Copyright ©2010 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 1

FamilyWorshipGuide–Week17READ

o Psalm23:1‐4o Verse1:DavidusedthepictureofashepherdtorecalltheblessingsheenjoyedfromtheLord.Themetaphorwasa

naturaloneforDavid,theshepherd‐king.TheprophecyregardingthecomingMessiahusedthesamemetaphor(cf.Isaiah40:11),andJesusidentifiedHimselfastheexpected“GoodShepherd”(John10:14).Elsewhere,Heiscalledthe“GreatShepherd”(Hebrews13:20)and“ChiefShepherd”(1Peter5:4).BecausetheLordwasDavid’sShepherd,helackednothing.

o Verse2‐3:DavidgoesontodescribethosethingsthathisLord/Shepherdhasprovidedandthereforehewillneverlack.Theemphasisofversestwoandthreeisonthe“rest”whichtheShepherdprovidesforHissheep.Theexpression“liedowningreenpastures”(v.2)speaksofrestafterhavingbeenfed.Andthewords“stillwaters”literallymean“watersofrest.”Versethreeremindsusthatasashepherdleadshisflock,soalsoGodguidesHispeople.Guidanceisoneofthekeytasksoftheshepherd.NotonlydoesHeleadhissheeptoplacesofpeaceandrest(v.2),butHealsoleadsthemalongtherightpaths.WecanbeconfidentthatwewillneverlackGod’sleadinginourlifeandthatHewillalwaysleadusalongtheproperpath.Hedoesthis“forHisname’ssake”,forHishonorandreputationasaGoodShepherd.

o Verse4:Inversefour,wenoticethateventhoughGodwasDavid’sshepherd,thisdidnotkeephimfrommanytrialsandtribulations.HewassoughtwithoutcausebykingSaul,whobecamejealousofDavid’ssuccess.The“pathsofrighteousness”arenotalwayspeacefulpaths.However,thepictureofthe“rod”andthe“staff”aretheshepherd’sinstrumentsofprotectionforhissheepfromtheirenemies.Therefore,whileGodmaynotalwaysuseHispowertokeepusoutoftrials,HispresenceandHispowerwillalwaysbewithusinthemidstofourtrials.DavidwascomfortedbytheLord’spresenceandprotection.AsbelieversweareneverinsituationstheLordisnotawareof,becauseHeneverleavesorforsakesHispeople.

o Verse:5‐6:Thescenechangestoabanquethallwhereagracioushostprovideslavishhospitality.Underthisimagery,DavidrejoicesintheLord’sprovision.Accordingtotheancientlawofhospitality,onceatravelerisreceivedintotheshepherd’stent,andespeciallyoncehishosthasspreadfoodbeforehim,heisguaranteedimmunityfromenemieswhomaybeattemptingtoovertakehim.NogreatersecurityorcomfortcouldbeobtainedbyatravelerintheancientNearEastthantobeofferedthehospitalityofahome.Itwasunderstoodthatthiswasaprovisionofshelterandfood,butevenmoreit,wasaguaranteeofprotectionfromharm.DavidrealizedthattheLord’sloyallovewouldgowithhimeverywherethroughouthisentirelife.

BottomLine:OurGodistheGreatShepherd,thereforewecanfindgreatpeaceinHiscare.

Questions:HowhaveyouexperiencedtheLord’sprovisioninyourownlife?InwhatspecificwaysdoesGodprovidepeaceandrest?Whatareyourbiggestcausesoffear?Inlightofthispsalm,howshouldyourespondtothese?

PRAYo ReadWindowontheWorld,pg.54‐55Egypto UsePrayerCard

SINGo Uselyricsheetandmp3downloadof“YouNeverLetGo”o ThisweekourfamilyworshipfocusisonPsalm23.Asweconsideredasongtohighlight,MattRedman’ssong“You

NeverLetGo”cametomind.Thelyricsofthissongarerootedinthispassage.Thetruthexpressedintheselyricsisacomfortingreminderthatnomatterthecircumstances,Godisalwayspresentwithus.AsHissheep,Heisleadingusanddirectingourpaths.OurjobistofollowHimandplacecompletetrustinHisguidanceoverourlives.

