The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
July 5, 2026
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      • Psalms 23:1NASB95

  • America The Beautiful
  • Doxology
  • Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory (Battle Hymn)
  • Onward, Christian Soldiers
  • It Is Well With My Soul

  • My Shepherd

    We have choices when it comes to trust, reliance
    Psalm 20:7 NASB95
    Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.
    In Isaiah 30 and forward - Israel placed trust in Egypt instead of Yahweh
    Ultimately - we trust in our own ways and the world, or we trust in the LORD
    Psalm 23 - We are going to read it verse-by-verse - you already know it well
    Embrace the familiarity…

    The LORD is my shepherd

    Focus on this psalm - often on the “shepherd” aspect
    Understood, we will be reminded of what a shepherd does
    A shepherd leads, guides, protects.
    Who, or what, leads, guides, protects you?
    The LORD - Who is my shepherd? The LORD
    YAHWEH is the LORD - this is His name
    Psalm 121:1 NASB95
    I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; From where shall my help come?
    Psalm 121:2 NASB95
    My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
    Joshua 24:15 NASB95
    “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
    We are to be cautious of priorities
    Who do we rely on and trust more than the Lord?
    Many kings and false gods were referred to as ‘shepherd’
    Hammurabi - Babylon - 1792 B.C.
    Shamash - Babylonian god of justice - called ‘shepherd’
    STATEMENT - The LORD is MY Shepherd!
    I love our nation - our nation is not my guide

    I shall not want

    I lack nothing that I need
    The shepherd cares for every need of the sheep
    (Look to the last verse) - forever
    Forever - I lack nothing
    This is the result of me allowing Yahweh to be my shepherd
    This nation, with all its services and programs - can never satisfy spiritually

    Christian Briefly Considers Placing Hope In God After Supreme Court Lets Him Down Again

    Funny - not really - this is how Christians here tend to live

    He makes me lie down in green pastures

    Context - fields were green in winter and spring
    Shepherd led the sheep to other places in summer and fall
    Given opportunity to be nourished
    Given opportunity to rest
    I love this nation - this nation is not always concerned with my well-being

    He leads me beside quiet (still) waters

    Sheep need refreshment, to drink of good water (fast running streams)
    Sheep are afraid of fast running streams
    Shepherd would make a makeshift dam to slow the water, to create ‘quiet waters’ is quiet waters could not be found
    To this point
    He makes me lie down… - but I can refuse to rest
    He leads me to quiet waters - but I can refuse to drink
    My shepherd, who is the Lord, leads me right where I need to be

    He restores my soul - guides me in the paths of righteousness

    For His name’s sake - don’t miss that!
    Joy refreshes - Joy in Jesus is what restores one’s soul
    “O soul are you weary and troubled?’
    Sheep get stressed - the shepherd provides assurance and restoration
    Guidance - yet we must follow the Guide
    We are to follow the paths of righteousness - laid out for us
    What our national and state leaders affirm - not righteousness
    I love our nation - yet it wants me to simply feel good about myself
    MY Shepherd - desires me to feel good about HIM
    His name’s sake
    My life shows to others who my Shepherd is - the path I walk
    Be careful about prideful patriotism
    Start by showing HIS name to be great and worthy of worship

    Even though…

    (V. 4)
    This world is spiritually dark, spiritual dangers surround
    And the Shepherd is there
    We live in, and walk through this world
    And we do not have to fear the evil
    The Shepherd is there
    Comfort in the rod and staff
    Protects with the rod - used against danger
    Corrects with the staff - He cares, so He corrects
    I love this nation - yet it embraces and affirms evil
    Established by God (Romans 13) - yet many of the leaders embrace evil and punish good
    So I am a good citizen, and I worship the LORD - my first loyalty

    Table prepared, Head anointed

    The best picture of comfort, protection, security, care
    Enemy right in front of you - “let’s pause and eat”
    Sheep don’t eat when afraid, when threatened by the enemy
    Here, the Shepherd cares for the sheep and taunts the enemy
    “You can’t touch these sheep!”
    Oil - sheep got banged up, scratched up, sores, etc.
    Each night as they came into the sheepfold, examined
    Anointed/Rubbed with olive oil as medicine
    This is not a religious “anointing” - it is up close and personal care
    Cup overflows
    No doubt He is providing all His goodness
    (Measure, then add more) - never, ever short of His full goodness

    Goodness and Lovingkindness (Mercy)

    God relentlessly pursues, follows
    All the days of this life
    And the eternal life to follow

    I will dwell…

    WILL! There is no doubt
    When the Lord is your Shepherd
    That place is prepared for you
    I love this nation - I’m not living here forever
    So why would I let this nation and its ways guide me?
    CLOSE
    Why am i here?
    Good question
    First, are you following the Shepherd, Jesus?
    If not, he is still leading, urging you to follow
    Second, if you ARE following
    Be encouraged to continue - look around, but then look up!
    Last, if you are following
    There are others who need to be, and you can help them follow
    John 10:16 NASB95
    “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd.
    Let the Shepherd use YOU
    Point others to Him
    You hear his voice
    Invite them to listen, too
    Our nation, celebrating 250 years of independence
    How about 1996 years of freedom from sin??
    We have been called to live here and point to Jesus, the King
    Great freedom here, we can even complain about our nation, because it has its flaws
    Our Great Shepherd has no flaws
    This nation will let you down
    Our Savior will not

      • Psalm 20:7NASB95

      • Psalm 121:1NASB95

      • Psalm 121:2NASB95

      • Joshua 24:15NASB95

      • John 10:16NASB95

  • Thank You, Lord
  • Song Of The Saints

      • Psalms 23:6NASB95

The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
cornerstone@wabash.net
618-723-2779
https://cccnoble.faithlifesites.com
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