DEFEATING DISPAIR
Psalm 23:5-6
For the third time we will look at the Twenty-Third Psalm… As previously mentioned, it is the most beloved chapter in the Bible because there are, in these six verses, seventeen first person pronouns—such as I, my, mine, and me—
This Psalm also contains at least seven promises...
In the previous two lessons we have considered the first five: the Lord will provide for me, pacify me, preserve me, pilot me, and protect me…
In this lesson we will examine two more promises.
Promise #6: The Lord will Prescribe Healing for my hurts.. 23:5
David writes: Thou preparest a table before me (23:5a)…
In both the Old and New Testaments, having a meal with someone was the ultimate act of friendship and fellowship…
~~The scene now changes from a pasture with a shepherd to a supper with God pictured as a gracious Host…
Some students believe there is a change of metaphor here, from the shepherd and his sheep to the host and his guest, but this is not necessarily the case… "Table" doesn't necessarily refer to a piece of furniture used by humans, for the word simply means "something spread out…"
Flat places in the hilly country were called "tables" and sometimes the shepherd stopped the flock at these "tables" and allowed them to eat and rest as they headed for the fold...
After each difficult day's work, the aim of the shepherd was to bring the flock safely back to the fold where the weary sheep could safely rest for the night...
Sometimes at the fold, the shepherd would spread out food in a trough, because sheep lie down and rest after they have eaten...
As they slept, they would be protected by a stone wall that surrounded them, and the shepherd himself would sleep across the opening and be the door…
(John 10:7-9 (KJV) 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep… 8 All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them… 9 I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture…)
During the night, thieves and dangerous animals might approach the fold, but there was no way they could reach the sheep…
The Lord doesn't always remove the dangers from our lives… but…
He does help us to overcome them and he always prescribes healing….
The shepherd would examine the sheep as they entered the fold to be sure none of them were bruised, injured, or sick…
To the hurts, he applied the soothing oil, and for the thirsty, he had his large two-handled cup filled with water…
He would also apply the oil to the heads and horns of the sheep to help keep the flies and other insects away… The sheep knew they were safe and they could sleep without fear... (So can we)
Jesus says: (Rev. 3:20)... Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear My voice, and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me...
Though this invitation was given to a church that had fallen away, it is an individual invitation because salvation is individual…
If any man, any one person, opens the door of his or her heart through faith and repentance, Christ will come in to that person and fellowship (Partnership) with that person and begin to change that person from the inside out…
The word translated sup means "to dine" and refers to the main meal of the day…
For the third time we will look at the Twenty-Third Psalm… As previously mentioned, it is the most beloved chapter in the Bible because there are, in these six verses, seventeen first person pronouns—such as I, my, mine, and me—
This Psalm also contains at least seven promises...
In the previous two lessons we have considered the first five: the Lord will provide for me, pacify me, preserve me, pilot me, and protect me…
In this lesson we will examine two more promises.
Promise #6: The Lord will Prescribe Healing for my hurts.. 23:5
David writes: Thou preparest a table before me (23:5a)…
In both the Old and New Testaments, having a meal with someone was the ultimate act of friendship and fellowship…
~~The scene now changes from a pasture with a shepherd to a supper with God pictured as a gracious Host…
Some students believe there is a change of metaphor here, from the shepherd and his sheep to the host and his guest, but this is not necessarily the case… "Table" doesn't necessarily refer to a piece of furniture used by humans, for the word simply means "something spread out…"
Flat places in the hilly country were called "tables" and sometimes the shepherd stopped the flock at these "tables" and allowed them to eat and rest as they headed for the fold...
After each difficult day's work, the aim of the shepherd was to bring the flock safely back to the fold where the weary sheep could safely rest for the night...
Sometimes at the fold, the shepherd would spread out food in a trough, because sheep lie down and rest after they have eaten...
