Psalm 23 (2)

Psalm 23 NIV

A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 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.

Our lives don’t always seem like green pastures, quiet waters, and a feast

Life can be difficult. Uneven. Draining.

We try what we can here to take care of ourselves.

They are good - but they’re not everything.

God has a good ‘self-care’ plan for you.

The Lord wants to give you a fulfilling life

There’s such beautiful imagery in this verse.

But it’s not just a song. David knew heartache, and pain, and loss, and problems in life.

When we are following the Lord, we can say, ‘I lack nothing’

Now, that’s not the same as ‘I have absolutely everything I’ve ever wanted at all times’.

Some translations say ‘I shall not be in want’

Sometimes, we want the big car, deep account, fancy stuff. But the Lord’s promised us green pastures and quiet waters.

I have heard wild stories - the lord is so good, I was persecuted

The Lord is taking care of our needs - if we follow his plan

He ‘makes me’ lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters.

This care is not us driven, beyond the simple ‘pay attention and keep following’.

It’s him driven

The plans of the Lord bring refreshment

This goes beyond simple food and drink. It’s soul refreshing.

STORY - Auberge - eating salt.

Refreshing your soul is so much more satisfying than refreshing your pallet.

The Lord’s refreshment keeps us full even through the darkest valleys

David says - I won’t fear evil because you’re with me.

We want the Lord to deliver us out of bad times, because those times are too much for us.

What would it look like to have a kind of filling from the Lord that you can say - ‘Even in the darkest valley - i’m good!’

The Rod and the Staff were guiding principles.

David says - following you brings me comfort.

When we are following the Lord, we can say ‘My cup overflows’

Before we say, ‘I lack nothing’, but God is moving us to a point of being able to say, ‘I am absolutely filled to overflowing’.

All these images - set a table, anoint with oil, overflow a cup - they’re images of being hosted at a party.

This darkest valley - surrounded by fear - has been turned into a feast, where our enemies just sit and watch us chow down.

Not only that - the Lord says, this ultimate victory, this feast where we are welcomed and blessed to overflowing - that we can dwell there forever.

Just walk with the Lord today

Matthew 7:7–11 NIV

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

He’s called you to a journey. And he has amazing things for you every step of that journey. But today - we just need to walk with him. and we need to learn to trust him for the rest.

We may not know the end goal - we may not even know tomorrow. But we’re with the one who does.

WE know how to give good gifts - how much more God knows than us.