Journal for Christ

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Lead us and guide us: Part 2

Life is compared to a vapor or a mist in God's word (James 4:14). In that very passage it speaks of those who boast of there plans without seeking God's guidance and are guilty of presumption in light of God's sovereignty. This was a crucial study in my journey. As I write this little intro Lauren Daigle is singing "Trust in You". This is an important thing to remember when looking for guidance - patience and trust.

"When You don't move the mountains I'm needing You to move
When You don't part the waters I wish I could walk through
When You don't give the answers as I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You!

You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foundation; the rock on which I stand

Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There's not a place where I'll go, You've not already stood"

from the song Trust in You by Lauren Daigle

September 13, 2015

Worship: Sing For Jesus by Fernando Ortega

Come and see, look on this mystery
The Lord of the universe, nailed to a tree
Christ our God, spilling His Holy blood
Bowing in anguish, His sacred head

Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame
Lord of our sinful hearts, He is our great redeemer
Sing to Jesus, honor His name
Sing of His faithfulness, pouring His life out unto death

Come you weary and He will give you rest
Come you who mourn, lay on His breast
Christ who died, risen in Paradise
Giver of mercy, Giver of life

Sing to Jesus this is the throne
Now and forever He is the King of Heaven
Sing to Jesus, we are His own
Now and forever sing for the love our God has shown

Sing to Jesus, Lord of our shame
Lord of our sinful hearts
He is our great redeemer
Sing to Jesus, honor His name

Sing to Jesus this is the throne
Now and forever He is the King of Heaven
Sing to Jesus, we are His own
Now and forever sing for the love our God has shown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VWuDZ0az-c4

Witness:

The up and coming week is going to be full. I will need the green pastures and those quiet, restful waters. The annual district meeting for the company I work for, going to the movies to see War Room then dinner with my mom, fasting on Tuesday for a brother who is going to speak on Thursday, meeting on Wednesday with two brothers for dinner and fellowship, Thursday the district picnic and Band of Brothers.

Saturday night the satanic attack reared its ugly head again. A question asked of me designed by the Devil to upset and discourage me and cause doubt in my mind. However, God my Shepherd, wielded His blessed rod and warded off the lion who sought to devour me (1 Peter 5:8) and by His Word He fed and encouraged me (Psalm 23:2-3) from the prophet Isaiah:

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2 ESV

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.

I left off talking about the leading and guiding of God. I said these two words were different but complimentary. Perhaps that is too strong of a statement for often we use these words synonymously. However, it is possible to distinguish between the two else praying “lead and guide us” would be redundant and superfluous.

When we say “lead” we are confessing that we are followers who don’t know the way to go. When want to go somewhere and we don’t know how to get there, we will say to someone who is driving to the same destination: “You lead and we will follow you”. The word “lead” implies a leader. One who is in charge and knows where they are going and it would be foolish not to follow them. One must follow closely. Let something get in-between you and the leader and you can soon lose sight of them and get lost. This is what happens when we let things come between us and our Shepherd Leader. The wonderful thing is that the good shepherd always seeks out His lost sheep. The leader and the follower on a trip may lose each other and we may lose sight of our Shepherd Leader but He never loses sight of us. He always knows where we are!

Now sometimes when we go on a trip and we don’t know how to get there; we may ask someone to come with us who does. That person is there to “guide” us to our destination. As our guide they instruct us on how to get there. Guidance implies verbal instruction. One submits themselves to the guidance of the guide. One can still get lost if they don’t pay attention to the guide, or they think they know better than the guide, or they misunderstand the guide. I don’t think I have to belabor the point I’m making here, as Allister Begg often says in his sermons: “you are intelligent people and can figure it out for yourselves”.

How does our Shepherd lead and guide us? We would wish He was visually out in front of us leading and guiding us in life’s journey, but we know that’s not the way He works. Needless to say (why do we say that when we go ahead and say it anyway?); we know from scripture that we have the mind of Christ, the illumination of the Holy Spirit, and the Word of God itself for that. Yes, God uses other believer’s and circumstances to guide us as well, but these three must be seen as involved in the advice given by other believer’s and circumstances. We should ask: “Is this what Jesus would do? Is the Holy Spirit confirming this from God’s Word?” Just because circumstances seem to be falling into place doesn’t make it right. If I leave late to get to work and I start speeding down the road to get to work on time and all the lights are turning green for me; I could think: “well God is surely blessing me so it must be okay to break the speed limit”. However, we know from scripture (Romans 13:1-6) that breaking the speed limit, in such instances, would be a sin. The Holy Spirit would remind us of this if we are listening with our spiritual ears.

I believe I will finish with an article written by John Piper on the way God Leads.

Four Ways God Leads His People

October 1, 1996

· by John Piper

· Topic: Knowing God's Will

· Series: Taste & See Articles

I see at least four methods that God uses to leads us in his will. I put them in four "D’s" to help me remember them.

