From the Pastor |
Out of all the psalms in the Bible, the 23rd is probably the most well-known and loved. For many people, it is their favorite scripture. Even people outside our faith communities recognize these words. This song of assurance, trust and comfort touches us in so many ways.
The 23rd Psalm is most often used for funeral services, but the truth is that these words are more about living a God-centered life than it is about our hopes for life after death. This is David’s song of his personal, intimate relationship with God… his confidence and trust in God… and it provides a wonderful picture of what living “as Children of light” looks like. How such a life is shepherded by God… So let’s take a closer look at this beloved psalm. “The Lord is my shepherd…” In his youth, long before becoming king… David had been a shepherd for his father’s sheep. He understood what that meant. The sheep were able to recognize which shepherd was theirs by the shepherd’s voice, and each shepherd was able to recognize which sheep belonged to their flock. Theirs was a very personal relationship that held a significant bond between shepherd and the sheep. David declares that he and God share in that same type of type of personal, intimate relationship… “The Lord is MY shepherd”… not just a shepherd… or the shepherd of Israel… but HIS own shepherd… and he follows that with the declaration: “… I shall not want.” The sheep rely upon the shepherd for everything: food, shelter, guidance and safety. A shepherd was one person who took care of all the sheep would need… making sure they did not lack anything they needed. And that is what the Hebrew text says: I lack nothing! Please note that “I shall not want” does not mean that if David wanted a brand new car, God would give him one… but it DOES mean that David realized that all that he did have came from God… who provided for all his needs. Verses 2-4 demonstrate this clearly. “He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;” The shepherd provides what is needed most… The green pastures, where there is abundant food and a place to lie down and find rest. The still, quiet waters… where thirst can be quenched. David knows that his Shepherd goes all out for his sheep… knowing their needs and providing the very best. “He restores my soul.” When we look at the relationship of shepherd and sheep, we can understand that by providing physical nourishment and rest, the sheep are renewed and restored, reenergized. This is what David feels under the Lord’s care. “He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.” David goes on to say that God is the shepherd that guides him along the right paths. Shepherds (at least in those days), did not drive the sheep ahead of them. They lead them, often walking beside them, guiding them along the paths that led to those places of rest and provision. Now we have to acknowledge that sometimes David strayed from God’s path… sometimes he sinned quite egregiously… but he always heeded the voice of his shepherd and returned to God… putting his trust in the Lord to lead him throughout his life… This was true while he himself was a shepherd… in his battle against Goliath… while he was in fear for his life from King Saul… and through his own time as King… all for the glory of the God of Israel. But as David knew being a shepherd was not only about providing for and guiding one’s sheep. The Shepherd must also protect them. “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.” In Palestine, it was not uncommon for the flock to have to travel down and through dark, rocky ravines where danger was very likely to be present. There was the threat of injury from the rugged terrain and cliffs, or the danger of predators hiding nearby. And David knew that life was no different. Every day he was surrounded by danger and threats… but he would not be afraid. David knew that the Lord… HIS shepherd was with him… providing strength and comfort… After declaring his complete trust in the Lord to provide for, guide and protect him, David transitions to another metaphor… “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” The picture David paints for us with his words is that of God as a gracious host… preparing a banquet, sparing no extravagance and providing blessing and abundance… even though enemies are around it is clear that the grace of God is strongly evident in David’s life. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.” Now most of us are probably more familiar with the KJV translation which says “and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” It is this translation that makes people believe that this scripture is more appropriate for funerals. It seems to lead us to thinking about our future time in heaven. But that is not actually what David wrote. The Hebrew is better translated “length of my days.” Or as the NRSV put it… “my whole life long.” David wants for this relationship… this fellowship and communion with His God… not for some time in the future… but right then… He wanted for his life to remain centered on God… … in that moment and during all that remains of his earthly life… David was a human being just like we are. He had great successes but he also had faults and failures… there were times of joy, and times of sorrow and great fear. But David overcame his worries and fears by trusting and rejoicing in God. Today, Psalm 23 is our song about our own relationship and trust in God… It is a perfect model for us to follow every day of our lives, as we respond to all the fears, sorrows and difficulties that come our way. And boy, do we need it! Many of us may have no problem finding food or clean water… but how often do we really get to rest. We are always on the go. We live in an extremely fast paced world… we never seem to stop. There never seem to be enough hours in the day, and our society is such that fatigue and exhaustion are pretty common. What is one of the first things to go when we find ourselves running short of time? … Unfortunately, most often it is our relationship with God. Maybe we are just too tired from the week to go to church on Sunday. Maybe we put off spending time each day reading the Bible or praying. After all… There is just too much to do. How many of us can say with certainty that our relationship… our personal relationship with God is strong like David’s? How many of us can say we have placed our whole and complete trust in God? How many of us REALLY give over control to the shepherd? If we are to be honest… there are many times in our lives where we are as dependent and clueless as sheep. We have an innate tendency to wander off and to find ourselves lost. Sometimes we even make the conscious decision NOT to follow where the shepherd is leading. Then come the times when we find ourselves overwhelmed… in need comfort and guidance… longing for someone to provide some food (whether physical or spiritual) and a peaceful place to lay down and simply rest for just a little while. Times when we feel worried… anxious and afraid… When we don’t know which way to turn… Times like now. Honestly… That is probably one of the only good things to come from this Covid-19 crisis. People have been forced to slow down… to spend much needed time with family… much needed time to rest… and for many of us… much needed time with God. The truth is that the only thing we lack is an intimate relationship with God. Let’s face it… We are sheep. We wander. We seek comfort and provision. But this is not the ideal relationship to God. We are called to be in a much more meaningful relationship with the Lord of all Creation. Because, in truth, we are not sheep. We are human beings created in the very image of God. Jesus was born so that we could better understand and be in relationship with God. Jesus revealed the extent of God’s love for us and demonstrated what it was to truly live a God-centered life… A life given over to the Lord OUR shepherd. For as Jesus said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment…” Sometimes we act like sheep. We stray mindlessly and God needs to shepherd us back to where we are supposed to be. But as we mature in our relationship with the Lord, it is easier to remain on the right path… and then… we are empowered and given responsibility to “Live as children of light” This enables us to more fully live up to the second greatest commandment, to “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’…” All of this is only possible because of one thing… David knew it… I pray you know it too… Even in these days of anxiety-driven uncertainty… We have NOTHING to fear… because God is with us. That is the basic message of this psalm… the basic message of the entire Gospel… Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us… We are not alone. God will not magically stop all trouble from finding us, but God will be with us through it all… the good, the bad and the really scary. For if we will just put our trust in the Lord… we too can declare with certainty: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need… He renews my strength… I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me…. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will” [NLT] “follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.”[NRSV] Amen!
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Yeon Shin
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