Ps 25:4-5 "Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." NIV
The power of this cry is the demonstration of humility and a teachable heart that sets David apart in his generation. Oh Lord, help us to remain teachable! So often it is the way of mankind and in particular leaders to stubbornly cling to a self sufficient independence rather than reach out for instruction. There is a false image that many people often embrace that tells us that only the weak reach out and ask for help or instruction. Think of how many jokes have been told about men and their reluctance to admit need and ask for directions while driving. This pride and independence creates so much relational division and in many cases wasted time and resources.
David displays such a wonderful example of a heart of humility. He recognizes that he has much to learn and that he doesn’t have all of the answers. What is equally exceptional about David is that he knows where his answers are found and that he is not ashamed to make it known that he is seeking for these answers. Too many of us will look for answers only in secret like Nicodemus in the gospels or by turning to the wrong sources; sources that we can control or disguise so that our image of independence is preserved. Not David, he knew where to turn and chose to set an example through his public dependence. Through his acts of humility and his cries for help he taught an entire nation that it is okay to walk in humility and it is acceptable to admit your need.
Where are the David’s of our generation?
Show me! Teach me! Guide me! This is the cry of David’s heart. This is such a reflection of what both Moses and Paul. Moses cried out to the Lord, in Ex 33:13 “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you.” Moses wanted to know God’s ways so that he could live out of a deeper relationship with the Lord. Paul also understood the riches that are revealed in a dependence upon God. In Col 2:2-3 he speaks of the riches of Christ “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” It seems that all of the truly great men of God knew that their own wisdom, their own strength were not the source of their victory or their prosperity. Each one of them understood that the path to greatness, the highway to success was to learn of God and to follow him closely.
Let our hearts cry be SHOW ME, TEACH ME, GUIDE ME just as it was for David!
Saturday
Friday
Psalm 24:7-10 March 13, 2009
Ps 24:7-10 "Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. 10 Who is he, this King of glory? The LORD Almighty — he is the King of glory." NIV
This is a great example of prophetic declaration. David is speaking to the gates in a prophetic call for the coming Messiah! In his natural understanding this is a psalm declaring the coming of the king of glory, an earthly king. But in the realms of the prophetic Spirit that has come upon him David is prophesying both about the coming Messiah and speaking to the gates and doors as if to say “open up”, “Prepare the way.” One of the mysteries of the spirit realm is the power of the anointed word. God’s Spirit comes and rests on a man or woman who is in a place of worship or prayer and begins to speak or sing through them words that carry power in the Spirit realm. In Psalm 42:8 David reflects on the Lord giving him a song that is in turn prayer back to God, “at night his song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life.” Ro. 8:26-27 enlarges on this principle as Paul talks about the role of the Holy Spirit to bring forth “groans” through us as he intercedes for the saints when they don’t know what to pray. Imagine the Holy Spirit praying through a yielded life. This is Psalm 24:7-10 and this is what the Lord wants to do with you.
David continues on in this prophetic Spirit to celebrate the coming king! “Who is this King of glory?” David has glimpsed a vision of the glorious king, Jesus Christ. Listen to his description: the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord Almighty, the King of glory! There is such a powerful work of the Lord taking place in this passage. David is operating in a prophetic Spirit declaring that there is a king coming, mighty in battle. He is seeing hundreds of years into the future and even more so he is seeing millennium into the future for what he is really seeing is the second coming when the Lord returns as a triumphant warrior clothed in the glory of eternity not a humble servant clothed in the rags of mortal flesh. The Holy Spirit is releasing an image into the earth as a witness for all time of the coming glory of Christ through the mystery of prophetic prayer as David speaks forth by the Spirit.