1) Decree: God sovereignly decrees and designs circumstances so that we end up where he wants us to be even if we don’t have any conscious part in getting there. For example, Paul and Silas found themselves in jail, and the result was the salvation of the jailer and his household (Acts 16:24-34). This was God’s plan, but not Paul’s. God does this often—putting us in places that we did not plan or decide to be. This is the leading of decree. It is unique above the other three leadings because it includes them (since God’s decrees include all our decisions) and because it happens infallibly (since “no purpose of [God’s] can be thwarted,” Job 42:2). The other three leadings of God involve our being consciously led.

2) Direction: This is simply what God does for us by giving us the commands and teachings of the Bible. They direct us specifically what to do and what not to do. The Ten Commandments are one example. Don’t steal. Don’t kill. Don’t lie. Or the Sermon on the Mount: Love your enemies. Or the Epistles: Be filled with the Holy Spirit. Put on humility. This is the leading of direction. God reveals his directions in the Bible.

3) Discernment: Most of the decisions we make are not spelled out specifically in the Bible. Discernment is how we follow God’s leading through the process of spiritually sensitive application of biblical truth to the particularities of our situation. Romans 12:2 describes this: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” In this case God does not declare a specific word about what to do. But his Spirit shapes the mind and heart through the word and prayer so that we have inclinations toward what would be most glorifying to him and helpful to others.

4) Declaration: This is the least common means of God’s leading. He simply declares to us what we should do. For example, according to Acts 8:26, “An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying, ‘Arise and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.’” And according to Acts 8:29, “The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up and join this chariot.’”

* * *

Notice three implications. First, we should always rest in the decrees of God. They will always be for our good if we love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). This should remove worry from our lives and put us at peace as we seek the "directed," "discerned" and "declared" leading of the Lord.

Second, there is the implication that God’s leading of decree may bring about acts that are contrary to his leading of direction, discernment, or declaration. In other words, he may direct, “You shall not kill,” but decree the murderous death of his Son (Acts 4:28). There are mysteries here, but it is manifest in dozens of places in the Bible that God wills that some things come to pass which he forbids in his word.

Finally, our confidence that we are tracking accurately with God in each of these leadings increases as we move from the bottom to the top of this list. Subjectively perceived declarations from God are the least common and most easily abused of all the ways God leads. Our confidence that we have known the will of God in this method will not be as great as in the other methods which relate directly to God’s written word. Discerning what to do on the basis of biblical principle when we do not have a specific command for our exact decision will yield less confidence than when we have an explicit direction in the Bible. And the truth that God is sovereign and guides all things is the rock bottom confidence under all others. It is a good place to rest.

Pastor John

John Piper (@JohnPiper) is founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, he served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is author of more than 50 books.

All the Way My Savior Leads Me

Author: Fanny J. Crosby

Composer: Robert Lowry

Tune: All the Way (Lowry)

Scripture: 1 Pet 2:25; Heb. 13:20; John 10:16

1 All the way my savior leads me;

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who thro’ life has been my guide?

heav’nly peace divinest comfort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

2 All the way my Savior leads me;

Cheers each winding path I tread,

Gives me grace for ev’ry trial,

Feeds me with the living bread;

Tho’ my weary steps may falter,

and my soul athirst may be,

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! a spring of joy I see;

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! a spring of joy I see;

3 All the way, my Savior leads me;

Oh, the fullness of His love!

Perfect rest to me is promised

In my Father’s house above:

When my spirit, clothed immortal,

Wings its flight to realms of day,

This my song thro’ endless ages:

Jesus led me all the way;

This my song thro’ endless ages:

Jesus led me all the way;

Amazing Grace

The song “Amazing Grace” follows this hymn. I accidently included the title when I was copying and pasting, but I left it there because I thought it was a perfect ending to the hymn and to this journal entry!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

My fears in light of who I am and Whose I am

Fear falls and faith fills when we know who we are and Whose we are. When we know whose world this is and we know His WORD. This is an ongoing battle in our lives until we are received into glory either at the end of our life or the end of the age - which ever comes first. We need to ever be reminded of who created this world and controls it. When we hear a bird sing or see the sunrise or smell a sweet smelling flower or feel a cool or warm breeze blowing in our face we are reminded that this is our father's world. When we face a trial or temptation. When we receive an unexpected blessing. We are reminded from Scripture of who we are and Whose we are and Who is the source for strength and deliverance and blessing!

September 12, 2015

Worship: This is My Father’s World

This Is My Father's World

Words: Maltbie D. Babcock

Music: "Terra Beata" traditional English melody; arranged by Franklin L. Sheppard

This is my Father's world, and to my listening ears

All nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world: I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world, the birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker's praise.

This is my Father's world: He shines in all that's fair;

In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;

He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world. O let me ne'er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world: why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!

God reigns; let the earth be glad!

This is my Father's world, dreaming, I see His face.

I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise cry, "The Lord is in this place."

