PSALM 23
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
3 He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Psalm 23 YOU GOD ARE WITH ME
Springford Baptist Church: October 30, 2022.
In a familiar Scripture like Psalm 23, we can return to it again and again to be reassured of the God we know and Who knows us so well.
If we are already decided where we are going, how can we be open to the ways that God wants to guide us each day?
How can we know God’s leading for us each step of the way?
Really trusting God involves both the destination and the persistent God-guided path that will bring us there.
The most effective way of receiving guidance is to have someone accompany us and ensure that we keep heading in the right direction. The Lord as our Shepherd not only points us in the direction to go, but promises to be with us each step of the way. This is the assurance we need when fear threatens to take over.
Whenever we look back, we can know that God was with us.
Whenever we consider now, we can know that God is with us.
Whenever we gaze ahead to what the future might hold, we can know God will be with us.
YOU GOD ARE WITH ME is enough!!
This is the same truth that has sustained those who have gone before us and it is the same priceless heritage that we pass on to each new generation.
The comforting words of this very familiar Psalm 23 take on personal meaning for each of us every time we are confronted with the reality of life situations where we so desperately need to know that we are not alone.
Today we will claim together the promises of God as we examine this Scripture and recognize that the truth, “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME” is for everyday living.
The strength of God’s Presence and guiding hand is not reserved for the crisis times of life. It is our ongoing encounter with God in the ordinary and uncomplicated times that also gives our faith deep meaning and makes our faith in God so worthwhile to share with those around us.
If you are working or resting remembering that God is with you, it is life changing!
If you go to visit a friend or to get groceries remembering that God is with you, it is life changing!
All of us will have our own stories of times in our lives when we have had a strong sense of God with us.
When we tell those stories we encourage each other and our faith in God does grow stronger.
The words of this Psalm 23 unfold as David’s story of, “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME.”
We begin with this image “The Lord is my shepherd” (vs. 1) It is the task of the shepherd to ensure that the sheep in his care are well looked after. This is not a responsibility to be left to someone else. The shepherd attends to this personally and the best way to do this is to be right there with the sheep. That’s how our Lord can guarantee that we have what we need (not wanting). Every time our needs are met and our prayers are answered, God gives us the opportunity to recognize, “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME”!
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters (vs. 2) This describes the times that we naturally look forward to, times of rest and restoration.
A time to lie down in green pastures and to be led by quiet waters is a time of nurturing and care. The Shepherd knows the needs of the sheep so well.
These are ordinary concerns but necessary that they be a provided.
Whenever we pause to pray and to give thanks for the meal we are about to receive, we are acknowledging “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME. We are indicating that we know that God has supplied our needs and God is pleased with our gratitude.
God knows that it is not enough to be well fed and watered physically. We need refreshment and restoration for our souls.
There are plenty of people who shop for groceries every week and have well stocked cupboards, but miss the significant opportunity to know “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME”.
“He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.” (vs. 3)
This is the spiritual nourishment that the Lord our Shepherd wants to be sure we receive.
Being guided along the right paths, means living lifestyles consistent with the truth that “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME”. Would we be comfortable with the thought that God is right there with us in every conversation and in every activity?
We want to bring honour to His name by the way that we live our lives and so it is right that God gives direction and intentionally leads/guides us, “along the right paths for His name’s sake”.
Having experienced God’s close presence, this YOU GOD ARE WITH ME in a whole variety of ways in everyday ordinary living, we can face the really difficult times with this same persistent assurance of YOU GOD ARE WITH ME.
This is what vs. 4 affirms, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” We draw on this ongoing revelation of God with us so that when the hard times come and our faith is challenged, we will hold on to the truth of God with us. Our faith may be shaken when we walk through the darkest valley. It is here that we realize our own fragile existence or the fragile life of someone whom we love. We realize in the valley that we are not in control.
The realization that we are not in control might make it seem the time to panic, but wait. Even here in those darkest of times, those desperate frightening times that we all face, we can even then and even there declare, “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME”.
God knows that this is what we will need to hold on to!
In vs. 5 we read, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil;”
God invites us to be guests at His table. This is an indication of the close relationship we have with Him. It is as if God is saying, “Let me take care of the details.” This anointing of the head with oil was the customary treatment for honoured guests.
God does treat us as honoured guests and the close bonds we have are celebrated. We are celebrating “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME”!
Remember how we began by speaking about this progressive understanding revealed in Psalm 23:
God was with us
God is with us
God will be with us!
vs. 6 anticipates our ongoing journey with the certainty of “YOU GOD ARE WITH ME”.
The picture of goodness and love/mercy following us is a picture of God coming behind us and urging us to wait for Him so that we can walk together. And yes, this assurance of faith that was lived before us continues to be discovered as we go forward looking to know God more and more all the days of our lives. Then we anticipate that one day we will, “dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” constantly recognizing that God is with us and we are with our God!!