The Greatest Lesson

Our text for today is Psalm 23:1-3a

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
May God bless the reading of his word.

Obviously we only read the first few words from this great text. I stopped with these few words because to read further may obscure the point I wanted to make about the whole Psalm. Here is that point: The lessons of this psalm are so many that is best to look at the individual statements.

In the these first 27 words there are 5 great lessons for our heart. When preachers find these lesson they call them preaching points. Since most preachers only use 2-4 points in a lesson, it is obvious that a deep understanding of this psalm would require a long, long sermon. The lessons I see in these 27 words are:

1. He is our God.
2. God is our shepherd.
3. He provides rest for his followers.
4. God leads us in ways that are safe for us.
5. God will refresh our spirits.

These are all great lessons but in the final 87 words of this psalm, A teacher can quickly spot 16 more great lessons.

Let me share what I think is the most important lesson from this Psalm. We learn it from a story.

The Bible school teacher for a class of 15 first graders told the class that next week they would study Palms 23. She asked the class to go home that week and memorize the psalm. Next Sunday when they came back she ask for any one of them to come to the front and recite this great psalm. No volunteer was found until finally one little girls raised her hand. “I can do it,” the little girl said.

Bravely walking to the front of the class, she stood silently for a few second and then began.

“The Lord is my shepherd.” Her little voice paused for a few second and then she said, “And that’s all I know.”

To that we can say “Wow.” She learned the most important lesson. It is the first lesson we all should learn. The Lord is my shepherd. We he is that, he is the most important thing to us.

Lonnie Davis