Psalm 23

Always and Forever

God has no variation in His love for us, no interruption in His promises to us, and He is eternal – a time concept we can’t truly comprehend.

Ps 23. 1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

A disco band named ‘Heatwave’ wrote a song released in 1976 titled, ‘Always and Forever’. This song swept the charts and became a popular tune at weddings across the country. I wonder how many couples danced to that music, made it their own special song of endearment, only to break up years later. I was one of them.

The words always and forever mean essentially the same thing. They are measures of time that have no end. When we say always we mean all the time and on every occasion, without variation or change, without interruption, and forever – throughout all time. To say you will always like something or always do something or always be there or always be available or always love someone is to profess a perpetual promise based on your expected knowledge of the future. This is shaky ground even with the best of intentions.

What do we mean by forever? Forever implies limitless time, endless time without interruption. The synonyms everlasting and eternal come to mind. Our comprehension of time is within what we know to exist. We understand seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years. We have an appreciation for longevity. We celebrate the centenarians who reach their 100th birthdays and beyond. We marvel at couples who’ve been together 50, 60 even 75 years.

I remember the intrigue I felt when I stood at the Colosseum in Rome. The sheer size of it was overwhelming but it was the age that was difficult to comprehend. Finished in 84 AD it is approximately 1,938 years old! Try to wrap your head around that number in years. And it’s still standing! Even this information, albeit impressive, doesn’t come close to ‘always and forever’ in time.

Our always and forever is subject to limits. Limits of our thoughts, our feelings, our actions, and our direction. Our thoughts change constantly. Our feelings have no settled place. Our actions reflect our inconsistent thoughts and feelings. And our direction is seldom straight forward. The good news is that when God says always, He means just what He says. There is no possibility of anything different.

God has no variation in His love for us, no interruption in His promises to us, and He is eternal – a time concept we can’t truly comprehend.

Psalm 23:6 tells us that God’s goodness and mercy shall follow His children ‘all the days’ of their life.

What is God’s goodness and mercy?
goodness the best, bountiful, favour, graciously, kindness, loving, pleasant
lovingkindness mercy, kindness, favour
WordWeb: compassion, kindness, forgiveness

“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me”
God’s children have the promise of His favor and the blessing that result from His care and protection. The Psalmist can say this for certain and as he looks back at God’s guidance and care for him, he is assured that this care will continue throughout all his days on earth and into eternity. In what ways are you able to testify of God’s care for yourself? Consider all the times He has kept you safe, His supply of all things you have needed, the blessings He has given, and the comfort He has provided.

“Surely goodness and kindness will follow me. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or “surely” is set as a seal upon it. This sentence may be read, “only goodness and mercy,” for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. Goodness and mercy follow him always –” Treasury of David

Ps 30:11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;
Ps 36:7-10 How precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings. 8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house; And Thou dost give them to drink of the river of Thy delights. 9 For with Thee is the fountain of life; In Thy light we see light. 10 O continue Thy lovingkindness to those who know Thee, and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
2Co 1:9-10 indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; 10 who delivered us from so great a [peril of] death, and will deliver [us,] He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,

God’s care for us will not stop, it always available. Perhaps we don’t often recognize God’s provision and protection. But it will ‘follow’ us, meaning there is so much blessing God has for us that we can’t even get away from it! God desires to bless His children!

God will bless us here on earth and forever in heaven. What are we looking forward to?
“And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”.

Heaven is my true home. When Jesus died for me on the cross, He paid the penalty of death I owe and purchased a place in heaven for me. When Jesus rose from the dead in victory over sin, He sat at the right hand of His Father in heaven. God’s children have an established place in heaven, an eternal dwelling in His presence.

Ps 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah. (KJV)

What does this mean for me? One thing I should not do is place my source of happiness in this world. There are definitely moments of happiness that are blessings from God, but this is not my focus. If I’m living for what the world offers then my joy is fleeting – it comes and goes with the events and circumstances that surround me. These moments of happiness are good and we should enjoy them, but they are inconsistent.

However, the joy set before me in God’s promises are definite. His goodness and lovingkindness are always available and showered upon me even though I am undeserving. And God’s promise of life forever with Him is a goal that will be attained. It is certain!

Ps 73:24 With Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, and afterward receive me to glory.

“God never leaves his true followers providential mercies gracious influences, and miraculous interferences, shall never be wanting when they are necessary.” Adam Clarke’s Commentary

Ps 36:7-9 How precious is Thy lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Thy wings. 8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Thy house; And Thou dost give them to drink of the river of Thy delights. 9 For with Thee is the fountain of life; In Thy light we see light.

