St. Paul's Woodstock NB - May 3, 2026 with Rev. Dr. Andrew Human

Devotional

Day 1: The Shepherd Knows His Name

The sheep ignored the boy’s calls, scattering when he approached. But when their shepherd stepped into the field, they rushed to him. They knew his voice, his footsteps, his care. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd” – not a distant figure, but one who walks among us. His sheep follow because they recognize His faithfulness in every storm. [35:09]

Jesus doesn’t herd us like cattle. He calls us by name, leading us to nourishment and safety. The shepherd in Psalm 23 restores souls because He knows each wound, each weariness. His intimacy transforms wandering into belonging.

You don’t need to shout for God’s attention. He already walks beside you. When stress drowns out His voice, pause. Listen for His footsteps in answered prayers, quiet mercies, or Scripture’s whisper. Where have you heard the Shepherd’s voice this week?

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul…”
(Psalm 23:1-3a, KJV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to sharpen your recognition of His presence in ordinary moments.
Challenge: Write down three times this week when you sensed God’s nearness.

Day 2: Green Pastures in a Burned Field

Sheep refuse to eat dry grass or drink from rushing streams. The shepherd seeks lush fields and calm pools, knowing anxiety ruins their appetite. Jesus leads us to “green pastures” – not just physical provision, but soul-rest in chaos. The psalmist found stillness even while enemies circled. [35:58]

God’s rest isn’t dependent on circumstances. It’s a gift for those who trust His leadership. Like sheep, we grow sick when we graze on worry or sip from hurried living. True restoration comes through surrender.

Identify your “rushing stream” – the distraction stealing your peace. Set a timer for five minutes today. Sit silently, picturing Jesus guiding you to still waters. What makes it hard to stop striving?

“…he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
(Psalm 23:2b-3, KJV)

Prayer: Confess one worry you’ve been clutching instead of releasing to Christ.
Challenge: Place a bowl of water in your space as a reminder to seek stillness.

Day 3: Shadows That Cannot Bite

The valley’s darkness made the sheep skittish, but the shepherd’s rod clacked against stones – a steady rhythm saying, “I’m here.” Death’s shadow looms, but it cannot harm those held by the Shepherd. As John Knox showed, even dying points heavenward. [44:06]

Fear thrives in hypotheticals. Shadows magnify threats, but Christ’s presence shrinks them. The “valley” isn’t a detour; it’s the path to deeper trust. Every saint – Abraham, Joseph, David – walked darker roads before dawn.

What shadow dominates your thoughts? Speak its name aloud, then counter it with Psalm 23:4. How might this valley be preparing you for greater fruit?

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
(Psalm 23:4, KJV)

Prayer: Thank God for His faithfulness in a past trial as proof for your present fear.
Challenge: Text someone: “Psalm 23:4 – He’s with you in the valley today.”

Day 4: Oil for Today’s Flies

Shepherds dabbed oil on sheep’s heads to repel insects. The psalmist’s anointed head wasn’t about ceremony – it was practical grace for daily irritations. Jesus still applies balm to our hidden wounds: a friend’s call, a timely verse, strength to forgive. [48:08]

God’s goodness isn’t reserved for grand moments. It’s in the mundane mercies that keep bitterness at bay. The “table” He prepares isn’t just future glory – it’s daily bread for today’s battles.

List three “flies” buzzing around you – petty conflicts, chronic pains, small temptations. Ask Christ to anoint each with specific grace. Which irritation have you tried to swat alone?

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.”
(Psalm 23:5, KJV)

Prayer: Request fresh oil for one persistent struggle you’ve grown numb to.
Challenge: Anoint your doorframe with oil (or lotion) as a sign of Christ’s covering.

Day 5: The Dog That Follows

Sheep don’t notice the sheepdog trailing them, but the shepherd trained it to guard their rear. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me” – not as passive traits, but active pursuers. God’s kindness chases down rebels, comforts mourners, and ambushes the guilty with grace. [49:24]

Mercy forgives yesterday’s failure; goodness equips for tomorrow’s work. Together, they form a safety net for stumbling saints. The psalm ends not with escape, but homecoming – a forever hearth prepared by the Shepherd who never lost a sheep.

When have you felt goodness “catch” you? Share that story with a younger believer this week. How might your scars prove His pursuit?

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
(Psalm 23:6, KJV)

Prayer: Thank God for a specific mercy He’s shown you this month.
Challenge: Write “23:6” on your hand; let it remind you to leave a trail of gratitude today.

Sermon Summary

On a rainy Sunday the congregation gathers in grateful fellowship, reminded that presence in worship springs from love for God as much as from circumstance. After prayers of thanks and a brief confession for missed chances to share faith, the reading of Psalm 23 frames the entire service. The psalm becomes the lens through which God appears as the good shepherd who provides, guides, restores, and blesses. Attention turns from mere familiarity with the words to a personal claim on the text, emphasizing the possessive tone of "my shepherd" and the assurance that the believer will not merely hope but will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Three focal movements emerge from the psalm: haven, highway, and happiness. Haven explores green pastures, still waters, and the restoring work that brings the lost back into safety. Highway highlights the shepherd’s guidance through narrow, difficult paths and the promise of God’s presence even in the valley of the shadow of death. Happiness unfolds in the prepared table, the anointing, the overflowing cup, and the twin gifts of goodness and mercy that accompany the pilgrim through life and into eternity. Practical images anchor each point: sheep that know their shepherd, the antidote of oil against parasites, the table set in the sight of enemies, and the certainty of dwelling forever.

