He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters,he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,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 goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever"....Amen..Psalm:23
These simple words have for generations brought comfort and assurances of the Love of the Great God to many even to those who are not Christians are stirred with a sense of hope and even peace by these words.
Psalm:23 is probably one of the most highly recognized portions of Scripture, this Psalm is found on greeting cards , embroidery, it is found framed in the homes of many, it is woven into the fabric of culture. Yet these words are more than just poetry, or quaint sentimentality, these words are powerful and convey to us much about the Great God.
It is written from the view point of the sheep that all our trust should be upon God as our Shepherd, but it tells us that this is how God sees Himself for each us, not just how we should see Him.
Seasonal Cycle
In Israel there were seasons that dictated the care of a flock of sheep, that if we understand the cycle then the Psalm takes on even greater meaning for us. When the spring of the year came the shepard would lead the flock up to the high country to the place of warm, safe fertile pastures; we see this referenced in the opening verses of the Psalm this is that place of green pastures, this was a quiet peaceful place the grass was the best ad the flocks would graze at their leisure. There were still waters to drink from, and paths that were easy to walk upon all under the watchful eye of the Shepherd.This is the place they wanted to be but could not stay.
As the Autumn came, time would have arrived when the Shepherd would begin to move the flock back down to the low lands , to home. They could stay there in that safe place of ease and comfort, the time comes to move, the older more mature sheep over the years became familiar with this cycle and they knew it was part of the life of the flock and all would be will if they stayed near the Shepherd, they were comforted by his presence as he moved among them, it would however disquiet the younger ones.
But the older sheep who recognized that they had been here before in seasons past they would stay close and knew if they could see the Shepherd every thing would be alright, they knew the comfort of his presence, he would watch over them.
As the Autumn came, time would have arrived when the Shepherd would begin to move the flock back down to the low lands , to home. They could stay there in that safe place of ease and comfort, the time comes to move, the older more mature sheep over the years became familiar with this cycle and they knew it was part of the life of the flock and all would be will if they stayed near the Shepherd, they were comforted by his presence as he moved among them, it would however disquiet the younger ones.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
As the flock moved down toward the low lands and home, they would pass through narrow crevasses , these passage ways could be dark even at the noon time, footing was uncertain at times, there false paths which would lead nowhere. At times fall rains would cause sudden floods, that would fill ravines and sweep away some of the lambs who put them selves beyond the Shepherd's reach.
Hiding amidst the narrow paths in dark crevasses were predators and bandits looking to devour or steal , they especially preyed on the young less mature lambs who might lose sight of or worse refuse to stay with the flock under the watchful care of the Shepherd. Often some of the younger ones would either be spooked or for reasons that are hard to understand would set out down one of the paths to only to be lost.
Hiding amidst the narrow paths in dark crevasses were predators and bandits looking to devour or steal , they especially preyed on the young less mature lambs who might lose sight of or worse refuse to stay with the flock under the watchful care of the Shepherd. Often some of the younger ones would either be spooked or for reasons that are hard to understand would set out down one of the paths to only to be lost.
But the older sheep who recognized that they had been here before in seasons past they would stay close and knew if they could see the Shepherd every thing would be alright, they knew the comfort of his presence, he would watch over them.
This was a transition point in the life of the flock as it made its way home. Home, there was everything the flock needed was there, full feeding troughs, shelter, protection; home was the completion of their seasonal journey. The Shepherd knew the way , he knew how to get them where they needed to be.
The Shepherd
One of the things that a good Shepherd would do was to stay closes to his flock, to be visible and move among them. He would never take them where he himself had not gone himself. He knew the way, He too had walked these paths, he knew how to get them home. Where they need to be.
Life's Seasons
This is more than quaint ritual found among an ancient people in their animal husbandry, it is relevant for all people in all ages. It is for us today. In our lives we all find ourselves in seasons, which at times, we find that we graze in peaceful safe surroundings, we have all that we might want or need. We are at rest, under the care of Lord we like those sheep like this place it is where we would like to stay, but, like the flocks in ancient Israel seasons change, the peaceful summer draws to an end and the shepherd begins to move us.
We want to stay in that peaceful high place but we can't.