God’s children have confidence in God’s care and in God’s plan. This confidence produces a joy separate from circumstances. It is a joy in the knowledge that someday we will be in heaven forever. We need no other proof that heaven is real than the word of God saying it is so! No miraculous experiences, no visions or lights at the end of a tunnel – God’s word is truth and He says He is preparing a place for us.

2Co 5:1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2Ti 4:18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him [be] the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Ps 16:11 Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fullness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever.

God’s children have God’s favor. We have been given the privilege of knowing Him and His graciousness towards us. Because of His lovingkindness, the benefit of His protection and guidance are bestowed upon His children.

“And therefore I am bold to hope, that the same bounteous goodness and tender mercy which hath without my desert done all this for me, and pursues me as zealously with its favor as my enemies do with their malice, will still more graciously attend me at the end of my days, and settle me in a quiet enjoyment of his house (as well as my own); where I will never cease to praise his wonderful love towards me, and to give him thanks for all the benefits he hath bestowed upon his unworthy servant.” Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary

Consider. We have ‘bad’ days and ‘good’ days. There are some days we would like to repeat and others we would love to forget. We have days filled with happiness and days filled with sadness. We have days that are confusing and days where all seems to be in its place. Sometimes we anticipate days where a special event is planned and other times we dread a day that we know will be difficult. In all these days, God is with us. God will supply all that is needed because of His goodness towards us. God will continue to pour His blessing upon us even though we are undeserving because of His mercy shown towards us. These promises are incredible!

Consider. What is an inheritance? Perhaps you’ve inherited something after someone has died. We can inherit a title or an office or property. We can inherit blue eyes or blond hair, height and many other biological characteristics from our parents. Children of God have an inheritance in His kingdom to look forward to when they finally pass from this earth. But, we also have an inheritance now. And that is we may dwell in His house at any time. We can dwell in His presence at any time.

Look at what God has already done for you. This is what our Psalmist has done from the beginning of Psalm 23, and what has led David to his conclusion in Ps 23:6. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
He has seen God’s care and provision in his life as his Shepherd in verse 1.
He has experienced rest from God in the midst of turmoil in verse 2.
He has been refreshed by God and led on a path of righteousness for Him in verse 3.
He has encountered God’s peace, protection and comfort through dangers and difficulties in verse 4.
He has received God’s abundant blessings even while he is distressed and afflicted in verse 5.
Because God has shown His faithfulness in the past and because God’s character is faithful,
Therefore, Surely, Only – goodness and lovingkindness will follow him all his days and he has the promise of eternal life in God’s blessed presence!

David is resolved that God will continue to favor Him throughout all his days and into forever.
Contentment in the certainty of God’s blessings – this is our example.
Ps 23. 1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

One of the lines in the song ‘Always and Forever’ by Heatwave reads as follows.
“And I know tomorrow, will still be the same, cause we’ve got a life of love that won’t ever change”

As people, the promise of ‘always and forever’ to one another is wrought with our own inconsistencies and infidelities.

In Christ, our tomorrow will reflect the same faithfulness and love from God that He has shown in the past. God’s love for His children will never change. His promise for our future is certain. God will love us and care for us always and forever!

My Cup Overflows

Even in the things that threaten to break our peace, we can know that God is aware of all things and in Him there is rest. God’s preparation is always perfect, affording us what is needed, blessing us according to His bountiful grace.

Fall is settling in. The nights are becoming cool, the air feels crisp. One by one, leaves are beginning to turn color and float to their resting place on the ground. I’m thinking about pumpkins and warm cinnamon spiced apple cider. This year, our east coast family will be joining us for Thanksgiving. My heart swells with the thought of having all my children and grandchildren together under one roof. Of course, this means I will be planning and preparing what I hope will be a safe, restful place where we can relax and enjoy one another along with some delicious food. The cloth napkins will be ironed, the table set just so, the rooms made ready for those visiting. As we gather together, our hearts will be united in our thanksgiving to God for His grace in our lives. My cup overflows.

Ps 23:5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Prepare <arak> to set in a row, arrange, put in order, direct, handle, prepare

When we speak of preparing something, we are getting something ready for a particular purpose. We may prepare for a visit by packing, we may prepare food to eat. We prepare for things all day long as we follow schedules or anticipate events. When you consider the act of preparation, usually you have something or someone in mind. Even the simple act of preparing for the day ahead involves thinking about the activities you may be involved in, what clothing you might need and where you should be at what time.

I have often forgotten to bring something with me or have picked up just what I need at the store except one item! Even with a list, I can fall short of preparing things the exact way I imagined. I’ve taken a wrong turn in following directions and then even in all my good intentions, I can run out of time and find myself late for whatever I was supposed to be ready for. In Psalm 23:5, David tells us that God prepares a table before him in the presence of his enemies. Consider the character of God – He is perfect. There will be nothing forgotten or left out. God’s provision is perfect even in the midst of others seeking to destroy David.

