Psalms 23 Revisited - Terry Gephart

Jul 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: A Shepherd’s Hands That Fight for the Lamb

David didn’t write Psalm 23 as a poetic daydream. He wrote it with calloused hands that had choked lions and bears to protect sheep. His understanding of shepherding wasn’t theoretical—it was blood, sweat, and sacrifice. When David called God his shepherd, he envisioned a protector willing to enter the fray. A good shepherd doesn’t delegate danger. He steps into the gap between wolves and lambs, just as Jesus stepped into humanity’s brokenness. Our Shepherd’s scars prove His commitment. [03:08]

“Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. When there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. If he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. Your servant has struck down both lions and bears.” (1 Samuel 17:34–37, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you seen God’s protective hand intervene in your life like a shepherd fighting for a lamb? How does His past faithfulness shape your trust in His care today?

Day 2: When “I Want Ice Cream” Meets “I Shall Not Want”

Wants aren’t wrong—they’re human. But Psalm 23’s “I shall not want” isn’t about deprivation. It’s about reorientation. A sheep following its shepherd doesn’t crave toxic weeds or polluted ponds. Its wants align with the shepherd’s provision. Our struggle comes when temporary cravings drown out eternal sustenance. God doesn’t shame our hunger—He redirects it toward nourishment that satisfies beyond the next craving. [11:01]

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” (Psalm 23:1–2, ESV)

Reflection: What “ice cream want” have you fixated on lately? How might inviting the Shepherd to reshape that desire lead to deeper fulfillment?

Day 3: For His Name’s Sake, Not Our Fame’s Sake

God’s guidance isn’t a reward for good behavior—it’s a reflection of His unchanging character. When Psalm 23 says, “He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake,” it removes our performance from the equation. A shepherd doesn’t lead sheep because they’ve earned it, but because his reputation hinges on getting them home. Our wandering doesn’t diminish His commitment to His own name. [18:39]

“For my name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you… For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another.” (Isaiah 48:9–11, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you mistakenly believed God’s blessings depend on your worthiness rather than His faithfulness to His name?

Day 4: The Table Set in Enemy Territory

Sheep don’t picnic in battlefields—unless the Shepherd commands it. Psalm 23’s “table before me in the presence of my enemies” isn’t about comfort. It’s about defiance. The Shepherd spreads a feast where fear should reign, proving His authority over every threat. Our peace isn’t the absence of danger but the presence of the One who prepares meals in minefields. [27:16]

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5, ESV)

Reflection: Where is God inviting you to feast on His faithfulness even while facing unresolved battles?

Day 5: Living as Walking Testimonies of His Name

God’s ultimate goal isn’t our comfort—it’s His glory radiating through our ordinary moments. When the sermon reimagined Psalm 23, it ended with “I will always be with Jesus.” Our lives aren’t about collecting blessings but becoming billboards for His name. Every healed wound, every sustained joy, every endured storm becomes a line in His resume. [28:22]

“Whoever serves, [let it be] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:11, ESV)

Reflection: What mundane part of your daily routine could become an act of worship if done consciously for God’s glory?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 23 opens with a line so familiar that it can almost slide past the heart: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” David speaks as a shepherd who knows what it costs to guard sheep, because David had already gone after the lion and the bear and pulled the lamb out of their mouths. The shepherd image is not just a nice Bible word for David. The shepherd image is a lifestyle, a man willing to give his life for a lamb, pointing toward a God who gave His life for man.

The word “want” stops the thought and presses deeper than basic needs. God already supplies needs according to His riches in glory, but wants are personal, shaped by history, desire, hunger, and longing. The Lord as shepherd does not mean every desire is automatically good. A child can want what is not needed, and a good parent knows the difference. God, as the better Father, knows what desires should be supplied, corrected, delayed, or redirected.

David’s “I shall not want” may not mean that desire disappears. David’s line may mean that all desire becomes wrapped up in the Shepherd Himself. Because Jesus Christ is the shepherd, nothing greater can finally stand above Him, not riches, position, comfort, or even the little everyday things like ice cream. The small gifts also become holy when they are received with thanksgiving. A sunrise, a fish, an open door, a closed door, a simple delight can become worship when the Father is recognized as the giver.

Psalm 23 then moves from wants to rest, still waters, restoration, and righteous paths. Sheep need quiet water because rushing water can carry them away, and the Shepherd knows how to lead them where they can drink in safety. The phrase “for His name’s sake” becomes the center of the whole thought. God restores, guides, forgives, restrains wrath, and saves not because people are amazing, but because His own name, reputation, glory, mercy, and faithfulness are on display.

