An opportune reminder!
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Every believer knows that difficult times are part of life…
We also know that the Bible has the right encouragement for the time of need.
The majority of Christians know at least one verse that has been their support in those moments… Examples:
“I will never leave your nor forsake you.” (Heb 13:5)
“I can do all things in Christ who strengthen me.” (Phil 4:13)
“Come to me all who weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28)
“A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you.” (Psa 91:7)
But probably the passage of Scripture most used and quoted by those in danger, those in sickness, in anguish, or in need of help, is the Shepherd’s Psalm.
Read: Psa 23
Background:
King David was in danger! He was facing possible death! He was in one of his hiding places. His own son, Absalom, was being persecuting him. Absalom wanted to dethrone him and kill him.
Probably in desperation, there inside the cave, David was pouring his soul before the Lord; and the result was the most famous psalm of all: Psalm 23, a psalm of hope and confidence in the Lord.
It serves as a reminder of:
His Intimate Relationship with us.
His Intimate Relationship with us.
“The Lord is my shepherd,” 1a
It’s more than religion.
It’s more than religion.
People think that, just because they were baptized, they have a relationship with God. The Catholic church teaches that baptism makes you a member of that church and that establishes a relationship between you and God. How wrong they are!
Other believe that because the attend a church or become members of it, they have a relationship with God. How wrong they are!
You may be baptized a thousand times or attend a thousand church service, but that only makes you a religious person.
“The Lord is my shepherd” speaks of a relationship between shepherd and sheep, about intimate friendship, communion, and trust.
It’s personal knowledge.
It’s personal knowledge.
Our Lord Jesus said,
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;
The New Testament, which was written in Greek, we find two verbs that are translated as “to know”:
The first one is “oida” which refers to intellectual knowledge, to know by the senses.
The second one is “ginosko” which refers to relationship between the persons involved.
Which one do you think is used in this verse (John 10:27)? The second one!
Who knows a child better than his father? Who knows a father better than his child?
The Lord has a relationship with His sheep! He knows them by name!
It’s spiritual connection.
It’s spiritual connection.
Our connection with the Good Shepherd is made possible by the Holy Spirit. Without Him, the spiritual connection would be impossible!
It is a connection between our spirit and the Creator of all spirits. It is between our soul and the Father’s heart.
It is like that connection between two persons that by some reason do not know that they brothers, or father/mother and child. Like when one was given in adoption and, later, they have an encounter with a brother or sister they did not know they had.
The Lord is my shepherd, I am His sheep! We are connected!
This psalm is a reminder of His continuous provision.
His Continuous Provision.
His Continuous Provision.
“I shall not want.” 1b
O fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no want.
He knows our needs.
He knows our needs.
“your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” Mat 6:8
He knows exactly what you need and what you do not need. He knows what is good for you and what is harmful to you.
If you have a need, you may be sure that The Good Shepherd will fulfill it:
And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
He does not promise to give all your wants, but to fulfill your needs!
He’s not only shepherd, but Father.
He’s not only shepherd, but Father.
For a shepherd, to feed the sheep is only His job; but for a father, to feed his children is a duty, a responsibility. Our God is a responsible Father! He never leaves His children abandoned! We can trust He’ll provide…
I am sure you have seen His constant provision during this difficult days.
The psalm reminds us that we have rest and refreshment in Him.
Assured rest and refreshment in Him.
Assured rest and refreshment in Him.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.” 2
True and permanent rest.
True and permanent rest.
The green pastures mentioned here make me think of some parks or golf courses with their green fields that invite to extend a mat to lie down and rest.
Our weary souls yearn for rest, but that rest is found only in Christ:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
His refreshment is safe.
His refreshment is safe.
“He leads me beside quiet waters.” 2b
Swift waters are extremely dangerous for sheep. Surely they’ll die if attempt to cross or if they slip into them.
The Lord will never lead us to danger. His leading is reliable…
When the waters are troubled, the Shepherd quiets them down so the sheep can be safe and drink.
The psalm is a reminder of His divine healing:
His Divine healing.
His Divine healing.
“He restores my soul;” 3a
Only God heals the soul.
Only God heals the soul.
Man may heal the body, but only God heals the soul. He is the Great Psychologist who knows our worries, our burdens, our anguishes, our sorrows, etc.
The Heb. verb means to return, to renew. The LBLA gives an equivalent meaning: “He renews the strength of my soul.”
Behold, God is my helper; The Lord is the sustainer of my soul.
And He does it thru His Word:
The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
He restores what sin destroys.
He restores what sin destroys.
As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
While David hid his sin with Bathsheba, his soul was consumed, he was depressed. He sought renewal in God, but he had to confess his sin:
Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Lastly, the psalm is a reminder of His guidance.
His Appropriate Guidance.
His Appropriate Guidance.
“He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.” 3b
He guides us by leading the way:
He goes before us.
He goes before us.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;” John 10:27
He guide us to what is pleasing to Him.
He guide us to what is pleasing to Him.
“in paths of righteousness.”
If there is something that pleases God is seeing His children living in righteousness, walking in the truth, living according His example: in holiness. That’s what Peter meant when he wrote:
but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
He guides through His voice and Spirit.
He guides through His voice and Spirit.
Shepherds call their sheep either by shouting or whistling, by words or by blowing air thru his lips (neuma, spirit)
The Lord’s voice is recorded in the Bible. Those words come from the Lord’s lips to guide us at any moment.
If it seem we don’t find the answer there then the Good Shepherd “whistle” to us thru His Spirit.
Conclusion:
Are you troubled, scared, sick, afflicted, fearful? You’re not alone, the Good Shepherd is with you, He’ll do His job..… Trust on Him, Depend on Him!