Sermon Illustrations from Psalm 23

Psalm 23 might be the most beloved passage in the entire Bible — but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to preach.

If you’ve ever stared at your sermon outline thinking, “How do I make this familiar psalm feel fresh again?” — you’re not alone.

I’ve been preaching for over 20 years, and I’ve wrestled with that very challenge. Psalm 23 is rich, poetic, and deeply comforting… but that very familiarity can make it hard to find illustrations that hit the heart and stick in the mind.

You want more than just, “Sheep are dumb.” You want stories, metaphors, quotes, and visuals that grab attention and point to the Shepherd.

That’s why I’ve spent years collecting and crafting illustrations like these — and even created a course to help pastors find 30 illustrations in 30 seconds using the power of AI and a theological framework that respects the text. You can check out that course here.

These illustrations are for preachers who want to feed the flock — not with fluff, but with clarity, color, and conviction.

If you want a free AI research assistant to help you locate illustrations on ANY topic, check out this course:

Now, on to the sermon illustrations: 

Illustrations on Psalm 23 from History

Sergeant York

In 1918, during the brutal battles of World War I, a deeply religious Tennessee farm boy named Alvin York found himself in the middle of the Meuse-Argonne Offensive — one of the deadliest campaigns of the war. York was a conscientious objector. He hadn’t wanted to fight at all. He believed war conflicted with his Christian faith. But after wrestling with God in prayer and seeking counsel, he decided that if he was going to serve, he would trust God as his Shepherd — even on the battlefield.

Then came the moment that defined him. York and his small squad were ordered to silence a nest of German machine guns. The squad was decimated, leaving York in command — and vastly outnumbered. With no time to retreat, York stood his ground. Calmly. Precisely. He moved through enemy fire with deadly accuracy, reportedly eliminating over 20 enemy soldiers and capturing 132 others — almost entirely by himself.

When asked later how he did it, York simply said, “It was the Lord. He guided me and gave me the courage to go ahead and do what He told me to do.” He didn’t boast. He didn’t credit his skill. He credited his Shepherd.

Psalm 23:1 isn’t just a comfort for quiet pastures. It’s courage for the battlefield. Alvin York stepped into war with a calm confidence that he wouldn’t lack the strength, the clarity, or the guidance he needed — because the Lord was his Shepherd.

(Source: iheart.com)

Franz Jägerstätter's Choice

Franz Jägerstätter was a simple man — a farmer, husband, and father living in a quiet village in Austria. He wasn’t a general. He didn’t lead a movement. But when Nazi Germany annexed Austria, Franz was faced with a choice that would define him.

He was conscripted into Hitler’s army. And he said no. He refused to swear allegiance to a regime he knew opposed Christ’s teachings. He wasn’t a political activist — he was just a man who believed that following Jesus meant refusing to participate in evil.

Everyone tried to convince him otherwise: priests, neighbors, even his own bishop. “Just go along with it,” they said. “Think of your wife and children. Don’t throw your life away.” But Franz couldn’t betray the Shepherd he loved. He was arrested. Imprisoned. Eventually executed — beheaded by the Nazi regime in 1943. And yet… he wrote letters from prison full of peace. He spoke about Christ with joy. He prayed and fasted for others. One letter said, “I am convinced that it is still best that I speak the truth, even if it costs me my life.”

Franz didn’t have comfort. He didn’t have safety. He didn’t even have freedom. But he had peace. He had guidance. He had the presence of his Shepherd. And so he could say, even in a Nazi prison cell: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

(Source: johnpwalshblog.com)

Psalm 23 Illustrations from Science

Bird Migration Patterns

Every year, across the globe, an astonishing migration takes place — one of the longest and most precise journeys in the animal kingdom. The Arctic Tern flies from the Arctic all the way to the Antarctic and back again. That’s nearly 25,000 miles round trip — the longest known migration of any bird.

And here’s what’s wild: they don’t have maps. They don’t have GPS. There are no signposts in the ocean sky. And yet, somehow, these birds find their way, year after year. How? Scientists believe they navigate using the Earth’s magnetic field — something they can’t see, but something that pulls and guides them, even across unfamiliar territory and vast, empty distances.

