Summer in the Psalms - Week 1: “When I Need God’s Presence

May 24, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Lord is My Shepherd: Confessing I Can’t Make It Alone

David’s declaration “I shall not want” begins with raw humility: sheep don’t feed themselves. The green pastures and still waters aren’t earned—they’re gifts from a Provider who knows our needs before we ask. Just as infants rely completely on caregivers, our confession “I’m not God, I need God” dismantles pride. Dependence isn’t weakness—it’s the doorway to discovering Yahweh’s covenant care. [41:06]

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. (Psalm 23:1–3, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you been striving to “self-shepherd” this week? What would it look like to release one specific worry into your Shepherd’s hands today?

Day 2: Through Dark Valleys: Trusting the Shepherd’s Staff in Change

The terrain shifts abruptly—green fields give way to shadowed valleys. Yet the rod and staff click against stone, not as weapons but as signals: the Shepherd walks beside, not ahead. Valleys aren’t detours; they’re where we learn His voice isn’t distant. When David shifts from “He” to “You,” fear loses its grip. The dark becomes a classroom for nearness. [54:08]

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. (Psalm 23:4, ESV)

Reflection: What current “valley” makes God feel silent? How might His presence be speaking through the rhythm of His staff guiding you step by step?

Day 3: At the Table Prepared: Finding Fullness in God’s Presence

Enemies gawk as David feasts—not because they’re gone, but because their threats pale beside the Host’s generosity. Oil runs down his beard, wine spills over the cup’s rim. This isn’t a hurried snack; it’s a lavish invitation to sit, savor, and let the Shepherd fill what others can’t. The table transforms scarcity into “more than enough.” [01:02:02]

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 have you been sipping from empty wells (relationships, achievements) instead of bringing your cup to His table? What’s one way to “pull up a chair” to His presence today?

Day 4: Dwelling Forever: When God’s House Becomes Your Home

The psalm ends not with a destination, but a dwelling. “Forever” isn’t a far-off heaven—it’s the present reality of hearts rooted in covenant love (chesed). Like the shepherd boy gripping the truth as storms raged, home is found in the grip of the One who says, “I will never stop chasing you with goodness.” [01:05:05]

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23:6, ESV)

Reflection: When have you felt spiritually “homeless”? How might anchoring your identity in being His sheep shift your sense of belonging this week?

Day 5: Praying the Shepherd’s Words: Letting Psalm 23 Shape Your Days

The Welsh boy clung to four words—“The Lord is my”—as his lifeline. Praying this psalm daily isn’t ritual; it’s rehearsing reality. Each “He leads me” becomes a compass, each “I shall not want” a rebellion against anxiety. Let these ancient words rewire your modern heart, one surrendered morning at a time. [01:11:05]

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. (Psalm 23, ESV)

Reflection: Which phrase from Psalm 23 most confronts your current struggle? How will you let it anchor your prayers this week?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 23 speaks as a song that knows how to meet a life in any season. David names the covenant God, Yahweh, as shepherd, not in theory but in possession: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” That confession sets the order of life. Dependence comes first, everything else flows from there. The name itself signals relationship and commitment, the God who bound himself to his people and their good. From that Shepherd come provision and direction. Green pastures and still waters say daily bread. Paths of righteousness say guidance that leads to flourishing, not to convenience.

The paths then lead into a valley. The valley of the shadow of death breaks the easy landscape and exposes the illusion of control. In that dark cut of ground the grammar changes. God moves from “he” and “his” to “you” and “your.” Presence becomes the point. “You are with me” is the comfort, and rod and staff are not props but felt help. The valley widens the soul. From below, the mountains of mercy and faithfulness finally look as big as they really are.

God’s presence then comes to the forefront as the highest good. The table appears. God is host. A seat is set in plain sight of enemies, yet their presence shrinks because another Presence fills the room. Oil runs, the cup spills over, and the question turns practical: whose table will a person sit at, and who will be allowed to fill the cup? Where a life brings its cup determines whether it runs dry or overflows. Finally, home comes into view. “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” names belonging, not a building. That home is a Person. The word that chases a believer down is hesed, God’s never-stopping, never-giving-up, steadfast love. Human love often pays wages. God’s love gives gifts. Jesus seals that love. The Good Shepherd lays down his life for the sheep, becoming both Shepherd and Lamb, so sinners can be brought near and kept near. The big idea hums underneath it all: the more a person seeks God, the closer that person will walk with him.

