The first month of our work with “Truth for the World” and our new budget
is over. A brief review of the month is appropriate:
Excitement among the members here is high, and the TFTW families are
progressing rapidly on their plans for moving (The Meachams are scheduled
to be living here by the end of August!). July was a month with much
travelling, so our attendance was down a little on Sundays (but Wednesdays
and VBS were very good). The contribution is already up by about
$900 per week! The July average was $5772.
Be thankful to God for TFTW and the wonderful increase
in the contribution.
Please prayerfully consider your own giving to
see if you can be a part of accomplishing the $6000 per week goal.
PLEASE either leave your contribution at Duluth
when you are going to be away OR be sure to make it up when you come home.
This one thing will probably make up most of the difference.
Here are some points to remember which were discussed at our last elders’
meeting:
Thank you very much for all you have done, all you are doing, and all
you plan to do for the cause of Christ as members of the church of Christ
at Duluth.
Other notes from our meeting:
Our budget calls for money to go for the support of men in American
schools of preaching. Four men have now been added to that list at
$200 each per month. We will give information on them as space allows.
VBS (The Three Bible Ages) was a great success!
Psalm 23: The Lord Is My Shepherd
“I shall not want”
The 23rd psalm is possibly the most famous piece of writing in the
world. This has positive and negative implications. On the
positive side, we need a shepherd, and it needs to be the Lord! On
the negative side, many people seem to think that knowing the words of
this psalm is enough—they don’t know the Shepherd and they don’t know the
rest of His words.
One of the goals of our studies in the Psalms is to make the point
that ALL of the Psalms deserve to be famous and they ALL teach things that
we need.
Our look at this poem will cover two main points:
I. The Overall Claim: “I shall not want” (v. 1).
II. The Specific Claims: “He provides all things”
(vv. 2-6).
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (v. 1).
The overall claim is “The Lord is my shepherd.” This statement
is moving and emotionally charged because it is the majestic Creator Who
is allowing Himself to be compared to a lowly Palestinian shepherd in order
to draw us to Him for what we need. God often allows Himself to be
compared to something we can understand so that we might see His glory
and come to depend on Him (see John 10:1-18; Isaiah 5:1-7; Deuteronomy
32:11,12).
The characteristics of a good shepherd clearly reflect the ability
that God has to provide for us:
He leads the flock (John 10:4; 1 Peter 2:25).
He feeds the flock (1 Peter 2:1,2).
He watches over the flock against enemies (1 Peter 5:7,8; John 10:11).
He searches for those who stray (Luke 15:3-7).
He protects and guides through trials (James 1:2-4; 1 Corinthians 10:13).
He cares that we receive good things (Matthew 6:25-34).
The writer of the psalm stresses his current relationship with the
Shepherd with the word “is.” You and I can know that He is our Shepherd,
too—IF we hear His voice and obey His commands. A good self-test
is to answer the following—
Do I know the Shepherd (1 John 2:3)?
Do I know His voice (John 10:4; see 8:32)?
Do I hear Him calling (Revelation 3:20; see John 6:44,45)?
Do I love Him (1 John 4:19; see John 14:15; 15:14)?
Do I trust Him (1 Peter 1:21)?
Do I follow Him (Luke 9:23)?
It is no wonder that David could boldly say “I shall not want.”
This covers everything that could be a proper desire: WHATEVER WE
NEED TO GET FROM HERE TO HEAVEN, GOD PROVIDES.
There is no other good shepherd—let us now turn to this Shepherd and
see the specific things He can provide.
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still
waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name's sake. Yea, 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 runs over. Surely
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will
dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (vv. 2-6).
There are five specific things (one in each verse) that are brought
before the reader in this section.
ONE: He provides rest (v. 2). In an area where food has
to be found, the flock has to move. But moving creates the need for
rest, and fatigue creates the desire for “grassy meadows” where there is
quiet water. The result is “calm rest in satisfaction” (Philippians
4:11-13; written from prison!).
Am I following the Shepherd to such a degree that I need rest?
Am I getting my “rest” by letting the Bible help me?
TWO: He provides guidance (v. 3). He blesses me by “restoring
my soul.” He does it by leading me in paths of right-doing (Romans
1:16,17; Psalm 25:8,9; Romans 6:1-23). He does it for my good and
for His name’s sake. Such guidance glorifies God, humbles me, and defeats
Satan.
THREE: He provides protection (v. 4). His very presence
gives reassurance. His rod and staff help every day as they defend
me and clear the way for my path of obedience. Thus, through His
word, my need for guidance is supplied (Psalm 119:25-32). No matter
what the trial is—even death—He is there. With four words, the Shepherd
lessens the terror of death:
Shadow: There is no real evil in it.
Valley: Deep and dark, but FRUITFUL!
Walk: Not a fearful run.
Through: Safe on the other side.
(See Romans 8:28-39; Hebrews 2:14-16).
FOUR: He provides food (v. 5). the Shepherd has prepared
everything we need for our spiritual diet (2 Peter 1:3). It addresses
all areas of our soul’s deep needs (2 Timothy 3:16,17). It has been
made available in its completeness (Jude 3). And it is always fresh,
preserved, and delightful (Matthew 24:35; Psalm 1). He provides this
nourishment in all circumstances; even in the presence of our enemies.
There is always enough. There is always more than enough. There
is always a good reason to “eat and drink” of that which He provides (1
Peter 2:1,2; Hebrews 5:12-14).
FIVE: He provides fellowship with Himself (v. 6). The first
phrase of this verse is another high expression of praise directed toward
the Shepherd. He is affirming that when the flock faithfully follows
the shepherd, the flock will finally be in heaven—forever! Such a
verse should encourage us by providing us with comfort and hope (Romans
15:4). And this encouragement is real because the promise is real;
we can have eternal fellowship with the LORD (the Shepherd). He will
truly welcome the sheep on that final day (Matthew 25:34).
It is clearly appropriate to use this psalm as a means of help for
those who mourn. But surely this psalm was not written to be a funeral
poem! It is for me. It is for now. It is forever.
Will you enter the sheepfold of the Lord through hearing, believing,
repenting, confessing Christ, and being baptized? Will you remain
faithful to Him as He provides for you until that final welcome home?
Will you read and obey these commands: Mark 4:24; Luke 8:18; John
8:24; Luke 13:3; Acts 8:37; Acts 22:16; Matthew 6:33?
— Skip Andrews
Next Week: Psalm 24:
Who Is This King of Glory?
Verse of the Week:
“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any
iniquity have dominion over me”
(Psalm 119:133).
VOLUME 1:24 AUGUST 8, 1999