And I invite you to open your Bibles, the copy of the Word of God to Psalm 23. Psalm 23, as we prepare to hear the preaching of God's Word. This beloved Psalm speaks to us of the Lord's care as our shepherd, reminding us of his provision His protection and His presence with us in every season of life. So it is my prayer that the Lord open our hearts and minds to receive His truth and be comforted and strengthened by His promises. So Psalm, Psalm 23, we all know it. I'm pretty sure of it. Psalm 23 is one of the most loved and well-known passages in the Bible, and rightly so. It offers comfort, guidance, and hope, reminding us of God's tender and faithful care for us. And through simple but powerful words, the author describes in this psalm the relationship between the shepherd and his sheep. This is a relationship of love, of protection, and provision that goes beyond time and circumstances. And this psalm, of course, may be familiar to many of us. And for some, it might be so well known that its impact can sometimes be lost. However, here we find an invitation to see Psalm 23 with fresh eyes, to read it as if it were the first time, and to discover again the riches of this beautiful text. When we read these words, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want, we find a confession to complete trust in God. He's not only a powerful leader, but a personal caring God. And these words reveal something deep. Our God is a shepherd who is committed of his sheep. And his care for them is tender, close, and complete. And the figure of a shepherd has a special meaning in the Bible. In ancient times, kings and leaders were often called shepherds of their people, symbolizing leadership and protection. But in scripture, this figure takes on an even more personal and deep meaning. The shepherd is not just a leader. He's a caring, devoted caretaker. who gives his life for his sheep. He's someone who knows each of his sheep, who calls them by name, and who doesn't let a single one be lost. And just like David, the writer of this psalm, he was a shepherd before he became a king. And we see in this text a shadow of Jesus, the good shepherd, who came to seek and save what was lost. Christ, of course, is the perfect shepherd, who not only guide us in life, but also gave His life so we could have eternal life. When we read Psalm 23 in light of Christ, then each word becomes even deeper, and each promise finds its fulfillment in Him. And today, this morning, as we consider the first verses, the first three verses of the psalm, we will explore what it means that the Lord is our shepherd, and how this statement changes the way we live and trust in God. So, the first verse, and I'm pretty sure the children here know this psalm, says, the Lord is my shepherd. The Lord is my shepherd. And this declaration invites us to deeply reflect on who is this shepherd and what it means that the Lord is the one who shepherds us. And first, we need to understand that the shepherd in this psalm is not just any leader or any guide. It is the Lord himself. Jehovah. It is a covenant-making God who has made eternal promises to his people. This is a God who created the universe with the power of his word, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God who delivered his people from slavery in Egypt and who faithfully led them to the promised land. This is the same God who has committed to his children, promising to never leave them, to always guide them and protect them. And the word shepherd in Hebrew culture carries the idea of total commitment. A shepherd in Israel did not simply watch over his flock from a distance, but he walked with his sheep, guiding them in green pastures and quiet waters, and protect them from the dangers of the desert. This shepherd knew each of his sheep, and sometimes by name. And he was responsible for their well-being at all times. And this is how God is with us. He didn't just create us and leave us alone, but he walks with us. He guides us and he takes care of us every single day. And it is important to know that this shepherd is also our king. Just as David was a shepherd of sheep before he became king of Israel, our God is both shepherd and king. In ancient times, kings were often seen as shepherds of their people. And God is the perfect and faithful king, the shepherd king, who has not only authority, but also the love and dedication to care for his people. But unlike the kings of this earth, who often seek their own interests, the Lord as a shepherd is a king who gives himself completely for his sheep. When we read Psalm 23, we are reading about the shepherd king who, in his infinite power, can provide for all our needs and protect us from all harm. We are not talking about a distant leader, but about a God who is close, who is involved in every detail of our life, and who uses his power and his authority for our good. And for us, this image becomes even clearer when we look at Jesus Christ, who in the Gospel of John represents himself as a good shepherd, John 10, 11. Jesus did not only come to teach and guide us, he came to give his life for us. His sheep, he says in John 10, again, the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. So he's a shepherd who doesn't run away