Children’s Sermon

Psalm 19

The Lord is My Shepherd

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Psalm 19
The Lord is My Shepherd

Photos of shepherds and sheep available at:
https://www.google.com/#q=pictures+of+sheep+and+shepherds

Most of us know about shepherds from seeing Christmas pictures and hearing about how shepherds in the fields learned of Jesus’ birth. These men, who care for flocks of sheep, still work in many parts of the world. (Show pictures.)

One of the most well-known parts of the Bible is Psalms 23. This is David’s song to God. David was a shepherd when he was young and he starts his song by saying, the Lord “is my shepherd…” (23:1).

Let’s talk about how a shepherd cares for his sheep. He leads them to a place where they will find grass to eat and clean water to drink.

A shepherd uses a staff to guide the sheep. If one of the sheep gets caught in the brambles or falls into a place where it can’t get out, the shepherd uses the curved part of his staff to lift and rescue the sheep.

Sometimes sheep are bothered by flies and other insects that gather around their faces and make them uncomfortable. The shepherd rubs oil over their heads. That causes the insects to go away. Then the sheep feel peaceful so they can lie down and rest.

David compares how a shepherd cares for his sheep to the love that God has for each one of us. Listen to parts of this song that David sings to God and see if you can imagine how much God cares for us and loves us.

“The Lord is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing” (23:1). “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters” (23:2). The Lord’s “rod and… staff, they comfort me” (23:4). The Lord “anoints my head with oil” (23:5).

When we think about how a shepherd cares for his sheep, we may have a better understanding of how much God cares for us. God provides what we need to feel peaceful and loved.

(Last paragraph optional:)

David finishes his song to God by saying, “Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in Yahweh’s (God’s) house forever” (23:6).

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible