MEDITATION
God who is Shepherd
Psa
23:1
The LORD
is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
To
approach this most familiar of psalms, let's see if we can view it
slightly differently from usual, in an endeavour to catch something
new from it. Suppose you were a sheep and you'd never read this psalm
well sheep can't read can they! As a sheep you know little
of existence. There are sheep enclosures where you are put at night
and there are fields where you wander during the day. That is your
world and no more. In the morning you are turned out of the fold.
You wondered why you had to be in a fold. Without thinking you start
nibbling at the grass. As one patch of grass is shortened you are
moved on to another fresh patch. You are taken to the river shallows
where you drink. This happens day in, day out, and all the while in
the background of your consciousness is this figure who is there.
You're not sure why he's there, he just is, and he's the one who lets
you out in the morning and shuts you in at night and moves you on
during the daytime. He's just there, whoever he is, this being.
I
suspect that is how many people feel about life. It just happens and
we take it for granted. We seem to have what we need and lots more
sometimes and life goes on, and there in the background we're conscious
of some being' who is there God.
David
is very much aware. He is aware of what the shepherd does because
he is or has been, a shepherd. He also knows who God is and what He
does, and as he thinks about it, he realises that God is very much
like a shepherd. He's there in the background of the sheep but He's
not just there, He's doing things and He's doing them for the sheep.
He spells out some of the things he's come to realise that the shepherd
does:
-
He
makes me lie down
he leads me
. he restores
(v.2,3). Yes, the way The Shepherd looks after him, He looks
after his welfare and quietens him and restores him when he feels
worn and jaded.
-
He
guides me in paths of righteousness
(v.3). He helps keep David on track.
-
Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil, for you are with me (v.4).
He reassures David by His presence with him.
-
You
prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
(v.5). David didn't have to worry about his enemies because God
was blessing him.
-
You
anoint my head with oil (v.5). David
was aware of the Lord re-equipping him and resending him (anointing
was a sign of being set apart for a task).
In
each of these ways David was aware of The Shepherd looking after him:
quietening, restoring him, keeping him on the right track, reassuring
him by His presence, blessing him and resending him. So how about
us? Have we taken for granted the figure in the background or have
we realised that He is there ministering to us? Have you responded
to Him and let Him lead you into a place of peace and quiet (even
in the midst of busyness) where He stills you and restores your soul?
Have you known His reassuring presence? Have you had a sense of His
gentle voice calling you back to the right track when you've gone
to wander away? Have you had that sense of being equipped to be sent,
of going into life with a clear sense of purpose, going at the bidding
of the Shepherd?
Do
you see the point of what we have been saying? It is so easy just
to have a vague awareness of this person in the background of our
lives, but not realise what He's doing. He IS you shepherd and He's
there guiding and directing, protecting and providing, caring and
concerned all for you!
Response:
Yes, declare again that the Lord is your Shepherd, and open
your heart to let Him lead you, still you, quieten you, restore you,
keep you on the right track, reassure you with His presence, bless
you, equip you and send you.
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