This was my Granny Watts favorite scripture in the bible and she ask me to recite it before every bull ride, unfortunately all I could remember was the first verse...she was okay with that. Honestly, I did it to appease her and ease her worry for me but apparently as I now know there is power in His word. I'll not say I never got hurt riding bulls because I did and while some or at least one looked sever none were ever life threatening, I do have to say my choices do now affect my quality of life and I wouldn't suggest anyone do it.
With all that said I never thought about what this meant, but now that I do have the desire and interest and tools to do so I'd like to go through the mean verse by verse and being my blog that's what we're going to do....LOL
A Psalm of David.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 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 have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6
Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever *.
First let's start with a little history of Psalms, the book of Psalms doesn't have a single author. King David authored a large number of the 150 Psalms...almost half. Seventy three of the passages explicitly bear the designation "A Psalm of David." Other authors include Asaph (50; 73-83), the sons of Korah (42-49; 84-85; 87), Solomon (72; 127) Moses (90), Heman the Ezrahite (88) and Ethan the Ezrahite (89). Many of the other Psalms authors remain anonymous.
Psalms is actually five books of prayers and praises brought together as one. Each one was written to be sung in worship to God. Psalms cover every possible circumstance that life could throw at us, which is why there's 150 of them. They cover the ins-and-outs and ups-and-downs of life -touching on physical, financial, emotional and spiritual needs. The Psalms were written so that the people of God could communicate with him. They will shape your ability to talk to God and will teach you about his character, attributes and kingdom purpose in history.
Psalm 23:1-6
1) The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
David was familiar with tending sheep, after all he used to do the job. He knew first hand what it was to for a shepherd to protect and provide for sheep, so he described his relationship to God in those terms. What David had been for his sheep God had been for him. If you'll notice David refers to God as "my shepherd" because He wasn't just any old shepherd, He was David's personal shepherd. As a result, David can confess "I shall not want" because God had covered all his needs and he recognized he lacked nothing.
**We must think like David did in referring to the God as "my shepherd", we must view God as our personal shepherd and have the same kind of faith David had in believing we will lack nothing because the Lord has our needs covered.
2) He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads beside quiet waters.
God had met David's spiritual needs just as a shepherd gives sheep green pastures and refreshes them with quiet waters, so God had done so for David. The cares and struggle of the world can leave us exhausted and these are the times we need to take the time to learn our dependence on the Lord.
**Turn things over to the Lord. Pray on important decisions, because what we decide may not meet Gods plans for us. If you have to make a decision NOW, pray that it turns out for the best...but still consider if it's something God would approve of.
3) He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake.
He renews our life with spiritual refreshment and restoration. God met David's directional needs because men like sheep are prone to wander and get lost. They need guidance. Today many vehicles have GPS systems that warn you if you deviate from the best route to your destination. Through His word and His spirit, God leads us along the right paths and reroutes us when we become foolish and get off our path. Why? "For His name sake" that is so others can hear us say "My God brought me here."
**Follow Gods lead, stay in His leading steps...follow your cloud much like the Israelites being led from Egypt. Your prayers to him is your GPS, don't turn it off.
4) Even though I walk though he valley of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
God met David's emotional needs. Regardless the dangers surrounding them, sheep can follow their shepherd without fear. He uses his rod to beat off wild animals that wish to attack the sheep, thus he provides the comfort they need. His staff is used to guide and pull the sheep back from dangers that will harm them.
**When life takes you through the darkest valley, receive consolation in knowing that your divine shepherd has power in one hand and grace in the other. Trust in the Lord's rod, knowing He will use it will beat Satan and His demon off of you while he pulls you close to him with His staff.
5) You prepare a table before in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
God met David's physical needs though enemies hovered near. God fed him when he hungered and anointed him with oil when he needed healing. God never runs dry, That's why David's cup overflowed.
**Like David, we must recognize we have one source. There are many resources God may use to provide and care for your physical well being - but there is only ONE source trust and have faith in Him. We must look at our blessings...I don't live in a mansion but have a roof over my head, I'm not rich with money but the bills are paid and we have food on the table, my clothes may not be the name brands but I'm not naked nor am I bare foot. To often we look at what we don't have rather than what we do have, my cup really does overflow.
6) Sure goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
God met David's eternal needs, only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life. Shepherds often have sheepdogs that keep the sheep from wandering. The divine shepherd has 2 sheepdogs named 'goodness' and "faithful love." Sometimes they nip and bark if you wander from the herd with the intent of driving you back to your divine shepherd, so that you may eternally dwell in the house of the Lord.
Submit to "the great Shepherd of the sheep" (Heb. 13:20) our Lord Jesus Christ. He lays down His life for His sheep (john 10:11) and through His wounds, we are healed (1 Peter 2:25) because He knows His sheep and they know Him (John 10:14). He will welcome you.
**We may get nipped in the rump from time to time, but we must stay the course and stand firm in our faith that the Lord has our backs. He may let us stray a little before we pulls us back, but that's just to remind us that we can only trust in Him.
Today's world of false teachings, immorality and other unholy acts can and will affect our humanly minds. This is why we need to keep our faith steadfast now more than ever, I'm not gloom and doom but if you look around at the world and what's going on...the time of Jesus' return could be very near.
What you see here (maybe with a few changes) is what will be my first official sermon if I ever do step to the pulpit. At this time I feel as if that's my calling and I would be honored to do the Lord's work in this manor, but will gladly except any other calling he may have for me.
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