Living Between the Mountains: The Lord Is My Shepherd

Devotional

Day 1: Valleys Between Calvary and Zion

The Christian life unfolds between two eternal realities: the cross where Christ died and the coming kingdom where He reigns. Like sheep traversing a mountain pass, believers walk through shadows and uncertainties, flanked by the weight of redemption behind them and the hope of glory ahead. This valley is not a detour but the sacred path where the Shepherd proves His faithfulness. Every rocky slope and narrow turn becomes a classroom for trust. The destination is sure, but the journey requires leaning into the One who knows both mountains intimately.
[44:13]

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."
(Psalm 23:1, ESV)

Reflection: What current "valley" in your life feels like uncharted territory? How might this season be designed to deepen your awareness of the Shepherd’s nearness?

Day 2: Following Without Knowing the Map

Sheep don’t demand itineraries from their shepherd. Their safety lies not in understanding the route but in staying close to the guide. The Christian walk often feels like moving through a shadowed ravine—the next step unclear, familiar comforts fading. Yet the Shepherd’s expertise covers every curve, predator, and storm. His leadership isn’t impaired by our limited vision. Our peace comes not from seeing the path but knowing the Pathmaker.
[42:22]

"I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on paths they have not known. I will turn darkness to light in front of them and rough places into level ground."
(Isaiah 42:16, ESV)

Reflection: Where are you tempted to question the Shepherd’s route rather than rest in His reliability? What practical step could reinforce your trust today?

Day 3: Prayer as Oxygen for Mission

Effective ministry begins on knees, not stages. Prayer fuels gospel work like breath sustains a runner—it’s the unseen rhythm that empowers visible labor. Interceding for counselors, servers, and seekers at Judgment House isn’t supplemental; it’s foundational. When we pray, we acknowledge that only God opens blind eyes and softens hard hearts. Our labor plants seeds, but heaven’s dew makes them grow.
[40:44]

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Which part of Judgment House’s outreach feels most daunting to you? How can prayer shift your focus from human effort to divine partnership?

Day 4: Sheep Theology Over Self-Sufficiency

Sheep survive by dependence, not brilliance. Their survival hinges on the shepherd’s vigilance, not their own cleverness. Christians flourish when they embrace their neediness—when tears, confusion, or weakness drive them to the Shepherd’s side. Spiritual maturity isn’t outgrowing our need for guidance but deepening our instinct to press against the Shepherd’s leg at the first sign of trouble.
[46:08]

"I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep."
(John 10:14-15, ESV)

Reflection: What area of your life still operates under “self-shepherding”? How might surrendering it today bring relief?

Day 5: The Shepherd’s Provision in Every Pasture

“I shall not want” isn’t a prosperity promise but a proclamation of sufficiency. Whether in green meadows or death-shadowed valleys, the Shepherd’s presence meets present needs. His rod deflects threats; His staff redirects wanderers. Our lack of want comes not from ideal circumstances but from the Shepherd’s attentive care in every season. His provision adapts to the terrain but never ceases.
[47:21]

"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."
(Psalm 23:1-3, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you feel scarcity today? How might the Shepherd’s current provision look different from what you initially desired?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 23 places the Christian life between two mountains. Psalm 22 points to Mount Calvary, where Christ bears suffering and fulfills what was written of Him. Psalm 24 points to Mount Zion, the eternal kingdom and the place where God’s people will be with Him. Psalm 23 sits in between, showing the valley that lies between salvation and heaven.

The valley is not only “the valley of the shadow of death.” The valley is the whole Christian life, with its low places, uncertainty, grief, confusion, green pastures, still waters, and dark paths. The sheep cannot see where the path is going, and they may only know that they have left a lush pasture behind. The shepherd, however, knows every curve, danger, rise, descent, and the destination on the other side.

Sheep picture the real condition of Christians. Sheep are not bold, fearless, or especially smart animals. Sheep are followers, easily spooked and frightened, humble and needy. The comparison is not meant to flatter anybody, but it makes the need for a shepherd plain.

The shepherd stands at the center of Psalm 23 and at the center of the Christian life. “The Lord is my shepherd” is not a promise that God will keep His people out of valleys. The psalm itself is full of valleys and low places. The promise is that the Shepherd never abandons His sheep in the valley.

Christ’s care is needed in every kind of season. The person whose life feels steady, whose car is working, whose air conditioning is running, and whose table has food still desperately needs to get close to the Shepherd. The person walking through grief, confusion, or fear about what comes next most importantly needs to be drawn to the Shepherd. The Lord’s provision begins with this personal reality: He is not merely near His people, but He is their Shepherd.

The church’s gospel witness carries that same dependence on God. Judgment House offers an opportunity for people who have not heard the gospel to hear it clearly and respond to salvation through Christ. Prayer matters because people can serve, invite, counsel, and prepare, but God alone can do what only He can do. The call to pray, give, and go is therefore not going through motions, but fulfilling Christ’s commission with urgency.