That’s a picture of what it means to have a Shepherd. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” There are times in life when we can’t see the way ahead. The path feels unfamiliar. The journey is long. And we wonder if we’ll ever make it.

But like the Arctic Tern, there’s a pull. An unseen guidance. The Shepherd is leading — sometimes silently, but always faithfully. And just like those birds find their way home, we will too — not because we’re smart or lucky, but because the Shepherd knows the way.

(Source: allaboutbirds.org)

Photosynthesis

If you’ve ever walked through a forest or looked closely at a leaf in sunlight, you’ve witnessed one of the most incredible systems of provision ever created: photosynthesis. It’s quiet. Invisible. Constant. Plants take sunlight — something intangible — and use it to create food and energy. They breathe in carbon dioxide, drink up water from the roots, and convert it all into life-sustaining sugars. It’s the very process that gives us oxygen to breathe and fruit to eat.

But here’s what’s fascinating: it happens without noise. Without human intervention. Without the plant even knowing it’s being sustained. It’s happening all the time. While you’re sleeping. While you’re walking. Even while you’re worrying about other things.

That’s how God provides. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Not because we see Him moving. Not because we understand every step. But because His provision is often like photosynthesis — invisible, silent, always at work in the background.

We’re often so focused on what we lack that we miss what’s already been given. God is sustaining you right now — breathing life into your soul, providing for your needs, and quietly transforming what looks ordinary into abundance. Just like the leaves on the tree, you are being fed… even when you don’t see it happening.

(Source: wordonfire.org)

Illustrations about Psalm 23 from Psychology and Sociology

Psalm 23 and Attachment Theory

Have you ever watched a small child at a playground? Most kids run and play, but every now and then, they turn to look. Just to make sure mom or dad is still there. That check-in is everything. Psychologists call it “secure attachment.” It’s the idea that when a child has a caregiver who is consistently present, loving, and attentive, that child grows up feeling safe in the world — able to explore, try, risk, and even fail… because they know someone is watching out for them.

It’s not that they won’t fall. It’s not that life will be perfect. But deep down, they believe: “I’ll be okay… because I’m not alone.” That’s exactly what David is expressing in Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

He’s saying, “I’ve got a secure attachment. I know who’s watching over me. I know who walks beside me. I know I’m not alone.” You and I don’t outgrow that need. We’re still checking — still wondering if Someone is watching, still needing assurance that we’re not abandoned. And the gospel says: You’re not. God is not a distant deity or an inconsistent caregiver. He’s a Shepherd — present, attentive, committed. And when that truth sinks in, it produces peace. Rest. Even joy. Because if the Shepherd is near, I shall not want.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

In the world of psychology, one of the most famous diagrams is Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs — a pyramid showing what human beings supposedly need to be fulfilled. At the base: food, water, and shelter. Then safety. Then love and belonging. Then esteem. And finally, at the top, self-actualization — becoming your best self, reaching your full potential.

It makes sense. We all need those things. But here’s the strange reality: even people who reach the top often feel empty. You can have the dream job, the respect of peers, the perfect house, and still feel a void inside. You can check all the boxes and still be restless.

Because our souls weren’t designed just for self-fulfillment. They were designed for a Shepherd. David writes, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” That’s not denial. That’s a declaration of sufficiency. He doesn’t say, “I have everything the world says I need.” He says, “Because I have the Shepherd, I lack nothing essential.”

Maslow describes what humans crave — but Psalm 23 reveals how those cravings are ultimately satisfied. Not through climbing a pyramid, but through walking with the Shepherd.

(Source: simplypsychology.org)

Illustration on Psalm 23 from Art and Music

The Story behind He Leadeth Me

In 1862, during the chaos of the American Civil War, a young pastor named Joseph Gilmore stood in the pulpit of a small church in Philadelphia to preach on Psalm 23. He focused particularly on the phrase, “He leadeth me beside still waters.”

After the sermon, moved by the Spirit, he sat down in the parlor of a deacon’s house and scribbled some verses on a scrap of paper. The words flowed out of him — not polished, not prepared for publication, just honest. “He leadeth me, O blessed thought, O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!”