This work of prayer is not limited to the simple announcement that encourages the heart. David is also entering into the realms of spiritual power as he speaks to the doors and the gates in this prophetic utterance. What are these doors and gates that David is speaking to? The power of these words is best understood by considering multiple realms of effect. In one prophetic act David is speaking to the doors of the human heart saying open to the King of Kings, speaking to the doors and gates of the spiritual realm where spiritual forces stand to resist God’s agenda, and he is speaking to the doors of Jerusalem that on that great day will open to receive the returning Messiah. Understand the power of this one act, this one declaration. For thousands of years now, from the first time this prayer was prayed, the power of these words has resonated through the realms of spirit and flesh speaking over and over as each new heart hears them spoken, as each new pair of eyes reads them and takes them in. These words of David’s are now alive with the power of God and working every moment of every day to further the advance of the King of glory into hearts, into cities and ultimately preparing the way for the glory of God to once again march through the gates of Jerusalem as the King of Kings returns to establish his dominion in “Zion, the joy of the whole earth.”
This is a great example of prophetic declaration. David is speaking to the gates in a prophetic call for the coming Messiah! In his natural understanding this is a psalm declaring the coming of the king of glory, an earthly king. But in the realms of the prophetic Spirit that has come upon him David is prophesying both about the coming Messiah and speaking to the gates and doors as if to say “open up”, “Prepare the way.” One of the mysteries of the spirit realm is the power of the anointed word. God’s Spirit comes and rests on a man or woman who is in a place of worship or prayer and begins to speak or sing through them words that carry power in the Spirit realm. In Psalm 42:8 David reflects on the Lord giving him a song that is in turn prayer back to God, “at night his song is with me — a prayer to the God of my life.” Ro. 8:26-27 enlarges on this principle as Paul talks about the role of the Holy Spirit to bring forth “groans” through us as he intercedes for the saints when they don’t know what to pray. Imagine the Holy Spirit praying through a yielded life. This is Psalm 24:7-10 and this is what the Lord wants to do with you.
David continues on in this prophetic Spirit to celebrate the coming king! “Who is this King of glory?” David has glimpsed a vision of the glorious king, Jesus Christ. Listen to his description: the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, the Lord Almighty, the King of glory! There is such a powerful work of the Lord taking place in this passage. David is operating in a prophetic Spirit declaring that there is a king coming, mighty in battle. He is seeing hundreds of years into the future and even more so he is seeing millennium into the future for what he is really seeing is the second coming when the Lord returns as a triumphant warrior clothed in the glory of eternity not a humble servant clothed in the rags of mortal flesh. The Holy Spirit is releasing an image into the earth as a witness for all time of the coming glory of Christ through the mystery of prophetic prayer as David speaks forth by the Spirit.
This work of prayer is not limited to the simple announcement that encourages the heart. David is also entering into the realms of spiritual power as he speaks to the doors and the gates in this prophetic utterance. What are these doors and gates that David is speaking to? The power of these words is best understood by considering multiple realms of effect. In one prophetic act David is speaking to the doors of the human heart saying open to the King of Kings, speaking to the doors and gates of the spiritual realm where spiritual forces stand to resist God’s agenda, and he is speaking to the doors of Jerusalem that on that great day will open to receive the returning Messiah. Understand the power of this one act, this one declaration. For thousands of years now, from the first time this prayer was prayed, the power of these words has resonated through the realms of spirit and flesh speaking over and over as each new heart hears them spoken, as each new pair of eyes reads them and takes them in. These words of David’s are now alive with the power of God and working every moment of every day to further the advance of the King of glory into hearts, into cities and ultimately preparing the way for the glory of God to once again march through the gates of Jerusalem as the King of Kings returns to establish his dominion in “Zion, the joy of the whole earth.”
Thursday
Psalm 25:1-3 March 12, 2009
Ps 25:1-3 "To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; 2 in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 3 No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse." NIV
When the pressure is on where does your soul turn? Where you turn in those moments of pressure that impact your life shapes your personal identity as well as your emotional makeup. Crisis has a tendency to leave an imprint on your inner being and how you walk through that crisis shapes you greatly. In that moment of decision if your heart rises in relationship to the Lord and your soul is comforted by his presence as you worship then a life of trust in God is strengthened. If instead we turn to earthly answers without consulting God then our hearts are strengthened in their independence from Him.