As they slept, they would be protected by a stone wall that surrounded them, and the shepherd himself would sleep across the opening and be the door…
(John 10:7-9 (KJV) 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep… 8 All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them… 9 I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture…)
During the night, thieves and dangerous animals might approach the fold, but there was no way they could reach the sheep…
The Lord doesn't always remove the dangers from our lives… but…
He does help us to overcome them and he always prescribes healing….
The shepherd would examine the sheep as they entered the fold to be sure none of them were bruised, injured, or sick…
To the hurts, he applied the soothing oil, and for the thirsty, he had his large two-handled cup filled with water…
He would also apply the oil to the heads and horns of the sheep to help keep the flies and other insects away… The sheep knew they were safe and they could sleep without fear... (So can we)
Jesus says: (Rev. 3:20)... Behold, I stand at the door, and knock, if any man hear My voice, and open the door I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with Me...
Though this invitation was given to a church that had fallen away, it is an individual invitation because salvation is individual…
If any man, any one person, opens the door of his or her heart through faith and repentance, Christ will come in to that person and fellowship (Partnership) with that person and begin to change that person from the inside out…
The word translated sup means "to dine" and refers to the main meal of the day…
Not only does the Lord prepare this table of fellowship, but He does so in the presence of mine enemies (Psa. 23:5b)…
Since the supper symbolizes fellowship and friendship, the Lord makes our enemies become our friends…
This is why we don't need to seek revenge—God will take care of our hurts… ‘We have all been deeply hurt, by someone, and the natural instinct is, we want revenge…
Since the supper symbolizes fellowship and friendship, the Lord makes our enemies become our friends…
This is why we don't need to seek revenge—God will take care of our hurts… ‘We have all been deeply hurt, by someone, and the natural instinct is, we want revenge…
However, revenge doesn't make things right, nor does it rid us of our hurt...
It only keeps the hurt alive and opens the door for retaliation…
The only way to get over a hurt is to forgive...
The only way to get over a hurt is to forgive...
That's why, in Matthew 6:12, Jesus teaches we should ask forgiveness for our sins daily and also ask for the forgiveness of the sins of the people who have done us wrong… 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
This means God will forgive us just like we forgive those who hurt us…
When we refuse to forgive, we sin and hurt our relationship with God.
Refusing to forgive also hurts all our relationships…
When we refuse to forgive, we sin and hurt our relationship with God.
Refusing to forgive also hurts all our relationships…
That's why God gives us what command in Colossians 3:13 (KJV) 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye...
According to Psalm 23:5, if I give God an opportunity, He will prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, and He will do the same for you...
According to Psalm 23:5, if I give God an opportunity, He will prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, and He will do the same for you...
He will restore broken relationships with a parent, sibling, or a husband an wife or a person at school or work…God can do all these things, if we will obey His Word and forgive…
When we are hurt, mistreated, or taken advantage of, we need to remember the Lord's table...
Because, our all-powerful God can prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies…
In Romans 8:37 (KJV) 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us…
What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? A conqueror defeats his enemy or foe…
When we are hurt, mistreated, or taken advantage of, we need to remember the Lord's table...
Because, our all-powerful God can prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies…
In Romans 8:37 (KJV) 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us…
What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? A conqueror defeats his enemy or foe…
To be more than a conqueror is to go a step further and make our enemies our friends… God can do that if we let Him…
Our greatest and most feared enemy is death and our last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1 Cor. 15:26)…
On the cross, Jesus made our greatest and last enemy our friend because now, instead of death being the means of our destruction, it is the door to eternal life and reward…
Therefore, if the Lord is our Shepherd, we can truly say: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies (Psa. 23:5a)… We can also say: thou anointest my head with oil (23:5b)…
Our greatest and most feared enemy is death and our last enemy that shall be destroyed is death (1 Cor. 15:26)…
On the cross, Jesus made our greatest and last enemy our friend because now, instead of death being the means of our destruction, it is the door to eternal life and reward…
Therefore, if the Lord is our Shepherd, we can truly say: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies (Psa. 23:5a)… We can also say: thou anointest my head with oil (23:5b)…
~~~In ancient times anointing oil was highly valued in the dry, hot Middle East...