when danger comes, but lays down his life to save and protect us from sin and death. And Christ, of course, he's a perfect fulfillment of the shepherd. we see in Psalm 23. In his ministry, we see how he cares for the crowds, how he has compassion for the lost, and how he calls each one to follow him. So Jesus, as a good shepherd, he knows our needs. He knows our fears. He knows our struggles. And he himself guides us to salvation and peace. So in Jesus, we find a shepherd who not only cares for us physically, but also cares for our soul, who restores our spirit and brings us into a close relationship with God. And when the Psalmist says, the Lord is my shepherd, my shepherd, this word my is really important. because he's expressing a personal and deep faith. This is not just the shepherd of a group or a nation. He's the shepherd of each individual who puts their trust in him. The relationship with the shepherd is not impersonal. It's not distant. It is a relationship of love and mutual commitment. And each believer can confidently say that the Lord is their own shepherd. Every one of us can say, the Lord is my shepherd. And this brings comfort and security that nothing in the world can offer. And this personal confession is a reminder that salvation is also personal. We cannot depend on the faith of others. Each one of us needs to have personal relationship with a good shepherd. And this is a shepherd who not only knows the name of his sheep, but also loves them and calls them to a life of trust and obedience. And this is the God who, in his love and grace, has provided a way of reconciliation with himself through Jesus Christ. And when we understand this, when we understand that Jesus is our good shepherd, we can rest. We can have peace. We can see that we are not alone because the Lord knows. He guides us. He takes care of us personally. No matter how dark or uncertain the road may be, our shepherd is with us. He gives us what we need and protects us from all harm. So having the Lord as our shepherd means living with the certainty that He will provide in every area of our life. That He will sustain us in times of weakness and that His love will never fail us. So this confession, the Lord is my shepherd, also calls us to trust in Him completely. Just as a sheep depends entirely on their shepherd for their sustenance and protection, we too must depend completely on God. He's our shepherd, guiding us, protecting us from all harm. So after saying, the Lord is my shepherd, Now the psalmist continues to describe how the shepherd cares for his people, for his sheep. In verse 2, now we read, he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leaves me beside quiet waters. And this verse invite us to think about the shepherd's tender and detailed care for his sheep. Here we see a picture of peace, of provision, and rest that the shepherd offers, showing how he meets the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of those who trust in him. The language used in this verse, of course, is full of symbolism that points to God's complete provision and his ability to meet our needs in every area of our life. And in this description, Psalmist focuses on the shepherd's faithfulness to provide sustenance and rest, something every sheep needs to live in peace and safety. And the first part of the verse says, that the shepherd makes me lie down in green pastures. Makes me lie down in green pasture. And to understand the depths of this image, it helps to remember the context in which David lived. Israel is not a land with plenty of green pastures. It is mostly a dry and desert land where finding food for the flock is not an easy task. However, the shepherd takes his sheep to this special place, a place of abundance, where there is enough fresh green grass to feed them and satisfy their hunger. And in this picture of green pastures, we find a reference to God's provision. The shepherd does not just give us any food. He takes us to green pastures, a place where there is abundance, nourishment, and satisfaction for our souls. Just as grass is essential for sheep to survive, to grow, God provides everything necessary for our spiritual life. He feeds us through His Word, which is our spiritual food. And he strengthened us with his presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. And for the believer, the green pasture is then the Word of God. Jesus himself said, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. So the Bible, the Word of God, is that food that the Lord gives us to nourish and sustain us along the way. In the Bible, we find truth. In the Bible, we find wisdom. We find comfort and guidance for every day. Every time we approach God's Word, every time we open the Bible, we are entering those green pastures where we find food for our tired souls and strength for our struggles. Moreover, the psalm shows us that the shepherd not only takes us to green pastures, but also makes us what? Lie down in them. He makes us lie down in these green pastures. And the word lie down suggests peace and satisfaction. It is not just a quick meal. It is a deep and extended rest. God invites us not only to receive his Word, but also to lie down and to meditate on it, to take it in, and to allow his