Living for the Good Shepherd

-


Scripture: Psalm 23:1-6 (NIV)

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2      He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3      he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

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 your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

 

            Psalm 23 is the best known and most loved psalm in the Bible. People through the ages have sought comfort from these words, and rightly so. Unfortunately, we usually only hear the psalm read at funerals or in hours of deep physical need. Perhaps today we can take another look at this classic piece of scripture through a new lens. A lens of life lived in quiet submission to the great Shepherd of our souls. Maybe we can discern a way to live a life of loving relationship with our God in between times of sickness, suffering, and loss.

 

            To be honest the genesis of these thoughts comes from my thesis advisor at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, Dr. Jerome Creach. While the use of this psalm for encouragement and comfort in time of need is fully supported. But since the poetry of the writer is so deep, we should feel at home seeking to find even deeper meanings in these six short verses.

 

            Verse 1 starts off in the familiar way. However, we can expand on the thought that comes frequently to mind that this refers only to God’s provision for us in death. It carries with it the very present meaning that we will lack nothing in life as well. While all people suffer want for material goods at some point in their life, God provides what is truly needed to those who commit to follow His ways.

 

            Our God not only provides safety and comfort in death, but he also walks with us as our Shepherd all during our lives. In verses 2 through 4 we see this played out. God being our shepherd provides rest and provision all during our life. With God as our protector, we need not be afraid of anything man or devil can do to us. Though we will get sick, injured, or suffer from mental illness that cause us darkness and pain for a time we are assured of deliverance by the hand of the great shepherd.

 

            In the last two verses of the psalm the language changes. No longer are we taken care of by a shepherd, but rather by a sweet friend. One who keeps us safe in life’s trials and causes us to be at ease even in the presence of our enemies. The psalmist guarantees a full life. One that will make death so much sweeter when we reach the end.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more