Key Takeaways

1. Dependence defines your true shepherd Whatever a person leans on is the shepherd that leads. David’s “my shepherd” is not theory but trust, and it frees him to say, “I shall not want.” Confessing “I’m not God, I need God” is not defeat; it is the doorway into care, provision, and direction. Dependence is how the soul learns to travel light and walk close. [49:56]
2. Righteous paths are rarely convenient God’s paths are right, but they are not always smooth, popular, or easy. Convenience keeps a soul shallow, but righteousness takes it through the places where character and communion are formed. If preferences set the route, the destination will disappoint; if righteousness sets it, the Shepherd keeps company all the way. [53:33]
3. Valleys turn talk about God into prayer to God Shadows push a person from third-person facts to second-person faith. “You are with me” becomes more than a line; it becomes lifeline. Suffering does not make God near, it reveals the nearness that was hidden by comfort and control. The dark teaches the ear to recognize the rod and staff as gifts. [57:18]
4. Sit at the table God prepares God is not stingy host but generous Father, setting a table and inviting real presence. Choosing that table daily reorders every other presence, even the presence of enemies. Bringing the cup to God alone stops the frantic hunt for lesser fillers and makes overflow a normal grace. [61:20]
5. Home has a name: Jesus “I shall dwell” names a belonging that circumstances cannot steal. Hesed means God’s love is gift, not wages, anchored in his character, not human performance. The Good Shepherd makes that forever-home possible by laying down his life, so the soul can rest, not audition. [70:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[29:45] - Vacation with God or from God?
[30:38] - There’s a Psalm for that
[33:17] - Psalms shaped Jesus’ heart
[35:51] - Psalm 23 read aloud
[37:15] - Big idea: Seek and walk close
[38:25] - Sheep in the Shepherd’s arms
[41:39] - “The LORD” and Yahweh
[46:59] - He provides and leads
[53:50] - Through the valley of shadow
[57:18] - From he/his to you/your
[61:20] - God as gracious host
[64:40] - God as home forever
[66:20] - Chesed: steadfast covenant love
[70:16] - The Good Shepherd lays down life

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.

Observation Questions

In Psalm 23:4, David shifts from talking about God (“he”) to talking to God (“you”). What specific circumstances prompt this change in language? [57:18]
What two images does David use in verses 2-3 to describe God’s provision and guidance?
How does the sermon describe the difference between “paths of righteousness” and “paths of convenience”? [53:33]
What does the Hebrew word hesed (translated “mercy” in verse 6) mean, and how is it connected to God’s character?

Interpretation Questions

Why might David use the metaphor of a shepherd and sheep to describe his relationship with God, rather than a king, warrior, or teacher?
The sermon says valleys “widen the soul” and help us see God’s mercy and faithfulness more clearly. How do difficult seasons reveal what we truly depend on? [56:43]
What does it mean that God prepares a table “in the presence of my enemies” (v.5)? How does His presence reorient our focus in conflicts or threats?
The phrase “I shall not want” (v.1) is tied to confessing dependence. How does self-sufficiency block us from experiencing God’s provision? [49:56]

Application Questions

Where are you most tempted to rely on your own control or resources instead of leaning into God as your shepherd? What practical step could you take this week to confess, “I’m not God, I need God”?
The sermon says valleys turn “talk about God into prayer to God.” When facing a current challenge, how could you intentionally shift from discussing your struggles to praying directly to God about them? [57:18]
The “cup” in verse 5 symbolizes what we allow to fill us. What distractions, relationships, or habits are you letting “fill your cup” instead of bringing it to God? How might prioritizing time with Him change this? [01:01:20]
David ends by declaring, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v.6). What would it look like to live today as if your ultimate “home” is not a place, but a Person?
The sermon contrasts “reward love” (human) and “gift love” (God’s hesed). Where do you struggle to receive God’s love as a gift rather than something to earn? How could you rest in His commitment today?
What “path of convenience” have you been tempted to take recently? How might choosing the “path of righteousness” deepen your trust in God’s leadership? [53:33]