This conveys a picture of calm in the midst of a storm. All around may be adversity yet we can have peace and confidence in God’s perfect security, and His preparation for His children. We don’t have people waiting to harm us as the Psalmist did, but we do have distractions. Even in the things that threaten to break our peace, we can know that God is aware of all things and in Him there is rest. God’s preparation is always perfect, affording us what is needed, blessing us according to His bountiful grace.

Adam Clarke’s Commentary says this about the beginning of Psalm 23:5 – “Here the second allegory begins. A magnificent banquet is provided by a most liberal and benevolent host; who has not only the bounty to feed me, but power to protect me; and, though surrounded by enemies, I sit down to this table with confidence, knowing that I shall feast in perfect security.”

Consider. Where do your blessings come from? Where does your help come from? When have you experienced ‘calm’ in the midst of a storm? Who is responsible for the peace you can have when things are difficult?

2Th 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God’s children are blessed with His extraordinary kindness. He not only provides food, but a feast, a most sumptuous feast, with great care and order, set before His children. (cf Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary)

Ps 22:26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever!

Ps 31:19 How great is Thy goodness, Which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee, Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee, before the sons of men!

Joh 10:9 "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

“Oh! The peace which Jehovah gives to his people, even in the midst of the most trying circumstances!” Treasury of David

Ps 23:5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

We need to look back at the custom of the day to understand better the meaning of anointing someone with oil. A distinguished guest at a feast would have perfumed oil poured on their head. “In the East the people frequently anoint their visitors with some very fragrant perfume; and give them a cup or glass of some choice wine, which they are careful to fill till it runs over. The first was designed to show their love and respect; the latter to imply that while they remained there, they should have an abundance of everything. To something of this kind the psalmist probably alludes in this passage.” Samuel Burder, TOD. Remember the account in the Gospels, of the woman who poured oil on Jesus’s head. She was doing what was customary and had been neglected. This was a picture of her placing honor on Jesus and believing in Him.

Mt 26:6-7 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very costly perfume, and she poured it upon His head as He reclined [at the table.]

Perhaps the picture for us is the anointing of the Holy Spirit within our lives as God’s children. Each day and in every circumstance we can be refreshed in the presence of God. His grace is available to us, we need only to stop and be filled. One commentary said that anointing oil was the symbol of gladness.

“Thou anointest my head with oil. Thou hast not confined thy bounty merely to the necessaries of life, but thou hast supplied me also with its luxuries.” In A plain Explanation of Difficult Passages in the Psalms, 1831.

“…the precious perfumed oil of thy grace which thou dost mysteriously pour upon our souls” Jean Baptiste Massillon, 1663-1742, TOD

Joh 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

1Jo 2:27 And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him.

The last part of Psalm 23:5 reads “My cup overflows”. We will never run out of God’s provision. His protection, His peace and calm even in the midst of difficulty, and His loving care for us is readily available to all who love Him. And His provisions are more than enough, overflowing in their bounty.

Ps 23:5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Something that overflows signifies a surplus. Do you see the blessings of God flooding your life? Do you take the time to recognize His outpouring of love upon you?

Ps 16:5 The LORD is the portion of my inheritance and my cup; Thou dost support my lot.

Our Psalmist recognized God’s overabundance of blessings in his life. Even while his enemies planned evil against him, they found themselves looking on, perhaps in envy, at the least in amazement, at the supply of God’s blessings in David’s life. We have a picture of reliance on God for His blessings and trusting in Him through difficulties and dangers.

The truths in Psalm 23:5 should provoke a response from us. Read the verse again.

Ps 23:5 Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; Thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Ps 116:12-13 What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me? 13 I shall lift up the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

Eph 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him [be] the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you God for Your abundant care in all circumstances; thank you God for the gift of Your Holy Spirit and Your guidance; thank you God for the numerous and overflowing blessings poured out upon Your children. It is for God’s glory that we call upon His name as we recognize His abundant blessings in our lives. It is for God’s glory that we rely upon His provision in the midst of all circumstances as we expectantly wait on His plan. It is for God’s glory that others see His work in our lives in the hope that they also repent and seek righteousness through Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son.

For His Name’s Sake

I love how John Wesley’s Notes on the Old Testament explains the words, ‘He restores my soul’ – “He brings it back; from its errors and wandering. Not for any worth in me, but for the glory of his justice, and faithfulness, and goodness.”

Psalm 23:3

Ps 23:1 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Think of what it means to be restored. I love restoring old furniture. I don’t necessarily bring the item I’m working on back to its original state, instead I refresh it by putting on a new coat of paint. Often, screws need to be tightened and seams need regluing in order to strengthen the piece. I normally sand the wood pieces before I paint, and sometimes I sand after, to give it a ‘loved’ look. Reupholstering can also give a fresh new look to some pieces but older items may need the cushioning replaced in order to really strengthen and fix the entire object.

When I looked up the Greek word restore is translated from, I was presented with quite a long list of definitions. Generally, its meaning is to retreat again, bring back home again, to call to mind, to continually deliver. The words recall, recover, refresh, relieve, rescue, retrieve and to cause to return are included in the long list of expressions defining the word ‘restore’.

The above seemed a lot to decipher, so I looked at the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge to try to get some additional insight. Here are a few verses using the same Greek word <shuwb> or restore.

Ps 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary says “to restore the soul is to revive or quicken it.

Ps 80:3 O God, restore us, and cause Thy face to shine [upon us], and we will be saved.

There are numerous uses of this same word throughout the Bible, many in the book of Genesis. The majority of uses for this word have the same thought – return(ed), returned continually, brought back, brought again, certainly return, restore(d), come again, bring again, to deliver, and draw back.

Psalm 23:3 says He restores my soul. God comforts His children. God refreshes His children. Not necessarily by changes that occur outside, but by those that come from within.

Consider. How long does an outward change last if only superficial? In other words, if I don’t take the time to fix the integrity of the furniture I restore, it will still be weak even though the outside may look new. God restores our soul, the very center of who we are. He refreshes us from the inside. Initially, He saved my soul from the grip of sin so that I would have eternal life. Continually, He brings me back from wandering by His guidance and protection. When I am weak, God gives me refreshment in His truths and strengthens me.

God not only has gifted us with eternal life, He also is here to direct us and guide us, to restore us, to bring us back when we go off in the wrong direction, to give us rest when we become weary. This is a beautiful picture of our Great Shepherd and His continual care for His children. “Just as a shepherd brings back his wandering sheep from those craggy, untrodden paths, wherein they would lose themselves; and leads them into plain and easy ways, wherein they find rest and safety.” Patrick/Lowth/Whitby/Lowman Commentary

“When the soul grows sorrowful He revives it; when it is sinful He sanctifies it; when it is weak He strengthens it. … Are any of us low in grace? Do we feel that our spirituality is at its lowest ebb? He who turns the ebb into the flood can soon restore our soul. Pray to Him then for the blessing – ‘Restore thou me, thou Shepherd of my soul!” Treasury of David

Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

God not only restores my soul, He leads me, He guides me, He puts me on a straight path, the right path.

Think of those times you’ve taken a wrong turn. About twenty years ago, my husband and I surprised my parents with a trip to Alaska. My Dad had always dreamed of going there. While we were walking through some ruins from the 1964 earthquake that registered a 9.2 on the Richter scale, my husband took a turn and we all followed. Soon, we found ourselves right in the middle of mosquitos nesting. This was as horrible as it sounds: the little critters were everywhere, our skin was covered and if you opened your mouth to say anything or scream, they entered your mouth. I remember having mosquito bites on my tongue, and in my ears along with every exposed skin surface. God doesn’t lead us on a path of calamity, he leads us on His path of righteousness.

Ever have those times where you don’t know which way to turn? The direction you should take doesn’t seem clear and there doesn’t seem to be a good answer or right choice. We’ve all been there at one time or another. Several of us have been there multiple times. Some may even be there right now. What do you do?

Always, always, always go back to the truths you know in Christ Jesus. Psalm 23:3 says God will guide us to His way, what is best. Place your trust completely in His truths given to us through His word. You can rest in the fact that God does what He says. His answers may not come as quickly as we would like which means we need to wait. His answers may also not be what we want, but they will be what we need. His answers are often not easy, but will cause us to trust Him every step we take. Remember the truths written for us just in this Psalm alone.

Ps 23:1-3 (A Psalm of David.) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Ps 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Ps 31:3 For Thou art my rock and my fortress; for Thy name's sake Thou wilt lead me and guide me.

Pr 8:20 "I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,

“In the paths of righteousness; in straight, and plain, and safe paths, where the sheep is neither hurt, nor wearied, nor in danger of wandering. By his word he directs me to the right ways of truth, and holiness, and righteousness, and by his Spirit he inclines and enables me to choose them, and to continue to walk in them.” Matthew Poole’s Commentary

Ps 143:8-10 Let me hear Thy lovingkindness in the morning; for I trust in Thee; teach me the way in which I should walk; for to Thee I lift up my soul. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies; I take refuge in Thee. 10 Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God; let Thy good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Isa 42:16 "And I will lead the blind [literal or figurative] by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them. I will make darkness into light before them and rugged places into plains. These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone."