He handed the paper to his wife and never thought about it again. But without telling him, she sent it to a magazine. Years later, Gilmore visited a church and opened their hymnal — only to find his words set to music. They had gone around the world.

Why did those words resonate so deeply? Because they were born not out of planning, but out of peace. In a time of national division and war, Gilmore clung to the Shepherd’s guidance.

“He leadeth me, O blessed thought…” That’s Psalm 23:1 in poetic form: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” When you don’t know what’s next — trust the One who does. The Shepherd still leads.

(Source: Hymnary.org)

Illustrations on Psalm 23 from Movies

The Pursuit of Happyness tells the true story of Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman in 1980s San Francisco. He invests all his money in a risky business venture — selling portable bone-density scanners — and it fails. One thing after another unravels until he and his young son are homeless. They sleep in subway station bathrooms. Line up at shelters. Eat in soup kitchens.

And yet — Chris keeps going. He studies. He works harder than anyone else in his unpaid internship at a brokerage firm. He refuses to give up. There’s one moment that stands out: a scene where Chris and his son are huddled on a dirty bathroom floor, trying to sleep, and Chris presses his foot against the door to keep it shut from the inside.

Tears fall down his face. Not because he’s weak — but because he’s holding the weight of the world on his shoulders, trying to protect his child. And here’s the thing: his son is safe. His son is fed. His son is never alone.

That’s what Psalm 23:1 looks like sometimes. It’s not always green pastures and still waters. Sometimes it’s a father holding the door shut, whispering, “It’s going to be okay.” Chris Gardner didn’t have everything — but his son had what mattered most: someone to protect him. To lead him. To make sure he didn’t go through it alone.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” That’s not a denial of struggle. It’s a declaration that even in the hardest seasons, I still have what I need.

(Source: somethinglikescales.com)

Finding Nemo

At first glance, Finding Nemo might not seem like a deep spiritual story. It’s about cartoon fish, after all. But look a little closer.

Nemo, a young clownfish, is captured by divers and taken far from home. His father, Marlin, is devastated. He’s anxious. Fearful. Controlling. But when Nemo disappears, all that anxiety turns into something powerful: pursuit. Marlin sets out on a dangerous journey across the ocean. He faces sharks, jellyfish, deep-sea monsters — all for the chance to find his son. He’s not strong. He’s not brave. But he’s determined. Because love leads him.

And what’s Nemo doing through all this? Waiting. Wondering. Hoping. He has no idea how far his father is willing to go to rescue him. That’s us. Sometimes we’re Nemo — lost, afraid, unsure of how to get back. But Psalm 23:1 reminds us that we’re not abandoned. We’re not forgotten. There’s Someone searching. Someone leading. Someone who will cross oceans to get to us. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” We have what we need — not because we never wander, but because the Shepherd never stops pursuing.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Psalm 23 Illustrations from Literature

The Little Prince

In Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved story The Little Prince, a fox makes an unusual request: he asks the prince to tame him.

The prince is confused. “What does that mean?” he asks.

The fox replies, “It means to establish ties.” To become responsible for one another.

Later, as the prince prepares to leave, the fox says something unforgettable: “You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.”

That’s a picture of Psalm 23:1. “The Lord is my shepherd” isn’t just poetic language. It’s a declaration of relationship. God has “tamed” us — not in the sense of control, but in the sense of love. He’s bonded Himself to us. He knows us. He leads us. He takes responsibility for our care. Not because He has to. But because He chooses to.

And that’s why we can say, “I shall not want.” We are not forgotten. We are not abandoned. The One who tamed us — who formed us, who loves us — has made Himself responsible for our well-being. In a world where so many people feel disposable or overlooked, Psalm 23 whispers the opposite: You are seen. You are cared for. And the Shepherd is committed to you — forever.

(Source: misifusa.wordpress.com)

C.S. Lewis's The Silver Chair

In The Silver Chair, part of C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, a young girl named Jill Pole finds herself in a strange and wild land. She’s lost. She’s thirsty. And she stumbles upon a stream.

But there’s a problem. Between her and the water stands Aslan, the great lion — the Christ-figure in the series. Jill hesitates. She’s terrified. She wants to drink, but she’s afraid of the lion. So she asks, “Do you eat girls?”

Aslan replies, “I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms.”

Jill backs away. “Then I dare not come and drink.”

And Aslan calmly says, “Then you will die of thirst.”

There’s no other stream. She has to trust the lion to get what she needs. That’s the message of Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

Sometimes the provision is right in front of us — but we’re afraid to approach. We hesitate because trust feels risky. But like Jill, we discover that there’s no other source of life. No other stream. No other Shepherd. And once you trust Him, you realize: He isn’t there to devour you — He’s there to lead you. To satisfy your soul. To give you water that will never run dry.

(Source: cslewisinstitute.org)

Metaphorical Illustrations for God Shepherding Us

• God is the GPS that never loses signal.

Even when the road is unfamiliar or foggy, His guidance never drops — He knows where you’re going even when you don’t.

• A shepherd’s crook is like a seatbelt.

It may restrict movement or pull you back at times, but it’s only ever for your safety — to keep you from flying into danger.

• God’s provision is like a thermostat.

It doesn’t always match our preferences, but it’s constantly working to give us exactly what we need to thrive — not too much, not too little.

• The Shepherd’s care is like Wi-Fi.

You can’t see it, but you notice when it’s missing — and once connected, it keeps you grounded, directed, and sustained.

Psalm 23 Illustrations from Poetry

The Lamb

In William Blake’s poem “The Lamb”, he writes:

“He is meek and He is mild,

He became a little child;

I a child and thou a lamb,

We are called by His name.”

Blake connects innocence, tenderness, and divine care with the image of the Lamb — echoing both Jesus as the Lamb of God and us as His sheep. It’s a poetic echo of Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The Shepherd became the Lamb — and in doing so, made us His forever.

Gerard Manley Hopkins Writings

In his poem “Thou art indeed just, Lord”, Hopkins pleads:

“Mine, O thou lord of life, send my roots rain.”

It’s a cry of someone who trusts God’s justice, yet feels spiritually dry — still believing the Shepherd will provide. Even when the soul feels parched, the poet leans into the truth of Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” He knows the rain will come. The roots will be fed. The Shepherd will not forget His sheep.

Quotes about Psalm 23

“The Lord is my shepherd is a sentiment carved into tombstones, but often not lived in life.”— Dallas Willard

Willard’s words challenge us: it’s easy to recite Psalm 23 at funerals, but do we really live as if we have a Shepherd? Living like “I shall not want” means trusting God in real, practical decisions — not just admiring the verse from a distance.

“The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.”— A.W. Tozer

Tozer captures the heart of Psalm 23:1 — when the Lord is your Shepherd, you’re not truly lacking anything, because you have the Source. You may not possess every comfort, but if you have God, you already have enough.

Illustrations from the First-Century Greco-Roman World

First Century Rome and Shepherds

In first-century Roman society, shepherds were looked down on — often viewed as dirty, untrustworthy, and socially inferior. They lived outside the city, with the animals, far from respectability.

So when David — a king — says, “The Lord is my shepherd,” he flips the cultural expectation. He compares God not to a general or emperor, but to the lowest servant who lovingly tends to sheep. It’s a radical image of divine humility and care — and it shows how close and personal God is willing to get to guide and provide for His people.

Patronage

In ancient Rome, daily life ran on a system called patronage — wealthy patrons provided protection and resources in exchange for loyalty from their clients. But this system was often transactional, and clients were easily discarded.

Psalm 23:1 offers a stark contrast: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” God isn’t a fickle patron — He’s a faithful Shepherd. He provides not because we earn it, but because He is good. His provision flows from relationship, not obligation.

In a culture of performance-based provision, David introduces a revolutionary truth: God gives because He loves.

Illustrations from the Early Church

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

Before crosses became the symbol of Christianity, the early church in Rome used a different image on their tombs and catacombs: Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Carved into stone and painted on walls, Jesus was shown carrying a lamb on His shoulders — not judging, not enthroned, but gentle and close.

This wasn’t just art. It was theology. In a time of persecution and fear, they clung to the comfort of Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” They believed that no matter what happened — arrest, hunger, even death — they were being carried.