Sermon Clips

31s

#ValleyRevealsMercy

“Turns out friends, listen, God has some great things that he wants to show you, that he wants you to see. For years we lived in the mountains. And when you live in the mountain, when you're in the mountains and you look down into the valley, from the top to the bottom, everything looks small. But when you're in the valley and you're looking up to the mountains, everything looks bigger. Friends, it's only from the valley of the shadow of death and you can see how great God's mercy truly is.”

23s

#OverflowingCup

“David says his cup is overflowing. Why is this cup overflowing? Because God is filling it. Why is God filling it? Because David is at the table that God is prepared. And if you come to the table like God prepared, God will fill your cup in the same way. So here's a question. I ask myself and I ask you, are you looking in other places to fill the cup that only God can fill?”

32s

#BringYourCupToGod

“Are you taking your little cup to other people expecting them to fill a cup that they cannot fill? Are you going to relationships? Are you looking to achievements or accomplishments, some kind of status? Are you looking for some kind of substance to help you get where where are you bringing your cup? Because listen, friends, God is a gracious host, and he's a generous host. And he invites you to the table he has prepared. And if you come and you sit and you bring your cup, he will not only fill it, David experienced, he will fill it to overflowing.”

23s

#FlourishWithTheShepherd

“So here we see David pictured, you know, he sees God as the shepherd of his soul, the leader of his life. And basically, David's like, every time I got off track, guess what happened? God restores my soul. He just brings me back to the paths of righteousness. That one place where walking with him, I can flourish. Let me ask you, are you flourishing today? The question is, how do I know if God's my shepherd?”

32s

#CovenantLoveForever

“It's the covenant love of a covenant keeping God. A God whose love, listen, knows no limit. A God whose love has no breaking point, has no boundary, and comes to no end. Here is a love that you can never earn or deserve. Here is a love that cannot be taken away from you, and here is a love that will never let you go. The question is, where can I find such love? We'll let Jesus answer that for you.”

33s

#HumanLoveIsConditional

“So now we're on the subject of love. Let's just talk about love very quickly. It's two kinds of love. Human love, which is reward love. We don't mean it to. We don't intend it to be, but ever since we're kids, we know that we kinda love people with a lot of conditions. Hey, I love you so long as if you do different stuff from that, or I love you when, and when the when isn't happening, then it changes. We've all had people we love or said they love us walk out on us.”

34s

#LeanInToGod

“Let's just quiet our hearts for a moment and just respond to God's word together. Church of Psalm 23 reminds us that God is not giving us some information to learn, but an but a relationship to encounter, to enter. And today, the invitation is really simple. Don't keep God at a distance. Wherever you are, whatever your circumstances, don't lean back, but lean in. Because the more you seek him, the more you will find him and the better you can know him.”

25s

#GodIsRelational

“Now listen friends. Here's some great I got some great news for you today. All throughout the scripture is very, clear. The imagery used in the bible to depict a relationship with God is not highly religious imagery. It's highly relational imagery. And imagery of Psalm 23 is not religious imagery at all. It's highly relational imagery. This is how God describes what it looks like to know him.”

35s

#GodsPresenceFirst

“Because David is seated, if you notice in the passage, he's seated in the presence of his enemies. But it doesn't seem like the enemy's presence bothers him very much. Why is that? I think for David, his the enemy's presence, the presence of his enemies means nothing. Why? Because the presence of God means everything. And when the presence of God means everything, the presence of other people doesn't mean anything. It is our highest good. In fact, write this down. Psalm seventy three twenty eight.”

34s

#GodIsTheHighestGood

“For centuries, theologians have referred to God with these two Latin terms, the summum bonum. Summ bonum means the highest good. There is no other higher good. Listen, if God is your good, if he is your highest good, then nothing and no one can ever take your good away from you. And David changes the imagery here in the Psalm to show us that God's presence is the highest good you will ever know.”