I have been saved from sin, I am continually led by my Shepherd to all that is needed, and I am saved to live a life in sync with His will. Only God is able to guide me into His ways. There is no possible way I am able to seek out His truths and follow them on my own without the help of the Holy Spirit. But, being saved from sin I am saved to righteousness. This is my hope, what I know for certain. God is my guide and He never fails to restore His children and guide them – even when they get lost or stray off the path, even when the way seems unclear or difficult. A shepherd will carry the weakest sheep if needed until they are strong enough to walk on their own. Do you trust Jesus to shepherd you?

Consider. The promises of God are certain. The faithfulness of God is sure.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;

2Co 1:20 For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are yes; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.

Isa 43:2 "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.

1Jo 2:25 And this is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

1Th 5:24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

Ps 36:5 Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens, Thy faithfulness [reaches] to the skies.

Why does God restore my soul and guide me in the paths of righteousness?

For His name’s sake.

On account of who He is. His character. To display the glory of His grace towards those He loves. Because He is perfect and good.

We are likened to sheep. We easily lose our way and will perish without a Shepherd. It is not because of anything in us that we are able to live lives of righteousness. I am not worthy. But God is and it brings great glory to God’s name when He guides us in righteousness, protecting us from harm. This is a display of His power and faithfulness.

Ps 79:9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of Thy name; and deliver us, and forgive our sins, for Thy name's sake.

Eph 1:6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

To God be the glory, great things He hath done;

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He has done.

Fanny Crosby, 1875

Quiet Waters, Psalm 23:2

Psalm 23:2

Following is a Bible Study for the assisted living home my Mom resides at. I’ve been reminded how important it is to continue to labor for God even as age sets in, wherever we are placed and whatever our physical condition. The blessings are all mine as I meet these individuals, mostly in their eighties, nineties and beyond, and they sweetly pray or read scripture out loud in their quiet, crackling voices! May all of us continue to walk worthy of our calling well into the frailties of old age …

Last month:

What does it mean personally to be able to say, “The Lord is my shepherd”?

Explain the words, “I shall not want”.

Ps 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

The Lord gives us rest.

Consider. Would you put sheep in a land of waste, weeds and dried up grasses? Why not?

Green pastures literally means tender green grasses or herbs, a pleasant place. This is what we find in God. Not just rest, but nourishment. All that is needed to fill our soul with peace and rest is found in Him.

Consider. How does this work? We don’t literally find a pasture to lie down in, right? (Although, it sounds appealing!) As a child of God, we find rest in His truths written for us in His Word. Look back again to the first verse of this Psalm: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. What are these "green pastures" but the Scriptures of truth -- always fresh, always rich, and never exhausted? There is no fear of biting the bare ground where the grass is long enough for the flock to lie down in it. Sweet and full are the doctrines of the gospel; fit food for souls, as tender grass is natural nutriment for sheep. When by faith we are enabled to find rest in the promises, we are like the sheep that lie down in the midst of the pasture; we find at the same moment both provender and peace, rest and refreshment, serenity and satisfaction”. Treasury of David

Does the fact of His care give you peace? Does the truth of His provision for everything you might need, put your mind at rest? Consider who you are and who God is. When we understand the assurance we have in Him and His grace towards us, we find safety and comfort.

Our Psalmist, David, was a shepherd so he well knew about pastures. At that time, a green pasture where the sheep were placed was often a penned in area where they not only had new spring grass to eat but also were safe and could rest without the threat of attack. If you’ve ever had teenagers or young adults in your house you understand the idea of going to ‘sleep’ with one eye open! You go to bed but really don’t get any rest until you hear the return of your ‘kids’, knowing they are safely home. Only then do you truly rest without concern. The rest we find in Jesus’ arms is completely satisfying because we know we are in the arms of safety, we don’t have to keep an ear listening or an eye open. We can trust in God’s care for us at all times and in every situation. He has everything under control.

The second half of Psalm 23:2 says, He leads me beside quiet waters.

Let’s think for a moment about water in general. The ocean can be beautiful when it’s calm and quiet, but also, it can be treacherous during a storm with large waves crashing all around. The sound of a gentle brook spilling over pebbles is relaxing and almost mesmerizing. Yet, when heavy rains cause water to flow fast, that same brook can become deadly in its power to devour the earth around it.