Adding costly perfumes to olive oil, made the anointing oil…
Adding costly perfumes to olive oil, made the anointing oil…
In Palestine the sun shines fiercely most of the year, so a person’s skin becomes dry and cracked...
Oil soothes the skin, especially the face… Therefore, when the Bible says God anoints our heads with oil, it means God soothes and heals our hurts and pains…
Oil soothes the skin, especially the face… Therefore, when the Bible says God anoints our heads with oil, it means God soothes and heals our hurts and pains…
That's why Psalm 147:3 gives us another precious promise…
3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds…
3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds…
Notice this verse says God binds up our wounds…
We bind up, or bandage, a wound because we know healing requires time...
The more serious the wound, the more time it takes for the wound to heal…
It is the same with an emotional hurt… The deeper the hurt, the more time it takes to heal…
Maybe your hurt is rejection by a parent or the pain of a divorce…
Maybe you have suffered serious physical, sexual, or verbal abuse… Those kinds of emotional wounds require time to heal…
Because the Lord prepares a table... in the presence of our enemies and anoints our heads with oil, we can say with the psalmist: my cup runneth over (23:5c)…
~~~When a guest arrived at the home of a friend, hospitality demanded oil to soothe the face and a fresh drink to refresh the body…
The more serious the wound, the more time it takes for the wound to heal…
It is the same with an emotional hurt… The deeper the hurt, the more time it takes to heal…
Maybe your hurt is rejection by a parent or the pain of a divorce…
Maybe you have suffered serious physical, sexual, or verbal abuse… Those kinds of emotional wounds require time to heal…
Because the Lord prepares a table... in the presence of our enemies and anoints our heads with oil, we can say with the psalmist: my cup runneth over (23:5c)…
~~~When a guest arrived at the home of a friend, hospitality demanded oil to soothe the face and a fresh drink to refresh the body…
The cup overflowing, or running over, symbolizes more than enough… This phrase just reminds me of another promise God gives us through the prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 31:25 (KJV) 25 For I have satisfied the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul...
God will heal our hurts, but it often takes time...
God will heal our hurts, but it often takes time...
When we are hurt, we need to remember that the Lord's table and oil will make my cup run over because the Lord will Prescribe healing for my hurts…
Next comes the best promise of all
Next comes the best promise of all
Promise #7: The Lord will Perpetuate my pleasures... 23:6
Perpetuate is a big word that just means God will be responsible for, the pleasures of this life…He will bring about the goodness you need in your life…it means He will continue to work in your life to do all He wants to do…He will achieve all He wants to, for you and through you…and He will do it in a holy, clean way…
~~~As the shepherd lay each night at the door of the sheepfold, he looked back over the day and gave thanks that the Lord had blessed them with goodness and mercy...
As an old man, David looked back over his long life and came to the same conclusion... In spite of his sins and failures, he had been followed by goodness and mercy…:
David writes: Surely goodness... shall follow me all the days of my life (23:6a)… "Surely" means "WITHOUT A DOUBT…"
The Hebrew word translated goodness means "good things" that are pleasant and delightful…
Because the Lord is the Good Shepherd, we have another promise in… Psalm 34:10b (BBE); but those who are looking to the Lord will have every good thing… ARE YOU LOOKING TO THE LORD?
Goodness following me all the days of my life doesn't mean only good things will happen to me…
David is not saying only good things happen to God's people... Rather, good things will always come from whatever happens to us—good things will follow us (Rom. 8:28)…
If the Lord is my Shepherd, good things will come out of my problems and pain…
Not only goodness but mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (Psa. 23:6a)...
The word translated mercy literally means "mercy," but the Hebrew word also carries the idea of loving kindness or steadfast love, which is the reason for the Lord's mercy…
Mercy means we don't get what we deserve… We deserve Hell!!
We need to remember God's mercy because we all fail Him sometimes…
When we do, we should keep in mind these words of assurance in Psalm 28:6b? 6 Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications...
