2020 08 09 - He Will Give You Rest - Rest From Fear
As we continue to walk through Psalm 23, we see how the good shepherd can give us rest even when we are afraid.
SHARE: Which thing is more frustrating? (1 - answering someone’s riddle/puzzle on Facebook and realizing it is a trick question, 2 - risking your life to go to the store and realizing you forgot something, or 3 - getting to the end of a quarantine day and realizing you accomplished nothing)
God cares deeply about your rest.
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Rest begins with trust
Our striving for more keeps us restless, but God brings rest when we find contentment in him.
Rest When I Should be Afraid
SHARE: Have you ever been scared to go to sleep?
THE MAIN THING: Fear threatens our ability to rest, but in the presence of the Good Shepherd we find the courage to rest.
1. The valley is just part of the Shepherd’s path.
The same shepherd who leads to the green pastures leads through the valley of shadow.
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2. The Shepherd is equipped for the valley.
A. The Rod
The rod (a cudgel worn at the belt) and staff (to walk with, and to round up the flock) were the shepherd’s weapon and implement: the former for defence (cf. 1 Sam. 17:35), the latter for control—since discipline is security.
B. The Staff
SHARE: What fear do you need to know God can handle?
3. Intimacy with the Shepherd brings courage.
Comfort me (yenaḥamūnî) “does not mean to sympathize but to encourage.” H. J. Stoebe notes: “that comfort, if necessary and possible, includes real assistance
The verb translated here as give me courage (nḥm) is normally translated as “comfort.” But comfort is not a strong enough word. It does not convey the power of the emotion that the psalmist is able to feel because of God’s presence. The concept of courage gives a better sense of the emotion.