Well, I know nothing else to do but read the twenty-third Psalm. So shall we turn to that blessed chapter? It has been so rightfully called the Pearl of Psalm. And it has also been called the Shepherd Psalm. How blessed to recognize the value of it. One has said it is probably the first Psalm that we ever learn in life. and it is also the last one that we enjoy in life. For it is precious to the young and it is also precious even to the age at the end of the road. But here are the words of the beloved psalmist as he writes this shepherd's psalm. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green patches He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His namespace. 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. Thou prepareest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Tis one of the most precious psalms in the word of God we know. coming between two great psalms the one preceding it being the twenty second often called the psalm of the cross the one that follows it the twenty fourth often called the psalm of the crown psalm twenty two pictures the good shepherd in death giving his life for the sheep psalm twenty three pictures the great shepherd of the sheep caring for them Psalm twenty four pictures the chief shepherd who is coming again in glory how precious to realize the setting of this wonderful Psalm there are many sermons that have been preached and will yet be preached on this wonderful Psalm and many varied ones but I want in simplicity tonight to bring before your heart as well as your conscience Three facts that are revealed in this wonderful Psalm and its precious truth. One is, and first, it reveals the secret of a happy life. Second, it reveals the secret of a happy death. And third, it reveals the secret of a happy eternity. I don't believe you could want anything better than that. The secret of a happy life. the secret of a happiness and the secret of a happy eternity the most important words of the psalm are perhaps the first five the introduction upon which all is based when a person can say the Lord is my shepherd only five words you can count the words on the fingers of one hand and you will find of the five words the little personal pronoun my is the most important he does not say the Lord is a shepherd though true neither does it say the Lord is the shepherd and that is true but it says the Lord is my shepherd I never forget the incident that has been recorded from an incident that took place in First World War I. There was a British chaplain who every time the boys of his regiment were to go up to the front lines, he gathered them together before they departed and he read them the Shepherd Psalm, the twenty-third. as he read the psalm he explained to them the importance of the first five words he reminded them of the necessity they needed Christ as a personal failure when his message was finished it was his custom to say to the men boys please remember these five words the Lord is my shepherd and then he said if possible take a pencil and mark the fingers of your hand and representing one word on each finger of these five the Lord is my shepherd and he emphasized the meaning of that index finger that the savior should be personally known and confessed and possessed as their own savior after one of the battles it was called the battle of bullock horse following the battle they were looking upon the field of battle for any slain and wounded and they found one of the bodies of its regiment and when they found the land completely dead dead he had died on the battlefield but they found that his right hand was gripping the index finger of the other saying in death the lord is my shepherd oh beloved what a truth it is these five words are the most important of the whole song that you and I may be able to say the Lord is my shepherd the personal possession of the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can you call in yours can you say he is mine for the important fact concerning your soul's welfare both in time and at death and through eternity is to be able to say with assurance the Lord is my shepherd now may I make it as simple as possible how you can make him your shepherd how you can make him your personal savior John the Apostle wrote in the first chapter of his gospel John wrote in chapter one verse eleven and twelve these words saying he came unto his own and his own received him not a remark that referred to the Jews the earthly people of God the Savior came to his own people and his own received him not then John follows by saying but to as many as received him to then gave me the right the privilege the authority the power to become the sons or the children of God even to them that believe on his name may I emphasize it is important that you and I receive him as our personal Lord and Savior to say with assurance with the psalmist the Lord is My shepherd. I have received him for my very own. Oh my beloved friend. Have you never received the Lord Jesus into your heart? Have you never received him as your personal savior? Have you never appropriated him by faith and said Lord Jesus I received thee for my savior today? There is no other one who can save you. for Peter said neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved and my beloved it is the Savior you need and you can appropriate by faith into your heart that blessed Savior if you will and then you will say the Lord is my shepherd now may I dwell with you for the moments together on the three great truths when one can say the Lord is my shepherd they have found the secret of a happy life the secret of a happy death and the secret of a happy eternity first of all the secret of a happy life and may I repeat again you'll never have a happy life as God can give it to you until Christ becomes your Savior what is written a lovely chorus we often think if you want joy real joy let Jesus come into your heart and how true it is it is Christ becoming the possession of the heart and the Savior of the soul that is the secret of a happy life. Note very quickly and thoroughly as possible as we go down the chapter. The happiness that is given to those who have the Saviour. For know what the Psalmist says. The Lord is my shepherd and first I shall not want. Inclining without question of doubt I shall be satisfied. satisfaction may I say that no one satisfies the soul like the Lord Jesus I shall not want and as the original suggests it means nothing shall I lack and what a joy to know that the heart that is Christ has