Reflections on Psalm 23

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Does the 23rd Psalm remind you of death and funerals? It should, because it’s one of the most common passages of the Bible recited at funerals. Maybe it’s the thought our loved ones “walking through the valley of the shadow of death, fearing no evil” that brings so much comfort. This thought is indeed, very comforting, but somehow when I read it I don’t think of death at all, but life.

Our life here is a journey and sometimes we must travel through rough terrain and dark valleys. Sometimes those dark valleys can be so difficult we feel as if we’re traveling through the very “shadow of death.” This is because when we’re faced with trials and tribulation we usually feel so apart from God. Some call it “the dark night of the soul” and it truly is. But the 23rd Psalm is a reminder to us to “fear no evil” because Jesus is always there to give us direction and guidance, no matter how dark it may seem. He is there beside us and “His rod and His staff will comfort us.”

In the Bible, Jesus is often referred to as a shepherd and we, as His sheep. He watches over us the same way a shepherd watches over his flock. A shepherd always carries a rod when he’s tending sheep to clear away rocks or anything in the way that could possibly harm his sheep. Sometimes he might even use it against wild animals that threaten his flock. The staff he carries has a crook on the end of it and is often used to steer wandering sheep back to the flock. Sometimes it might be used to rescue a lamb that has fallen in a crevice or gotten itself stuck in some bushes. When we think of Jesus as our shepherd, keeping harm away from us, it’s certainly a very comforting thought. We don’t even know how many times He may have used His rod to push Satan away from us. And how comforting it is to know His staff is always ready to guide us back to His fold when we have strayed.

God provides for us and gives all that we need. Sometimes we have trouble believing that because our idea of what we need is usually completely different than His idea. Have you ever wanted something really bad and prayed and prayed, but it didn’t seem like He was listening? He’s listening, but He doesn’t always give us what we want because He knows better than we do what’s good for us. We need to learn to accept whatever it is He wants for us and trust it is for our good. “We shall not want” for anything we need.

Life can be hectic at times and we feel as if we have the weight of the world on our shoulders. Traveling through dark valleys can really tear us apart both physically and mentally. It’s very important for us to try to set aside a time for prayer and meditation. As we shut out the world and all our problems and quietly commune with Him, “He will make us to lie down in green pastures and lead us beside the still waters.” As we do this more and more “He will restore our souls and lead us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.”

In the midst of all our troubles and all the evil influences of the world, He is always there beside us. “He prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies.” His Spirit of love and compassion envelopes us as “He anoints our heads with oil. Our cups runneth over.” When we follow Him He assures us that “goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.” And when our journey here has finally ended, “we will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

This is what I see when I read the 23^rd Psalm, a step-by-step guide in all areas of our lives. Maybe my view of it is kind of like the adage, a cup half-empty vs. a cup half-full. While some people seem to only associate it with the comfort it brings in death, I am so thankful for the comfort it brings in life.

Taking A Stand

Today there are tea parties going on all over the country, and I was going to go to the one here in Philly but the weather was windy, rainy and cold. I would have had to walk about a mile to the train and then take the train in for the two hour rally. I decided not to go but I’ve been pouring over a lot of websites to see how they’ve been turning out. It’s exciting to see so many people taking a stand for what this country was founded on, a belief and trust in God.

I got to thinking a lot about that today, how the Bible says in the last days we’ll be called upon to take a stand. For years now the signs of people turning against God have been appearing, from taking God and prayer out of schools, to all the politically correct nonsense that prohibits even mentioning God so you don’t offend anyone.

No matter how strong we may be, as Christians, there’s a subtle fear that gnaws at us. Will we be able to stand? What would happen if we couldn’t go to church any more or if pastors weren’t allowed to preach the truth any more? It's getting quite near to that, with pastors being cited every day for preaching things that offend people. People don't want to hear the truth any more and thanks to our government, they don't have to. It might even get to where the only things allowed to be preached will be a curriculum dictated by our "higher authorities." It could very well reach the point where Bibles or any kind of Christian literature or study materials could be banned. What would we all do if all these things were taken away?

They could very well take away all these things. If my Bible was taken away from me it would devastate me. How would I be able to stand then? Would I be able to stay strong in my faith? Then it hit me; they could very well take away all these things, but no one can ever take away what’s in my heart; what God has planted there.

This is yet another reason why it's very essential to read the Word every day; to absorb it, digest it, and make it a part of you. Allow God to write it on the walls of your heart, and bring it to your remembrance as you apply it to your life every day. “They” can take away many things, but they cannot touch what’s in your heart.

Taking a stand isn't just about protesting and trying to hold on to things we have, or about trying to preserve what we have always known and held dear. It's about building something within our own selves that no man can ever take away from us.

Through Times of Trial

By Charles Stanley

Through Times of Trial

Genesis 39: 19-23

When the problems of life seem overwhelming, we need someone to come alongside and help us to see our difficulties through the eyes of our sovereign God. Joseph is just such a person. Although he lived thousands of years ago, his story still speaks to us with great insights into the Lord's purposes.