Tertullian's Writings

Tertullian, writing in the late 2nd and early 3rd century, defended the faith during intense Roman persecution. He famously said: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

These believers weren’t “wanting,” even when they had nothing — no rights, no legal protection, no earthly comfort. What they had was a Shepherd. They sang hymns in prisons. They forgave their torturers. They faced lions and flames with peace in their eyes. Because to them, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” wasn’t a poetic phrase — it was a daily reality. God was with them. God was enough.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Illustrations from Biblical Parallels

Elijah and the Widow's Flour

Elijah was living during a severe drought — famine had spread across the land. People were dying. Crops failed. Water ran dry. And God sent Elijah… not to a palace. Not to a wealthy patron. But to a widow. And not just any widow — a starving one.

When Elijah arrived in Zarephath, he saw her gathering sticks. He asked for water and bread. She replied, “I have only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I’m gathering a few sticks to make a last meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it — and die.”

But Elijah gave her a word from God: “Do not fear… the flour shall not be spent, and the oil shall not be empty.” And that’s exactly what happened. Day after day, meal after meal, the jar was never empty. The oil never ran dry. God didn’t give her a warehouse of flour — He gave her daily provision, one handful at a time.

That’s the essence of Psalm 23:1 — “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Not because I have everything all at once… but because the Shepherd gives enough for today. And He’ll do it again tomorrow. Whether you’re facing drought, uncertainty, or scarcity — your Shepherd is still in charge of the jar and the jug. He will not let you be in want.

(Source: workingpreacher.org)

The Exodus

The Israelites were newly freed from Egypt — but now they were in the wilderness, hungry and afraid. They started grumbling, wondering if God had brought them out just to let them starve. Then, manna appeared. Bread from heaven. Daily provision. Just enough for each day.

If they tried to hoard it, it spoiled. If they trusted, they were fed. It was God saying, “I see you. I will feed you. But I want you to depend on Me — not the supply.” Psalm 23:1 echoes that same truth: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Not because we store enough, but because He is faithful every morning.

Illustrations from Modern Day

Churches in the Pandemic

When the world shut down in 2020, fear and scarcity swept through neighborhoods. Grocery shelves were empty. Jobs disappeared. People were isolated and uncertain.

But something else happened too. In city after city, local churches became distribution centers of hope. Volunteers handed out food boxes. Pastors delivered groceries. Some congregations set up free hot meal stations or partnered with food banks to feed thousands.

These weren’t mega-churches with deep pockets. Often, they were small churches with big faith. One church in Atlanta distributed more than one million pounds of food in a matter of months — not because they had abundance, but because they trusted the Shepherd to provide and poured out what they had.

It was Psalm 23:1 in action: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The Shepherd not only fed His people — He used His people to feed others.

Provision in Ukraine

In the midst of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, stories emerged not just of devastation, but of resilience — and divine provision. One widow, living in a small town occupied by Russian troops, had no heat, no electricity, and no income. Yet each day, she baked loaves of bread for Ukrainian soldiers and neighbors who passed through.

When asked how she had flour and oil to keep baking, she simply smiled and said, “I pray. And it never runs out.” Others in her village testified — she gave more than she received, yet somehow, her pantry was never empty. In a war zone, with no resources and no guarantee of tomorrow, she lived the truth of Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Not because her life was easy — but because her trust was unshaken.

Illustrations from Fables, Legends and Folklore

The Boy who Cried Wolf

You probably know the story: a young shepherd boy, bored and mischievous, repeatedly shouts, “Wolf! Wolf!” when there’s no danger. The villagers come running — only to find it was a false alarm.

Eventually, when the wolf really does come, the boy cries out again… but no one believes him. And the sheep are lost. It’s a tale about trust — and about the consequences of failed leadership. The boy, tasked with caring for the sheep, wasn’t ready. He didn’t take the role seriously.

Contrast that with Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” When God is your Shepherd, you’re not under the care of someone careless, impulsive, or unreliable. You’re in the hands of One who never lies, never abandons, and always shows up when it matters most.

