God's Work in a Time of Fear

DAILY READING

Psalm 23

DEVOTION / REFLECTION

Sheep Need a Good Shepherd

by Elaine Pierce

How many times have you read Psalm 23? How many of you have this beloved psalm memorized? It is hard to look at Psalm 23 with fresh eyes, isn't it? And yet, when I ask God to show me what I need, and I listen and wait patiently, he will always bless me. So let's take a look at Psalm 23.

I read that this psalm comes from the time of David's life when Samuel anointed him the new King of Israel (I Samuel 16:10-12). God directed the prophet Samuel to choose a new king, and that king would be one of Jesse's sons. But when 7 of his sons stood before Samuel, he knew he hadn't found the king. Jesse told him that his youngest son David, was away tending the sheep. This was a lowly task given to the youngest child. When they fetched David and brought him to Jesse, God made it very clear that this young man would be King David, and so, in obedience, Samuel anointed him King.  

The job of a shepherd was not considered a career goal for which to aim.  It was hard, lonely work. Sheep are smelly, recalcitrant, and, to be honest, not very smart. The hours are long and the rewards are low. But without a shepherd, sheep would not survive. They are totally dependent on the shepherd for everything

What does the shepherd do in Psalm 23? Here are a few things:

•  He restores my soul. 

• He comforts me. 

• He anoints my head with oil. 

• He keeps me from harms way. 

• He guides me  in paths of righteousness.

This is a shepherd who has my best interest at heart, and this is a shepherd who knows better than I do what is good for me. This is a shepherd who is trustworthy. This is a shepherd who loves me. This is MY shepherd.  

Probably the most well-known shepherds in the Bible outside Psalm 23 are the shepherds who visit Jesus after the angels tell them that a savior is born this day. But Jesus tells his followers that HE is the good shepherd. And he says this: "the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I know my sheep and my sheep know me (John 10)."  

The sheep will encounter trials. There will be enemies along the way. There will be fears to face. But through it all, the shepherd will lead us. Take his hand. Accept his love. Bask in his forgiveness and grace and mercy. Yes, the valleys of the shadow of death will come to each of us, but our shepherd will provide a way out.  Take his hand and allow him to lead you.  

PRAYER PRACTICE

Spoken Prayer – Out loud, pray for God to speak to you through your reading of Psalm 23 today. Praise God for giving us His word. Ask the Spirit to help you read with faith, and to live out what you hear from God through the passage.

The Lord is my Shepherd

June 9, 2020

David, who is familiar with hardships, enemies, and anxiety, writes this famous poem about how God’s presence brings peace, even in “the shadow of the valley of death.”  

STUDY THE SCRIPTURE

Click here to access the reading of Psalm 23

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REFLECT

The Lord is My Shepherd

By Tom Richards

The 23rd Psalm is one of the most familiar passages in all of scripture. Many have these verses memorized and they are often read at funeral services. The words of this Psalm provide comfort during difficult times. Even though we may experience things in this life that we do not “want”, God’s Word and his Presence can bring us peace – “green pastures”. These words, as with many words in scripture, can uniquely “restore our souls”. The promises of God, specifically the promise of eternal life with him, enable us to “fear no evil”. We know that like a shepherd, he holds us in his hands and that even death does not have victory over us.

It may seem strange, but as powerful and familiar as the 23rd Psalm is I was having a difficult time thinking about what to write in this post. I shared this with my wife, and she encouraged me to look at these verses from a spiritual and eternal perspective. As part of this conversation we talked about a friend of hers who was dying of cancer. My wife, who is well acquainted with physical suffering, shared a text that she sent to her friend several days earlier. I think it captures the message of the 23rd Psalm and with her permission I would like to share it with you.

“I know it’s late, but I just want you to know I’m thinking about you (as I do every night). Pain seems so much worse at night and then on top of that you are so sleep deprived you don’t know how you’ll get through the next day. My heart aches for you and for what you are enduring… and more chemo. You must be feeling so overwhelmed.

I pray: Father God, comfort Cheryl in a way that only you can. Be so near that she can feel your Presence and hold her Lord. Speak to her heart and tell her how proud you are that she’s been a Christian leader in her home and work and with her friends… and now more than ever in her suffering she is clinging to you and to your promise and she is standing firm on her faith! She knows you are God, you are in control, and that no matter what cancer tries to do to her body, her soul cannot be touched! You hold it safely in YOUR hands and there will be a victory. We love you Lord and we are trusting you. In Jesus name, Amen. Love you."

Cheryl died on May 21. Her funeral service was held on May 26. The first scripture reading in the service was the 23rd Psalm.

UALC’S CAMPAIGN OF PRAYER

The Shepherd Leads through the Valley

Psalm 23 - A psalm of David

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
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.
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.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil, my 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.

As a mother knows the cry of her child amidst a riot of sound, and blocks out all sound except that of her child, the Word tells us the good shepherd Jesus, hears our voices when we call out to him.

Often I think of the sweet Border collie who helped me raise my son. By virtue of her breeding she had the heart of a shepherd. Every evening at 8:30 she began sheep-herding my son to bed. If he woke during the night crying, she was immediately at my bedside barking loudly. She was always close at his side.

The work and the heart of the good shepherd is to guard, protect and comfort us. As we hear and know the voice of our good shepherd we become confident and restful in his care. He picks us up and carries us through the darkest valleys, he pulls us back from the slippery slope when we have wandered too far.

