This is such a familiar chapter to all of us. I read it out of a new translation and it really spoke to me in a comforting way. I had just read Katie's blog from Uganda and I put myself in the place of someone that had no hope and picked up this Psalm and read it for the first time.
Right away in verse one it reads "I have all that I need". Someone in their time of real need probably wonders if God really knows what they need - but when we have Him as our Shepherd, we know He knows what we need. And then right in the next verse "He lets me rest in green meadows and leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength."
When we are at the most stressed we have to be reminded that if we will follow Him, our Shepherd, He will lead us beside those peaceful streams and strengthen us in our weakness.
Even in the darkest valley I won't be afraid because He is close beside me. His rod - correction - and staff - prodding and leading - protect and comfort me.
Even in the presence of my enemies he makes my life full of plenty and honors me by anointing my head with oil. In fact, I am flooded with blessings.
He has goodness and mercy pursue me all the days of my life and my promise is that I will live in His house forever.
I pray this Psalm for the hopeless - even if it is in the middle of sickness or pain - He is all we need and He will do what we need. I know that the only way we can have peace is because of Him. We can't allow fear to rule us or influence us - I guess now, in this season of uncertainty, will be a real chance to see if we truly do trust the Lord we serve!!
3 comments:
Psalm 23 is one of the first scriptures I memorized as a small child. Vs 1-3 in the Message Bible read:
God, my Shepherd! I don't need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word, you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
vs 1 is/can be a challenge to us...at least for me. God, what do you mean I don't need a thing? Have you looked at my checkbook lately? or my gas tank? in my closet? or whatever the need is. David knew God intimately ...God's character (names) and experienced God's provision ... thus even in the times of need David could say, "I don't need a thing."
vs 3 ..."True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction." In our quiet times with God...as we run to Him and not the world's way of doing things...we catch our breath, from the battle or from doing our own thing, get GPS set... then He sends us back out into life!
God is always with us...wanting to provide for us spirit, soul, and body. Do we ... do I ...really trust God to the point that we/I can say, I don't have a need?
Great comment, Arlene. I know it is hard to think that way, but I have to believe God knows what I really need - and then I can say, "I have all I need."
Over the last coupla weeks, God has been nudging my thinking in this area of having what i need and how that pertains to being a child (lamb) of God (Shepherd). I think God is wanting it to click in me and build up my faith that because God IS my Shepherd, I don't have any needs -- i have HIM and He has everything. And thru Him, i have access to those things. The world has no access, so they have needs. It's like a princess sitting in her King Daddy's ornate castle, shelves stocked with food, treasury overflowing with gold, stable full of horses and carriages -- and all she has to do is ask. This is where God is dealing with ME -- my faith to ask and receive. To trust and not fear. He probably wonders how many more times i will try to bring about a result on my own! Praise God for His patience!
One other quick thing i like is verse 6: "Your beauty and love chase me all the days of my life" --- God never gives up on me or gets tired of chasing me! Wow! What a God! Don't see Buddha chasing anyone - all of his followers have to come to him. My God loves me enough to come after me! Thank You, God!
Post a Comment