MEMORIZEo Psalm23TheLORDismyshepherd;Ishallnotwant.Hemakesmeliedowningreenpastures.Heleadsmebeside

stillwaters.Herestoresmysoul.Heleadsmeinpathsofrighteousnessforhisname’ssake.EventhoughIwalkthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath,Iwillfearnoevil,foryouarewithme;yourrodandyourstaff,theycomfortme.Youprepareatablebeforemeinthepresenceofmyenemies;youanointmyheadwithoil;mycupoverflows.Surelygoodnessandmercyshallfollowmeallthedaysofmylife,andIshalldwellinthehouseoftheLORDforever.

Copyright ©2010 The Church at Brook Hills www.brookhills.org 2

SUGGESTIONSThese suggestionswere created by the age‐groupministry leaders as away to help parents better communicate thebiblical truths discussed in the Family Worship Guide. These activities and questions can replace or serve as asupplementtothequestionsunderthe“Read”sectiononPage1.RememberthatthesesuggestionsareintendedtohelpparentsfacilitateGod‐centereddiscussionswiththeirchildren.Parentsshouldprayerfullyusethesesuggestions,andanyothermeansnecessary,tohelptheirchildrendiscoverthetruthsofGod’swordandworshipHimtogether.

Preschool(Birth‐Kindergarten)o Beforeyoubegin:Grabapictureofasheeporatoyorstuffedsheep.Askyourchild,“Doyouknowwhotakescare

ofsheep?”Explaintoyourchildthatashepherdisthepersonwhowatchesoversheep.Shepherdsmakesurethesheeparefed,safeandcaredforeveryday.Theshepherdknowsthesheepbynameandthesheeptrusthimandfollowhim.GodislikeashepherdandwearelikeHissheep.Helovesus,watchesoverusandcaresforus,justliketheshepherdwatchesoverhissheep.HeknowsusbynameandwetrustHimtoprovideforuseveryday.

o Seechildren’sactivitybelow.Thiswouldbeagoodgametoplaywithyourpreschoolers.

Children(Grades1‐5)o ToassistyouinillustratingtheLORDasourShepherd,werecommendplayingagameof‘FollowTheShepherd

(Leader).’o Haveyourchild(ren)lineupandfollowbehindyou.Askthemtocopyeverythingyoudo.Havefunwiththis—turn

around,jumpupanddown,zigzag,tapthewall,ticklethem,laydownandrest,pretendtoeat,etc.Makesuretheydoeverythingyoudo.

o Afterplayingthisgameforafewminutes,askthemthesequestions:WhowastheShepherd?DidyoufollowtheShepherdwell?DidtheShepherdtellyoueverythingyouneededtodo?DidtheShepherdaskyoutodoanythinghedidn’tdohimself?

o Afterthesequestions,youmaywanttosummarizethetruthsyouaretryingtoemphasizewithyourchildren.GoddesirestoleaduslikeaShepherd.WeareHissheep(Ps.100:3).AsHissheep,weshouldfollowandobeytheLORD,ourShepherd.WecanfollowtheLORD,ourShepherd,withcompletetrust.Godwouldn’taskustodoanythingHeisn’twillingtodoHimself(Phil.2:5‐10).

Students(Grades6‐12)

o RecentlyourstudentslearnedaboutthePassoverbyhostingaSederMealatourchurchfacilityforallofourstudents.Aspartoftheillustration,wehadtwobabylambspresent.Astheywerehereduringtheday,Inoticedthattheywouldfindsomeoneandfollowthem.Thesheephadnoideawheretheywerebeingled,buttheywouldmovefromoneleadertoanotherandgowherevertheywereled.Theywerewillingtofollowwhoeverhappenedtocatchtheirattentionatthatmoment!Howarewesometimeslikethoselambs?Whataresomeinfluences/influencersyouaretemptedtofollow?

o Whataresomeoftheconsequencesoffollowinga‘falseshepherd’,someoneorsomethingotherthanGod?o WhyisitthatGodcancallhimselftheGoodorGreatShepherd?WhyshouldwefollowHimandHispathsforus?

Howdoweknowwecantrusthisleadership?

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