Up and over his strong shoulders we go, back into the shelter of his love and protection where goodness and mercy follow us.  I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me. John 10:14 (NIV)

Today's devotion is written by Diane Ward.  Diane is guest posting today and in May will begin writing the Tuesday devotion on this site.

A Table Prepared for Us

David, the author of most of the Book of Psalms, was a shepherd and wrote out of his own experience. He spent the better part of his childhood caring for his sheep, who were completely dependent on him.

The New Testament calls Jesus the good shepherd (John 10:11), the great Shepherd (Hebrews 13:20), and the Great Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). With Jesus as the shepherd, we are His sheep. While we are not helpless, passive animals, we strive to be obedient followers and set aside our sheep-like qualities.

Psalm 23 is not centered around the helpless animals, but is all about the discipleship qualities of those who chose to follow Jesus, the Great Shepherd. This shepherd knows what is best for us, His followers, and He provides for all our needs.

Psalm 23:5 (MSG) You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing.

Are the holidays difficult to face? Do you dread family gatherings where Aunt Sue and Cousin Jim are always trying to out-do the other with stories of recent expensive purchases. Does this happen in the presence of Grandma Jess who just lost her husband of 52 years and is wondering how she will be able to go on? These characters are all sheep who need the love and provision of the Great Shepherd.

Where do you find yourself today? Are you in a better place than last Thanksgiving? Have you been able to put food on the table for your children? Did you purchase your first home this past year? Or, has the year been a difficult one for you and your family? No matter the difference from last year to now, the Shepherd has been doing what a Shepherd does...tends to his flock.

For this I give you all thanks and praise and honor.

Psalm 23

Prayer is Whispering -- Help is on the Way

Psalm 20:6 (MSG)
  That clinches it—help's coming, an answer's on the way, everything's going to work out.


I was reading this Psalm in Eugene Peterson's Message version. This line got my attention!  Don't you love it?  It is like when we were kids in the movie theater and the good guys were in big trouble.  They tried everything they could to escape their predicament and now, all they could do was wait and hope for the best.

Having seen a number of these situations and knowing full well they were going to be alright, it didn't lessen  the anxious feelings of helplessness mixed with anticipation of what was to come.  And, just in the nick of time the cavalry came riding over the hill, or the sheriff rescued the town from the gang that had been plaguing them for weeks.

Cheers and whistles filled the air and all was right with the world once again...until next Saturday afternoon matinee.  Can you see why this verse touched me?  What about you?  Do you have memories of being saved just when it felt like all was lost?  I love how David writes about his faith and his journey with God.  I enjoy reading his prayers and his praises and painting a picture in my mind of just what was going on in David's life when he wrote such words.

When I write in my journal during difficult seasons, the feelings are similar.  When I read in Revelation about Jesus' second coming, I have this vision as well.  Jesus is armed and dangerous. Jesus, wearing white and riding a white horse is coming to the rescue.  The thing is, He does this every day. Jesus is our hero every day.  This is a simple statement, perhaps childlike in nature, but true non-the-less.  David knew this, we do too.  The next time trouble is waiting in the wings, just remember the words, That clinches it—help's coming.  Then turn to God and expect great things.

Psalm 20, 21, 23

The Story - Chapter 12 - Psalm 23

Psalm 23:1 (NIV)
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

Many text books and magazines for writers say to write about what you know. Write about that for which you have a passion and from which you can draw experiences. David was a shepherd and he most likely grew up tending sheep from an early age. David understood the ways of these animals he was charged to watch over. David did what it took to ensure their health and safety, tending to their needs.

When David wrote the Psalms, especially Psalm 23, he painted a picture of the LORD as a shepherd, drawing a parallel to his life experiences as a tender of sheep himself. David understood how completely helpless sheep are without their shepherd to guide, provide, and protect them.

Perhaps David wrote this particular Psalm later in his life, when he could look back and see all the amazing things God had done to and for him. Conceivably David was examining his heart one day, praising and praying to God when he considered the time he spent as a young shepherd out in the fields. He might have recognized the similarity between his duties as a shepherd and God’s love and care. At the very least David saw how totally dependent he was on God and could easily see the parallel.

During our time in chapters 11 and 12 of The Story we witnessed David’s great love for God and have seen evidence of his servant’s heart. This man was not only a warrior and a king, but a writer as well. God gifted this man in a number of ways because of the great plan He had for him. The fact that thousands of years later we are reading his work, learning from his experiences and mistakes is incredible. Oh, but that we could have such an impact on the future.

Read Psalm 23 here

Listen to Psalm 23 here

Be Shepherds - Acts 20:28-38

A year ago the theme for our Vacation Bible School was the 23rd Psalm.  I was given a book to read based on that Psalm and it taught all about sheep.  I was amazed with what I learned about these cute, cuddly, soft looking animals.  I learned they are not too smart, and they need to be led around by a shepherd for their very existence.

These creatures that God choose to use as examples in some of the parables, are dependent upon man for survival.  Given to their own devices they would perish.  I am grinning as I realize this is the exact reason Jesus chose this animal as His parallel example to us.  

I know that if I am left alone to figure life out, left without the Holy Spirit to call upon for guidance and understanding, I would be lost.  I am like that sheep who wanders away, gets caught up in some brambles, falls down and cannot get up again.      

Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. (Acts 20:28)

Thank you Jesus, you care enough to chase after me when you only count 99. Thank you Jesus, when you find me, you pick me up and lovingly carry me home in your arms. What a beautiful picture I have in my mind right now.
Read the Acts 20:28-38 text here.