When we do, we should keep in mind these words of assurance in Psalm 28:6b? 6 Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications...
When you are right with the Lord, He hears your prayers.
Because the LORD is my shepherd... goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—as long as I live on this earth…
On this earth, life can be confusing, hard, and even unfair…
But when life is over and we get to heaven, we will look back over our lives and realize goodness and mercy followed us all the days of our lives…
But when life is over and we get to heaven, we will look back over our lives and realize goodness and mercy followed us all the days of our lives…
When I die, things will just get better because then I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever (23:6b)…
As David looked ahead, he knew he would be in heaven—the Father's house—forever...
When the earthly house of this tabernacle is dissolved (2 Cor. 5:1a), we have a wonderful promise in 2 Corinthians 5:1b… 1 we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens...
When I die, I will just change addresses… When my change comes…etc…
~~~One day a little girl asked her mom, "What happens when you die?"
The mom said, "Remember the other night when you went to sleep on the couch in the living room, and your dad picked you up in his big, strong arms and carried you to your bedroom? You went to sleep in one place and woke up in another…”
That is what happens when a Christian dies; you go to sleep in one place and wake up in another…
That is what happens when a Christian dies; you go to sleep in one place and wake up in another…
The Bible often uses sleep as a synonym for death … This is because sleep suggests an awakening…
When believers die physically, our spirits will wake up in heaven…
In the book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus is referred to as the one who will feed , literally "shepherd" us and lead us to living fountains of waters (Rev. 7:17a-b)…
In the book of Revelation, the Lord Jesus is referred to as the one who will feed , literally "shepherd" us and lead us to living fountains of waters (Rev. 7:17a-b)…
Then, what does the last phrase of that verse tell us our Great Shepherd will do? Revelation 7:17 (KJV) : and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes...
Life is a crossing, with the final destination being the house of the LORD…
God doesn't make the journey smooth because life is a test (Jas. 1:3)…
We should keep this in mind when the path is rough…
We should keep this in mind when the path is rough…
Jesus tells us: In the world ye shall have tribulation (Jn 16:33b).
Therefore, the road to the house of the LORD has bumps and potholes that often jolt us…
Therefore, the road to the house of the LORD has bumps and potholes that often jolt us…
Under the old covenant, the sheep died for the shepherd, but under the new covenant, the Shepherd died for the sheep—and we shall meet our Shepherd in heaven! "
But when we get to the house of the LORD, we will see that, even though the path was often rough, it was for our good…
Then, we will better understand what statement of the Lord in Isaiah 48:10b?
Isaiah 48:10 (KJV) 10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.
Promise #1: The Lord will Provide for me…
Promise #2: The Lord will Pacify me…
Promise #3: The Lord will Preserve me…
Promise #4: The Lord will Pilot me…
Promise #5: The Lord will Protect me…
Promise #6: The Lord will Prescribe healing for my hurts…
Promise #7: The Lord will Perpetuate my pleasures…
Promise #1: The Lord will Provide for me…
Promise #2: The Lord will Pacify me…
Promise #3: The Lord will Preserve me…
Promise #4: The Lord will Pilot me…
Promise #5: The Lord will Protect me…
Promise #6: The Lord will Prescribe healing for my hurts…
Promise #7: The Lord will Perpetuate my pleasures…
Revelation 3:20 (KJV) 20 Behold, I (Jesus) stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
If you want the Lord to be you shepherd, you must become a sheep of His flock…what will you do with Jesus…the choice is yours to make…no one can make it for you…but I promise if you surrender yourself to Him, you will never be the same again…You will only become better and stronger…
The Bible says you will get a new heart…the old one will be replaced with the new, actually all things will become new…all things…a new direction will be prescribed for your life…amen
The Bible says you will get a new heart…the old one will be replaced with the new, actually all things will become new…all things…a new direction will be prescribed for your life…amen
posted by Fisherman For Christ at 2/18/2011 01:06:00 AM
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