Finding answers without dependence creates two vital flaws in our hearts. First of all we may solve the problem but we do it without establishing the living connection with God that was intended to deepen our walk with him through a shared experience of the crisis. We do not receive the joy and peace that comes through reaching into his heart in worship in our time of need and discovering Christ our peace, Christ our wisdom. Secondly when we neglect a dependence upon God in crisis we may find a solution but often times that solution has negative consequences that we could have been spared through receiving a higher wisdom that only comes from God.
James 3:17 describes the wisdom of God as “first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Have you ever made a decision that came back to cause all kinds of problems? Have you ever made a choice and then endured great emotional stress as you hoped that it wouldn’t end up in disaster? When our wisdom flows out of God’s Spirit it brings with it his peace. Even as David is declaring his trust in the Lord he is strengthening that trust by testifying to the fruit of a dependence upon God.
David truly understood that those who look to God for their answers will never be put to shame. Trusting in God doesn’t necessarily deliver us from the negative consequences of our previous poor decisions but when we embrace the wisdom of God as displayed in James, “pure… peace loving… considerate… submissive... merciful… fruitful… impartial… sincere,” the quality of this kind of response protects us from shame even in the midst of negative consequence. The powerful truth of this principle is that even when the circumstances that we must walk through may be difficult, when we choose a Godly response of humility that flows out of God’s wisdom, the positive character of our wisdom will protect our integrity and emotional well being even as we walk through the difficult circumstance. Many times hard circumstances result in damaged emotions and the benefit of leaning on God is that a Godly response protects the soul from wounding even when we must still walk through the challenging times.
When the pressure is on where does your soul turn? Where you turn in those moments of pressure that impact your life shapes your personal identity as well as your emotional makeup. Crisis has a tendency to leave an imprint on your inner being and how you walk through that crisis shapes you greatly. In that moment of decision if your heart rises in relationship to the Lord and your soul is comforted by his presence as you worship then a life of trust in God is strengthened. If instead we turn to earthly answers without consulting God then our hearts are strengthened in their independence from Him.
Finding answers without dependence creates two vital flaws in our hearts. First of all we may solve the problem but we do it without establishing the living connection with God that was intended to deepen our walk with him through a shared experience of the crisis. We do not receive the joy and peace that comes through reaching into his heart in worship in our time of need and discovering Christ our peace, Christ our wisdom. Secondly when we neglect a dependence upon God in crisis we may find a solution but often times that solution has negative consequences that we could have been spared through receiving a higher wisdom that only comes from God.
James 3:17 describes the wisdom of God as “first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” Have you ever made a decision that came back to cause all kinds of problems? Have you ever made a choice and then endured great emotional stress as you hoped that it wouldn’t end up in disaster? When our wisdom flows out of God’s Spirit it brings with it his peace. Even as David is declaring his trust in the Lord he is strengthening that trust by testifying to the fruit of a dependence upon God.
David truly understood that those who look to God for their answers will never be put to shame. Trusting in God doesn’t necessarily deliver us from the negative consequences of our previous poor decisions but when we embrace the wisdom of God as displayed in James, “pure… peace loving… considerate… submissive... merciful… fruitful… impartial… sincere,” the quality of this kind of response protects us from shame even in the midst of negative consequence. The powerful truth of this principle is that even when the circumstances that we must walk through may be difficult, when we choose a Godly response of humility that flows out of God’s wisdom, the positive character of our wisdom will protect our integrity and emotional well being even as we walk through the difficult circumstance. Many times hard circumstances result in damaged emotions and the benefit of leaning on God is that a Godly response protects the soul from wounding even when we must still walk through the challenging times.
Wednesday
Psalm 24:1-2 - March 11, 2009
Ps 24:1-2 Of David. A psalm.
