I love how His Word can speak so freshly into our lives at any moment. I've been reflecting on the 23rd Psalm recently and have felt it speaking to me like never before.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
Sheep really are pretty dumb animals who wander off and get themselves into dicey predicaments quite easily. I am learning more in this season that I don't really know where I'm going in a lot of ways or what I'm supposed to be doing vocationally here, but it's refreshing to know that He is my shepherd and He will guide me. As well, to know that, whatever hardships life in this city throws at me, with Him, I truly have all I need.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
At first reading I almost have to laugh at this with the glaring lack of green and quiet here in this city. But on further reflection I believe that, while I love nature and believe it is a great place to commune with our Creator, the call to me here and now is to see life with Him as my green pasture and quiet waters. In Him is rest and peace that is unlike any other this world can give. Will I let him care for me in this way today?
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
No matter what the circumstances of life are, living here or elsewhere, I have nothing to fear because He is with me and I with him. The Word is rife with imagery of looking forward to the great wedding feast of the Lamb in the new heavens and new earth when we will be with Him and He will more fully dwell with us. But here and now, in the midst of my struggles, he invites me to share table with Him, to accept his offer of intimacy and the love and gifts He wants to freely give to me. And sometimes I may need to be corrected and disciplined by him, but his rod is a comfort to me, because it leads me back to the place of life.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What a promise! I don't have to strain to find Him in this place. "Surely", no doubt about it, His goodness and love FOLLOW me. He , like the shepherd constantly looking out for his sheep, never ceases to tenaciously pursue me with His love. My prayer is that I would stop being distracted by the many peripheral things and allow myself to be found by him again and again.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
Brent, this Psalm has be reverberating in my mind this week, too. It's been so encouraging as I look toward deciding on grad school in the weeks ahead. Thank you for sharing, friend!
td
Bill Maynard recently taught on this Psalm (in his "Psalms" class) and brought freshness to it, as you have. Most recent was Psalm 73 which reminds us that "God Himself is the greatest reward and blessing for the believer, and knowing Him is the answer to our existential and philosophical problems. Despite their apparent prosperity and east of those who do not acknowledge God, their judgment and ruin will be swift and final." WHOA.
Thank you for sharing this, Brent. When I was living in Croatia during the war and quite depressed and desperate much of the time, I used to repeat this psalm to myself through the nights when I couldn't sleep....So many memories. What a faithful God he is.
Post a Comment