Calm Waters in Chaos

Good morning Journey we are concluding our series on the Story of David today and I have titled this Message, Calm Waters in Chaos. I want you to open your bibles to the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms was written by several authors over the course of 1,000 years and was compiled by a man named Ezra. Psalms are really 5 books combined into one, with each of the 5 books ending with this statement “Praise the Lord or Amen”. The book of Psalms is divided in 5 ways similarly seen in the Torah. The word psalms in the Hebrew actually means to praise or to shine. It's no wonder that psalms is a book of poetry, music, meditation, but mostly it is a book of worship. Not only did it function as the hymn book for ancient Israel and even today, but it is also a guide on how the church today writes worship songs. What I love about the book of psalms is that it proves to the christian that no matter what I am facing, no matter what season I am in, what ever hardship I have encountered, I have a reason to sing, I have a reason to worship, I have a reason to glorify God and praise the Holy Name of Jesus.

Our worship songs are not new, they are ancient. They were written by people that you would know like Solomon, Moses, the sons of Corinth and David. They were sung in courtyards and temples, synagogues and battlefields and homes. These lyrics were breathed by God spirit, passed down and memorized by the faithful and now they are sitting in front of us today. The book of psalms took the already revealed character of God and infused it with the music of Man. In the Jewish culture there are psalms for just about every major event in life. When a baby is born, a birthday occurs, a wedding is conducted, a new year has arrived, when seeds are sown and a harvest is celebrated, when men go to war and a funeral procession happens, you name it, and there is a Psalm attached to it.

What do you think this type of discipline this type of writing does for the next generation and the next generation to come? It gives a view of the longevity of life: the immediate worry, pain, sorrow, despair, joy, happiness and contentment that you cannot begin to comprehend in the moment. The psalms would tell us that God is kind, when everyone else is evil, God is close when you feel like everyone else is far. That God is faithful when you are faithless, that God hears you cry out and wipes your tears away. That you can have gratitude in the midst of sorrow and pain. That when you celebrate you can worship, when you are in depression God is ever present. God deserves to be praised no matter what season of life you find yourself in. So it should be no surprise to us today that the book of Psalms is the most quoted book in all of the new testament. Jesus quoted Psalms 22 on the cross, Jesus quoted Psalm 18 to his disciples and Psalm 110 to the religion elite, Jesus quoted Psalm 41 in the garden, Peter quoted Psalm 14 on the day of pentecost, Paul quoted Psalm 2 to the believers. And still to this day one of the most quoted, most immediately known, easily recognized chapters in any book to ever exist in human history is found in the book of Psalms a Psalm of David. Psalm 23.

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 23:1-6

If you have spent any time in the church you have had some verse of this Psalm on a coffee cup or a picture next to your Live, Laugh, Love sign. Why are we going to unpack Psalm 23 to end the story of david, because when you understand the context in which David wrote this Psalm, you begin to see things you have never seen before in this text, you will hear something you have never heard before and you will relate to Psalm 23 in such a way that it will bring you closer to the heart of God.

If I were to ask you to imagine what David was like, what David was doing when he wrote this Psalm 23, what would you imagine? Psalm 23 is not written by teenager David who was watching his fathers sheeps in the fields. It was not written by a david who was playing his harp while a small little lamb sat on his lap and everything is serene and perfect in his life. It was not written by a David who was full of faith because he never faced a trial David. Psalms 23 was not written by a carefree, no worries in life, going on vacation and thanking God for all the blessings he has given me and I feel so close to him David. There probably were some from that era of his life, but Psalm 23 was not one of them.

This Psalm was not written by young man David, but old man david. Regret filled david, wrong decision making david, already slept with bathsheba david, running for his life David. It's written hiding from Absolom, his son who wants to kill him david. It's written by, not sure if he wants to live another day or fight another battle David, have you ever felt like that? By the time Psalm 23 was written David was around 63 years old and he will die at the age of 70. He is in the twilight years of his life, and he never thought he would be where he is when Sameul first came to visit his fathers house. He has been king since he was 30, he defeated the philistines, the moabites, the syrians, returned the ark to jerusalem, defended the nation, and yet at this moment instead of enjoying the fruits of his life, David is far from home, away from the Holy city and his throne.

Because his son Absolom has led a coup, taken the throne and now wants to kill David as well. David has 8 wives and at least 10 concubines. From those relationships David had 21 children, 20 boys and 1 daughter named Tamar.  Could you imagine how intimidating picking her up for the prom would be. Her father is the most proficient warrior the world has ever seen and there are 20 more like him waiting in the living room. Tamar is beautiful, she is loved, cherished and special because she is the only daughter of David. Although David's family looks great and functional on the outside there is toxicity like carbon monoxide that is undetectable until it's too late. Tamar had a wicked half-brother named Ahman, the scriptures say that Ahman loved Tamar but he decided one day to rape Tamar. Ahman is eventually killed for his crime by Absolom her brother but not before Absolom can harbor a grievance against his father David for his inaction in this injustice.