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Key Takeaways

1. The valley belongs in Christian life The valley is not proof that the Shepherd has taken a wrong turn. Psalm 23 places ordinary hardship between Calvary and Zion, between salvation received and heaven awaited. The Christian life includes both green pastures and dark ravines because the Shepherd is leading His flock all the way home. [44:41]
2. Sheep need more than self-confidence Sheep are easily frightened, prone to follow, and unable to see the whole path ahead. The image strips away the illusion that strength, intelligence, or control can sustain a believer through every season. The Shepherd’s wisdom matters precisely because the sheep do not know what He knows. [45:47]
3. The Shepherd does not abandon valleys The Lord does not promise a valley-free life. The promise is deeper: His presence and care do not disappear when grief, confusion, or danger comes close. “The Lord is my shepherd” means that the darkest path is still under the Shepherd’s watchful leadership. [46:34]
4. Prayer depends on God’s unique work Gospel ministry requires human faithfulness, but salvation belongs to God. Invitations, service, counseling, and preparation matter, yet none of them can replace the work only God can accomplish in a heart. Prayer keeps the church from treating gospel outreach as a routine event rather than a dependent act of obedience.

## [40:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[39:38] - Judgment House: Pray, Give, and Go
[40:14] - Inviting People to Hear the Gospel
[40:44] - Prayer for God’s Work
[41:38] - Living Between the Mountains
[41:56] - The Shepherd Leading Through the Valley
[43:36] - Psalm 23 for the Christian Life
[44:13] - Between Calvary and Zion
[45:21] - Sheep and the Christian Life
[46:34] - The Lord Is My Shepherd
[47:21] - Every Season Needs the Shepherd
[48:54] - The Shepherd’s Provision

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Psalm 23
“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. 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.” [39:34] [43:04] [43:30] [43:36] [43:54]

Psalm 22
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?” [44:13] [44:18] [44:31] [44:41]

Psalm 24
“The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors! That the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory!” [44:45] [44:46]

Observation questions

What actions does the Shepherd take for His sheep in Psalm 23, from the opening statement through the promise of dwelling in the Lord’s house forever?
What contrasting places appear in Psalm 23—green pastures, still waters, paths of righteousness, a dark valley, and a table surrounded by enemies? What do these details show about the kinds of places the sheep experience?
How do Psalm 22, Psalm 23, and Psalm 24 form a picture of Calvary, the present Christian life, and the future kingdom of God? [44:45]
What characteristics of sheep make the image fitting for Christians who are walking through uncertain seasons? [46:02]

Interpretation questions

Psalm 23 does not describe a life without danger or hardship. What does “for you are with me” mean for a believer when the path is dark and the next step is unclear? [47:06]
Psalm 22 points to Christ’s suffering at Calvary, while Psalm 24 looks ahead to the King of glory and His eternal kingdom. How does Psalm 23 give believers hope while they live between Christ’s saving work and their future home with God? [44:46]
The sheep do not know the whole route, but the shepherd knows the dangers, turns, and destination. What does this picture mean for believers who cannot understand why God is leading them through a particular season? [42:34]
The Lord is not only present with His people; He is their Shepherd. How does this personal relationship go beyond simply believing that God exists or that He is nearby? [49:00]

Application questions

Which part of the valley feels most real in life right now—grief, confusion, fear about what comes next, weariness, or something else? What would it look like this week to be drawn closer to the Shepherd rather than trying to carry it alone? [48:35]
It is easy to seek the Shepherd only when life becomes painful. In a season when the car is working, there is food on the table, and life feels steady, what habits can help keep a person close to Christ? [48:19]
Where has the desire to know the entire path ahead created anxiety or frustration? How might trusting the Shepherd’s knowledge of the path change one specific response this week? [42:28]
Sheep are easily frightened and tend to follow. What fears, voices, or pressures are most likely to lead a person away from trusting Christ, and what truth from Psalm 23 can help answer them? [46:05]
“The Lord is my shepherd” means the darkest valley is not evidence that He has abandoned His sheep. Is there a past valley where God’s care can now be seen more clearly? How can that remembrance encourage someone facing a valley today? [47:03]
Gospel outreach requires faithful service and clear invitations, but God alone changes hearts. Who is one person who needs to hear the gospel, and how can the group pray specifically for that person this week? [41:02]
Serving, inviting, counseling, and preparing can become routine if they are not carried out in dependence on God. What would it look like for the group to pray with real expectation that God will do what only He can do? [41:16]

Sermon Clips

31s

“Psalm 23 is not a promise that the shepherd is gonna keep us out of valleys. In fact, the the entire Psalm is laced with valleys, low places, the still waters, the green pastures, the valley of the shadow of death. So, it's not a promise that he's going to keep us out of valleys. The promise is is that the shepherd will never abandon us when we're in a valley.”

30s

“And maybe you're not, maybe you're in one of those other places, and maybe you're in a valley of grief, maybe you're in a valley of confusion, maybe you're in a valley of wondering what's going to happen next. The most important thing you can do is to be drawn to the shepherd. And the Lord is my shepherd. is the promise of this Psalm.”

27s

“We do what we do, but God does what can only be done by him. And so, we pray for that reason. So, really want to encourage you to be praying for this gospel outreach that's coming up over these next couple of weeks. We never want to just go through the motions. We never wanna just do it just because it's what we do. We want to be fulfilling the commission that God gives to us as a church,”

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Central Baptist Church - Dunn, NC This sermon · AI assistant

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