Following the Good Shepherd: Comfort and Challenge
Summary
The Lord, Jehovah Roi, is our Shepherd—a truth that brings both comfort and challenge to our daily lives. Just as a guide in a foreign land anticipates needs and provides direction, God cares for us with intentionality and wisdom. Psalm 23, often read in times of grief, is not just a psalm for death but a psalm for life, reminding us that God’s shepherding presence is with us in every season. He provides for our physical needs, restores our souls, and leads us in paths of righteousness, not only for our benefit but for the glory of His name.
God’s care is not limited to moments of abundance; it is most profound in the valleys, in the shadows of fear, uncertainty, and even death. His presence is our comfort, and His rod and staff are both our protection and our guidance. Even when surrounded by enemies or adversity, God prepares a table for us, offering abundance and fellowship that surpasses anything the world can offer. This overflowing provision is not a one-time event but a continual reality—His goodness and mercy pursue us all the days of our lives, and we are invited to dwell in His presence forever.
Yet, we are not passive recipients. Each of us must choose how to respond to the Shepherd’s invitation. We can run from Him, seek satisfaction in the world’s empty promises, or follow Him in the paths of righteousness He sets before us. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life for the sheep, offering not just survival but abundant life. Following Him may require forgiveness, sacrificial giving, or courageous obedience in our careers and relationships. But in every circumstance, His presence is constant, His provision is sufficient, and His love is extravagant. The invitation stands: turn to the Good Shepherd, follow His lead, and experience the restoration and abundance only He can provide.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Shepherding is Both Personal and Intentional
God is not a distant overseer but an intimately involved Shepherd who anticipates our needs before we even recognize them. He provides for us physically, emotionally, and spiritually, guiding us with wisdom and care. This intentional shepherding invites us to trust Him with every detail of our lives, knowing that nothing escapes His notice or concern. [02:51]
- Restoration Comes Through Righteous Paths
Restoration is not merely about healing from past wounds but about being led into new patterns of righteousness. God restores our souls by inviting us to walk in His ways, often requiring us to leave behind familiar but destructive paths. True restoration is found not in self-repair but in following the Shepherd’s lead, even when it means choosing the harder, holier way. [12:02]
- God’s Presence Transforms Our Valleys
The valleys of life—moments of fear, loss, or uncertainty—are not voids of God’s presence but places where His nearness becomes most tangible. The promise is not the absence of trouble but the assurance that we never face it alone. His rod and staff comfort us, not by removing danger, but by assuring us of His power and protection in the midst of it. [13:26]
- The World’s Offerings Are Counterfeit Feasts
The world entices us with meals that promise satisfaction but ultimately leave us empty or even poisoned. Choosing the Shepherd’s table means rejecting these counterfeit feasts, even when they seem sweet in the moment. True abundance is found only in what God provides, and settling for less is to miss the overflowing cup He desires for us. [24:40]
- Following the Good Shepherd Requires Costly Obedience
To follow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is to embrace a life marked by sacrificial love, forgiveness, and trust. Sometimes this means letting go of grudges, giving generously, or stepping into new callings that stretch our faith. The path of righteousness is not always easy, but it is the only path that leads to true life, restoration, and the enduring presence of God. [29:17]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - The Value of Small Groups
[02:51] - The Need for a Shepherd
[05:37] - Jehovah Roi: God as Our Shepherd
[07:23] - The Stunning Reality of God’s Care
[09:10] - God Provides for Our Physical Needs
[10:37] - Restoration of the Soul
[12:02] - Paths of Righteousness
[13:26] - God’s Presence in the Valley
[15:02] - The Comfort of God’s Protection
[17:14] - The Overflowing Table
[21:03] - God’s Eternal Shepherding
[22:48] - Our Response to the Shepherd
[24:40] - The World’s Counterfeit Meals
[25:46] - The Good Shepherd’s Sacrifice
[27:25] - Abundant Life in Christ
[29:17] - Forgiveness and Following
[31:03] - Trusting God with Our Future
[32:39] - The Surprise of God’s Presence
[33:30] - Invitation to Follow the Shepherd
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Lord Our Shepherd (Jehovah Roi)
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### Bible Reading
Psalm 23 (ESV)
> 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
> 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
> He leads me beside still waters.
> 3 He restores my soul.
> He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
> 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
> I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
> your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
> 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
> you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
> 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
> and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
John 10:10-11 (ESV)
> 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
> 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
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### Observation Questions
1. In Psalm 23, what are some specific ways the Lord acts as a shepherd for His people? (Look for verbs and actions in the passage.)