The kingdom is in turmoil, david has fled, his rightful heir to the throne solomon is not ready to assume it and Absolom is coming for it with his own army, and it is with that background, it is with that dysfunction, it is with that Chaos where most people would be cursing God for their own misfortune. David writes this psalm not as a young man looking into the future about his life with hope and expectancy about what God will do in his life and in his kingdom. No Psalms 23 is the Psalm of a broken man, broken husband, broken father and broken king who has lost his throne and whose life is in utter chaos due to his family dysfunction and his own choices. No friend long gone is his harp playing and David looking at the end of his life knows that it may not get better, in fact, he can barely look towards the future with hope because he is old and seems to have lost everything that matters possibly wondering if he will live to ever see his family and his nation unite again. And in the middle of that this old King who runs after God's heart writes these words that you and I know so well…

Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is my Shepherd; I lack nothing.

The first foundational principle in David's Psalm comes in the first 5 words of, the LORD is my shepherd. David views God not just as a divine being who controls the cosmos and everything in it, but he is reminded of what the ancient founding father of Judaism Jacob says in Genesis 49 that God is our Shepherd. This imagery that God is the shepherd of his people is proclaimed over and over again all throughout scripture, it is seen in Psalms 28 and Psalms 80 that God will be the Shepherd over Israel, in Isaiah 40 it says that God will feed his flock like a good shepherd, Micah 7:14 to shepherd your flock with your staff, in John 10 Jesus speaks about himself that his is the good shepherd and that his his sheep know his voice.

The point of the shepherd in ancient times is to guide, to protect, to bind up and heal wounds, to care for the well being and to be the provision of his sheep. The Lord is my Shepherd, david says in his time of chaos which means two things, #1 he knows God is his Protector and Provider and #2  David knows he is a sheep

How can David a man whose life has been flipped upside down do to circumstances under his control and others not under his control, how can he still say that God is his shepherd, that God still cares for, that God still looks after, that God still provides in the middle of his chaos, because he has a long history of God's faithfulness before, and he knows that God will still be faithful ever more. David didn't just run after God one hour a week on sundays during church services, he didn't run after God when he had nothing else to run to, he didn't run after God after he ran out of other things to run after, he has had a 60 year track record of running after God so he knows that right now may not be the best moments in my life, but with God I lack nothing.

This Psalm was not rooted in the current reality that David lived in, it was rooted in the history of the God that David had known all of his life. He could speak to what will happen because God was faithful in the fields when I was young, he protected me in the battle, he forgave me in the palace halls, he is speaking to the faithfulness God will show because of the faithfulness God has shown, and it is hard to be hopeful about what God will do in your life if you are not aware of what God has already done. HE IS MY SHEPHERD which makes me the sheep.

A sheep is not some wild animal, a sheep is not something the shepherd picked up one day said he will do. A sheep is loved deeply by its shepherd and the amazing part is that David does not say the Lord is the shepherd, he does not say that the Lord is a shepherd, he says that the Lord is MY shepherd, insinuating that he belongs intimately to the Lord. You Christian belong to the Lord and you can reset securely knowing that God loves you, cares for you and provides for you so even when you have nothing, with God you lack nothing.

Verse 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  David does not say that I lay down when I am tired, when I want to and when I desire it. Rather, it says that the Lord makes me lie down in green pastures. The implication of this text makes us understand that God is a God who knows what we need long before we do, we need to rest and we don't rest in places that are in chaos, we rest in places that bring peace to the chaos. David is in a place that it not his home, david has no green pasture to run to, he has no place for peace or to be led beside quiet waters but david makes a profound truth when it comes to God, that no matter how your life looks, no matter what circumstance you find yourself, God is your green pasture that His Spirit is your quiet waters he makes you lie down in his presences.

Theologian and author Philip Kelle writes that sheep do not lie down easily and will not unless four conditions are met. Because they are timid, they will not lie down if they are afraid. Because they are social animals, they will not lie down if there is friction among the sheep. If flies or parasites trouble them, they will not lie down. Finally, if sheep are anxious about food or hungry, they will not lie down. Rest comes because the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies, and famine. If God has made you lie down in green pastures then this is true, that God has dealt with the fear in your life, that God has dealt with the friction of relationships, that God has dealt with the flies and and that God has dealt with the famine in my life. I am a sheep and I can rest under the provision and protection of my great shepherd because God has already dealt with the things that trouble me.

