Lead us and guide us: Part 1

When I entered this journal entry I thought I would have little to say about this psalm because so much had been written  on it already. I was wrong as you will see as time goes on. Remember, don't get hung up on my method. I have 3 basic sections in my journal, which are:

1. Worship

2. Witness

3. WORD

Please take the time to read all if you can and sing if you feel led to. Please pray for me and share with me your thoughts and prayer requests. Blessings to you in Christ!

(Entry From) September 11, 2015

Worship: My Shepherd Will Supply My Need: New tune composed by Rick Betts, featuring Rachel Johnson on vocals. ©2011, all rights reserved. Lyrics from the hymn text by Isaac Watts, 1719 (public domain);

My Shepherd will supply my need:
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy's sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
Your presence is my stay;
One word of your supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Your hand, in sight of all my foes,
Does still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Your oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may your house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

https://youtu.be/c6d9PNV73kI

I found it hard to believe
Someone like you cared for me
You put this love in my heart

I tried but could not refuse
You gave me no time to choose
You put this love in my heart

I want to know where the bad feelings go
When I'm depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me and it's alright

I want to tell you right now
I'm not afraid to say how
You put this love in my heart

There are sometimes when I doubt
But you always find me out
You put this love in my heart

Cause when I see all that you've done for me
It's hard to doubt, I just have to believe
Cause you followed and proved it all of your life

Well I know
the loneliness I had before
Is gone now
I'll never feel it anymore

Cause your love has released me
From all that's in my past
And I know I can believe you
When you say I'll never be forsaken
Your love is gonna last

There's so much more I should say
If I could just find a way
You put this love in my heart

Is all this real or a dream
I feel so good I could scream
You put this love in my heart

I want to know where the bad feelings go
When I'm depressed and I get down so low
And then I see you coming to me and it's alright

You put this love in my heart

You put this love in my heart

You put this love in my heart

Songwriters: Green, Keith Gordon

You Put This Love In My Heart lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/k/keith+green/you+put+this+love+in+my+heart_20077338.html

https://youtu.be/hg7HEsCEQ54

Witness: Today has been a day of blessing and concern. As I was driving home this morning from work I “perchance” changed the station I was listening to to check out what was playing on another Christian station in town. It was a testimony by a young woman and the work God had done in her life. As I started to listen, her words made me sad and envious and I changed the channel. Then, like a good father, my Heavenly Father seized upon this as a teachable moment. Like a good shepherd He took his staff to redirect my thoughts and spirit. He reminded me of a previous entry in this journal from psalm 22 where I spoke of how easy it was to praise Him when He was blessing us personally, but how hard it was sometimes to rejoice in other’s blessings from God. Immediately the blues left and the blessing came as I rejoiced and praised God for the miracle in this young woman’s life! When I came home today a friend of mine messaged me, who is a pastor in New York. I have been praying for his ministry there. He said God has blessed the preaching and alter time lately. Praise God! I have also been concerned about a friend who hadn’t contacted me in several days and as I am typing this he texted me. Just like God, isn’t it!

WORD:

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. A Psalm of David. KJV

1The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the darkest valley,a I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

What an awesome array of songs has been inspired by this short Psalm. Even now I have them playing on my computer as I type. They range from the almost verbatim, to the paraphrased, to the ones like the hymn I sang today with truths drawn from other places in God’s Word.

It is difficult to come up with anything fresh in this Psalm. That is, so many good things have been said I can’t really say anything that hasn’t been said already. I am going to consider this Psalm in two portions, because like most commentators have already pointed out, this is a Psalm involving two different metaphors. The first portion is that of a shepherd (vv. 1-4) and the second portion that of a host (vv. 5-6). However, as the New International Bible Commentary points out:

Certainly vv. 5, 6 do not maintain the sheep metaphor, but there is no need to assume the conscious introduction of another metaphor; the psalm is a unified expression of what God does for the psalmist. (New International Commentary, General Ed.(revised edition) F.F. Bruce, Zondervan,1979 p. 572)

In verses 2-4 we find the actions that God takes towards His sheep. We find the words found often used in public and private prayers. How often have I heard, and used the words myself,  “Lord, lead us and guide us”? Here it’s not a prayer put the actual portrayal of the Lord’s leading and guiding. How often are these words said mindlessly or with little thought to what they mean? Psalm 23 helps us to see how these words differ but compliment each other.

I want to flesh this out more, but time is fleeting and I must feed the dogs and get ready for work.

Lord, be my leader and be my guide;

       in You I trust, in You I abide

Be my rest and my restoring balm;

       my peace, my defense, my everlasting calm.

―Amen