"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." NIV
Everything and everyone belongs to the Lord! There is no one and there is nothing that exists that has rights apart from accountability to and dependence upon the Lord. All things come from God and all things return to him. Living securely in this knowledge is a great anchor to our lives and also the source of discovering our purpose in life. One of the great lies underneath the argument for evolution and the denial of God is the reality that to embrace evolution and to deny that we are created by a creator leaves man’s existence as meaningless. If we are but an accident of biology and chemistry then we have no innate purpose. If we are not God’s possession then there is no ultimate reason for living and man has no real value. If this is true then all men are not created equal and who can decide right from wrong. If there is no creator who has assigned value to his creation, if God is not Lord and judge of all that he has created, then each man is a law unto himself.
Where does the right to make laws come from. Apart from there being a creator that we are accountable to then there are no absolutes and the only thing that determines right from wrong is whatever customs and cultures a group of people find unity about becomes right and wrong for that group. To kill is a matter of the preference of the people not a moral absolute. The oppression of women, the abuse of children and every other violation of what God’s word establishes as a moral absolute is now easily discarded in the name of whatever rules the strongest majority declares to be right.The implications of David’s decree, as he announces the Lord’s dominion, are huge in their significance. As man accepts the reality of a creator now we have an obligation to that creator.
If God has created everything and owns everything then all men must yield to his right over his creation. In Lev. 25:23-24 we get a glimpse at the impact of these implications as God declares prophetically through Moses “the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.” How does a person live who is just a tenant, a guest in a foreign land? Even our lives are not our own as Paul states in 1 Cor 6:19-20. If we are the possession of God and living as foreigners in this land this must affect how we live. We are not owners of that which the Lord has entrusted to us. Rather we are stewards of what God has placed in our care and we are responsible to him for that stewardship; first of all for every possession he has given us and more importantly for the very lives that we live. From the moment we enter into this reality every choice is intended to be a reflection of that stewardship. What are the owner’s desires for his possession?
The pages of scripture are filled with the answer to that question. God has plainly stated what he expects of this stewardship. However, he has not only stated the responsibilities of stewardship, he has clearly stated its rewards as well. In Ex 19:5-6 God announces a tremendous promise for his people, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The reward of faithfulness is that we are set apart out of all of God’s creation as both his treasured possession and as his representatives to mankind. Solomon takes this concept even further as he speaks in terms of a divine romance by saying in S.S. 2:16 “My lover is mine and I am his” When we fully give ourselves to the Lord’s ownership, in return he gives us himself! Today give God all that you are and receive in return the reward of a divine romance.
"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; 2 for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters." NIV
Everything and everyone belongs to the Lord! There is no one and there is nothing that exists that has rights apart from accountability to and dependence upon the Lord. All things come from God and all things return to him. Living securely in this knowledge is a great anchor to our lives and also the source of discovering our purpose in life. One of the great lies underneath the argument for evolution and the denial of God is the reality that to embrace evolution and to deny that we are created by a creator leaves man’s existence as meaningless. If we are but an accident of biology and chemistry then we have no innate purpose. If we are not God’s possession then there is no ultimate reason for living and man has no real value. If this is true then all men are not created equal and who can decide right from wrong. If there is no creator who has assigned value to his creation, if God is not Lord and judge of all that he has created, then each man is a law unto himself.
Where does the right to make laws come from. Apart from there being a creator that we are accountable to then there are no absolutes and the only thing that determines right from wrong is whatever customs and cultures a group of people find unity about becomes right and wrong for that group. To kill is a matter of the preference of the people not a moral absolute. The oppression of women, the abuse of children and every other violation of what God’s word establishes as a moral absolute is now easily discarded in the name of whatever rules the strongest majority declares to be right.The implications of David’s decree, as he announces the Lord’s dominion, are huge in their significance. As man accepts the reality of a creator now we have an obligation to that creator.
