ‘nephesh’. ‘Nephesh’ is your living, breathing consciousness.
A shepherd in those days, and today in the developing world, with non-enclosed fields, will lead their sheep along a safe path out to pasture. Even Judy and I lead our sheep with a bucket of feed.
Moving away from sheep
But David says the Lord leads him ‘in the paths of RIGHTEOUSNESS for his name’s sake’. We’re now moving away from sheep. Sheep can’t do good or evil. But people can. If you are following the Lord, honour his name by walking along his right path. He’ll lead you through his word, but you must follow.
And then, with the Lord as your shepherd, even in the darkest time, you won’t be afraid, because he is with you. Jesus has a rod to fight your enemies, and a staff to support you.
The Lord even prepares a table, laden with food and drink, in full view of your enemies so they can only stand astonished at how well he provides for you. The cup running over says you will have enough to spare and to share. Even today we use an oil-based preparation to treat ailments of our sheep, and to keep ticks and flies off them. For you, anointing with oil is a picture both of healing and of being filled with the Holy Spirit. When you let Jesus be your shepherd, goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.
Dwell in the house of the LORD
Never forget to thank him, and remain always in his presence. That very last clause of the psalm, to remain always in his house, is a promise to God that only you can make, and only you can carry out. Let’s put it all together. Read it with me:
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 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.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 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. (KJV)
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SCRIPT ENDS
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