The name of God is His essence, His authority, and His character. Christ forgives sins “for His name’s sake,” so that a life can look different in the world. The Holy Spirit empowers, wisdom is given, prayers are offered, and the sick are touched so that God is glorified, not so that people are lifted up. God’s desire is a life that radiates His goodness, grace, love, patience, joy, and praise, fully equipped and fully expected to glorify His name.

Key Takeaways

1. Wants belong under the Shepherd Desire is not treated as evil, but it is treated as something that must be shepherded. The heart can want many things, and not every want has the same weight, source, or end. The Lord as shepherd means desire is brought before the Father and measured by what is truly good, not merely by what feels urgent. [08:33]
2. Small gifts can become worship Thanksgiving is not reserved for the dramatic provision, the lottery-sized miracle, or the life-changing breakthrough. The Father’s kindness can be recognized in the fish, the ice cream, the sunrise, and the tiny mercies that usually pass by unnoticed. A want becomes spiritually dangerous when it only breeds more want, but it becomes worship when it returns glory to the Giver. [14:51]
3. Rest comes through guided dependence The Shepherd leads sheep beside still waters because sheep cannot safely drink everywhere. Psalm 23 pictures a God who knows the weakness of the flock and provides rest in ways that do not destroy it. Restoration is not self-repair, but the Shepherd bringing the soul back from worn hard paths into roads where righteousness echoes His name. [17:42]
4. God acts for His name’s sake God’s mercy is not rooted in human impressiveness, but in His own character and reputation. “For His name’s sake” means God saves, forgives, restrains, guides, and restores in perfect consistency with who He is. A life that belongs to Christ is meant to make His name visible, not to make the servant look important. [19:07]
5. Forgiveness creates visible difference First John says sins are forgiven for His name’s sake, which means grace has a purpose beyond relief from guilt. Forgiveness equips a life to stand in the world as evidence of God’s goodness, power, and holiness. The Spirit empowers words, attitudes, prayers, and actions so that Christ is glorified through ordinary people.

## [23:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:19] - Worship and Welcoming God’s Presence
[00:37] - From Faith to the Good Shepherd
[02:30] - Psalm 23 Through David’s Eyes
[03:08] - David the Shepherd and the Lion
[06:12] - “I Shall Not Want”
[07:44] - Wants, Needs, and the Father’s Wisdom
[09:47] - Is Jesus Enough for Every Desire?
[12:18] - God Provides the Sacrifice
[14:18] - When Wants Glorify God
[17:12] - Green Pastures and Still Waters
[18:07] - Restored for His Name’s Sake
[21:22] - God Protects the Honor of His Name
[23:48] - Forgiven for His Name’s Sake
[26:06] - Psalm 23 Rewritten as Prayer
[28:22] - God’s Desire for a Glorifying Life

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
- Psalm 23 (ESV)
- 1 Samuel 17:34–37 (ESV)
- 1 John 2:12 (ESV)

Observation Questions

In 1 Samuel 17:34–37, David describes his experience defending sheep from lions and bears. How does this background shape his understanding of God as a shepherd in Psalm 23? [03:08]
Psalm 23:2 mentions “still waters.” Why might sheep need calm water to drink safely, and how does this relate to the idea of God’s guidance? [17:42]
According to 1 John 2:12, why are sins forgiven? How does this connect to the phrase “for His name’s sake” in Psalm 23:3? [23:48]

Interpretation Questions

Why might the distinction between needs and wants matter in understanding Psalm 23:1 (“I shall not want”)? How does God’s role as a “good Father” inform this distinction? [07:44]
The sermon suggests that “small gifts” like a sunrise or ice cream can become acts of worship. How does gratitude transform ordinary desires into opportunities to glorify God? [14:51]
What does it mean for God to act “for His name’s sake”? How does this motive differ from acting based on human merit or worthiness? [19:07]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent “want” you’ve experienced. How could you bring this desire before God to discern whether it should be supplied, corrected, delayed, or redirected?
Identify one “small gift” (e.g., a daily blessing or simple pleasure) you often overlook. How might thanking God for it this week deepen your awareness of His presence? [14:51]
Psalm 23:3 says God leads us in “paths of righteousness.” Where do you feel uncertain about God’s guidance in your current season? How can you practice trusting His leadership over your own instincts?
The sermon states, “Forgiveness equips a life to stand in the world as evidence of God’s goodness.” How could living forgiven—and forgiving others—make God’s character visible to those around you? [23:48]
What practical step could you take this week to prioritize God’s glory over personal recognition in your work, relationships, or decisions?

