"The Lord is my shepherd!" (Psalm 23:1)
Psalm 23 of David is perhaps one of the best prayers ever written, with nuggets and inspirations, of benefit to us since and
ever before. “The LORD is my shepherd, “David begins.” I lack nothing” (vv 1). What is it that you lack? In his life David had started out as a shepherd, and he knew very well, that a shepherd’s job is to watch over his sheep, feed and water them, and since the Lord is our shepherd, we his sheep shall lack nothing.
Verse 2 -3 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” This exactly what a good shepherd does; he takes his sheep to the best fodder, ensuring that his sheep are well fed and rested. When the sheep are restless the good shepherd is troubled. Our God desires and is pleased when we are at peace.
Sometimes we may all find ourselves going through a storm. In Verse 4- 5, David says, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The Christian life is not without difficulties, but here David points us to God as our comforter and deliverer. We always have the staff of prayer to lean on.
In Verse 5, he writes, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In his tumultuous life, David had to battle with many enemies, ranging from King Saul, to foreigners and members of his own family. He knew a lot about betrayal. And, we too, may face enemies no less, from those that oppose us in our workplace for their ambition’s sake, to those who are not pleased because of the Gospel we preach. Yet here, just as David, we are assured that victory is on our side- this is why our cup overflows.
“Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv 6). The one who walks with God has a fresh smile ever, for God is with him. The blessings of God are with him wherever he goes.
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham,
maker of heaven and earth, as David prayed in Psalm 23, may I not be troubled, for you are my shepherd ever watching over me and your goodness goes ahead of me!
Related upcoming events
-
13/05/2024 - 14/05/2024 All day“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13)
Joy is one of the blessings of the Christian life. Psalm 28:7 says, “The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
Once the prophet Nehemiah told the people of God after they had gathered to celebrate all He had done for them, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10).
Although joy is one of the marked blessings we have, Satan will always fight to steal joy from the children of God. When, “David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets” ( 2 Samuel 6:14- 15), one person was not so amused by his joy. None other than but his wife, Micah.
So, “when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart” (vv 16). Indeed, “when David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, going around half-naked in full view of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
But rather than let the enemy drive joy from him, David’s reply was, “I will celebrate before the LORD” (vv 20).What we see here is that Satan is never pleased with our joy. He would please to steal our joy such as in this instance with a negative remark from nowhere. Sometimes he can trick our minds and make us despair of events around us convincing us there is no hope. When we are settled and smoothly cruising, Satan will set up road blocks of confusion, just to take that joy away from us.
The mature Christian will see through these tricks and shrug them off. Let us purpose never to lose that joy from the Lord. As Isaiah 12: 6 says, “Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, thank you for the blessings of joy you have given me, and may I rise to live and share the joy of the Lord of our salvation, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