Aesop's The Bundle of Sticks

In the story, an old man calls his sons together. They’ve been quarreling and drifting apart. He hands them a bundle of sticks tied together and says, “Try to break it.” They struggle — no one can. Then he unties the bundle, hands each one a single stick, and says, “Now break them.”

They snap easily. The lesson? Together, they are strong. Divided, they are weak. It’s a message about unity — but it also reveals something about provision and care. On their own, each stick is vulnerable. But when gathered and bound by a greater hand, they are protected.

That’s the message of Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” The Shepherd gathers the scattered. Binds the weak together. He protects. Provides. And gives us strength we don’t have alone.

Illustrations from Other Cultures

Maasai Shepherds

In Maasai culture, cattle are not just animals — they are life. Wealth, status, and survival revolve around livestock. And every Maasai shepherd knows his herd intimately. He walks among them, sleeps near them, and knows them by name and temperament. He knows which ones are weak, which ones are pregnant, which ones tend to wander.

He’ll risk injury or even face predators to protect his cattle — because their well-being is his identity. Now imagine David — once a shepherd himself — saying, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” He isn’t picturing a distant, managerial God. He’s describing the kind of Shepherd who walks among His sheep, who knows them deeply, and whose very reputation is tied to their care.

In the Maasai’s fierce, tender guardianship, we see a glimpse of God’s own heart.

Illustrations from U.S. History

The Donner Party

In 1846, a group of 87 pioneers known as the Donner Party set out from Illinois, aiming to reach California. Along the way, they took an untested shortcut called the Hastings Cutoff — and it proved disastrous. They faced harsh terrain, broken wagons, and early snow in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Trapped by winter, starving, and desperate, many of them died. Some even resorted to cannibalism to survive.

Why? Because their leadership failed. Their provisions ran out. And when they needed guidance most, they had none. It’s one of the darkest cautionary tales in American history — a vivid picture of what happens when there is no shepherd.

Psalm 23:1 is the opposite: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” When God leads, His people are not abandoned in the wilderness. His direction is trustworthy. His provision doesn’t run out. And even in winter, He makes a way.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Valley Forge

The Continental Army was cold, hungry, and nearly broken. At Valley Forge, George Washington’s men endured brutal winter conditions — frostbite, disease, lack of supplies, and nearly no food. Some wrapped their feet in rags. Many had no blankets. They were soldiers in name, but more like starving farmers with muskets.

And yet — they stayed. They trained. They didn’t scatter. Because Washington stayed too. He walked among the tents. He ate what they ate. He knelt in the snow to pray. One officer wrote that it was Washington’s unshakeable faith and presence that kept the army from falling apart.

Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Washington couldn’t provide every comfort — but his quiet leadership mirrored the Shepherd’s role: present in suffering, steady under pressure, guiding his people through the darkest valley until spring came.

Sports Illustrations on Psalm 23

The Catch

It was the NFC Championship game: Cowboys vs. 49ers, January 1982. With less than a minute left, the 49ers trailed by six. Joe Montana took the snap and rolled right, pressure closing in. At the last possible second, he lofted a high pass to the back of the end zone.

Dwight Clark leapt, stretched, and caught it with his fingertips — “The Catch.” It’s one of the most famous plays in football history. But behind that moment was something even more remarkable: Joe Montana’s unshakable calm. Under pressure, with chaos closing in, Montana didn’t flinch. His confidence didn’t come from the scoreboard — it came from knowing the plan and trusting his training.

That’s the peace Psalm 23:1 points to: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” It’s not the absence of pressure. It’s the presence of peace — the assurance that the One guiding you doesn’t panic when the pocket collapses.

Little Known or Forgotten Characters

Brother Andrew: God's Smuggler

During the Cold War, when Communist regimes outlawed Christianity in Eastern Europe, Brother Andrew felt a call: to bring Bibles behind the Iron Curtain. Armed with nothing but a beat-up Volkswagen Beetle and unwavering faith, he packed it full of Bibles and drove across borders patrolled by armed guards.

He prayed simple but bold prayers — like this one: “Lord, when You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, make seeing eyes blind.” Time after time, guards searched his car… and somehow, never saw the Bibles.