Consider, quiet waters. The words used to define quiet (or still in the KJV), are peace, comfort, ease and rest. God provides rest in a world where things are happening around us all the time. We have schedules, deadlines, dates to remember, expectations put upon us, and responsibilities required of us. Most of you, even in your latter years living in a place where some responsibility has been lifted off your shoulders, still have a list of things to get done or remember. Several of you probably are expected to make certain phone calls. Most of you still need to keep track of a meal schedule and several activities that are provided for you to take part in.

When we think of quiet waters, or a tranquil place, it is rest from all things around us. I treasure my ‘quiet’ time each morning. I turn off my phone, sit at my desk in the office and engross myself in God’s word. This is a place where I don’t think of a schedule, or a list of responsibilities or my concerns or worries. I just rest in God’s truths as I read and study my Bible and I am filled with the peace He offers. This is quiet waters, a hub where there is no disturbance, a place of calm.

My husband has suffered from multiple sclerosis for years, almost since the year we were married. He now has a brain affliction that is causing his personality and thinking to change. It is sad and scary to watch and it would be so easy to become fearful and focus on what might be. But this will not change the future God has planned and it will only feed into a heart that could be overtaken with the “what ifs”. Instead, I choose to find peace and rest and quietness of heart in God’s truths. How does this practically work, what does it look like? When the temptation to become fearful of the future begins to set in, I think of what is true. The truth is, none of us know the future and before our fears ever become real, something else could happen. In other words I can become overwhelmed by something that may never be. Instead, I can concentrate on today, on this moment, and what I have in Christ. Right now, I have an opportunity to invest in others; right now, I can make memories; right now, I can know that God promises to walk every step of the way with me into His perfect plan.

Where are you refreshed? Where do you find rest and safety? What helps you to focus on all things that are good and right and true, instead of the negative and unknowns?

We’re in the middle of summer months right now and we have experienced temperatures over 100˚. In countries where hot afternoons are common, the practice is to lie down for a bit in the afternoon in a cool place, out of the beating sun. The picture of a green, grassy field with a slowly meandering stream brings a sense of relief from the scorching heat.

Eze 34:15 "I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord GOD.

Have you ever been lost? Most of us have been lost at one time or another. Two such incidents quickly come to my mind. Once I was driving from a very long distance with my three young children. After driving all day and into the night, I was excited to think we would finally be home in about an hour or so. Unfamiliar with the freeway system and in a day when technology had not yet provided a GPS system, I was left to my own sense of direction to navigate. Unfortunately, I made a wrong decision and drove myself and my children a few hours out of our way. Upon realizing my mistake, I’m thankful God protected us and gave me the energy and focus to get us all home safely. Another instance that comes to mind is much more embarrassing! Eons ago, I drove an ambulance for a living. This was back in the day of using a Thomas Guide. Reading a map well was essential for this position when time was of the essence. You had to depend on your work partner to give you correct directions while you maneuvered through traffic with lights and siren blaring. Printed maps did not always keep up with real construction changes. As a result, there were a few times when it seemed like you were circling the place of emergency without reaching the exact location. When you did finally arrive, the looks from bystanders said it all.

We all get lost, in all sorts of ways. Not just in direction, but in purpose. There is a familiar phrase most of us have heard, of someone ‘losing their way’. This means the bigger picture is lost, distractions along the way change our planned direction. Psalm 23:2 says “He leads me…” Matthew Poole’s Commentary remarks, “He leadeth me, lest I should wander and perish”. God leads us to what is good, to where we can rest when needed, to safety. God protects His sheep; He sustains them, carrying them when necessary, guiding them gently to Himself. God’s care for us will not end on earth. God’s children can look forward to the promise of being in His presence forever.

Re 7:16-17 "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; neither shall the sun beat down on them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes."

Our lives are a journey. We are expected to take part in this journey with action. We have been given a guide. Psalm 23:2 tells us that God is our guide, He is the One who leads us. He even knows when we may need to be led by the quiet waters and away from a storm.

God is good – He leads us to green pastures and unlike a green grassy knoll we may envision, God’s provision is never picked bare, it doesn’t turn brown with seasons; He leads us to quiet waters where drought cannot touch His constant source of refreshment. Do you depend on His provision for you in green pastures and quiet waters?

The Lord is my Shepherd

Truth – God is our Shepherd.
What does a shepherd do? A shepherd feeds, guides, and protects. A shepherd tends a flock, watches over it, takes care of it, keeps it from harm, and leads it to green pastures where there is plenty of nourishment. God, as our Shepherd, cares for us and attends to all our needs. He leads us to safety and even draws us back when we wander.

