September 16, 2009
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 23
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. [Psalm 23:6] There is so much meat in this little psalm. I could spend weeks digging into its profound depths. It is a beautiful, much-loved expression of confidence in the goodness of God. I want to highlight David’s hope for eternal life – now and forever. David is not just dreaming of heaven, he is experiencing heaven on earth. The eternal kind of life – one that will go one forever – is one lived in close fellowship with God in this world. By “house of the Lord”, David does not mean the temple, but the presence of the Lord. I live with God everywhere, I experience Him everywhere!
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. [John 14:23] Jesus invites us into eternal life now already. To live life now in fellowship with God, with Jesus, with the Spirit. As we open our hearts to Him in love, God, Jesus and the Spirit move in, make their home with us. This is eternal life, it begins now already. Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. [John 17:3]
This experience is not a denial of suffering and hardship. David rightly sees that we go through valleys. But we go through them, and He goes with us, and He gets us out of them to the place and feast prepared for us. In other words, as those who live with and walk with God, we discover quiet places, green pastures, guidance, comfort, strength, blessing as we go through the same challenges as others. They only experience the challenge, but we experience God through the challenge.
I can think of some amazing examples of Jesus-followers who, despite horrible hardship, have been able to cling to God, to hope, and to discover blessing in the middle of it all. This is what David is expressing. God is good, no matter what dangers or valleys we face; He cares for us even more than a shepherd cares for His sheep.
Do you live with God through each day? Do you sense His presence and power in/with You as you face joys and challenges? Do you trust Him to lead you through? Do you look for, and take advantage of, the quiet waters and green pastures He provides along the way. You can be enjoying eternal life right now, if you want to.
PRAYER:
Lord, You are my Shepherd, You are with me. I am with You. Always!
As the shepherd leads and guides his sheep, guards and protects them, feeds them by finding pasture land, so too, the Lord God is my Shepherd. He supplies all my daily needs, more than I ever dreamed of or expected. I lack nothing. And even though there have been difficult times His presence, His guiding hand was always there as also stated in the Psalm about the shadow being there.
As I live this day in His presence, He has already filled my cup. I lack nothing when I am part of His flock. He is my All in all also today. Today I need to once again listen to His voice as He continues to lead me and guide me in the Way I should go. Help me this day to live for You Lord. Thank You Lord. PTL oh my soul!
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Refrain
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Refrain
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Refrain
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.