By: Dr. Steven K. Parker
Reflection on the week:
· Reflect on your experiences the last few months. Do you think God has been using your circumstance to shape you in some way or teach you something?
· Discuss your thoughts on what God might be doing in your story.
· Take a few moments to prepare your heart to receive God’s word.
Approaching God’s word: Read these words slowly, prayerfully, and thoughtfully, focusing on vs. 6.
Reading the text:
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Reflection on the passage:
· What is the Psalmist affirming in these lines?
· Restate this verse in your own words.
Pastoral Thoughts:
In the midst of this maddening pandemic and all the economic woes and political frustrations that have accompanied this challenging year, we’ve let ancient Psalm echo among us. We’ve read and re-read these lines asking, “What does it mean to worship the living God in tumultuous times?” We’ve considered God’s status as our shepherd and how embracing God’s providence challenges our consumerist approaches to life, ministry, and worship. We’ve considered the nourishment, refreshment, and re-creation that come from resting in God’s presence. We’ve thought about what it means to be led in God’s righteous paths. We’ve reflected upon God’s presence even in the darkest days of life and the comfort that comes from His protective correction. We’ve considered what it means to commune with God and one another at His table. As we look toward Christmas in this odd year, this ancient Psalm speaks to us about Eternal Life in the Shepherd’s Home. As we get to the conclusion of this great Psalm, it reminds us that even in a controversial election cycle, even in a pandemic, even in a time of great uncertainty and hardship, our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. That great message grounds us in this hope that is the cornerstone of our faith; a hope that cannot be shaken, even in the most difficult circumstances of life! “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
When we trust Christ and receive His forgiveness in our lives, He becomes our Good Shepherd…our Divine Host forever. When we follow Jesus by faith, we begin a journey that has no end. We discover an abundant life with God that has no end and cannot be conquered, even by a grave. Life eternal is a life with the quality of eternity…a life lived with an awareness of God’s presence every day and with the promise that we will be with God in the life to come. Because of what Jesus has done for all of us, we can embrace this invitation to Eternal Life in the Shepherd’s Home. We can live through the roughest days life throws at us because we know God is with us today and that we will be with God when we close our eyes for the last time in this life. There is coming a day when there will be no more political disagreements, no more coronavirus, no more suffering, and no more death. We can live today in the light of that great promise and join in the Psalmist’s praise saying: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Further Reflection:
● How does this promise of eternal life in the Shepherd’s home both change us today and prepare us for eternity?
● Spend a few moments praising God for His good, eternal blessings.
Praying together: Thank You, God, for the promise of life eternal through Christ Jesus our Lord. Forgive us for when we fixate so much on things that are temporal that we fail to set our eyes on the things that are eternal. Forgive us also for when we look toward heaven without thinking about the impact eternity should have upon our daily spirit and conduct. Help us to live today like people who will spend forever with You! Amen. In Jesus’ mighty name, amen.
Looking ahead: If you’d like to look back at this study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times you can access those services by clicking here. This Sunday we will continue our in-person parking lot service. You can come and worship in-person or join the live online broadcast at 11 AM.