He faced danger, surveillance, arrest — but he kept going. Because he believed: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” He didn’t have a security team. He didn’t have backup plans. He had a Shepherd. And that was enough.

Brother Andrew eventually delivered over a million Bibles into places that desperately needed the Word of God. And he lived his whole life trusting that provision followed obedience.

Mary Slessor

Mary Slessor grew up in poverty in Dundee, Scotland, working long hours in a mill to help support her family. But God had placed Africa on her heart. At a time when few women went overseas — and fewer still alone — she boarded a ship to Calabar, Nigeria, determined to bring the gospel to tribes untouched by Western missions.

She went deep into regions where even men feared to go. The locals called her “White Ma.” She adopted abandoned children, intervened in tribal disputes, and became a fierce advocate for the twins who were often seen as cursed and left to die. She lived in a mud hut. Slept on the floor. Ate what the locals ate. Faced malaria, heat, and heartbreak. But she never wavered.

When asked how she could endure such hardship, she said simply: “God and one are always a majority.” Mary Slessor lived Psalm 23:1: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

She didn’t have wealth, comfort, or security. But she had purpose, peace, and provision — because her Shepherd never failed her.

Illustrations on Psalm 23 from Court Cases

United States v. One Book Called Ulysses (1933).

In 1933, a U.S. federal court was asked to rule not on a person, but on a book — James Joyce’s Ulysses, which had been banned for being “obscene.” The judge had to decide: Is this book dangerous? Could reading it corrupt someone?

He ultimately ruled that the book was not obscene, saying literature must be judged as a whole, not by its most shocking parts. It was a landmark moment for freedom of expression — but it also raised a deeper question: What shapes the soul? Psalm 23:1 offers a different vision. It doesn’t say we need to sift through every source to find meaning. It says there is a Shepherd — someone to guide your thoughts, guard your heart, and feed your soul.

The world may debate what’s dangerous. But the believer doesn’t walk blindly. We walk under the guidance of the One who ensures we shall not want.

United States v. Washington (1974) 

In the early 1970s, Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest were in crisis. They were being denied fishing rights promised to them in 19th-century treaties. Their main source of food and cultural identity was disappearing — all while state officials clamped down harder.

Then came United States v. Washington (1974) — and Judge George Boldt. In a ruling that shocked the nation, Judge Boldt declared that the treaties must be honored. Tribes were entitled to up to 50% of the fish harvest — not as a handout, but as their right.

His decision was unpopular. He received threats. His integrity was questioned. But he didn’t waver. He simply upheld the promise. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

In a world of broken systems and unmet needs, this judge — though imperfect — reflected something divine: a shepherd-figure who ensured that those who had long been denied could finally say, “We are not in want.” God is that Shepherd — always just, always keeping His Word, even when others won’t.

Little known or Interesting Facts

Sheep

Most people think sheep are simple, even dumb. But science says otherwise. Studies have shown that sheep can recognize up to 50 individual faces — both of other sheep and of humans — and remember them for over two years.

They know who feeds them. They know who frightens them. They know their shepherd. So when Jesus said in John 10, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them,” — He wasn’t being poetic. He was being biologically accurate.

Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” We don’t follow a stranger. We follow someone we recognize, someone we trust. And just like sheep, the more we stay near the Shepherd, the more we know His voice.

(Source: Wikipedia)

Shepherding in Iceland

In Iceland, sheep are let loose to roam the vast countryside in summer. For months, they wander over mountains, rivers, and rugged terrain — often miles from the farm. And then comes réttir — the annual roundup.

Shepherds mount horses, ride into the highlands, and begin the long process of finding and bringing every sheep home. They don’t shoot flares. They don’t use GPS collars. They go by memory, instinct, and relationship — calling out to sheep who know their voice. Even after months apart, the sheep come.

That’s the kind of Shepherd Psalm 23:1 speaks of: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Even when we wander, even when we forget our way, He remembers. He comes. He calls. And He brings us home.

(Source: icelandair.com)

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Explore More Resources:

Sermon Illustration Complete Index

The Best AI Prompts for Sermon Prep

How to Find Better Sermon Illustrations