In late May of this year, I published a study titled “Dinosaur Age”. This study began with the explanation that I was sharing it in an audience the median age of 85 at the assisted living facility my Mom resides at. The sweetest blessings have come from that time. You have to picture individuals slowly entering a room using a cane, walker or wheelchair. Most of them, beautiful white hair the color of snow, thin wire rimmed glasses and adorable smiles (albeit with some teeth missing). The best part was the desire for encouragement in God’s word. It is my privilege to have been asked to continue a study once a month at this facility. So as I spoke with my Mom about what might be a good topic to concentrate on, she suggested that they all have the common need to continue to be useful even with bodies that don’t function quite right anymore. We started our monthly study in Psalm 23, last month and had an encouraging time looking at scripture that many of them were familiar with in their remembrance of hearing the words. I am greatly blessed by remembering our Lord as our Shepherd. I pray you are blessed also!

His Care.

Truth – God is the Author and Giver of our physical bodies.

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

God is the Lord. Jehovah – the Self-Existent One, the Eternal One.

This is important to understand in order to accept the truth that God can do anything He wants. God is eternal, meaning He has always been in existence, even before time began. There is no one other than God who is able to claim this truth.

God existed before creation. He is the author of all creation. Therefore, He has license to do what He wants with His creation. Consider. If I make something – a quilt, a cake, or even plan a party – I am the one who has the right to do it the way I think is best. Usually, I even have a plan in my mind of how it will turn out.

God made us, therefore, He has the right to do with our lives what He deems best. Well then, we might ask, why would He give me a body that is falling apart, or the aches and pains of getting older?

Truth – God is our Shepherd.

What does a shepherd do? A shepherd feeds, guides, and protects. A shepherd tends a flock, watches over it, takes care of it, keeps it from harm, and leads it to green pastures where there is plenty of nourishment. God, as our Shepherd, cares for us and attends to all our needs. He leads us to safety and even draws us back when we wander. Because we’re talking about God as our Shepherd, we must define who the flock is. The flock is everyone who has truly repented of sin and follows God in obedience, having accepted the promise of eternal life given by grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These are God’s children, the flock, His sheep.

It is noteworthy that this Psalm follows Psalm 22, commonly referred to as “The Psalm of the Cross”, which is full of lamenting over what looks like the lack of God’s answer to David’s prayers. The Psalmist begins verse one of Psalm 22 with a repeat of the words spoken by Jesus in His last hours on the cross, “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” It is necessary to recall here that it is the shed blood and suffering of Jesus which allows us to have a relationship with God so that we are even able to say “The Lord is my Shepherd”. God does allow His children to suffer but ultimately it is for their good and His glory.

Consider. When do you truly feel the need to prostrate yourself before the Lord? Is it when everything is going well or when you are ‘at the end of your rope’? When we feel strong in ourselves it is easy for us to forget we require a Shepherd. We then depend upon our own strength and wisdom which is sorely lacking. Weakness confirms our need to hold the Savior’s outstretched hand.

Joh 10:11-15 I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hireling, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them, and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hireling, and is not concerned about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

Isa 40:11 Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Eze 34:11-12 For thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day.

God will protect and provide for His children. We can have confidence in His care here on earth and forever in heaven. Psalm 23 is full of the comforts offered to God’s children as His sheep. Notice the Psalmist, David, refers to God as ‘my shepherd’. This denotes a personal relationship with him.

Consider. You wouldn’t introduce someone as ‘my dad’ if indeed he was just an acquaintance. So, there is a criteria for us to be able to call God our Shepherd. We must acknowledge Him as our heavenly Father and accept the gift of His Son’s payment for our sins. Only then can we gain the confidence of His grace towards us and His care for us.

Ps 79:13 So we Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture will give thanks to Thee forever; to all generations we will tell of Thy praise.

Joh 10:27-30 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 "I and the Father are one."

1Pe 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Look at how God is described in the above verse, “the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls”. Think of what those words mean. First, we have God as our Shepherd, and His continual care for us. Then we see God as our Guardian meaning He oversees our life. A guardian is responsible to protect and care for those in their charge. When God, in His grace, calls us to Himself as His children, He gladly takes us under His care. He doesn’t do this with a haphazard commitment. He takes on the responsibility not only for our lives here on earth but for all eternity. There is great peace in the truth that the Lord is our Shepherd! No wonder, Psalm 23:1 goes on to say, “I shall not want”.

Truth – I shall not want. Rather, I shall have no need for want. Everything necessary is given to me by my Father in Heaven.

Think! What does ‘I shall not want’ mean? Does it mean that anything and everything my heart desires will be given to me? Of course not! But what it does mean is that I will never lack what I need to do God’s will, to fulfill His plan for my life.