2. According to John 10:10-11, what is the difference between the thief and the Good Shepherd?
3. The sermon mentions that God’s shepherding is both personal and intentional. What examples from Psalm 23 show God’s personal care? [07:23]
4. What does the “valley of the shadow of death” represent in Psalm 23, and how does God respond to us in those moments? [13:26]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think David describes God as a shepherd rather than another type of leader or protector? What does this image communicate about God’s relationship with us? [07:23]
2. The sermon says that restoration comes through “paths of righteousness.” What does it mean for God to restore our souls by leading us in righteousness, rather than just fixing our problems? [12:02]
3. How does God’s presence in the “valley” change the way we experience fear, loss, or uncertainty? [13:26]
4. The sermon contrasts the “table” God prepares with the “counterfeit feasts” the world offers. What are some examples of these counterfeit feasts, and why do they ultimately leave us empty? [24:40]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon says God anticipates our needs before we even recognize them. Can you think of a recent time when God provided for you in a way you didn’t expect? How did you respond? [09:10]
2. Is there an area of your life where you sense God calling you to walk a “path of righteousness” that feels unfamiliar or difficult? What would it look like to trust the Shepherd and follow Him there? [12:02]
3. When you face a “valley”—a season of fear, grief, or uncertainty—what is your usual response? How might you lean into God’s presence and comfort more intentionally the next time? [13:26]
4. Are there “counterfeit feasts” in your life—things you turn to for satisfaction or comfort instead of God? What are they, and what would it look like to choose the Shepherd’s table instead? [24:40]
5. The sermon challenges us to respond to the Shepherd’s invitation, not just by receiving but by following. Is there a specific step of obedience—like forgiving someone, giving sacrificially, or making a change in your career or relationships—that God is prompting you to take? What’s holding you back? [29:17]
6. The promise of Psalm 23 is not that we’ll avoid trouble, but that God’s goodness and mercy will pursue us all our days. How does this truth affect your outlook on the future, especially in uncertain times? [21:03]
7. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laid down His life for you. How does this sacrificial love shape the way you view your own worth and the way you treat others? [25:46]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray, thanking God for His shepherding care, and asking for courage to follow wherever He leads.
Devotional
Day 1: The Lord is Our Shepherd—Provider, Guide, and Comforter
God is not a distant or indifferent deity; He is the Good Shepherd who intimately cares for every aspect of our lives. He provides for our physical needs, guides us in the right paths, and comforts us in our darkest valleys. Just as a shepherd knows the needs of his sheep before they even realize them, so God is attentive to our needs, both big and small. Whether you are in need of direction, provision, or comfort today, you can trust that Jehovah Roi is actively shepherding you with love and intentionality. [07:40]
Psalm 23:1-4 (ESV)
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you most need to trust God’s shepherding care today—provision, guidance, or comfort—and how can you invite Him to lead you in that area?
Day 2: God’s Presence and Abundance in the Midst of Trials
Even when surrounded by enemies or walking through the hardest seasons, God prepares a table for us and pours out blessings that overflow. His presence is not limited by our circumstances; He invites us to experience His goodness and abundance even when life feels threatening or uncertain. The Lord’s provision is not just enough—it is extravagant, and His love is poured out beyond measure, assuring us that we are never alone or forsaken. [17:14]
Psalm 23:5-6 (ESV)
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Reflection: When have you experienced God’s goodness or abundance in a difficult season, and how can you express gratitude for His overflowing love today?
Day 3: The Danger of Going Astray and the Call to Return
We all have a tendency to wander from God’s path, seeking fulfillment in things that ultimately leave us empty or even harmed. Scripture reminds us that turning away from the Good Shepherd leads to spiritual hunger and pain, while following Him leads to true satisfaction and life. The world offers many counterfeit “meals,” but only God’s table brings lasting joy and restoration. [23:30]
Isaiah 53:6 (ESV)
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Reflection: Is there an area where you have been seeking satisfaction apart from God? What would it look like to turn back to the Good Shepherd and trust Him to meet your deepest needs?
Day 4: Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Lays Down His Life for the Sheep
Unlike the thief who comes to steal and destroy, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gives His life so that we might have life abundantly. His sacrificial love is the foundation of our security and hope; He did not hold back anything, but gave Himself fully for us. Because of His death and resurrection, we are invited into a relationship marked by abundance, protection, and unconditional love. [28:16]
John 10:10-11 (ESV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus laid down His life for you change the way you view your worth and your relationship with Him today?
Day 5: Following the Good Shepherd in Paths of Righteousness
The Good Shepherd not only saves us but also calls us to follow Him in daily obedience, leading us in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. This may mean forgiving someone, practicing generosity, or stepping out in faith where He leads. God’s presence is with us in every decision and every moment, inviting us to trust Him and walk closely with Him, knowing that His ways restore our souls and bring true life. [33:30]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Reflection: What is one specific step of obedience or trust that God is calling you to take this week as you follow your Good Shepherd?
Quotes
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