Sermon Clips

71s

#ShepherdPerspective

“``It's not just a word. It's a lifestyle. It's a man being willing to give his life for a lamb, writing about a god who gave his life for man. And so that that really intrigued me, and I thought, lord, this is just I've never looked at it that way. A shepherd writing about a shepherd. It would be it would okay. I'm I'm a I'm a man with a background in the military, and when I watch military movies, I critique them because they're not done by military people. They don't understand the nuances and the things and the uniforms and the haircuts and the all of those different things that I see and I have an understanding of. And that to me is just beautiful the way a shepherd draws this beautiful picture of being a sheep following our savior.”

66s

#JesusIsEnough

“It could be that just as God supplies all of my needs according to his riches and glory, so does he take care of my wants. Or could it mean that because the lord is my shepherd, my wants are encapsulated in him? Perhaps I I've been reading this maybe the wrong way my whole life, and perhaps David is making a statement. Perhaps David is saying what we should be saying because the lord who is Jesus is my shepherd. Because I have a savior who is Jesus, I have everything I will ever need. Everything. There could there would be or there could be nothing greater than Jesus. No riches, no positions, no wants more desirable than Jesus.”

72s

#LiveToGlorify

“And God is saying to all of us, what I want is for you to live a life that glorifies me, that lifts me up, that is a statement of my goodness, my grace. I desire that your life is such an example of my love that others will seek me also. desire that your life radiates with praise for me so others will see the value of serving me. I desire your life to be a model of love, patience, and joy. Let the words of your mouth glorify my name and the name of my son, Jesus. Because that is my desire, I open and close doors for my children. I make a way for those who love me. I provide for you all things pertaining to life and godliness. You are fully equipped and fully expected to live this life of abundant love that my name is glorified.”

64s

#ForHisNamesake

“And what that means is that God acts, forgives, and guides us not because we're so wonderful, not because we're amazing, and and not because he can't live without us, but as to protect his own reputation and glory and character. In Hebrews, are there in the Hebrew or in the old covenant, if you would, the old times. And the Jewish thought, the name represents someone's true essence, authority, and reputation. God's commitment to his character is when God acts for his name's sake, it means he behaves in a way that's perfectly consistent with who he is, loving, righteous, and faithful to his promise.”

66s

#GlorifiedInMe

“And and and that's all I have for that one because we're gonna get to actually the main point of the message, which is he restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yeah. And when when I got there, when I got to that for his name's sake, I just stopped and I thought, he's doing everything for me so that he is glorified in me. There is nothing that God does for you that he doesn't, I'm not gonna say require. I'm gonna say desire you to honor him in it. There are 30 verses in the bible where it talks about in his namesake or for his namesake.”

70s

#ThankfulForTheSmallThings

“Do I give glory for the fish when I'm fishing? Do you look at that ice cream and say, thank you, father? This was a desire of my heart and you've supplied. Do do do when we see a beautiful sunrise, a beautiful sunset, you know, it do we do we glorify him in everything we do? Do we glorify him in the small things and the little bitty things? It's easy to glorify him if you won the lottery. It would be easy to glorify him if somebody came and just gave you a vehicle. It would be easy to do stuff in the big things, but are the little things? Are the everyday everyday little bitty things that are so minuscule, are they received in thanksgiving? Because because when we receive those in thanksgiving, then all of our wants are supplied because we're thankful for who gave them to, got them to us, who opened that door, who closed that door, who who made a way when there seemed to be no way.”

70s

#LiveToMagnifyGod

“It's often emphasizes that God saves, guides, and forgives his people not because they earn it or deserve it, but to show his own mercy and faithfulness to his own word. It signifies that our ultimate purpose is to magnify God. The ultimate purpose of the earth is to glorify God. The rocks will Just as a devoted father protects his family's reputation, God protects the honor of his name so that his glory is recognized by all. God's will for us is to live a life that glorifies him. That we will live a life that looks different to the world because our aim is to glorify him and his name through our ways and our words. When we declare his word over others in prayer, we are glorifying”

59s

#ShepherdIsSufficient

“I I've been reading this maybe the wrong way my whole life, and perhaps David is making a statement. Perhaps David is saying what we should be saying because the lord who is Jesus is my shepherd. Because I have a savior who is Jesus, I have everything I will ever need. Everything. There could there would be or there could be nothing greater than Jesus. No riches, no positions, no wants more desirable than Jesus. And and then I thought, you know, because you think that, like, well, if I have wants, am am I not being completed? Is Jesus not enough? Is what he provides for me not enough? Is what he's given me not enough? And then I thought, this came out of nowhere.”

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Psalms 23 Revisited - Terry Gephart

Devotional

Day 1: A Shepherd’s Hands That Fight for the Lamb

Day 2: When “I Want Ice Cream” Meets “I Shall Not Want”

Day 3: For His Name’s Sake, Not Our Fame’s Sake

Day 4: The Table Set in Enemy Territory

Day 5: Living as Walking Testimonies of His Name

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Psalms 23 Revisited - Terry Gephart

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