33s

#GodsCommitmentNotOurs

“has said, refers to to to God's covenantal love. It's based on God's commitment to those who choose to walk with him. Has said, It's based on God's commitment to his promises. It's not based on our commitment to our promises. It's all on God's end. We will ever and always be the recipients of a gift love, not the performers who deserve it. Jesus deserve it. We are the recipients of what he earned and deserved if we are in him.”

20s

#GodLeadsAndRestores

“So what does it mean as he's shepherd? Well, he provides for my needs. Second thing very quickly, he leads my life. And continue along, verse three, he restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Notice where here, paths. Paths. Has it occurred to you that when you when you go through life, there are a lot of paths you could choose. Have you discovered that?”

27s

#SpeakingToGod

“David continues, and he says, I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Now did you notice the change there? Because in verses two and three, five different times, David speaks of God in the third person. Did you notice that? He, his, he, his, five times. Now in verse four, sudden change. Did you notice that? Now he's speaking to God in the second person. You, your, your.”

25s

#AtHomeWithGod

“And I will dwell. I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Can can you just hear David's heart right here? I just wanna dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I just wanna be at home with God now and always. And listen, David's heart mirrors God's heart. More than anything, God wants to relate with you. He wants you to know him the way he knows you. He wants you to be at home with him so you could be in a intimate relationship together. Home.”

25s

#HomeIsBelonging

“Now think about homelessness. What is homeless? It's not so much having no place to sleep as much as it's having no place to belong. Deep down inside, we all long to find that place in this world where we fit, where we belong, where we can be loved. Now here's a little news flash friends. That place, that home that we've all been looking for, it's not a place.”

26s

#GodIsInControl

“So often I feel like we're that way with God. We make all of our noise. Like we're the ones that are making life go this way and that way as if we're under control. But but the reality is we're just under the illusion of control. Life's ups and downs teach us that. Hey. Everyone point to the one who's really in control. There we go. So the question is if God is really in control, where is he taking us?”

29s

#PrioritizeGodsPresence

“Because God is a loving wise good shepherd, will lead you to, to lead you through difficult changes. An old saying, when you're going through hell, keep going, but you don't go alone. You have a shepherd who leads you. So friends, listen. The more I seek God, the closer I walk with him. And there's some practices here. The first one is confessing dependence on God. The second was trusting in the faithfulness of God. And the third one, and very quickly, we're talking about prioritizing the presence of God.”

25s

#GodProvidesForLife

“Look at Psalm 23 verse two. He makes me lie down in green pastures, and he leads me beside still waters. Now notice, green pastures, still waters. Simple imagery, green pastures is where sheep find food. Still waters is where sheep find drink. So what are we being told here? Here's what we're being told, that God provides for the stuff of life, the things that we need.”

30s

#DeepPlacesDeepFaith

“It's only from the deep dark valleys that we see how great God's compassion, how great his wisdom, how great his goodness, how great his faithfulness really is. Turns out, God forms deep people by taking them into deep places, deep dark valleys with him. So our circumstances change. What else changes? Well, our closeness to God will change. Notice the second part of verse four.”

25s

#PsalmsAreVital

“The New Testament writers picked up this theme, and so the New Testament writers quote the Psalms more than any other Old Testament book. There are at least 400 quotations, allusions, or references to the Psalms. So what are we saying? Here's what we're saying. Psalms are vital to our spiritual life. They shape the heart of Jesus and should shape the heart of a Jesus follower. Yet, for many of us today, we're like, this is like the first time I've heard of that.”

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Summer in the Psalms - Week 1: “When I Need God’s Presence

Devotional

Day 1: The Lord is My Shepherd: Confessing I Can’t Make It Alone

Day 2: Through Dark Valleys: Trusting the Shepherd’s Staff in Change

Day 3: At the Table Prepared: Finding Fullness in God’s Presence

Day 4: Dwelling Forever: When God’s House Becomes Your Home

Day 5: Praying the Shepherd’s Words: Letting Psalm 23 Shape Your Days

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Summer in the Psalms - Week 1: “When I Need God’s Presence

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