We want to stay in that peaceful high place but we can't.
Transition
As change comes we find that all pass "through the valley of the shadow of death" on our way home or to that place the Shepherd needs us to be. We take those words "through the valley of the shadow of death" so literally, that is, as meaning death its self; but we can understand it better for what it was in the life of the herd, as a point of transition on the way home. And it was in that transition point, that "valley" ,that hidden danger would emerge, especially for those lamb who were easily spooked or would not stay close at hand.
This teaches us that when we face times of change in our lives , that is transition, there is a danger that out of the shadowy crevasses bandits or predators might emerge and attempt to steal us way. Or that dead end paths might entice us, it may appear to lead somewhere but may take us to disaster and lead to nowhere, or if we are not staying closes we could wonder off and be taken by wolves or fall into some known pit . This should teach us that in times of transition and change we need to be able to see our Shepherd and if we do this that is keep him in plain view we will be staying with the flock because that is where he will be.
These transition points , "the valley of the shadow of death" is nothing we should fear, or be fearful of the predators and bandits who might wish to exploit times of change in your life as opportunity to devour you. You can say you " I will fear no
evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,they comfort me"
He is with us. This Shepherd that over sees your life and walks with you who has the ability to protect and knows the way, is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself , He has walked these paths Himself.
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." John:10:11
This good shepherd has proven His willingness to die for each of the flock, that is all of us and He did so willingly, not forced or compelled , but freely out of love for each of us.
"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again"John:10:17
Jesus died and is resurrected so that we might come to know the great God. Jesus came and walked through "the valley of the shadow of death" of this human life, He knows the way home, that is to where He wants us to be and He will get us there, but we need to keep Him always in view. As we pass through cycles of life and mature we come to see this, that Jesus will faithfully walk with us in these transition points with us and get us through them to where He needs us to be.
A Table Prepared
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."
This teaches us that when we face times of change in our lives , that is transition, there is a danger that out of the shadowy crevasses bandits or predators might emerge and attempt to steal us way. Or that dead end paths might entice us, it may appear to lead somewhere but may take us to disaster and lead to nowhere, or if we are not staying closes we could wonder off and be taken by wolves or fall into some known pit . This should teach us that in times of transition and change we need to be able to see our Shepherd and if we do this that is keep him in plain view we will be staying with the flock because that is where he will be.
Shepherd With Us
He is with us. This Shepherd that over sees your life and walks with you who has the ability to protect and knows the way, is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself , He has walked these paths Himself.
"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep." John:10:11
This good shepherd has proven His willingness to die for each of the flock, that is all of us and He did so willingly, not forced or compelled , but freely out of love for each of us.
"The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again"John:10:17
Jesus died and is resurrected so that we might come to know the great God. Jesus came and walked through "the valley of the shadow of death" of this human life, He knows the way home, that is to where He wants us to be and He will get us there, but we need to keep Him always in view. As we pass through cycles of life and mature we come to see this, that Jesus will faithfully walk with us in these transition points with us and get us through them to where He needs us to be.
A Table Prepared
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."
The table speaks to us of the celebratory joy and bounty we will experience after we pass through times of change and transitions under our Lord's care, it will be worth the journey to that place, to be home where we will be safe and secure, anointed with healed minds and spirit, gathered together and the blessing that are conferred will be eternal
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever"
"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Hebrews:2:9
Jesus knows the way home, remember that the Shepherd never took the flock where He himself had not been, He knows the way home and if we will but keep close He will see to it , that we all pass one last time through that "valley of the shadow of death" and be always with Him in His eternal home."and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever"....Amen.
Home Forever
There will come point when we all will pass one last time "through the valley of the shadow of death" that one last transition ,one that our Lord went through as well, that is of death. He has passed even through this dark valley."But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man." Hebrews:2:9
Jesus knows the way home, remember that the Shepherd never took the flock where He himself had not been, He knows the way home and if we will but keep close He will see to it , that we all pass one last time through that "valley of the shadow of death" and be always with Him in His eternal home."and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever"....Amen.
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
Washington, Pa
Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on RKP
Radio 1710 & 1670 AM in Washington, Pa.and 1710 AM in Bentleyville ,
Pa. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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