If God has created everything and owns everything then all men must yield to his right over his creation. In Lev. 25:23-24 we get a glimpse at the impact of these implications as God declares prophetically through Moses “the land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants.” How does a person live who is just a tenant, a guest in a foreign land? Even our lives are not our own as Paul states in 1 Cor 6:19-20. If we are the possession of God and living as foreigners in this land this must affect how we live. We are not owners of that which the Lord has entrusted to us. Rather we are stewards of what God has placed in our care and we are responsible to him for that stewardship; first of all for every possession he has given us and more importantly for the very lives that we live. From the moment we enter into this reality every choice is intended to be a reflection of that stewardship. What are the owner’s desires for his possession?
The pages of scripture are filled with the answer to that question. God has plainly stated what he expects of this stewardship. However, he has not only stated the responsibilities of stewardship, he has clearly stated its rewards as well. In Ex 19:5-6 God announces a tremendous promise for his people, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The reward of faithfulness is that we are set apart out of all of God’s creation as both his treasured possession and as his representatives to mankind. Solomon takes this concept even further as he speaks in terms of a divine romance by saying in S.S. 2:16 “My lover is mine and I am his” When we fully give ourselves to the Lord’s ownership, in return he gives us himself! Today give God all that you are and receive in return the reward of a divine romance.
Tuesday
Psalm 23:5-6 Mar 10, 2009
Psalm 23:5 "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 love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." NIV
Vindication comes from God! David experienced the vindication of God repeatedly. His Father hid him and yet God found him. Goliath mocked him and yet God gave him the victory. Saul pushed him down and yet God raised him up. In situation after situation David witnessed the goodness of God preparing for him a reversal of circumstances that were seemingly beyond his control. He was excluded from the party. The giant was just too big for such a small young man. Saul had an entire nation’s resources directed at killing him. And yet in the midst of all of these things David flourished. David was destined to be king!
All of the images of this passage reflect the abundance that the Lord pours out on those whom he calls his own. An abundant table, an anointed head, an overflowing cup, the blessing of Lord touches relationships, favor, and provision. David saw the goodness of God manifest in each of these areas and more and that is why he was able to state, “surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…” When our ways please the Lord his blessing goes before us, follows behind us and pours down over us. What is equally powerful to observe is that God didn’t remove all of David’s trials. Instead, He brought David through with a consistent knowledge of the anointing that God had placed on his life. Notice the goodness of God in setting David apart with the anointing oil at the word of the prophet Samuel and giving him the victory over Goliath and a season of favor with the king prior to allowing his life to be touched by the attacks of his enemies and trials in his circumstances. God had already gone before him, knowing what was to come, and given him these events as mementos to hold onto during the darker seasons. He knew that God’s goodness and love had gone before him and provided for the emotional needs he would face in that season.
Another powerful reflection of this revelation in David’s life was how he responded to such trials as the insecure persecution of King Saul. David did not allow himself to be consumed by thoughts of the injustice that was done to him and he did not take a hold of the problem in a carnal, destructive way. Instead, he remained focus on the Lord’s ways and the Lord’s promises and responded to each injustice with a deepening dependence upon the Lord. David was not perfect in this but consistently he kept stirring himself to retain God’s word as his foundational philosophy for life. Psalm 23:6 unveils the secret of this consistency. David had a living revelation that the favor of God is not momentary but is applied to our lives over time. It is not instant, nor is it fleeting. For those who live with God, his favor will emerge consistently over the course of our lives like flowers in season. David’s second revelation was even greater. David understood that even though the blessing of God on this life was good there is an eternal blessing that is even greater. The underlying strength of David’s life was that he understood that his eternal home was with God and that his reward was not in this life. When we have this revelation nothing that man does to us can rob us of our joy in living for any length of time. Wounds may hurt for a moment, but the person with this revelation will rebound quickly and return to a joyful knowledge of God’s abiding presence following after and going before them.
