I have three songs of worship today. If you don't like to sing then pass by to the next two sections. However, if you do, then by all means enjoy the mix of styles before you move on to the rest of this journal entry.
October 23, 2015:
Worship: Shepherd of my Soul by Rivers and Robots; Shepherd of My Soul by Tony Miller; Shepherd of My Soul by Don Moen
Lord of the mountains and sea
You are treading a path set for me
God of the seasons and sky
You have always been holding my life
And Lord, You are the shepherd of my soul
So I lay down my plans, I give up my rights
And let You take control of this surrendered life
So I put my trust in the one
Who created the stars and the sun
You are eternally kind
Always faithful and endlessly wise
You comfort, You sustain
In shaking You remain
Unmoved and unafraid
Forever and always
You lead me by still waters
Lead me through the valleys
Lead me in Your wisdom
Shepherd of my soul
Through valleys of shadow and death, I am not afraid
By my Father’s breath, every star in the sky was made
And who can I fear when You’re standing right here by my side?
Always leading, protecting and guarding my left and my right
Father, You make all things new
Great God of creation
Father, You will always be my rock and salvation
You are treading a path set for me
God of the seasons and sky
You have always been holding my life
And Lord, You are the shepherd of my soul
So I lay down my plans, I give up my rights
And let You take control of this surrendered life
So I put my trust in the one
Who created the stars and the sun
You are eternally kind
Always faithful and endlessly wise
You comfort, You sustain
In shaking You remain
Unmoved and unafraid
Forever and always
You lead me by still waters
Lead me through the valleys
Lead me in Your wisdom
Shepherd of my soul
Through valleys of shadow and death, I am not afraid
By my Father’s breath, every star in the sky was made
And who can I fear when You’re standing right here by my side?
Always leading, protecting and guarding my left and my right
Father, You make all things new
Great God of creation
Father, You will always be my rock and salvation
Video:
Shepherd Of My Soul
Chorus 1
Oh Shepherd of my soul
Maker of my heart
Keeper of my life I will follow
Oh lead me by the hand
As I travel through this barren land
I will fix my eyes on You and You alone
Shepherd of my soul
Verse 1
All like sheep have gone astray
Each one following his own way
But the Father who cares for us ev'ry one
Has given us His Son
Just like a shepherd
He leads us to pastures and streams
Where our strength's renewed
Though the valley of death
He leads us through
We are never left alone
Verse 2
Your rod and staff they comfort me
In the presence of my enemies
At the banqueting table, I will not fear
For I know that You are here
You anoint my head overflow my cup
With the oil of joy, You fill me up
You pursue my heart
With Your goodness and love
I'll forever dwell with You
Chorus 1
Oh Shepherd of my soul
Maker of my heart
Keeper of my life I will follow
Oh lead me by the hand
As I travel through this barren land
I will fix my eyes on You and You alone
Shepherd of my soul
Verse 1
All like sheep have gone astray
Each one following his own way
But the Father who cares for us ev'ry one
Has given us His Son
Just like a shepherd
He leads us to pastures and streams
Where our strength's renewed
Though the valley of death
He leads us through
We are never left alone
Verse 2
Your rod and staff they comfort me
In the presence of my enemies
At the banqueting table, I will not fear
For I know that You are here
You anoint my head overflow my cup
With the oil of joy, You fill me up
You pursue my heart
With Your goodness and love
I'll forever dwell with You
Copyright:
2005 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing
Video:
Shepherd of my soul
I give you full control
Wherever You may lead
I will follow
I have made the choice
To listen for Your voice
Wherever You may lead
I will go
(Repeat Chorus)
Verse:
Be it in a quiet pasture
Or by a gentle stream
The shepherd of my soul
Is my by side
Should I face a
Mighty mountain
Or a valley dark and deep
The shepherd of my soul
Will be my guide
(Repeat Chorus)
(Repeat Verse)
Album: Forever Grateful
Video:
Witness:
I tried something new today. I decided to pray through my prayer list when I woke up today. I realized that when I come home every day I am tired and sometimes even fall asleep for a few seconds as I am praying. I also rush through sometimes because I am so tired and want to go to sleep. Good intentions but poor execution today. Got up, but instead of getting on my knees I got on my phone and looked at my Facebook notifications. By the time I got praying my grandkids from next door came over and shattered the silence. Then there was the dinner I was cooking. So I had to pray in the midst of turmoil and task. Sometimes on my knees and sometimes as I walked around to make dinner or sat down to comfort a crying grandchild. I got through, but it was not the quiet, open-ended and personal time I planned on and yearned for. Nevertheless, instead of giving up, I persevered. I say that not as a boast, but as an encouragement. Plan well, use your time wisely, but when all else fails plow through and pray anyways!
WORD:
A psalm o fDavid.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
NIV |
A Psalm of David.
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. KJV |
I believe we are just about to leave the valley, but before we do I want to share a few things I have come across that are too good to leave out. Let me also comment briefly on the songs of worship from today. These are songs, perhaps most of us are unfamiliar with. They come from three different genres of music: folk, rock, and praise & worship. Yet their messages all point us to the Great Shepherd of our lives. Read carefully the lyrics of each. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Rivers and Robots video. Worship the One who is faithful and surrender to the One who is able to bring us home safely.
It’s interesting to read various commentaries on the “Rod and Staff”. Some declare that there is no hint of discipline in these words.
JFB argues:
It cannot refer to the rod of affliction, for here "comfort," not chastening, is what is needed when passing through the darkness.
(from Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Clarke comments:
We are not to suppose that by the rod correction is meant: there is no idea of this kind either in the text, or in the original word, nor has it this meaning in any part of Scripture. Besides, correction and chastisement do not comfort; they are not, at least for the present, joyous, but grievous; nor can any person look forward to them with comfort.
They abuse the text who paraphrase rod correction”.
(from Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Nevertheless, I will at the risk of abusing the text, say that the idea of correction is included in this verse. It is not the sole idea by any means but plays a part in it. I ended yesterday with these words:
Yet, we must realize that we all will enter vales of darkness in life. In those times, we must not lose heart, but trust in our Shepherd to see us through with His rod of protection and correction and His staff of guidance and preservation.
I think that the discipline of the Lord can be comforting to the child of God because, by it, we gain direction from God as well as a reminder that we are His child. The wise parent disciplines as well as rewards. Though discipline may not bring immediate comfort, the wise child of God eventually finds comfort in the fact that their heavenly Father loves them and is guiding them by saying in the discipline: “My Child, this is not the way you are to go!”
Hebrews 12:5-6 declares:
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
NIV
Notice the author uses the word “encouragement”. The Greek word here is
para/klhsis paraklesis (par-ak'-lay-sis).
(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)
Vines defines it as:
a calling to one's side" (para, "beside," kaleo, "to call"); hence, either "an exhortation, or consolation, comfort,"
(from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, Copyright © 1985, Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the O.T., the word used comes from the same root as the word used in Hebrews 12:5. Now I understand that the Greek of the Septuagint and the Koine Greek of the N.T. are not exactly the same, and the context determines the meaning of the word― which as you can see has several ranges of meaning. Nevertheless, I believe that comfort has at least a part in the understanding of Hebrews 12:5, after all when one is encouraged they are comforted as well. Therefore, by inference, I see discipline as at least having a part in the word “comfort” used here in Psalm 23:4. This will also become apparent went we look at the uses of the source of comfort, that is, His “rod and staff”.
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