satisfaction and that satisfaction is in the possession of Christ's failure. May I quote incidentally the words of Paul written in Philippians four in verse eleven and I quote them from the translation of J.M. Darby that I appreciate which says I have learned in those circumstances in which I am to be satisfied in myself and the joy of knowing there is an inward satisfaction that exceeds and is greater than the outward circumstances of one's life to have an inward satisfaction and that inward satisfaction to Paul was Christ and in all the circumstances that he found himself there was a satisfaction within that nothing could take away and that satisfaction was none other than the possession of Christ the Lord is my shepherd not only satisfaction the psalmist goes on to say there will be contentment he maketh me to lie down in green pastures and leadeth me beside still waters contentment the green pastures the pastures of the Word of God with their food for the child of God that is found in him and beloved me I say when the Lord Jesus was here we looked upon the people he saw the multitude as sheep that had no shepherd and his heart went out to them in compassion they were discontented they were not being fed the green pastures of the fruits of God when the Lord is my shepherd The green pastures of the word of God. And the still waters of this precious book. The water of life for the soul. Give blessed contentment. Oh my beloved. How precious to be one of his sheep. How blessed to have. The contentment that only Christ can give. and to graze in the pastures of his precious words to feed the soul to drink of the still waters of peace that are found in the pages of this book through the Savior but go further if you will please there is not only satisfaction and contentment but there is peace as you have the same picture that still waters reminding us not only of contentment but peace and there is in verse three restoration he restores my soul he leadeth me in the acts of righteousness for his name's sake there is the assurance of restoration as in the path of life I may stumble as in the path of life I meet difficulties I may stray but there is restoration and thank God for such a shepherd. One of the loveliest hymns that has blessed the heart in younger days has been that children's hymn that declares, though I forget him and wander away, still he does love me wherever I pray. That's so his dear loving arms do I flee when I remember that Jesus loves me. He restores my soul. my beloved one is joyous to have such a shepherd who goes after the wandering sheep who restores the straying ones of the flock to bring them back to himself and then to give them his guidance he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for it makes me would you like to be walking in the paths of righteousness No one but the good shepherd can lead you in such paths. That precious hymn, I saw the words of that hymn in their original script. You're upon the wall of a certain man that I knew in the city where I once lived in the north. Written by Henry Gilmore, He leadeth me, O blessed of thought, O words with heavenly comfort, wrought. Whatever I be, wherever I do, wherever I be, still is God's hand. That leadeth me. He leadeth me. Oh, blessed thought. What joy it is to be guided by this shepherd. And may I say, he's never lost a sheep. I give unto my sheep eternal life. and they shall never perish neither shall any pluck them out of my hand my father who gave them me is greater than all neither shall any pluck them out of my father's hand I am my father a one and beloved if I am addressing my words to a soul who has not this shepherd may I assure you of his ability to keep the soul who puts his and her trust in him he's never lost one and he will bring them home safe to the eternity above at the end of the pilgrimage below and I would assure you my friend if you are not saved he can save you and he will not only save you he will keep you hallelujah kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed at the last time he leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake and for his name's sake he will keep you right to the end praise his name he then knows something else please if you go down with me to verse five he brings a similar thought As he said in verse five, thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Oh, our precious to realize, his protective provision, thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. And my beloved, the believer who knows Christ, has a threefold enemy, the world, the flesh, and the devil. and in the presence of the threefold enemy there is constantly divine provision to feed the sheep thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies and as david the shepherd lad took care of the sheep and watched for the enemy the bear the lion as well as men he fed the sheep And it was the table of provision, thus given for them, as they went their way following the shepherd. They were protected by his own blessed hand. And what joy we can recognize in the very present where the world and the enemies of the believer and of God in Christ dwells, the believer has a table. There is a psalm that says, can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Can He furnish a table in the wilderness? And God did that for the people of Israel for forty years. And through the wilderness journey, God fed them. And forty years, three times a day at least, they were fed as they gathered the manner each day. they were fed for the whole dense supply for forty years the disciples wondered if the Lord Jesus could see five thousand with five loaves and two fishes and they forgot and did not realize who he was and what he had done for approximately two and a half to three million people for forty years in the wilderness oh beloved what a shepherd said that guided through the wilderness these earthly people and fed them all along the way till they reached the promised land my beloved this is the secret of a happy life he prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies more than that thou anointest my head with oil there's not only protection but there is the healing from the wounds that the sheep and inflicted upon them as they travel the faulty bushes, the rough ground, the falls perhaps over the ravines as the shepherd protected and guided and guarded them. And how he ministered to them when their wounds were existing and he poured the healing oil upon the sores of their heads or their feet and their body as thus