Thursday - Psalm 23
I don't think there is a better known piece of Scripture, maybe John 3.16 comes close, than this psalm. People with no Christian faith at all know this Psalm. It is sung at funerals, weddings and all sorts of other occasions. It is used as a prayer and as a source of comfort and strength in all sorts of situation, both good and difficult. One commentator said It is the Pearl of the Psalms, the sweetest, simplest song ever sung. I am sure we would not disagree with those sentiments.
Verses 1-2 the Shepherd and the sheep. It is clear that the Shepherd is the Lord God himself and that we are the sheep. Although we know sheep go about in flocks this Psalm speaks of the relationship of an individual sheep with the Shepherd. It is an intensely individual and personal relationship and in it we see the selflessness of the Shepherd. What a contrast we see here - the abundance and riches of the Shepherd are shared with the emptiness and poverty of the sheep. The sheep is pictured as weak and weary but the Shepherd is always strong and knows the places where the sheep needs to be taken to rest and be refreshed. The sheep knew only the rough and noisy places but the Shepherd knows the places of quiet solitude that every weary soul needs to be taken to. When the soul is thirsty, hungry and like a desert it is the Shepherd who leads to the living water that refreshes the soul. It is a place of plenty and continual refreshment for the soul, not partial.
Verses 3-4 we have the picture of the Shepherd as a guide giving direction to the sheep. There are still just two in this image - the Shepherd and the individual sheep. The way the sheep goes is dangerous and dark and it may even go through some fearsome places. Those who would do harm to the sheep are all around and yet the Psalmist says the Shepherd leads on through such dangers, never losing the way and never losing the sheep. The sheep is never left on its own and the guidance is given not only for the benefit and comfort of the sheep but also for the glory of His Name. Even though danger and darkness surrounds the sheep - there is courage in his soul because he can feel the very breath of the Shepherd, His presence is that close and His guidance that sure and clear. The Shepherd carries the means of protection and rebuke - and in both is assurance of His love and guidance for His sheep.
Verses 5-6 The Shepherd and sheep are now pictured as the host and the guest. The journey is ended and the place of blessing has been reached and still there are only two in the picture - the individualism is maintained throughout the Psalm. I am the guest and He is the host, attending to my every need. What an amazing picture of the servanthood of Christ for His people. Look at how lavish the meal or banquet that has been prepared is - an image of the great banquet of the Lamb. The imagery is one who has taken a bath and now is anointed with expensive and choice oils. Anointing with oil in Scripture is for healing, blessing and to consecrate you (make you holy) - what a wonderful image is painted here of what Christ does for us - He heals us from our sins, He blesses us with salvation and He sanctifies us. And yet the blessings have not finished. As Christ is doing that He is filling our cups to overflowing with the choicest blessings of heaven. We often fail to see our cup as running over because we see too often the negatives and the problems - but here is the promise of God - your cup will run over with blessing - we need to open eyes to what truly is a blessing in our lives.
Then God, the Shepherd, assigns two of His servants to follow me and wait upon me - Goodness and Mercy. One commentator described these two as sheep dogs who keep the sheep within the flock and fold. I think it is an amazing gift that these two follow me all the days of my life. God's goodness and mercy are upon me, upon you, right now. Goodness and mercy have been the constant companions of my life, of your life, since you came to faith in Christ. We may not always see them but they are with us always because God has promised them to His sheep, His people.
What a last sentence - the promise of eternal life in the house and presence of God. What a powerful and triumphal end to the Psalm. This Psalm just builds up and up to this crescendo. This Psalm is one blessing heaped upon another blessing. It seems a shame that we have so associated it with funerals that it has lost its impact for daily life and for assurance and strength to the people of God. What a Psalm of blessing for us. In this Psalm the individual is referred to 17 times and 13 times to the Lord - it is a deeply intimately personal Psalm. It is the He-me Psalm of the OT.
Knowing Christ as Saviour - we shall not want for rest, for refreshment, for repentance, for guidance, for companionship, for comfort, for sustenance, for joy, for anything -not in this life, nor in the life to come.
Amen.
Verses 1-2 the Shepherd and the sheep. It is clear that the Shepherd is the Lord God himself and that we are the sheep. Although we know sheep go about in flocks this Psalm speaks of the relationship of an individual sheep with the Shepherd. It is an intensely individual and personal relationship and in it we see the selflessness of the Shepherd. What a contrast we see here - the abundance and riches of the Shepherd are shared with the emptiness and poverty of the sheep. The sheep is pictured as weak and weary but the Shepherd is always strong and knows the places where the sheep needs to be taken to rest and be refreshed. The sheep knew only the rough and noisy places but the Shepherd knows the places of quiet solitude that every weary soul needs to be taken to. When the soul is thirsty, hungry and like a desert it is the Shepherd who leads to the living water that refreshes the soul. It is a place of plenty and continual refreshment for the soul, not partial.
Verses 3-4 we have the picture of the Shepherd as a guide giving direction to the sheep. There are still just two in this image - the Shepherd and the individual sheep. The way the sheep goes is dangerous and dark and it may even go through some fearsome places. Those who would do harm to the sheep are all around and yet the Psalmist says the Shepherd leads on through such dangers, never losing the way and never losing the sheep. The sheep is never left on its own and the guidance is given not only for the benefit and comfort of the sheep but also for the glory of His Name. Even though danger and darkness surrounds the sheep - there is courage in his soul because he can feel the very breath of the Shepherd, His presence is that close and His guidance that sure and clear. The Shepherd carries the means of protection and rebuke - and in both is assurance of His love and guidance for His sheep.
Verses 5-6 The Shepherd and sheep are now pictured as the host and the guest. The journey is ended and the place of blessing has been reached and still there are only two in the picture - the individualism is maintained throughout the Psalm. I am the guest and He is the host, attending to my every need. What an amazing picture of the servanthood of Christ for His people. Look at how lavish the meal or banquet that has been prepared is - an image of the great banquet of the Lamb. The imagery is one who has taken a bath and now is anointed with expensive and choice oils. Anointing with oil in Scripture is for healing, blessing and to consecrate you (make you holy) - what a wonderful image is painted here of what Christ does for us - He heals us from our sins, He blesses us with salvation and He sanctifies us. And yet the blessings have not finished. As Christ is doing that He is filling our cups to overflowing with the choicest blessings of heaven. We often fail to see our cup as running over because we see too often the negatives and the problems - but here is the promise of God - your cup will run over with blessing - we need to open eyes to what truly is a blessing in our lives.
Then God, the Shepherd, assigns two of His servants to follow me and wait upon me - Goodness and Mercy. One commentator described these two as sheep dogs who keep the sheep within the flock and fold. I think it is an amazing gift that these two follow me all the days of my life. God's goodness and mercy are upon me, upon you, right now. Goodness and mercy have been the constant companions of my life, of your life, since you came to faith in Christ. We may not always see them but they are with us always because God has promised them to His sheep, His people.
What a last sentence - the promise of eternal life in the house and presence of God. What a powerful and triumphal end to the Psalm. This Psalm just builds up and up to this crescendo. This Psalm is one blessing heaped upon another blessing. It seems a shame that we have so associated it with funerals that it has lost its impact for daily life and for assurance and strength to the people of God. What a Psalm of blessing for us. In this Psalm the individual is referred to 17 times and 13 times to the Lord - it is a deeply intimately personal Psalm. It is the He-me Psalm of the OT.
Knowing Christ as Saviour - we shall not want for rest, for refreshment, for repentance, for guidance, for companionship, for comfort, for sustenance, for joy, for anything -not in this life, nor in the life to come.
Amen.