truth to go deep into our hearts. As we spend time in the green pastures of his Word, then we find peace, the peace we need amid the worries and anxieties of life. The second image the Psalmist uses in this verse is that of quiet waters. quiet waters. A sheep, by nature, they are fearful and anxious creatures. They need a peaceful environment to drink water without fear. So these quiet waters represent a place where they can drink peacefully without being disturbed or frightened. And this is what the shepherd does for his sheep. It takes them to a place of peace, where they can rest, where they can drink in camp. Right? In our daily lives, we face many situations that can steal our peace and can cause us anxieties, health problems, financial problems, conflicts in the family, worries about the future. However, The Good Shepherd leads us to quiet waters, quiet waters, meaning a place where we can experience his peace that surpasses all understanding. And Jesus himself, he invites us to come to him when we are weary and burdened, and he promises to give us rest. And the peace that the Lord gives, this peace does not depend on external circumstances. but on his constant presence in our lives. These quiet waters remind us that no matter the storm we face, we can trust in the care and protection of the shepherd. He's always with us, and his peace can calm our restless souls and give us security amid uncertainty. And it is important to note It is important to know that the shepherd makes me lie down. He's the one doing it and leads me to this place of peace. So he's doing that. This shows us that the rest and peace we experience in God do not come from our own efforts. or our own ability to control circumstances. It is the shepherd who guides us and gives us this rest. He's the one who knows our weaknesses. He's the one who knows our fears. He's the one who knows our anxieties and his compassion and love. And in his compassion and love, he brings us to a place where we can rest in his care. And of course, the Christian life is not free from problems. But it is a life where we can trust that the good shepherd is with us and will lead us to rest and peace, even during difficulties. Just as a sheep depend completely on their shepherd to find water, to find grass, we too must learn to depend entirely on God to find rest in our struggles. It is really easy to find peace in temporary things. It is easy to find peace in money, in success, in a house, in a car, in a job, in the family, in the approval of others, on life's comforts. However, only in the Lord do we find true and lasting peace. He's the only source of security. He's a refuge in times of storm. And when we put our trust in him, we can be sure that no matter what we face, his peace will be with us and his presence will sustain us. And this verse also shows us the personal care of the shepherd. Each of his sheep is important to him. He makes sure that each of them has everything they need. The Good Shepherd knows each sheep and knows what they need at every moment. He knows when we need food. He knows when we need rest. He knows when we need guidance and when we need support. And this personal attention from God is a great source of comfort for us. we can be sure that he's aware of every detail of our lives and that his love for us is constant and is unconditional. And sometimes we are tired, we are gloomy, and it is hard to remember that God is by our side. But this verse reminds us that he's not only with us, but he's caring for us. is guiding us to places of rest and peace. So this shepherd, this God, is not a distant shepherd. He walks with us, He cares about our needs, and He gives us what we need at the right time. And this really invites us to trust in this shepherd, to rest in the care of the shepherd. and to leave our burdens in his hands, knowing that he's faithful and that his love will never fail. And of course, the quiet waters do not mean that we will live a life without trials or difficulties. What they do assure us that during those trials, God will give us the rest and peace we need. The rest that God offers is not an escape from the problems, but a peace that sustains us during them. When we trust in the care of the good shepherd, then we can face trials with courage, knowing that he is with us and will guide us through each difficult situation. So when we are in times of trial, the shepherd reminds us that he is our source of strength. He invites us to come to Him, to lay our burdens down and to trust in His guidance and provision. And when circumstances seem overwhelming, He takes us to those green pastures and quiet waters so that we can find strength and hope in His presence. Now in verse number three, in the third verse of the Psalm 23, Now David presents with another dimension of the love and care the shepherd has for Hitchi. He says, he restores my soul. He leads me in the path of righteousness for his name's sake. So now in this part of the psalm, we see that the good shepherd not only feeds and gives rest to his sheep, but also restores their soul and leads them towards path of righteousness. Here we are reminded that our shepherd does not only satisfy our physical and emotional needs, but he also cares for our spiritual