INTRODUCTION

Part 2) Behold: Knowing God | Knowing God leads to rightly relating with Him

Journal

• Explore your fears and what’s behind them.
• Write about a relational conflict you are experiencing.
• Recall a significant reaction, conversation, or event.
• List out all that you are grateful for.

 Here are some tools to help you with the devotionals:

• How to journal? 
• What am I feeling?

Bible Text: Psalm 23

A Psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures.

    He leads me beside still waters.

³ He restores my soul.

    He leads me in paths of righteousness

    for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

    I will fear no evil,

  for you are with me;

    your rod and your staff,

    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies;

  you anoint my head with oil;

    my cup overflows.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

    all the days of my life,

  and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

    forever.

Context & Commentary

At its heart Psalm 23 is an expression of confidence in the protective care of [God], upon whom the psalmist expresses absolute dependence.

Wilson, Gerald H. NIV Application Commentary: Psalm – Volume 1.

v.4 In the Middle East the shepherd carries only a rod and staff… the shepherd boy spends hours practicing with this club, learning how to throw it with amazing speed and accuracy… The rod was what he relied on to safeguard both himself and his flock in danger. And it was, furthermore, the instrument he used to discipline and correct any wayward sheep that insisted on wandering away.

Keller, Philip. A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

v.5 The anointed head speaks of the Lord’s welcome; the overflowing cup his lavish provision. But this goodness and love will continue as long as life lasts.

Carson, DA. New Bible Commentary

Questions

1. Take some time to reflect on how God has been a Good Shepherd in my life.

Please take some time to commit some of the verses from this chapter to memory.

Prayer