Faith in Dwelling:
Sometimes even good kids have a
tendency to want to run away from home when they think that life would be
better elsewhere – more fun, less rules, more candy, no chores… As
kids mature into adults they leave home to pursue an education or a
career - not because they think the "grass is greener" elsewhere.
Psalm 23 is one of the best know
psalms in history. There is great
comfort in knowing that the LORD is our shepherd, but David took this relationship
very seriously. Much of psalm 23’s ‘popularity’
arises from the comfort and benefits we receive from the LORD, but if that’s
our ‘take away’ from this psalm – then we have missed the boat entirely.
When David said, “The LORD is my
shepherd; I lack nothing” in v.1, he was talking about a permanent relationship
that defines our existence – like the one that exists between sheep and
shepherd. David was not talking about a
novel relationship of comfort, convenience, and benefits. We see the depths of this understanding as
the next few verses unfold.
1The LORD is my shepherd;
I lack nothing. 2He brings me to stretch out in grassy pastures – beside
quiet waters he leads me. 3He restores my soul. He guides me in the deep paths of righteousness for the
purpose of his Name…
David saw the greatest benefit of
being a sheep in the flock of the LORD as being a privilege and blessing “for
the purpose of his Name.” This privilege
manifests itself as a rhythm of life where we spend time stretched out in
grassy pastures as well as time in the valley of dark gloom. That’s why David wrote:
4By the same token,
though I walk in the valley of dark gloom – I fear evil not for you yourself
reside within to support me. Your rod/tribe and your staff they comfort me.
The times in grassy pastures are to
help strengthen our faith so that we can endure the valley of dark gloom ‘for
the purpose of his Name.’ In the valley
of dark gloom is when we discover:
5You (LORD) prepare a
table/banquet/feast for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
It is not the times we spend
stretched out in grassy pastures beside quiet waters, but rather times in the
valley of dark gloom that turn out to be the LORD’s lavish banquet table. Those
times when we are in deep despair – surrounded by enemies and overwhelming odds
are the ones that bring the enemies of God into His family.
6Surely sweet goodness
and covenant loving-kindness will pursue hard after me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
David understood that the greatest
blessing we receive as the ‘sheep’ of the ‘Good Shepherd’ is that the LORD’s
sweet goodness and covenant loving-kindness “will pursue hard after me all the
days of my life.” God’s love doesn’t merely follow after us like a lost puppy,
but rather PURSUES HARD after us!
The confidence that David had in the
LORD’s unfailing love came from a deep love-relationship that went two
ways. With the LORD as David’s shepherd –
David lacked nothing. Circumstances didn’t
matter to David – having much (grassy pastures) or nothing (valley of dark
gloom) didn’t mean anything. The only thing that mattered to David was the LORD’s
Name being lifted up, the enemies of the LORD being brought to the lavish
banquet table, and the joy of dwelling “in the house of the LORD forever.”
David was not the spoiled kid who dreamed
of a “grass is greener,” Disney Land life of all cotton candy, stuffed
animals, and slumber parties. David was not thinking of a
future time when he would go to heaven and be with God when
he penned the words, “I will continue to dwell in
the house of the LORD forever.” David was saying that he trusted - had
faith - in the LORD as his shepherd, and whether life with the LORD
brought
grassy pastures or dark gloom – David would have it no other way because
the Name
of the LORD was glorified in the dwelling.
Is He your shepherd, i.e. your God
through thick & thin? Are you only interested in the ‘grassy pastures’ of
life where you get good things from God – OR – are you interested in the glory
of His Name, the enemies of the LORD being brought to His lavish banquet table,
and simply dwelling in the house of the LORD forever?
David wrote, “The LORD is my
shepherd.”
Is He yours?
1The LORD is my shepherd;
I lack nothing.
2He brings me to stretch out in grassy pastures – beside
quiet waters he leads me. 3He restores my soul. He guides me in the deep paths of righteousness for the
purpose of his Name.
4By the same token,
though I walk in the valley of dark gloom – I fear evil not for you yourself
reside within to support me. Your rod/tribe and your staff they comfort me.
5You prepare a
table/banquet/feast for me while my enemies watch. You anoint my head with oil.
My cup overflows.
6Surely sweet goodness
and covenant loving-kindness will pursue hard after me all the days of my life,
and I will continually dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
Blessings,
-Kevin
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