well-being. He comforts us, he restores us, and guide us on the path of holiness. And this phrase, he restores my soul, can also be translated as he brings back my soul. He brings back my soul. And this speaks to us about the continuous and deep care that the shepherd has for our souls. As believers, we sometimes go through moments of weakness, moments of tiredness and discouragement. Maybe sometimes sin, guilt, or simply the burdens of life wear us down, leaving us in a state of spiritual fatigue. But the Good Shepherd does not leave us in that state. But He comes to us. He restores us and gives us the spiritual vitality we need to continue. And Jesus, our Good Shepherd, He's the one who searches for us when we are weak or strained and bring us back to the right path. He doesn't abandon his sheep when they are in danger or when they feel exhausted. Instead, he lifts them onto his shoulders and leads them back to a safe place. This is the love and faithfulness of our Savior, who promises to never leave us or forsake us. He's a shepherd who cares deeply for the well-being of our souls. And the restoration of our soul involves, of course, a continuous process of repentance and reconciliation with God. When we fall or go astray, we must remember that our shepherd is willing to restore us. This means that we can come to him in prayer, confessing our sins and receiving his forgiveness and grace. Instead of hiding our sins or living in guilt, we should go to our shepherd, trusting that he's faithful, that he's just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And the next part of the verse, on verse three, David said, he leads me in path of righteousness. He leads me in path of righteousness. So God not only restores us, but also leads us on this path of righteousness. He does not want us to live in a constant cycle of falling and restoration without growth. Instead, he leads us to path of righteousness. teaching us to live in a way that honors His name and reflects His character. And this path of righteousness are the ways of obedience to His Word, where we come closer and closer and closer to the image of Christ. The purpose of our shepherd is not just for us to feel good or comfortable. He calls us to a life of holiness, He calls us to a life of righteousness. And this is crucial in our walk with God because being his sheep means not only receiving his care, but also following his direction and obeying his voice. The shepherd leads us along this path because he knows that it is in them that we will find true peace, true blessing, and true purpose in our lives. And following the path of righteousness, it means making daily decisions that are aligned with God's will. This involves, of course, reading his word daily, praying for guidance, and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us. Sometimes the path of righteousness may seem difficult or uphill. But we must remember that our shepherd is with us and that his guidance is always for our good. If we face temptations or challenges, we can ask him for strength and trust that he will guide us, that he will give us the grace to persevere in obedience. And finally, This verse, verse three, tells us that God guides us for his name's sake. For his name's sake. And this means that the purpose, the purpose of his guidance and restoration is not just for our well-being. It's not just for our own benefit. but also the glory of his name, but also the glory of his name. God acts in our lives according to his character and to fulfill his eternal purposes. He wants our lives to reflect his holiness and his love so that others may see who he is and be drawn to him. So living for his name's sake means means understanding that our lives have a greater purpose than simply our own comfort or success. God calls us to live in such a way that his name is honored and exalted in everything we do. Every act of obedience, every step along the path of righteousness is an opportunity to glorify God and bear witness to his goodness. And this verse also reminds us of the importance then of living for the glory of God in every area of our life, in every area of our life. This means that our words, our actions, our attitudes should reflect God's character. Each day we can pray asking God to help us to live in a way that honors his name. We can ask ourselves, Do my decisions reflect the love and holiness of God? Am I living in the way that draws others to Him? Am I promoting the Kingdom of Heaven? Am I seeking first the Kingdom of Heaven and His justice? And the restoration that God offers, of course, is not only for moments of sin or spiritual weakness, but also for times of trial and suffering. Throughout our lives, we face difficulties that can drain us emotionally and spiritually. And in those moments, our Good Shepherd comforts us and gives us the strength to continue. And He does it not by removing the trials, but he give us his peace and presence so we can endure them. And Jesus, he said that in the world we will have no trouble. No, we will have trouble. We will have trouble. But he also invites us to trust in him because he has overcome the world and we are united to him. And this restoration during trials allows us to face every situation with