Then David makes this statement, he refreshes my soul. In the green pastures by the quiet waters I just don't find rest but you receive a soul that is refreshed. This Hebrew word for refreshed means someone who is turning from something and returning to someone. Another way of putting it is someone who is repeating of their sin and returning to God. Many of us struggle with this part of our faith, we feel like we have to make extravagant acts of self sacrifice or repayment towards God in order to feel our soul be refreshed. The very idea of lying down by calm waters and having our soul refreshed by God is foreign to us. We internally make repentance difficult because we cannot give up the things that once held us down, or we can't get past the shame of what our sin has caused. My friend, I don't want to make repentance difficult because The more complicated we make repentance, the less likely you will be refreshed by God. So here it is, Are you overcome by your sin that has tormented you, turn back to Jesus and look in his direction, confess your sins to God, live in his grace and mercy and then MOVE ON.

David makes us realize we cannot be led down paths of righteousness if we are not moving on from the sin that once held us captive. You cannot go where God wants to take you in your life if you are unwilling to move on. Why does God lead us to green pastures, why does God lead us to calm waters, why does God refresh our soul, why does God lead us down paths of righteousness? David says it is “for his name’s sake” God does all of this so that his name will be praised for it is his name on the line which should bring you hope when it comes to your life because God has never failed, and he isn't going to start with you.

Versus 4 is one that is well known, 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. This is the first dark moment in the entire psalm that David writes, if it were me, I would start with this: God, I am walking through the valley where are you? But once again take comfort because David knows what you and I know, the question is not if we walk through the valley, but when we walk through the valley of darkness we can fear no evil, because I am with my shepherd, I might be overshadowed by this valley, the presence of evil may be around me, but I am covered by my shepherd, and so the fear of evil is not with me. It does not mean it won't be hard, but you can and you will get through valleys by the guidance of your God.

I will close with this, David says You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. David writes this picture of God preparing a feast for him to enjoy and yet it is in the presence of his enemies. What does this mean? Charles Spuregoon says this, “When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, if he eats at all he snatches a hasty meal, and away he hastens to the fight. But observe: ‘Thou preparest a table,’ just as a servant does when she unfolds the damask cloth and displays the ornaments of the feast on an ordinary peaceful occasion. Nothing is hurried, there is no confusion, no disturbance, the enemy is at the door and yet God prepares a table, and the Christian sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace.

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. David knows he is at the end of his life and as we have noted, time and time again it's not going great for him currency, but even in his darkest moments he says surly, your goodness and love follow me all the days of my life. This isn't a word simply for the future, he is making a summary statement about God's goodness, love and mercy, that God has always led him and will always lead him. God's goodness, mercy and love were with David in his fathers field. They were with david before goliath, they were with david as he was running away from saul, and when he was confronted by Abigail, God was with david with MEPHIBOSHETH, when he fell into sin and when he ran from jerusalem, God has always been, and will always be with david because David is a sheep who is led by his shepherd and if you are a sheep led by christ there has not been a day that God's goodness, mercy and love have not been with you.

The story of David ends with his death in 1 Kings 2 but he foretold of his future at the end of Psalm 23. I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. This Psalm perfectly encapsulates David's life and trust in God, he has always been led by God but even in his darkest moments, he showed Gratitude towards God. David at the time didn't have much, but he did have his history with God which pointed him to being grateful for all the God has done for him as his shepherd.

Listen, you don't come to church every week to hear about all the sinful and bad behavior you have done this week or in your life, you already know it all, if you are in Christ God doesn't care about that because he has already forgiven it. But don't miss this we have said it over and over and over again in this series and I am praying that you grasp it, I am praying that you understand it, I am praying that it makes it way into being incredibly personal not just for someone else but for you, GOD WANTS YOUR HEART. And he gets your heart by you running after him, being tethered to him and you will realize that God has been faithful to you long before you have ever been faithful to him, and that should lead you to a sense of overwhelming gratitude, you have nothing else to give him but your praise and your worship.

And that's what I want to get us to today, is to have a heart of gratitude. A heart after God's heart is filled with gratitude because of His faithfulness. Then when all hell is breaking loose in your life, your view of God's Not diminished because of your circumstance but you are grateful that you're shepherd walks with you, because you have a history of God's faithfulness to be grateful for. To be filled with gratitude that in Christ your future is secure, your shepherd leads you to life everlasting and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. So be filled with gratitude, rest assured like David, your shepherd loves you, cares for you, is beside you, fights for you, protects you, provides for you, hears you, knows you, restores your soul and walks with you every step of the way.

Pray

Gratitude Song