they were in need of it. My beloved, there are many wounds in life. We know it. But there's only one who can pour in the oil and the wine and heal. And that's the Blessed Lord Jesus. What a shepherd. And then though, not only healing, you go into verse five, he says, My cup runneth over. My portion runs over. For as the shepherd thought, as the shepherd was thinking of those cups of water, do you ever notice something? Sheep will never drink from running water. You never find sheep drinking from running water. The water has to be filled. And then the shepherd also, in the full, may have had vessels that he poured the water in, cups for them to drink from. And, well, he'd fill it to the full and even over the brim. My cup runeth over. I think of a dear old lady that said, My cup runeth over and my saucer too. Well, would it be to God that we realize what blessing the portion of the believer's heart and life can be filled when the Lord is my shepherd. And yes, as you conclude the thought in verse six and the first part of it, The concluding exhortation is, and confession, surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And you can recognize, as we were singing tonight, the truth of those words, certainly goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. Why? Just one reason. Because the Lord is my shepherd. Hallelujah. The joy of knowing this shepherd. It is the secret of a happy life. But then we said. It is the secret of a happy death. Oh yes beloved it is. For what a joy to realize. that this shepherd is not only concerned with my life he's concerned with my death and he assures me knowing him as my shepherd I shall have a happy death no verse four to which we retract our comment verse four the psalmist said 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 now let me apply it to what may be one of the most solemn and serious and perhaps fearful experiences that men and women face and oftentimes with terror and yet for one who has besheven their needs be no fear there is no necessity to not have any fear of that valley of the shadow of death as we come to the end of the road. Now note certain facts in the verse. As the shepherd makes his confession, as David makes his confession. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Now will you note the first emphasis is on the word walk. Yea, though I walk For as he speaks of the word walk, he declares, When I come to that valley, I will not run. I will not be panic-stricken. I will not be alarmed, but I will have composure. There will be composure. When I come to that valley, I shall take it in perfect stride. all what composure in death blessed composure because the Lord is my shepherd there is not only composure but the psalmist said there will also be and note what follows confidence I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death in the hills of Judea when David was the shepherd lad and even today there were many canyons some of those canyon walls would reach five hundred feet high some of them were very narrow and the shepherd would lead his flock through them and the sheep would follow with confidence and the psalmist expresses the truth when the Lord is my shepherd and I come to the valley of the shadow of them I will not only have composure I will have confidence I'm going through I'm going through and what joy to recognize the confidence of one who as the shepherd as his or her own savior when that valley of death comes, the confidence of going through it. There's one thing it's you. You'll never stay in that valley. You're going through it. Going through it. There's another side to it. And the other side is the death sign. And oh the joy of recognizing The soul that is Christ as their shepherd and savior has confidence in going through this experience. Oh, I remember a beloved brother whom many of you would know by name if I mentioned him. He's now with the Lord. Telling me that he thought on one occasion he was going home to be with the Lord. And he said, Brother Graham Hall, he said I was anxious to go through with him. and find out the experience what would it be to go through that valley and most people you know want to run away from it don't you but oh the joy of knowing when Christ is my shepherd and Savior I'm going through and with confidence then know something else he not only has composure he not only has confidence but he has courage yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will feel no evil no evil my beloved may I say when that time comes all the evil will be behind the evil of a wicked world the evil of an adversary whose name is Satan and his power will be left behind the evil even of the flesh which with its shortcomings we are so prone to manifest all the evil will be left behind and as I go through that valley I need fear no evil and there can be courage for there's nothing to fear you know I'm glad I'm saying You say why? Because I know it's going to be easy to die than if I were not saved. I'll tell you the saddest experience in one's Christian ministry is having a funeral of an unsaved person. I don't think I've ever been in the depths of sadness and despondency except when I've had to take the funeral of unclaimed persons. I think of two girls, both of them had attended some of my meetings as children. Years ago, both of them killed in an accident about the same time. A double funeral, and neither of them had ever trusted the Lord. And the mother, unfortunately, I must confess, had led them astray. And I tell you, that was a bitter funeral. to attend beloved I'm glad I'm saved can I ask you the question my friend listen are you afraid to die face it do you know the shepherd do you know the shepherd for when that day comes for one who knows the shepherd I will fear no evil. I did not. There was not only composure and confidence and courage. Best of all, there was a companion. For thou art with me. Thou art with me. And I wonder if you've ever noticed. when you read this psalm before you come to the fourth verse he writes about the shepherd but in verse four he speaks to the shepherd and says thou art with me my beloved may I say it frankly it may not be the happy subject but I tell you that it is a subject for a happy death but may I suggest to you look praise this Every one of us normally will come to that place. We will come to that experience. Now, shall we be able to say with confidence and joy and assurance, thou art with me? Never will I forget, a Christian friend up in South Carolina said to me, Mr. Graham