I may feel as if I need more strength to complete even simple daily tasks on my own. God knows exactly what truly needs to be done and will provide strength enough for that. Many of you are no longer able to prepare your own meals, that’s okay, God has provided someone who will do that for you. Most of you are unable to drive, that too is okay, because you have been given transportation when you need it. In your eighties, nineties and even into the century mark, you can be assured that God will continue to bless you with all that is needed to please Him. You may not be able to train for a marathon, let alone run one, but you will reach the prize. The end goal is eternal life with Christ. If you’re His child, you’ve already received the winner’s ribbon – it was pinned on your heart the day you accepted Jesus.

God will not withhold the blessings that allow you to live a life pleasing to Him. You will not fail because you lack what is needed to fulfill His plan for you. If you do not have everything you desire it is because God has not considered it necessary.

God will feed us, He will lead us (Isa 40:11)
God will provide guidance for us from others who follow His truths; In God, there is no need to fear, nor be dismayed; there is no lack (Jer 23:4)
God will search for you and seek you out when you stray (Eze 34:11-12)
God has ransomed you with His Son’s very life (John 10:11)

“I shall not want”. God’s children can say those words with confidence. We all have a choice to be satisfied with what God has supplied. We have a choice to be content where He has us.

Php 4:19 And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Notice the words in the scripture above. It says God shall supply. Not maybe, not perhaps, but will!

2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;

Again, carefully take notice of the words used in the previous reference. It says we will ‘always have all sufficiency in everything’, ‘an abundance for every good deed’. Without the cross, we are lacking; with the cross, at the feet of the Savior, there is no want.

Read how Paul encourages the Ephesian church: Eph 3:13-19 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory. 14 For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; [and] that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Don’t lose heart either for others or for yourself! Although you may feel like your physical body is waning, God will continue to strengthen you in your heart and soul. For His glory. He will continue to bless His children with the knowledge of His security and a love immeasurable until that day you are complete in Him in heaven. The Annotated Bible Notes says we can be assured that ‘nothing really beneficial to body or soul will be withheld’.

Re 7:17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne shall be their shepherd, and shall guide them to springs of the water of life; and God shall wipe every tear from their eyes."

The role we have in attaining the comfort of God as our Shepherd, and having confidence in His every provision, is that of a sheep. Sheep stand meek before their shepherd, willing and wanting to be led. Sheep know the voice of their shepherd and they follow him. Do you recognize God as your Shepherd? Are you seeking to follow Him? If yes, then trust in God’s care.

Ps 34:9 O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear Him, there is no want.

Ps 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD gives grace and glory; no good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Mt 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

Lu 12:30-32 "For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. "But seek for His kingdom, and these things shall be added to you. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

Ro 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

“I shall not lack for temporal things. Does he not feed the ravens, and cause the lilies to grow? How, then, can he leave his children to starve? I shall not want for spirituals, I know that his grace will be sufficient for me. Resting in him he will say to me, "As thy day so shall thy strength be." I may not possess all that I wish for, but "I shall not want." … It is not only "I do not want," but "I shall not want." Come what may, if famine should devastate the land, or calamity destroy the city, "I shall not want." Old age with its feebleness shall not bring me any lack, and even death with its gloom shall not find me destitute. I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because "The Lord is my shepherd." Treasury of David

Mt 6:25 "For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?

One of the poor members of the flock of Christ was reduced to circumstances of the greatest poverty in his old age, and yet he never murmured. "You must be badly off", said a kind hearted neighbor to him one day as they met upon the road, "you must be badly off; and I don't know how an old man like you can maintain yourself and your wife; yet you are always cheerful!" "Oh no!" he replied, "we are not badly off, I have a rich Father, and he does not suffer me to want." "What! Your father is not dead yet? He must be very old indeed!" "Oh!" said he, "my Father never dies, and he always takes care of me!" This aged Christian was a daily pensioner on the providence of his God. His struggles and his poverty were known to all; but his own declaration was, that he never wanted what was absolutely necessary. The days of his greatest straits were the days of his most signal and timely deliverances. When old age benumbed the hand of his industry, the Lord extended to him the hand of charity. And often has he gone forth from his scanty breakfast, not knowing from what earthly source his next meal was to be obtained. But yet with David he could rely on his Shepherd's care, and say, "I shall not want;" and as certainly as he trusted in God, so surely, in some unexpected manner was his necessity supplied. John Stevenson.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. These are beautiful words to the believer. Find contentment in His provision, have confidence in His Truths, and trust in His Care.

Tag: Psalm 23

Always and Forever

Like this:

My Cup Overflows

Like this:

For His Name’s Sake

Like this:

Quiet Waters, Psalm 23:2

Like this:

The Lord is my Shepherd

Like this: