Psalm 23

Psalm 23

This is one of the most well known parts of the Bible. Even people who know nothing of the Bible know this Psalm. It is read in time of distress and need, it’s read at funerals. Yet there things we generally miss when looking at it.

Shepherding was important to Israel and of God revealed things by talking about shepherds.  Some of the great passages about them are; Isaiah 40:11, Ezek 34:1-31 and John 10:1-18. The angels of heaven are sent to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus and not to kings. 

 

1. the Lord is my shepherd

            A. it is the writer not God who states this

            B. My shepherd,

                        a. a choice has been made to be one of Gods sheep

                        b. there are other shepherds that people follow

                        c. political parties, TV and radio personalities, the stock market

                        d. famous personalities, philosophy, science, even family

                        e. whatever you follow is your shepherd.

 

2. I shall not be in want

            A. a statement of trust and a statement of acceptance

            B. Not only will God provide all I need but what God provides is all I need

            C. Paul tells us in Phil 4:11-12

 

3. He makes me

            A. a statement of submission to God

            B. follow through green pastures, beside quite waters, in righteousness

            C. through the valley of the shadow of death

            D. prepare a table in the presence of my enemies

            E. you are with me

            F. Matthew 1:20  “Immanuel, God with us.”

 

4. the rod and staff

            a. Tools used to lead and guide.

            b. comfort in the discipline of God.

 

Because of this relationship, choosing to be God’s sheep, goodness and mercy will follow you and you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  But it all starts with choosing who your shepherd will be. Whatever you follow in life, whatever you base your decisions on, that is your shepherd. We are all sheep the only question is who will your shepherd be?

Psalm 12:1-8 "Faith in the Face of "

Psalm 12:1-8

Faith in the Face of

            The desert is hot and the sun blinding but the parched and dying man sees water just ahead.  He laughs, he cries out in joy, he even turns his stumbling into a sort of dance.  He cries I’ve made it to water, it’s just ahead, I see it.  Yet it cruelly stays just ahead and he finally crashes to the ground.

            From corporate CEOs to over extended home owners, people who seem to have made it, suddenly find they have no water and their dreams are sand.

            David, who writes this Psalm is using his faith and what he knows is true to deal with the mirage of life in the world.

1. The mirage of life

            A. all the faithful are gone, “Vanished” from the human race.

            B. they all speak lying and deceitful tongues.

            C. boastful tongues, flattering lips, they are above God.

            D. the wicked strut around and things that are vile are honored by men.

2. David reminds himself of the promises of God.

            a. God will protect us.

            b. God hears us.

            c. God’s word is true and pure like silver and gold

            d. David has faith not in what he can see but in spite of it.

3. Living in faith

            a. God wants people of faith.

            b. Hebrews 11:1,  2 Cor 2:18.

            C. focus on the reality of God’s love and not the mirage of life.

            E. encourage those around you not to give up walking in faith.

Conclusion: Soon enough the world will find out that it has been drinking the sand.  Soon enough their failure to trust in Jesus will crash down upon them.  But you know that this world is a fake one, temporary one, and the real eternal world is going to last.  By faith you can start living in that world today, just as David did.

Psalm 3:7-8

Psalm 3:7-8

            We have come to Psalms, one of the most loved books of the Bible.  Psalms is a book of songs, poems, prayers and responsive readings used for worship.  It is often thought of as a book of comfort, but it is much more than that.  It is the one book in the Bible where the words are directed up to God, in contrast to Proverbs which is directed down to people.  In psalms, we see how people with real lives express the range of emotions and feelings to God.  There are psalms of joy, sorrow, strength, fear, despair, hope, faith, and questioning.  There are cries for justice, and cries for mercy.  Many people read psalms and just skip parts.  There are parts of psalms that just do not fit our Jesus ideas.  I have tried to pick psalms that would give us a range of view trusting that as you read you will pick up on the usual things

1. A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE

            A. 1-2 DAVID’S SITUATION

            B. 3-6 A STATEMENT OF TRUST, CONFIDENCE IN GOD

            C.  7-8 THE UNEXPECTED.

2.  JESUS

            A. FORGIVE, PRAY FOR AND BLESS WHO PERSECUTE YOU.

            B. OPENLY FOUGHT WITH THE TEMPLE LEADERS

            C. WHIPPED THE MONEY CHANGERS TWICE.

            D. YET FORGAVE THEM FROM THE CROSS

3. TAKING ON THE ENEMY

            A. THOSE WHO ATTACK YOUR FAITH

            B. THOSE WHO ATTACK GOD

            C. SINFULNESS IN YOUR LIFE

            D. THE SIN THAT DEFEATS THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU

            E. GOVERNMENT, HOMELESSNESS, JOBLESSNESS, PERVERSION AND ABUSE

            F. CANCER AND OTHER DISEASE

Perhaps the greatest enemy we have is that part of us that wants to live in rebellion to God.  That sinful nature that wants to defeat us on a personal level.  It is time to ask God to punch your sin in the jaw, knock out its teeth, and give you deliverance and victory.