By: Dr Steven K Parker
Reflection on the week:
· Are you having any struggles this week?
· What blessings have you experienced?
· Return these concerns and blessings to God in prayer.
Approaching God’s word: Spend a few moments in silent prayer and meditation, asking God to open your heart to His word for you.
Reading the text: We’re going to be studying Psalm 23 for the coming weeks. If you missed the first message in this series or would like to re-watch that service, you can access it here. I encourage you to read and re-read this passage during that time, meditating on the beautiful words of this prayerful song and letting them soak into your soul.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
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.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever. (Psalm 23)
Reflection on the passage:
What does this Psalm teach us about who God is and who we are in the light of His promises?
How does that promise shape our worship?
Pastoral Thoughts: The agrarian imagery of Psalm 23 was common to the scriptures. The Bible mentions shepherds and shepherding over 200 times. The prophet Isaiah picks up this metaphor and gives us this beautiful image of God: “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (40:11). Jesus embraced this metaphor saying:
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” (John 10:11-15).
Jesus so embodied these words through His life and death that Christians can’t hardly read Psalm 23 without picturing Him.
Throughout His life and through His death and resurrection, Jesus invited us into a personal, living relationship with God. Psalm 23 points us toward that kind of intimate relationship with God. David does not lead us to say in worship, “The LORD is a shepherd.” He doesn’t invite us to say, “The LORD is the shepherd.” In this Psalm we affirm in a very personal declaration of faith: “The LORD is my shepherd.” We face good and bad times in this life, but can press forward in the midst of whatever life throws our way, following closely behind the Good Shepherd, trusting that He really does care for us, know what’s best for us, and wants us to live into a deep, abiding, eternal relationship with Him. We affirm that beautiful hope when we pray, “The LORD is my shepherd.”
Further Reflection:
· How might Psalm 23 speak to our current struggles with disease, economic uncertainty, racial disharmony, and political polarization?
· What are some things this psalm might be telling us about worship and how we should live in God’s world?
· Is there something here God is calling us to be or to do?
Praying together:
God, you are our Shepherd. In you, we have everything we need. You lead us to a place of rest, contentment, satisfaction, and joy in your presence. When we’re at the end of our rope, you give us new strength and guide us in the right path to take for the glory of your name. Even when we face scary adversity and the Death Valley seasons of life, we will not be afraid, because you are there. Your mighty shepherd’s crook will keep us headed in the right direction and secure from danger. You lavish goodness upon us at your banqueting table, exonerate us in front of those who hate us, and provide for us blessings in abundance. Your goodness to us in the past reminds us of our participation in your kingdom from now through eternity, where we will dwell with you in your house forever. Amen.
Looking ahead:
We hope you’ll join us for worship on Sunday as we continue this study on the 23rd Psalm titled: Following the Good Shepherd in Tumultuous Times, considering how God really does provide everything we need. Please pray for our church’s leadership as we make decisions regarding the timing of our re-launch of in-person services. If you are feeling the need for face-to-face contact and want to be a part of our pre-re-launch services, please call the church office at 956-968-9585 and we will do our best to accommodate you.