Vindication comes from God! David experienced the vindication of God repeatedly. His Father hid him and yet God found him. Goliath mocked him and yet God gave him the victory. Saul pushed him down and yet God raised him up. In situation after situation David witnessed the goodness of God preparing for him a reversal of circumstances that were seemingly beyond his control. He was excluded from the party. The giant was just too big for such a small young man. Saul had an entire nation’s resources directed at killing him. And yet in the midst of all of these things David flourished. David was destined to be king!
All of the images of this passage reflect the abundance that the Lord pours out on those whom he calls his own. An abundant table, an anointed head, an overflowing cup, the blessing of Lord touches relationships, favor, and provision. David saw the goodness of God manifest in each of these areas and more and that is why he was able to state, “surely, goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…” When our ways please the Lord his blessing goes before us, follows behind us and pours down over us. What is equally powerful to observe is that God didn’t remove all of David’s trials. Instead, He brought David through with a consistent knowledge of the anointing that God had placed on his life. Notice the goodness of God in setting David apart with the anointing oil at the word of the prophet Samuel and giving him the victory over Goliath and a season of favor with the king prior to allowing his life to be touched by the attacks of his enemies and trials in his circumstances. God had already gone before him, knowing what was to come, and given him these events as mementos to hold onto during the darker seasons. He knew that God’s goodness and love had gone before him and provided for the emotional needs he would face in that season.
Another powerful reflection of this revelation in David’s life was how he responded to such trials as the insecure persecution of King Saul. David did not allow himself to be consumed by thoughts of the injustice that was done to him and he did not take a hold of the problem in a carnal, destructive way. Instead, he remained focus on the Lord’s ways and the Lord’s promises and responded to each injustice with a deepening dependence upon the Lord. David was not perfect in this but consistently he kept stirring himself to retain God’s word as his foundational philosophy for life. Psalm 23:6 unveils the secret of this consistency. David had a living revelation that the favor of God is not momentary but is applied to our lives over time. It is not instant, nor is it fleeting. For those who live with God, his favor will emerge consistently over the course of our lives like flowers in season. David’s second revelation was even greater. David understood that even though the blessing of God on this life was good there is an eternal blessing that is even greater. The underlying strength of David’s life was that he understood that his eternal home was with God and that his reward was not in this life. When we have this revelation nothing that man does to us can rob us of our joy in living for any length of time. Wounds may hurt for a moment, but the person with this revelation will rebound quickly and return to a joyful knowledge of God’s abiding presence following after and going before them.
Monday
Psalm 23:4 March 9, 2009
Psalm 23:4 "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." NIV
The knowledge of the Lord’s abiding presence is the central focus of this verse. The greatest fear that rules the hearts of men is the fear of death and pain. The context of this passage speaks to our hearts that even when the very worst of man’s fears is hovering over the horizon we do not have to be dominated by that fear of evil. What is powerfully contrasted in this verse is the difference between death and evil. For the believer death is a victorious passing not a fearful impending judgment or uncertainty of future state.
The word of God is very clear about the eternal reward of those who live in the presence of God. The apostle Paul went as far as to say in Phil 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” and in Phil 1:23, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;” Paul had faced death on many occasions, even being stoned and apparently resurrected in Acts 14:19-20. They left him for dead and after the disciples gathered around him he got up and returned to the city and then left the next day. Truly that had to be a miraculous restoration for even if he was only mostly dead, without supernatural intervention he would not have been well enough to simply travel on to the next city by the following day after being stoned. Even though Paul has been on the edge of death he is still confident of the reality of his eternal home. He is speaking about the joyful nature of death and is not in any way fearful or uncertain about what is waiting for him on the other side of death. “To die is gain!” This is such a revelation for those who can get a hold of it. Paul doesn’t fear death – he longs for it! What a contrast with the heart that does not understand the power of the resurrection.
