PSALM 23
PEACE, REST& LOVE
In the past, I’ve generally heard this chapter preached in a negative/dark sort of light. For example, I’ve heard it preached as God made a person sick so they would take time to rest... God “made me lay down” so I would take care of myself. They believed God made them sick so they would have to rest. I’ve also heard it preached like woe is me.....I’m beat down, crawling on my belly through the Valley and that while we’re down there crawling God will comfort us and give us rest. However, when I read this chapter again last week, I saw it in a totally different light. As I was reading it this time, I envisioned a battle scene (very much similar to the movie “300" or “Narnia”). A fierce battle raging, yet off just to one side of the battle was a valley... peaceful, tranquil, safe, and care free. A place of refreshing. Psalm 23 was written by David, who we all know was a man of battle. David was an expert of war and fighting/conquering enemies. But I believe this chapter proves David was also an expert at resting in God and allowing God to refresh and strengthen him.
I. Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing”
A) A shepherd provides everything his sheep need....protection, guidance, food, water, rescuing, constant presence (he’s always with them watching over them)....you name it and a good shepherd ensures his sheep have it. God is our good Shepherd
II. Psalm 23:2 “He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me to water in places of repose;”
A) Definitions of Make, Pasture, and Repose
1) Make - to cause to happen or be experienced by someone; to cause to exist, occur or appear;
2) Pasture - plants grown for the feeding especially grazing animals; land or plot of land used for grazing; the feeding of livestock; to feed (as cattle)on pasture
3)Repose - to remain still or concealed; to lie at rest; to rest for support; state of resting after exertion or strain; rest in sleep; place of rest; to place (as confidence or trust) in someone or something; to place for control, management or use (from the JPS Bible translation)
This tells me that God isn’t forcing us to lay down and rest. We know that God has compared himself to a shepherd and all throughout scripture we are referred to as His sheep. So, this verse is telling me that God, as our Shepherd, has provided, us the sheep, a pasture (a place to feed us). Not only is it a place to receive nourishment, we can also find rest here. Look at all repose means... we find support, a place of totally peace and safety to sleep and relax after a battle/strain. Not only that, but it’s a state of being in which we can turn over control of our lives, situations, etc to God for him to handle/manage for us. When God is in control of things, that gives us total peace and the ability to rest and relax, because we trust Him and know that everything is going to be just fine, because our good shepherd has is taking care of everything. We just have to follow him like good sheep.
III. Psalm 23:4 “Though I walk through a valley of deepest darkness, I fear no harm for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff-they comfort me.”
A) Even when we go through places we are unfamiliar with, where we are stretched or under attack from the enemy or even times that may cause fear to try and rise up (whether it be from change, attack, etc) we should not be afraid. God is directing our path and is right beside us. He is our Shepherd. A shepherd directs/leads his sheep every moment of their lives. He knows where they are going and where they need to go and how to get them their. Shepherds don’t get lost. Shepherds have a plan. They love their sheep and protect/guide them at all costs. Sheep don’t have to worry about anything, except keep your eye on the shepherd and follow where he leads.
B) Significance of “Rod” and “Staff”...also Definitions of Both
1) Rod - straight, slender stick growing on or cut from a tree or busy; stick or bundle of twigs used to punish; a wand or staff carried as a badge of office
2) Staff - long sticke carried in the hand for support in walking; a rod carried as a symbol of office or authority.
A Rod/Staff was a common thing for shepherds to carry. I believe that both of these are symbolic reminders for us. A staff is a symbolic reminder for us that God supports us and holds us up as we walk through life; it’s also a reminder to us, as well as, our enemies of God’s strength and authority, as well as, the authority we have in Jesus name. The symbol of the Rod has a similar reminder of God’s authority and office or position, but rod also reminds our enemies of God’s punishment that will ensue for coming against His sheep (child of God). I don’t know about you, but I find both of those factors a HUGE comfort!!!
IV. Psalm 23:5 “You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my drink is abundant.”
A) Blessing and Abundance Infront of our Enemies!!
This goes back to what I envisioned when I read this chapter... a huge battle raging, but then in the midst of that or just off to the side in plain view of the battle, God spreads a huge banquet table for us and we sit down and eat and feast and relax with the enemy thrashing all around, but unable to touch us, disturb us or do anything but watch. All the enemy can do is watch as we sit relaxed in peace, feasting on what God has provided!!! That rocks!!!! Picture it...then picture it in your life, in whatever situation/struggle you find yourself in... we can have the same thing in the midst of our battle!! Not only is it a banquet...its an banquet of abundance. It’s not just a little snack or a situation where we might run out of food/provision....our drink/provision is abundant **abundant is defined as-marked by great plenty (as of resources); amply supplied** This tells me that God’s provision is never going to end and we can’t exhaust it no matter how much or often we draw from God’s supply. It’s never going to run out!!!! We have constant access and supply. This also speaks to how powerful our God is. Think of the type of strength and the force it would take to hold off an attacking army so that a select group could sit down in total safety and peace to have a feast...while the battle is still raging!!! That is power. That is our God!!
B) “You anoint my head with oil;” Olive oil was used for many purposes in Biblical times and was one of the most valuable products of the country . One of its uses was 1)Consecration of officials or sacred things. I believe that this verse is telling us that God has set us apart as holy to be His vessels to reach the world for Him (Ephesians 1:4 “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” &Exodus 28:41 “Clothe your brother, Aaron, and his sons with these garments, and then anoint and ordain them. Consecrate them so they can serve as my priets.”). I believe this being set apart is something that should be evident/something everyone can see (just as oil running down your head is hard to hid... everyone sees it) so our actions should be obviously different from those who don’t know or serve Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:1-12 is an example of actions that we have that are TOTALLY opposite from the world). Also oil many times in scripture is a representative for the Holy Spirit. So, this verse is also a reminder of the Holy Spirit being ever present w/us & inside of us providing the support and anointing of God to do the Father’s business.
C) Overflow of blessings
No matter which translation you use, this part of verse 5 that our lives will be filled with overflowing, uncontainable blessing, more than we could ever need or use provisions and blessings.
V. Psalm 23:6 “Only goodness and steadfast love shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for many long years.”
A) 1. Steadfast - firmly fixed in place (immovable); not subject to change
2. Love - strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
*the love God has for us arises from the fact we’re His kin/family (Romans 8:15 “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.”). Personal is defined as relating to the person or body. So that tells me that God’s love for us also comes from the fact that He COMPLETELY understands us. He knows why we do what we do, how/why we think like we think and our motives for everything we say or do. At times we think “Nobody understands me or how I’m feeling” those are times that God is saying “I totally understand and can relate.” We are made in God’s image...we are like God with one exception...He is sinless. Everything else is the same. So he understands all of our emotions, and every small detail about us.
3. Pursue - to follow in order to overtake or capture
So, this verse tells us that God’s love for us isn’t going anywhere and is unchanging. Nothing we could do will cause God to stop loving us. This love He has for us is the strongest love imaginable. It’s the love of family. There is no stronger tie than that of family and that doesn’t mean just biological family...in scripture God makes clear that we are adopted into His family/kingdom. Adoption is an amazing and special thing. Adoption occurs when a family/person chooses to make a complete stranger, that they have no obligation to take care of, a part of their family. Adoption gives the adoptee the same rights and standing in the family as a biological child. They become heirs to the inheritance and everything their adoptive family possesses. God chose us to be in his family and to love us. The best part of this is, God is pursuing us with this love. We can’t out run it or escape from it. His love is ever present and I can assure you that the very longing of God’s heart is to capture and saturate us with His love.
by:Faith Flowers
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