The Lord Is My Shepherd | Edward Jackson Jr | Bible Study Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Edward Jackson Jr

Friendship Baptist Church • Jul 1, 2025 • 65 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

Psalm 23 reveals what it means to be a sheep resting under the complete oversight and care of the ultimate Shepherd. When we trust the Lord as our personal Shepherd, He supplies our true needs, brings us into places of restorative rest, and guides us along paths of righteousness. Even when He leads us into dark and frightening valleys, His abiding presence, defense, and abundance sustain us through every trial.

Themes

Divine Provision & ProtectionResting in GodSoul Restoration & RepentanceGod's Guidance & RighteousnessValley ExperiencesGod's Abiding Presence

Key Points

1.
Believers should never be ashamed of their past or humble beginnings, as God uses hidden seasons to build and prepare us for where He is leading.
2.
Psalm 23 is written from the perspective of a sheep resting under the ultimate Shepherd's care, emphasizing complete reliance on Him.
3.
When the Lord is your personal Shepherd, you lack nothing because He supplies every true physical and spiritual need according to His wisdom.
4.
God sometimes forces us to sit down and rest because our human tendency is to push past our limits into dangerous burnout.
5.
Sheep only lie down when free from fear, interpersonal friction, pests, and hunger—burdens that the Shepherd completely manages for us.
6.
The Shepherd restores our weary souls by renewing our strength, offering quiet peace, and lovingly leading us back to repentance when we wander.
7.
Following God's Word guides believers into paths of holiness, morality, and obedience for the honor of His name.
8.
God does not wait until we exit dark valleys to bless us; He prepares a banquet and bestows overflow right in the middle of our difficult circumstances.
9.
God's goodness and steadfast mercy continuously follow behind believers as a rearguard through every season of life.

Sermon Moments

“King David wrote Psalm 23 in his mature years, looking back on his shepherd past without shame because God used those hidden years to prepare him for the throne.”

“Psalm 23 is written from the posture of a sheep resting under the care of the ultimate Shepherd rather than from the leader's perspective.”

“Sheep require four conditions before they can lie down and rest: freedom from fear, freedom from friction among the flock, freedom from pests, and freedom from hunger.”

“The Shepherd sometimes has to make us sit down and rest because we do not know when to stop on our own.”

“The Shepherd's rod and staff provide both defense against attacking enemies and gentle correction when we drift off course.”

“God does not delay His blessings until after the trial; He sets a banquet table and grants overflow right in the middle of the dark valley.”

“Goodness and mercy act as a divine rearguard, actively pursuing believers every single day of their lives.”

This Week

Reflect on your past struggles and humble beginnings, thanking God for how He used those seasons to build and prepare you for today.

Make a deliberate choice to practice contentment, trusting that if the Shepherd hasn't given you something, you do not truly need it right now.

Schedule intentional times of rest and quiet this week to prevent burnout and allow God to restore your physical and spiritual strength.

Surrender your anxieties, interpersonal friction, and daily fears to God, trusting Him to handle the cares that keep you up at night.

Spend time daily reading and meditating on God's Word so His truth guides your steps along paths of righteousness.

When facing dark, uncertain, or frightening valleys, remind yourself that the Lord is actively with you, defending you with His rod and staff.

Take time at the end of each day to recognize and praise God for the specific ways His goodness and mercy followed you.

Remember This

When the Lord is your personal Shepherd, He completely provides for your needs, restores your soul through rest, and sustains you with His overflowing presence even in the darkest valleys.

A Challenge for You

Rest fully tonight in the assurance that the Shepherd is by your side, having already taken care of every care, fear, and need in your life.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.