Last week we talked about the type of man that wrote the 23rd Psalms.  A man after God's own heart.  A man who's life was as full of trouble and heartbreak as any man alive. Yet, he could write words like "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life".  If you searched the bible to find out if the things I said about David were true and was not able to verify - read for yourself I and II Samuel.

Now, let us consider the 23rd Psalms itself for more insight as to how David could write such comforting words of faith knowing what all he went through in his life. Verse 4 tells us he was a man of confidence."Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil”.  As young men, we have all said it.  As soldiers, we were willing to live it.  Every young man's motto. But, notice who he has confidence in; it's not in himself or his friends.  " For thou art with me;"  Remember the story of David and Goliath?  The Commander thought it was the only story I learned early in life. Now, in I Samuel 17:32-36, David tells King Saul why he is confident he can take this giant because he had already defeated the lion and the bear, but he knew that the Lord's hand was with him despite the lack of any first hand evidence, likewise, the Lord would not let him down this time either. Now, as you reread this story, you should notice there does not appear to ever be any extra communication between David and the Lord to let him know He would be there just David believing it to be so.  David, as a young man, believed not in himself or his ability but his God and His Ability. That's what makes David a man after God's own heart.

Verse 5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies".   David here show us that the bad things that happen to him he was able to put them behind him by not looking at how bad they were but by looking at them as the failure of his enemies to destroy him.  Knowing the evil one wants to destroy us and our faith each time, David survived.  He looked at it as a victory. He truly chose to see the glass half full, not half empty. Roman 8:28 makes it a New Testament teaching "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God," Easy to say, hard to live when things are not doing well.

 Verse 1 was not skipped for any other reason then it says it all "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want" Verses 2 and 3 tell what it is to let him be the Shepherd notice he will let the Lord lead him in the paths of righteousness. When you let him do the leading, your confidence soars and handling life's disappointments are a whole lot easier. When I was young, I could and would say “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil”. (I said it) then perhaps foolishly. Now, I can say it clearly because He is my Shepherd.