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1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 he restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. (Psalm 23 King James Version)
Happy Thursday, Little Lamb! Hear again, for the first time, the words that will bless your life as a lamb. Hear them with awe and wonder. Breathe in the fresh spring air of a wonderful flower-laden meadow, while you enjoy hearing just how much you are loved by your Shepherd. May each word speak to your heart, replacing any hatred or indifference you may have in it, with the unconditional love that only a loving God could place in you. Hear each word as an affirmation for your mind, allowing doubt, despair to be replaced by the bright hope of joy in knowing just Who your Shepherd truly is. And by hearing each word may your faith be stronger than ever.
Here's the Good News! God has chosen you as His lamb. Hear again these timeless words, as if you were indeed a lovely, unblemished lamb; made so by the precious blood of His Son. That blood erased your sin and made you brand new! Any thought you may have had that you were bound down the road as a goat should be gone! The sign on Matthew's gospel in the closing part of the 25th chapter reads clearly: NO GOATS ALLOWED! It's not that God doesn't like or love goats; it's that in Jesus' assessment of behavior, lambs obey and do; goats take and hoard. And we're talking the supernatural understanding of goats and sheep; not necessarily the physical barnyard kind.
Hear the second part; "I shall not want," means you do not have any needs for which God cannot provide. We serve an all-purpose God Who created all things, and as the psalmist says "God owns the cattle on a thousand hills", and the truth is that God owns the hills! God has a knack for helping us find shelter in the right places, as good shepherds do for for their flocks; God knows where the best drinking water can be found in safety, and God knows how to restore our souls. The pressures and strains of the day have found more than their match in the restorative power that God has and that we need. God also has a way of leading us down the right paths, true as His name is, and that is what He is known. Even when we find our way to the places that frighten us, God is there! And where God is, fear is not! The strong presence of the Lord embraces us and holds us like a baby fearful of the unknown and new. God possesses all to protect and rescue us. As the shepherd uses the rod to fend off wild animals, and the staff with which to rescue us; God uses the same to bless and protect us.
When it comes to celebrations, no one throws a banquet like God! We waste no time in describing His feast, for His presence is satisfying enough; but God knows to invite to watch those who wanted us to starve ( or worse!). And, to put icing on the cake, God knows to anoint our heads with oil as a symbol of God's favor towards us in the presence of our enemies; and that oil overflows, just like His love. Our present and our future are secure in God, for God's favor bestows us with goodness and mercy; and beyond the future, our home will always be with God. Amen, and amen! Praise God's name forever.
I don't know about you but every time I read this psalm in the winter it reads my soul as if I were in front of a nice fire, covered in a warm blanket, sipping a hot chocolate; in summer, it's a t-shirt and shorts, sipping cold lemonade in a nice cool breeze; whatever image works for you, receive it as strength and nourishment; as the fuel we need to move ever forward and every upward!
PRAYER: Loving God and Shepherd of those who love and walk with You; speak these word not only into our ears, but into our hearts and spirits. Renew us and remake us for faithful living; this we pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Share this psalm in your own words to a soul in need!
Receive my blessing of hope and peace,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
