Psalm 23 Pt. 3 Yahweh Brings Me Home
Introduction
The Text
Main Idea
Structure
Transition
1. Victory Celebration with Our Gracious Host (vs. 5)
The Text
The Prepared Table
If we will allow God to lead us where he will, we will find that a table has been prepared for us, our heads have been anointed with purest oil, and our cups have been filled to overflowing with the wine of true joy
The Present Enemy?
Perhaps the image is one of a feast in the field after a battle in which the enemies are defeated. What is certain is that the description has Yahweh endorsing David and providing for him, while the enemies are repudiated and put to shame. This is a picture of vindication
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. Oh! the peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances
But since the enemy is never taken lightly in Scripture, except by a Ben-hadad or a Belshazzar, it more probably anticipates a victory celebration, where the enemies are present as captives; or an accession feast with defeated rivals as reluctant guests
Application
The Anointed Head
Ecclesiastes Illustration and Gospel Connection
Overflowing Cup - Gospel connection
God is even more than a shepherd who provides for the wants of his sheep. He is a king who lavishes his bounty in rich provision for his guests.
There are many resources—many channels God may use to provide and care for your physical well being—but you have only one source. And God never runs dry. That’s why David’s cup overflowed
Main Point Incorporation
2. Abiding Communion with our Gracious Host (vs. 6)
Transition
The Text
Help For Today
Goodness and Lovingkindness
This sentence may be read, “only goodness and mercy,” for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck
Goodness and mercy follow him always—“all the days of his life”—the black days as well as the bright days, the days of fasting as well as the days of feasting, the dreary days of winter as well as the bright days of summer. Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins
He does not say, My cup shall be always full, or, My head shall be always perfumed with oil; but in general he entertains the hope that as the goodness of God never fails, he will be favourable towards him even to the end
But would it not be abundantly sufficient to say, that goodness and mercy shall not turn away from thee? No: they shall follow me, and that too “all the days of my life:” they shall follow me, even as my shadow does, wherever I go; “goodness,” to supply my wants; and “mercy,” to cover my defects
Behold here the felicity of the Saints! All the rest of the world are following after happiness, and it eludes their grasp: but those who believe in Jesus have happiness following after them
With God these qualities are not merely solid and dependable, but vigorous—for to follow does not mean here to bring up the rear but to pursue, as surely as his judgments pursue the wicked (83:15)
Pursue Me All the Days
Yahweh the shepherd’s goodness and lovingkindness are chasing David to ensure his protection and provision (the verb “pursue” is often used of an enemy in pursuit
the English word “follow.” “Follow” might mean trail behind and never quite catch up. That wouldn’t be very comforting: “Surely goodness and mercy will lag behind me all my days.” The Hebrew word is much more active than “follow.” It almost always means pursue, often in the sense of pursue to do harm or persecute.
So David has painted a picture for us a little like this: Imagine yourself driving nonchalantly down the freeway, when all of a sudden you see a red light flashing in your rear view mirror. And for some crazy reason you make the irrational decision to push the gas instead of the brake. You roar down the freeway at 100 miles per hour and try to get away from the highway patrol. All the times you went over the speed limit flash before your eyes. And as your sense of guilt mounts, all the faults of your life start popping up out of your unconsciousness where they had lain just waiting to make you miserable. And all the while, you remember that if you get one more ticket your license will be revoked and you won’t be able to take that hard-earned vacation to Miami with your wife. But your car simply does not have the power of the highway patrol, and he finally forces you over. You sit there trembling as he walks up to your window and says: “Got a little guilty conscience there, don’t you?” Then he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wallet and says, “That motel you just left asked me to catch up with you and bring you your wallet you left on the counter.” So you feel an utter fool, and as you reach out to take it he says, “O, and there’s one other thing. They had a drawing this morning for the sweepstakes you registered for at the motel last night, and you won a free trip for two to Miami if you phone in your acceptance by noon today.”
God is not only our good shepherd, nor only our lavish host; he is also a highway patrolman pursuing you with goodness and mercy every day of your life, and he is fast
Hope for Tomorrow
I will dwell in the house of Yahweh Forever
to be God’s guest is to be more than an acquaintance, invited for a day. It is to live with him. There is a suggestion of pilgrimage in the picture of a progress that ends at the house of the Lord; but it is also a journey home