When I am with God, living in the knowledge of his presence, I do not have to fear evil. What a promise for those who know their God; freedom from fear! David expounds on the nature of this peace. Instead of focusing on the bad things that may happen in the midst of his circumstances he is focused on the shepherding heart of God that watches over his life. “Your rod and your staff they comfort me.” David’s eyes are focused on the dealings of the Lord, not the workings of evil men. His comfort is in God’s faithful ways towards him. The shepherd’s rod was used as a tool for protection and for guiding the sheep. David’s comfort is in the knowledge that the Lord’s guiding protection is over his life and that even though evil is about, his great shepherd is watching over him to deliver. Our comfort is in the knowledge that the Lord is with us and that we belong to him.
The knowledge of the Lord’s abiding presence is the central focus of this verse. The greatest fear that rules the hearts of men is the fear of death and pain. The context of this passage speaks to our hearts that even when the very worst of man’s fears is hovering over the horizon we do not have to be dominated by that fear of evil. What is powerfully contrasted in this verse is the difference between death and evil. For the believer death is a victorious passing not a fearful impending judgment or uncertainty of future state.
The word of God is very clear about the eternal reward of those who live in the presence of God. The apostle Paul went as far as to say in Phil 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain,” and in Phil 1:23, “I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;” Paul had faced death on many occasions, even being stoned and apparently resurrected in Acts 14:19-20. They left him for dead and after the disciples gathered around him he got up and returned to the city and then left the next day. Truly that had to be a miraculous restoration for even if he was only mostly dead, without supernatural intervention he would not have been well enough to simply travel on to the next city by the following day after being stoned. Even though Paul has been on the edge of death he is still confident of the reality of his eternal home. He is speaking about the joyful nature of death and is not in any way fearful or uncertain about what is waiting for him on the other side of death. “To die is gain!” This is such a revelation for those who can get a hold of it. Paul doesn’t fear death – he longs for it! What a contrast with the heart that does not understand the power of the resurrection.
When I am with God, living in the knowledge of his presence, I do not have to fear evil. What a promise for those who know their God; freedom from fear! David expounds on the nature of this peace. Instead of focusing on the bad things that may happen in the midst of his circumstances he is focused on the shepherding heart of God that watches over his life. “Your rod and your staff they comfort me.” David’s eyes are focused on the dealings of the Lord, not the workings of evil men. His comfort is in God’s faithful ways towards him. The shepherd’s rod was used as a tool for protection and for guiding the sheep. David’s comfort is in the knowledge that the Lord’s guiding protection is over his life and that even though evil is about, his great shepherd is watching over him to deliver. Our comfort is in the knowledge that the Lord is with us and that we belong to him.
Sunday
Psalm 23:1-3 March 8, 2009
Ps. 23:1-3 "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake" NIV
Psalm 23 is a portrait of a satisfied life! David is living in a place of great contentment that flows out of his personal relationship with the living God. “The Lord is my shepherd,” this is who God has become to David, the one who leads and guides and protects. Can you imagine being free from want? There is great power in this phrase. James reflects on the nature of want in James 4:1-2 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight.” Unfulfilled selfish desires are the cause of most of the conflicts and dissatisfactions that damage and destroy not only our circle of relationships but even our own inner peace. David is presenting to all who will listen the hope of a life that is satisfied through surrender to the divine oversight of a loving God.
In his fathering relationship with Timothy Paul shares one of the great secrets of life, 1 Ti. 6:6 “… godliness with contentment is great gain.” The word of God consistently offers to us the source of true peace and contentment in life… intimacy with God. So much of the anxiety and stress that we face is in the pursuit of those things that don’t ultimately matter. David has learned the power of following the voice of his shepherd, the Lord. Jesus offers us insight into the nature of this relationship very simply by saying, John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” True satisfaction in life flows out of two simple principles: listening for his voice and following his lead.
