David jeremiah psalm 2312/4/2023 ![]() ![]() The Bible says that He opens His hand and satisfies His children with good things (Psalm 104:28). But as believers in Jesus Christ, we have an assurance that He is with us, and the knowledge that all that is good comes from Him. It is true, like a box of chocolates that we open and try the various fillings and flavors to pick a favorite piece we don’t know what each day of our lives will hold. Well, finally David ends the psalm with a note of thankful contentment in verse 6 which we examine on our Psalm 23 6 Commentary article.The movie character Forrest Gump became famous for saying, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” In its simplicity, that statement is profound in its accuracy. And yet, there are these times of rest that he graciously gives to his sheep. There are valleys and maybe that’s the majority of what we experience. That’s part of his pastoral provision for you and me. ![]() But you’ve also experienced periods I’m sure where, like our Old Testament brother Job experienced, the Lord lets up on the suffering and gives you times of rest and refreshment and healing. So, to apply the shepherd metaphor to our situation, God does allow us to suffer, doesn’t he? He lets us endure some difficult times. If they were feverish they could dip their snouts in the cup and cool off. And if the sheep were thirsty they could take a drink. The cup was apparently filled with water. ![]() This would have a healing and refreshing effect on the sheep. He would have oil and apply it to abrasions. Well, apparently toward the end of the day when the shepherd would lead his sheep back to the sheepfold he would check their heads for wounds and insects. What do these images represent in the real-life shepherd-sheep relationship? Psalm 23 5 Message: Anointing Our Head with Oil Psalm 23 5 Message: Refreshment and HealingĪnd he also provides refreshment and healing for us. The final victory over these two enemies is coming, but is not fully realized yet.Īnd so God provides protection for his sheep. The Lord protects us and takes care of us even in the presence of death and the world. ![]() And so, we as Christians experience this dynamic that David is speaking of here. And yet death is still a real and present enemy and so is the world. We have victory over the world through our faith. We have victory over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. And 1 John 5 tells us that we have victory over the world. 1 Corinthians 15 assures us that we have victory over death. Psalm 23 5 Message: Death and the World for ChristiansĪnd for us Christians, we have two major enemies mentioned in the New Testament – death and the world. All the while, David would have surely sensed from time to time that it was as if God had prepared a feast for him right in the midst of all his enemies. Before that, he was protected from that lion and bear that he fought with to save his sheep. David was kept safe even while King Saul was pursuing him to kill him. Psalm 23 5 Message: David was ProtectedĪnd of course, in David’s life this reality worked itself out on numerous occasions. And yet with this protecting shepherd with his rod and staff the sheep may safely graze. And now, here the sheep are once again on a broad plain where they have yet again found sustenance. Being led from there on right paths, but ones that sometimes lead through dangerous places. Being led out to pasture and to the watering spot. I think we’ve been following along on a sheep’s typical day. I’m not sure that either of those interpretations is the case. Psalm 23 5 Message: Protection from Enemies And so, with the deadly poisonous weeds lying all around them, the sheep are able to graze on the healthful weed-less grass. Others think that David continues to use the metaphor, and that now he’s speaking of a shepherd pulling out weeds that would be deadly to the sheep. Some think that at this verse David drops the shepherd/sheep metaphor. And those enemies that are beaten back by the shepherd’s staff sometimes are forced to watch as the shepherd lavishes us with goodness, according to verse 5 of Psalm 23.ĥ Thou preparest a before me in of mine enemies: Psalm 23 5 Message: In our Psalm 23 4 Commentary article we heard about God protecting us from enemies. ![]()
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