hope, knowing that our shepherd is with us, that his power is enough to sustain us. In times of difficulty, so we should turn to God in prayer and trust in his restoration. We can read the scripture and meditate on God's promises, remembering that he's faithful and that his presence is enough for the believer. Instead of seeking comfort in temporary things, let us find our strength in the Lord. And as we do this, we will find peace in the storms and renewal for our weary souls. And the restoration of our soul also reminds us of our dependence on God. As sheep, we are helpless and often need the help of the shepherd. Without his guidance, we can easily stray and get lost. And this dependence calls us to an attitude of humility, understanding that we cannot live the Christian life by our own strength. We need the shepherd every step of the way. both in moments of joy and in moments of difficulty. And this dependence allows us to experience God's grace in a special way. When we understand our need of his restoration and his guidance, then we open our hearts to receive his love and peace. Our Good Shepherd is always willing to help us. And the more we depend on him, the more we experience his presence and power in our lives. And dependence on God involves a life of prayer and surrender. Every day we should approach God with humility, asking for his help and guidance. When we face important decisions or difficult moments, we must remember that we are not alone. Our shepherd is with us and his grace is sufficient. And we can pray each morning, acknowledging our need for His guidance and asking Him to direct us on His path. And the restoration of our soul is not just for moments, as I said before, of need, but it is an essential part of our spiritual growth. As we move forward in our walk with God, He continues working in us, transforming us in the image of His Son. So this restoration is a ongoing process where God purifies us, strengthen us, and make us more like Christ. He uses every experience, every trial, and every blessing to shape us and prepares us for eternity in the celestial city with him. And when we understand this restoration as a part of a spiritual growth, That helps us to accept every stage of our life as an opportunity to mature in faith. We can ask God to teach us in every situation, to show us areas where we need to be transformed, and to give us a heart willing to be changed as we experience God's restoration. So we can grow in gratitude and in a deeper desire to live for His glory. So, we only saw three verses of Psalm 23. This psalm is a powerful view of the work of restoration and guidance that God does in our lives. Our good shepherd, our great God, Our great Redeemer is the one who comforts and restores our souls. He's the one who leads us in the path of righteousness, and does for the sake of his name. So this tender and loving care reminds us that we are not alone on our journey. We are pilgrims in this world, and we are not alone. We have a shepherd who is always with us. We have a shepherd who is ready to lift us up, to guide us and to transform our life for his glory. So may this psalm, may these three verses inspire us to seek God each day, to allow him to restore our soul and to guide us in his way. May we live each day for his glory, trusting in his love and faithfulness, and may we, as his sheep follow his voice and rest in his presence, knowing that in his care we find peace, hope, and purpose. So let us stand together as we respond to the preaching of God's word in prayer. Let us pray. O gracious and loving Father, we thank you for the comfort and assurance of your Word. You are our shepherd, and we lack nothing, and we shall not want, because we have everything in you. Even when we have nothing on this earth, we have you. And you guide us, you restore us, and you walk with us through every trial and every joy. We pray that your truth would take deep root in our hearts and bear fruit in our lives. Oh Lord, strengthen our faith, fill us with your peace and lead us in path of righteousness for your name's sake. May we trust in you fully, knowing that your goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives and that we will dwell in your house forever. And I pray, Lord, for every member of this church, for every person here present, that they, as your sheep, may live a life worthy of the gospel, may live in the path of righteousness, being obedient to your word and to your care. And Lord, if someone here is not of your sheep, I pray that this morning, this day, would be that day of salvation. That he or she may confess their sins, and that your Holy Spirit may be poured out on this soul, so the angels in heaven can glorify your name. Thank you for the opportunity to preach your word. You know the difficult that it is for me to preach in English. So thank you, Lord, for the opportunity and for the chance to meet all these people. And I pray for every one of them, for their families, their jobs, and for all they do. And that every one of us may live our life according to your word. abandon the things of the world and loving what you have promised to us. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ and for the Holy Spirit. And we pray in his name. Amen.