Illustrations sharpen the call to trust. A tightrope performer and his wheelbarrow dramatize the difference between admiring skill and stepping into risk with another. That contrast presses the difference between believing that God can provide and entrusting life to the shepherd’s hand. The sermon refuses to sentimentalize trials; rather it insists that God’s presence equips believers with power to persevere, wisdom to choose the narrow ways, strength to bear burdens, and community to sustain them.

The service moves from exposition into application: a call to internalize the psalm, to find still places that restore the soul, to practice trust, to act in mercy and generosity, and to pray for the world’s brokenness. The final notes return to praise, the Lord’s Prayer, and a benediction that blesses the road ahead. The psalm stands as both comfort and summons: know the shepherd so that the shepherd’s care shapes every step now and into eternity.

Key Takeaways

1. The Lord is my shepherd Belief becomes substance when the shepherd becomes personal possession rather than a poetic ideal. Claiming ownership over the relationship reframes dependence as intimacy and transforms anxious want into settled provision. This shifts daily decisions from striving for control to following a known guide. [28:51]
2. Haven of green pastures and waters Rest and restoration are not optional rewards but core practices of the shepherd’s care. Still waters and fresh pastures indicate rhythms God designs for renewal, not merely escape from trouble. Seeking such havens cultivates resilience and prevents spiritual drift. [35:20]
3. Trust goes beyond mere belief Knowing that God can act and stepping into reliance are distinct movements of faith. The wheelbarrow illustration exposes the cost of true trust: vulnerability and surrender to another’s competence. Authentic discipleship requires risk-willing trust that moves with the shepherd rather than merely applauding from a distance. [37:23]
4. Goodness and mercy follow always God’s providence supplies earthly needs while mercy repairs the heart; these operate together to lead toward restoration. Goodness convicts and draws the wanderer home; mercy receives and heals. Both guarantee a hopeful trajectory that culminates in dwelling in God’s house. [48:50]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[09:40] - Love, weather, and fellowship
[10:44] - Opening thanksgiving
[11:02] - Prayer and confession
[12:33] - Call to repentance and renewal
[26:48] - Introducing Psalm 23
[32:13] - The three Hs explained
[35:20] - Haven: pastures and still waters
[37:23] - Trust illustrated by a tightrope story
[43:22] - Highway: valley and guidance
[47:24] - Table prepared and anointing
[49:06] - Goodness, mercy, and eternity
[52:31] - Summary of the shepherd’s care
[62:10] - Application and intercession
[74:00] - Benediction and blessing

Bible Study Guide

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 10:11 (ESV)
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Matthew 11:28 (ESV)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Observation questions

What repeated possessive language (e.g., “my,” “me”) in Psalm 23 emphasizes the personal relationship between the believer and God?
How does Jesus describe His role as a shepherd in John 10:11, and what does this imply about His care for His people?
What specific actions does the shepherd take to provide “rest” in Psalm 23:2-3 and Matthew 11:28?
In the sermon’s illustration, what did the tightrope performer ask the crowd to do to demonstrate true trust? [37:23]

Interpretation questions

Why does the psalmist’s use of “my shepherd” (Psalm 23:1) matter more than a general statement like “the Lord is a shepherd”?
How do the “rod and staff” (Psalm 23:4) represent both protection and correction in difficult seasons of life?
The sermon contrasts believing God can act with trusting Him enough to “step into the wheelbarrow.” What makes trust riskier than belief? [39:22]
What might the “oil” (Psalm 23:5) symbolize in a believer’s life when facing spiritual or emotional “parasites” like doubt or fear?

Application questions

Where in your life do you need to shift from saying “the Lord is a shepherd” to “the Lord is my shepherd”? What practical step could help you own this truth?
The sermon warns against treating rest as optional. What rhythms or “still waters” (Psalm 23:2) could you prioritize this week to let God restore your soul? [35:20]
Think of a “valley” you’re walking through. How might God’s presence equip you with strength, wisdom, or community instead of just removing the difficulty?
The sermon says goodness and mercy “follow” us but also “lead us home.” Who in your life needs to experience God’s goodness or mercy through you this week? [49:24]
When have you hesitated to “step into the wheelbarrow” (trust God completely) in a situation? What would surrendering control look like in that area now? [37:23]
The psalm ends with “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” How does this eternal hope change how you view today’s worries or frustrations?

Sermon Clips

We're giving two glimpses of what lies ahead for us. We're giving glimpses of the king's highway. We're on a journey. And along that journey, we are told that God grants to us two of his greatest ambassadors, mercy and goodness. Goodness meets our needs. Mercy forgives our faults. Goodness cares for the temporal. Mercy cares for the spiritual. Goodness is the bounty of God. Mercy is the love of God. [00:48:58] (46 seconds) #GoodnessAndMercy

Is that not the most wonderful promise that we have as Christians that God is close beside us? God's presence means God's power to persevere. God's wisdom to choose the right path, God's strength to sustain us, and God's family to help us. I will not be afraid. [00:46:46] (30 seconds) #GodIsWithMe

Stepping into that wheelbarrow means that you really trust him. Jesus is interested also in that verse even in our problems also. For he says in Matthew eleven twenty eight, come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Isn't that something that we need in life? Isn't that something that's important that God gives us? Gives us those avenues of rest. [00:39:43] (37 seconds) #RestInJesus

The shepherd restores my soul. The Hebrew word shuff is the word that we translate into restore, but it also has the same meaning, shuff, as bring back. So it's either restore or bring back. A shepherd brings back a sheep that have gone astray. Once lost, a sheep cannot find their way back. They remain lost until somebody will will go out and get them. And likewise, God brings us back. [00:36:09] (35 seconds) #ShepherdRestores

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How does Psalm 23 depict God's provision?

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