What is truly powerful in David’s words is to notice that the focus of his satisfaction is not primarily on material things. All of his contentment flows out of following. He walks right into a satisfied life! Everything about the next phrase of this psalm speaks of living in a place of inner rest. “He makes me lie down in green pastures…” What a picture of abundance without obsession or greed. So many of us have an inclination towards hoarding; fear that what God has provided today he may not provide tomorrow and so when blessing comes we are compelled to drive ourselves to accumulate more and more. Prosperity is a good thing. It is a tool of the kingdom of God, but God’s desire is that even in the abundant times we are able to still enter into rest in the inner man and not live driven by the stress and pressure created by excessive business. David understood that the Lord’s leading always brought him ultimately to a place of rest. “He leads me beside quiet waters…” The shepherd of our lives will always seek to bring us to the place of quietness where we can receive living waters from his Spirit as we listen quietly for his voice.
“He restores my soul!” This is true satisfaction. This is true contentment. The good shepherd is ever seeking to restore the inner life of each one of his sheep. His desire is to restore health to your mind, will and emotions and He does this in the life of all of those who will listen and follow. He leads us into rest and quiets our hearts before the stillness of his presence and his voice. From this place he guides our lives in paths of peace. A truly satisfied life is the fruit of a heart that has found what Paul describes in Col 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Today make it your goal to listen and follow. As you do, the peace of Christ will guard you and rule in you. Apply these principles with thanksgiving and your life will never be the same.
Psalm 23 is a portrait of a satisfied life! David is living in a place of great contentment that flows out of his personal relationship with the living God. “The Lord is my shepherd,” this is who God has become to David, the one who leads and guides and protects. Can you imagine being free from want? There is great power in this phrase. James reflects on the nature of want in James 4:1-2 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight.” Unfulfilled selfish desires are the cause of most of the conflicts and dissatisfactions that damage and destroy not only our circle of relationships but even our own inner peace. David is presenting to all who will listen the hope of a life that is satisfied through surrender to the divine oversight of a loving God.
In his fathering relationship with Timothy Paul shares one of the great secrets of life, 1 Ti. 6:6 “… godliness with contentment is great gain.” The word of God consistently offers to us the source of true peace and contentment in life… intimacy with God. So much of the anxiety and stress that we face is in the pursuit of those things that don’t ultimately matter. David has learned the power of following the voice of his shepherd, the Lord. Jesus offers us insight into the nature of this relationship very simply by saying, John 10:27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” True satisfaction in life flows out of two simple principles: listening for his voice and following his lead.
What is truly powerful in David’s words is to notice that the focus of his satisfaction is not primarily on material things. All of his contentment flows out of following. He walks right into a satisfied life! Everything about the next phrase of this psalm speaks of living in a place of inner rest. “He makes me lie down in green pastures…” What a picture of abundance without obsession or greed. So many of us have an inclination towards hoarding; fear that what God has provided today he may not provide tomorrow and so when blessing comes we are compelled to drive ourselves to accumulate more and more. Prosperity is a good thing. It is a tool of the kingdom of God, but God’s desire is that even in the abundant times we are able to still enter into rest in the inner man and not live driven by the stress and pressure created by excessive business. David understood that the Lord’s leading always brought him ultimately to a place of rest. “He leads me beside quiet waters…” The shepherd of our lives will always seek to bring us to the place of quietness where we can receive living waters from his Spirit as we listen quietly for his voice.
“He restores my soul!” This is true satisfaction. This is true contentment. The good shepherd is ever seeking to restore the inner life of each one of his sheep. His desire is to restore health to your mind, will and emotions and He does this in the life of all of those who will listen and follow. He leads us into rest and quiets our hearts before the stillness of his presence and his voice. From this place he guides our lives in paths of peace. A truly satisfied life is the fruit of a heart that has found what Paul describes in Col 3:15 “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Today make it your goal to listen and follow. As you do, the peace of Christ will guard you and rule in you. Apply these principles with thanksgiving and your life will never be the same.
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