Mentoring Matters

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot” Psalm 16:5

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As we continue our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find that David was confident that his Shepherd was all he needed. There was nothing that he lacked in his life. While alone in the shepherd's field, David was never without; everything he needed was supplied by the Great Shepherd until his “cup runneth over.”

Today, we are focused on the character of God found in verse 5c, where David declares, “My cup runneth over,” expressing that the Lord is Jehovah Manah, God his portion. Oh, how we can trust the Lord to be our portion and fill our cup to overflowing!

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” Psalm 23:5

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18.

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This command to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord is impossible without knowing Him. Having a relationship with Him is the first step to growth. As we grow closer to Him in our relationship, we grow in knowledge of who He is and gain wisdom of His character that is saturated in grace.

In our continuing study of the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find that David stayed close to his Shepherd; visiting with Him in the field, worshiping Him with instruments and song, and drawing closer and closer every day. God Himself declared that David was a man after God’s own heart.

Today we are focused on the character of God found in verse 5b, where David tenderly shares, “Thou anointest my head with oil” acknowledging God as his sanctification and the Lord is our sanctification as well.

Photograph by Jon Ratzlaff

“I will love thee, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies” Psalm 18:1-3

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As we continue our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find that David gained great confidence that his Shepherd would go before him in every situation. We have verbal testimony from David himself saying that the Lord delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear. David knew that nothing was impossible for His Mighty God!

Today we are focused on the character of God found in verse 5a, where David boasts in the Lord, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.” The Lord was his victory and He is our victory as well.

Photo by Jon Ratzlaff

“Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name” Psalm 33:20-21

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Many scriptures describe God as our help and His help is described in multiple ways. Psalm 46:1 says, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 121 says, My help comes form the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved, will not let you slumber. The Lord is your keeper, your shade. The Lord will preserve your soul forevermore.

As we continue our study on the names of God found in Psalm 23, we find how David describes the Lord as our help with His rod and staff that comfort him.

Today we are focused on the character of God in verse 4b to find how the rod and staff of the Lord God is still comforting us with encouragement and discipline as God Our Help.

Painting by Bob Boyd (Prints of Peace)

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28

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In each of the six verses in Psalm 23 David gives a description of God’s character that directly correlates with names of God. As a shepherd himself, David understands the depth of love and care that is required to tend to the sheep. David then takes those insights in beautiful expression to describe how the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tends to him as a sheep.

Today we are focused on the character of God in verse 4a to find a close, secure relationship that cannot be broken with God Our Companion.

Painting by Bob Boyd (Prints of Peace)

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” Psalm 23:3

Each verse of Psalm 23 gives names of God that describe His character traits. We can imagine David, a shepherd, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep.

David takes his insights and expresses them beautifully about the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tending to David as a sheep.

Today we are focused on the character of God in verses 3b and digging into supporting scriptures that affirm God our Righteousness (Jehovah Tsidkenu)

“He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” Psalm 23:3

Each verse of Psalm 23 gives names of God that describe His character traits. We can imagine David, a shepherd himself, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep. He takes his insights and expresses them beautifully about the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tending to David, a sheep himself.

Today we are focused on the character of God in verses 3a and digging into supporting scriptures that affirm God as our Healer (Jehovah Ropheka).

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters” Psalm 23:1-2

Each verse of Psalm 23 gives names of God that describe His character traits. We can imagine David, a shepherd himself, knowing the depth of love and care that is required to tend to sheep. He takes his insights and expresses them beautifully about the Great Shepherd, God Almighty, tending to David, a sheep himself.

Today we are focused on the character of God in verses 1 and 2 and digging into supporting scriptures that affirm God as our Shepherd, Provider, and Peace.

“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” Hebrews 13:20-21

The comparison of sheep tendencies and the tendencies of us, God’s Sheep, is revealed in how we interact with each other as we grow in grace and knowledge. The great Shepherd knows all the sheep grow at different levels and different ways so He deals with each as needed. Some are ready to be “show sheep” while others struggle to stay with the flock, but in every case the Shepherd tenderly cares for each one where they are in their progress.

Among the sheep, we can be very harsh to each other based on our differing levels of growth. We must learn to look beyond actions and words to see the heart of each sheep. As a body of Christ, we have enough criticism from the world around us, we don’t need it from each other. We are to encourage one another and build one another up (1 Thess. 5:11) and consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb. 10:24-25)

“The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want” Psalm 23:1

David is the author of this particular Psalm and probably wrote it while tending the flock. As a shepherd himself, he understood the responsibility, hard work, insights, and abilities that was necessary for keeping the sheep safe and healthy. Beyond the physical needs, David also understood the depth of care, attention to detail, and sacrifice it required on a personal level.

Being a shepherd, David could relate his love for the sheep with the way the Lord loved him. Placing himself as a sheep under the love and care of the Great Shepherd, this Psalm tells the many ways that the Lord tends to us, His children.

Today we discuss the precious, tender way of the Shepherd.