Devotional Thoughts for the Week of January 22, 2023 - The Lord is My Shepherd
Adonai is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
He leads me by quiet water, He restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths for the sake of His own Name.
Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster;
for You are with me; Your rod and staff reassure me.
You prepare a table for me, even as my enemies watch;
You anoint my head with oil from an overflowing cup.
Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life;
And I will live in the house of Adonai for years and years to come
(Psalm 23, The Complete Jewish Study Bible)
This familiar psalm has been greatly ministering to my heart and mind over the past couple of weeks. I pray that it will bless you afresh today. There are many informative books, articles, and sermons which have expanded my understanding. I would encourage you to take the time to do a little study for yourself on this passage. It is not historical narrative, nor law/instruction, nor prophecy. Rather, it is a poetic expression of a man trying to describe the relationship he enjoys with his God. It serves to stir up within the reader a deep longing for that kind of intimacy with the One that David called his Shepherd.
In John 10, a few centuries after this psalm was written, Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows and cares for the sheep. He invites us to draw near and know Him in a very personal way. The more we know this Shepherd, the longer we walk with Him and see Him work out every situation, the more we learn to be fully and utterly satisfied in Him. We can come to the place of saying “I lack nothing” because His presence is so rich that our hearts are full. Do you enjoy that kind of delight in the Good Shepherd? It is offered freely to you. Are you able to lie down and rest, knowing that God is fully in control and His heart toward you is tender? Jesus is Shalom - peace, fullness, wholeness, enough-ness without striving. When you are filled with His peace, you need not be overwhelmed by the cares of this life. If your sins have been forgiven and you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, that Living water bubbles up inside you as a continual spring. Do you know that refreshing? He offers to restore you, to renew your strength, your hope, your focus. The paths of righteousness on which He leads are often circuitous (just as they were for shepherds in the Holy Land), but they are good. Along the journey He makes Himself known and strengthens that personal relationship. Are you walking patiently with Him, learning to enjoy Him day by day, or are you so focussed on where you want to be that you chafe at the slow pace? If you are walking through a dark and difficult place, He offers the reassurance of His presence. As you press in to Him, you will find Him to be a source of continual comfort. He is still sovereign. Evil will not, cannot win. You can live in His joy even in these evil days. Since God’s goodness and grace are pursuing you, let yourself be caught and held by them today and every day.
Even though we have been hearing this psalm all of our lives, it offers fresh hope today. If you know the Good Shepherd, I encourage you to draw near and be renewed in His presence. His heart toward you is good and He will always always always take good care of you. No enemy can thwart Him. You can rest in His goodness and His strength. Be the kind of sheep that follows so closely that if He stops suddenly you will run into Him. Be the kind of sheep that brings great delight to the Good Shepherd. You will find that to be the path to great delight in your own life also. Then pray for other sheep to know Him intimately also. Oh that we would become the flock that our Shepherd longs for us to be!
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, or if you once did but you have wandered off to other pastures that you hoped would satisfy, I urge you with all my heart to come and seek Him today. He knows your name and He longs for you to be close to Him. There is room for you in this flock. In Him you will find the home for which your heart has been longing. Come today to the One who loves you so much that He gave His very life for you. Jesus our Shepherd is very very good.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior,
Lynn
Adonai is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He has me lie down in grassy pastures,
He leads me by quiet water, He restores my inner person.
He guides me in right paths for the sake of His own Name.
Even if I pass through death-dark ravines, I will fear no disaster;
for You are with me; Your rod and staff reassure me.
You prepare a table for me, even as my enemies watch;
You anoint my head with oil from an overflowing cup.
Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life;
And I will live in the house of Adonai for years and years to come
(Psalm 23, The Complete Jewish Study Bible)
This familiar psalm has been greatly ministering to my heart and mind over the past couple of weeks. I pray that it will bless you afresh today. There are many informative books, articles, and sermons which have expanded my understanding. I would encourage you to take the time to do a little study for yourself on this passage. It is not historical narrative, nor law/instruction, nor prophecy. Rather, it is a poetic expression of a man trying to describe the relationship he enjoys with his God. It serves to stir up within the reader a deep longing for that kind of intimacy with the One that David called his Shepherd.
In John 10, a few centuries after this psalm was written, Jesus referred to Himself as the Good Shepherd who knows and cares for the sheep. He invites us to draw near and know Him in a very personal way. The more we know this Shepherd, the longer we walk with Him and see Him work out every situation, the more we learn to be fully and utterly satisfied in Him. We can come to the place of saying “I lack nothing” because His presence is so rich that our hearts are full. Do you enjoy that kind of delight in the Good Shepherd? It is offered freely to you. Are you able to lie down and rest, knowing that God is fully in control and His heart toward you is tender? Jesus is Shalom - peace, fullness, wholeness, enough-ness without striving. When you are filled with His peace, you need not be overwhelmed by the cares of this life. If your sins have been forgiven and you have been filled with the Holy Spirit, that Living water bubbles up inside you as a continual spring. Do you know that refreshing? He offers to restore you, to renew your strength, your hope, your focus. The paths of righteousness on which He leads are often circuitous (just as they were for shepherds in the Holy Land), but they are good. Along the journey He makes Himself known and strengthens that personal relationship. Are you walking patiently with Him, learning to enjoy Him day by day, or are you so focussed on where you want to be that you chafe at the slow pace? If you are walking through a dark and difficult place, He offers the reassurance of His presence. As you press in to Him, you will find Him to be a source of continual comfort. He is still sovereign. Evil will not, cannot win. You can live in His joy even in these evil days. Since God’s goodness and grace are pursuing you, let yourself be caught and held by them today and every day.
Even though we have been hearing this psalm all of our lives, it offers fresh hope today. If you know the Good Shepherd, I encourage you to draw near and be renewed in His presence. His heart toward you is good and He will always always always take good care of you. No enemy can thwart Him. You can rest in His goodness and His strength. Be the kind of sheep that follows so closely that if He stops suddenly you will run into Him. Be the kind of sheep that brings great delight to the Good Shepherd. You will find that to be the path to great delight in your own life also. Then pray for other sheep to know Him intimately also. Oh that we would become the flock that our Shepherd longs for us to be!
If you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, or if you once did but you have wandered off to other pastures that you hoped would satisfy, I urge you with all my heart to come and seek Him today. He knows your name and He longs for you to be close to Him. There is room for you in this flock. In Him you will find the home for which your heart has been longing. Come today to the One who loves you so much that He gave His very life for you. Jesus our Shepherd is very very good.
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Savior,
Lynn