Joseph experienced a wide variety of trials--hatred, rejection, and betrayal by his brothers; loss of home, family, and freedom; false accusation and imprisonment; and the loneliness and disappointment of being forgotten. His life was a series of difficult and unfair situations, yet Scripture never records any bitterness or revenge in Joseph's responses to all these circumstances.

Though outwardly it may have seemed as if God had abandoned the young man, inwardly He was doing some awesome work in Joseph's heart. The Lord had some big plans for him, and He knew that these trials would be the most effective tools for preparing His servant for the work that lay ahead.

As Joseph responded to each situation with faith in God and diligence in every task assigned to him, one fact became obvious to all who knew him: the Lord was with Joseph (Gen. 41:38-39).

We need to remember this when we are going through hard times. The Lord is with us even when our circumstances shout that He has deserted us. We may have little control over the difficulties we face, but we each have a choice of how to respond. Joseph calls to us from a time long past, urging us to trust God.

Letting God’s Light Shine

As Christians we cannot stop living just because we don’t like what we’re seeing around us. We must take an active part in life and be a light to the lost!

I’ve noticed an increasing number of Christians expressing a desire to “go home” these days. As evil seems to be escalating, many churches, Christian groups and organizations seem to be building little walls around themselves, as if to protect themselves from the coming doom. A lot of Christians will sit at home for hours and days, diligently studying their Bibles and keeping tabs on the news. I’m sure they feel they are being obedient “watchers of the signs,” because the Bible says to “watch” and be prepared.

This is all good, but Jesus never said we are to stop living or stop participating in life. We were all given one life and we’re expected to use it wisely. Not only should we be using it to serve God, but we should be constantly working towards bringing others to Him. How can we do that if we’re shut up in our houses or churches, only having contact with other Christians? What good are we doing the lost if we isolate ourselves from the world, waiting for it all to end? Far too many good Christians are hiding God’s light under bushels these days, and this deteriorating world needs that light now more than ever.

None of us has the ability to know God’s mind or His timing. It’s not up to us to decide when we’ve done enough or if it’s time to hunker down and wait to go home. But, that’s what seems to be happening more and more. Christians today seem to be convinced the end is right around the corner and it’s time to just wait for Jesus to come and get them. They don’t seem to think about all the lost people out there who don’t have that kind of hope. Who are we to give up on them?

Even if the world out there is getting scary, we cannot hide. Just because Jesus said we are in the world but not of the world, doesn’t mean we’re supposed to isolate ourselves. Jesus didn’t preach inside of a church or building where there were walls between Himself and the lost. We need to be out there among the people just like Jesus was. What good are we doing if we only allow God’s light to shine inside of a church or building, and only to fellow Christians, instead of to the lost? Let His light shine where it can be seen!

The Way To Truth

The way to truth is through God's Word.

The way is narrow, and the path can be hard to find in the midst of the world-wide web, the many congregations, the many teachers, the many books people have written, the many everything.

There are not many paths. There's only one, and few there are that find it.

It's probably right there sitting on your desk or table, a forgotten, dusty book, the Holy Bible. It's all you need to keep you on that narrow path. It’s the only way to stay on the right path.

Don't take detours or short cuts by only reading what others have written about it or only listening to what other people say about it. Don’t go by other people’s understanding. Read it and study it yourself!

The following scripture describes what happened to the Israelites when they stopped leaning to God for understanding. They lusted for a “better” way and looked elsewhere to be fulfilled. He allowed them to follow that lust and they were left empty.

Psalm 106:
13 They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
14 But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.
15 And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

I once searched for truth in many different places. I went to many different churches, I watched many different pastors on TV and and listened to them on the radio. I read many books and listened to many tapes, and I wrote many notes and kept many, many notebooks.

All I felt was empty, and very very confused. I had "leanness in my soul."

I was "lusting exceedingly," searching for answers everywhere I could, and even though what I lusted for was the right thing, it wasn't God's way. I forgot His way. I stopped waiting for His counsel and sought answers from friends and teachers and books. Let's face it; I sought it from man.

I finally got weary of all the books and tapes and words, and so many other things. I felt I was getting nowhere, and all I seemed to see around me was people disagreeing and arguing over words and meanings, and people even calling each other names. It was only then that I shut it all out, and finally turned to just one book, the Bible.

As I sat all alone, reading God's word, with nothing else to distract me, His love and guidance just overwhelmed me. His Spirit showered me with peace and understanding. Only then did I realize I had been taking detours and short cuts, and looking everywhere but to Him.

Now the more I read and study, the more His Spirit fills me and the more I understand. Don't get me wrong, understanding doesn't come right away. Sometimes it comes as I'm doing every day things and sometimes it comes as I lie in bed at night and the quiet surrounds me. Sometimes it comes weeks later, when maybe something I'm doing applies to something I've read in His Word. Suddenly, His words are "fitted in my lips" (brought to my remembrance) and I begin to understand things as I apply them to my own life. His words have become a part of me. He fills my heart and my soul as His Spirit dwells within me.

How blind I must have been. There's only one path and it was right in front of me all along.


Searching For Truth

We search the world for truth,
We cull the good, the pure, the beautiful.
From graven stone and written scroll,
From the old flower-beds of the soul...
And weary seekers for the best,
We come back laden from our quest
To find what all the sages said
Is in the Book our mothers read.