Hall, would you please go and visit one of my former workmen? an old colored fella she said an old colored man has been a servant in our family for years and she said i believe he's born again but he's got heart trouble and he will not live very long i said i'll be glad to go visit him and you know i went to see that dear old fella it's a cold winter day i knocked at the door young girl came to the door i fed his uncle jim in they called him Uncle Jim his name was Jim Vaughan she said we call him Uncle Jim I said his Uncle Jim in she said yes come in and I stepped into the room and there was the old man sitting in front of a fire the day was cold he was wrapped in his clothes he was wrapped in an overcoat he had a blanket around him and under and before the fireplace he sat with a tray of food upon his lamp just about to begin his dinner and I looked and said apologetically, Uncle Jim, I'm sorry I came at your dinner time. But I said, Uncle Jim, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk with you while you eat. He said, all right, boss. And I said, Uncle Jim, I understand you know a very good friend of mine. Who dad, boss? I said, the Lord Jesus Christ. he said the Lord the Lord he said and then he did something I don't think I would have done he said to the girl here take my plate I threw I threw and the fried chicken and the rice and the corn bread went away he would touch a mouthful and I didn't know whether this preacher would have done that not he said I'm true I'm true and then he said the Lord he's so great he's so high He up there, but he down here with me. I thought he'd have another heart attack. But he didn't. He didn't live long afterward, though. But he knew the shepherd was with him. Hold him a little bit. Frankly, we don't know how we're going, do we? Neither do we know when we're going. But beloved, let's make sure we know with whom we're going. When that moment comes, thou art with me. And then note, he not only had a companion, he had comfort. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. for all through the shepherd life the shepherd watched and cared for the sheep he had two weapons usually there were about three weapons three things that the shepherd carried two were for weapons but he had a staff he had a rod and he had a sling but the sheep knew that rod and staff was for their comfort, protection all along the way. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. That rod had protected the sheep from the enemies around and the marauders that would take the life of the sheep. And that staff had been the source of guidance and deliverance again and again. together with the implement of the sling that was often also used. And what the shepherd had done to care for his sheep through life was the comfort that even in death he will still be faithful. For what he has been, that he will be. And what joy to realize the secret of a happy death. As we see the composure the confidence, the courage, the companion, and the comfort when we go through that valley. Can I say it lovingly? My dear friend, let's realize we must face that valley. If our Lord did not come for us, then may we know the Lord is my shepherd and I found the secret of a happy day. last of all at the close of the psalm and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever the secret of a happy eternity my beloved may I say the happy life will only be for a number of years the happy death will be very much shorter than that but the happy eternity will be forever and ever forever and ever forever and ever and because the Lord is my shepherd I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever oh beloved the joyous knowing there is a happy eternity can I read one verse in contrast before closing in the book of Revelation chapter fourteen please these solemn words are written and I would set them before you as a vivid contrast to what we have mentioned is the happy eternity chapter fourteen I would like to read verses ten and eleven and listen to the solemn words they do not reveal a happy eternity they reveal the most unhappy eternity a soul can ever experience The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever. And they have no rest day nor night. who worships a beast and his image and whosoever receiveth a mark of his name may i link it with one more verse in revelation twenty and verse fifteen the closing verse may i read the solemn words verse fifteen of chapter twenty in the revelation and whosoever was not found written in the book of light was cast into the lake of fire What a contract in eternity. Beloved, we would just say simply the words of the poem. Eternity, eternity, where will you spend eternity? Tis heaven or hell for you and me. Make now your choice. Which shall it be? And beside you stands pleading the blessed Lord Jesus, who is the good shepherd, gave his life and shed his precious blood to save your soul. And bring to you the blessings of a happy life. The blessing of a happy death. And the blessing of a happy eternity. My friend, do you not wish to receive tonight the Lord Jesus as your Savior and have this blessedness of a happy life, a happy death and a happy eternity. Oh, beloved, if you think it's a happy place to be a part of God, you have never been in eternity yet. For it's even greater and more blessed when we get home to the Father's house above. May every one of us be able to say with assurance and confidence, the Lord is my shepherd. Shall we pray? Blessed Father, it was thyself who did give the good shepherd, sending him from the glory above to seek the sheep that was lost. We thank thee he loved the lost sheep and in pity and compassion when did his way to save that lost one by going to the cross to pay the penalty and price for our sins we thank thee father he still waits to save tonight if there be one within our midst who needs this shepherd who knows within his or her heart I need Christ the Son of God as my Savior may the Holy Spirit convict them of that need so greatly they will this moment say Lord Jesus I will trust thee trust thee with my soul guilty lost and helpless thou canst make me whole there is none in heaven nor an earth like thee, thou hast died for sinners. Therefore, Lord, for me. As we close the conference, tis our deep and earnest petition, Father, every one will have the joy of a happy life, a happy death, a happy eternity, all because of staining from their soul, The Lord is my shepherd. For we ask it in thy holy name, Lord Jesus, and for thy glory. Amen.