This is my Father's world, from the shining courts above,

The Beloved One, His Only Son,

Came-a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father's world, should my heart be ever sad?

The lord is King-let the heavens ring. God reigns-let the earth be glad.

This is my Father's world. Now closer to Heaven bound,

For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.

No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father's world. I walk a desert lone.

In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze

God makes His glory known.

This is my Father's world, a wanderer I may roam

Whate'er my lot, it matters not,

My heart is still at home.

https://youtu.be/JEBmj7JO_Os

Witness:

This has been a short day for me. I went to men’s Bible Study this morning. We discussed the character of Jesus. Courage was one of the characteristics of our Lord. I think He had courage because He knew who He was and He knew whose He was. My great difficulty is fear. Fear of what? See if you can identify with any of these. Fear of ridicule. Fear of rejection. Fear of inadequacy (the fear that I can’t answer their questions or arguments). Is it because I am not sure of who and Whose I am?

Fear of ridicule? Precious profit!

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:11-12

Fear of rejection? Precious prompting!

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^b If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

John 15:18-20

Fear of inadequacy? Precious profession!

Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Corinthians 3:5-6

Who am I? Whose am I?

I am a child of the God of the Universe, a child of the King of King and Lord of Lords. I was chosen before the foundation of the world, redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, sealed by the Holy Spirit for the day of redemption, glory bound having been qualified to share in the inheritance along with the rest of the saints in light. To God be the glory great things He has done!

WORD:

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.

Time is up for today. I have to go to work. Never-the-less, God did not let me go to work without getting into the Word at all. In the witness section God drove me to the Word and for that I am grateful.

God’s Word is great

God’s Word is good

God’s Word is our daily food

For faith and strength

For wisdom and grace

For guidance in the spiritual race

―Amen

Monday, February 29, 2016

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:

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

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Our Good Shepherd is Real...

Looks like no one cares to much for this blog site. Too long? Not interesting? Don't understand my method in my quiet time? Don't care to read an anonymous web-site? Please refer to my original two blogs to understand where I am coming from, then pray for me. Finally, share your thoughts on the verse and any prayer needs you have. I would love to join with you in prayer to our Great Shepherd.

September 9, 2015

Worship: The Lord's My Shepherd (Psalm 23) by Stuart Townend

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.

And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup, it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod and staff
Are the comfort I need to know.

https://youtu.be/pN4tPkX0MG0

Witness: Today was a whirlwind. Sleep, phone call from my good friend Glen posing a theological question that I need to give thought to and not just shoot from the hip. I brought my granddaughter to her first meeting of Roots, a class that happens at church every Wednesday night for 5^th graders. I am excited about what God is doing in her life and the life of her family. Slowly but surely they are moving closer and closer in their walk with God.

Word:

Today and Thursday are taken up with Church activity and Band of Brothers so I will not be able to dig into the Word like I wish. I am reading commentaries and meditating on the Psalm every chance I get. As I think about this Psalm I could on the one hand, be deeply comforted by this Psalm and on the other hand, I could be deeply troubled by it. Taken just on its surface one might think that the believer’s walk with God is one of rest and ease with few problems, and if perchance we are walking through a dark valley in life, everything will turn out “just right” because God is with us. When my life doesn’t seem to flow that way how am I to respond to that? If this view of the Psalm is true, then of course I am going to wonder what I am doing wrong or am I truly one of God’s sheep. Another response could be that God really isn’t a good shepherd, or God is a good shepherd, but even He can’t handle everything so we need to forgive God! Or maybe this Good Shepherd God is just a myth. Such are the troubling thoughts that can follow us all the days of our life and we can dwell in the house of unbelief and misery or the mansion of pleasure and self-gratification and finally perdition forever. Or… we can take a deeper look at the Psalm and see that our Good Shepherd is real and that life with Him is rewarding and when we follow Him our lives will be revitalized and only in Him will we find our true eternal rest.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

He "makes" me rest

In next few blogs I will speak of our Shepherds leading. All believers believe that God leads and guides His sheep, yet how often do we really seek it? _______ You fill in the answer.

September 8, 2015

Worship: All the Way My Savior as performed by Chris Tomlin

All the way my Savior leads me
Who have I to ask beside
How could I doubt His tender mercy
Who through life has been my guide

All the way my Savior leads me
Cheers each winding path I tread
Gives me grace for every trial
Feeds me with the living Bread

You lead me and keep me from falling
You carry me close to Your heart
And surely Your goodness and mercy will follow me

All the way my Savior leads me
O, the fullness of His love
O, the sureness of His promise
In the triumph of His blood
And when my spirit clothed immortal
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages
Jesus led me all the way
Jesus led me all the way

All the way my Savior leads me
All the way my Savior leads me

https://youtu.be/Lvi1UM_4YcM

Witness:

It’s a rainy day today. Not much went on today. Some chores and shopping and dinner and sitting down to my quiet time. My mind shifts to last night as I type this portion of my quiet time. During my quiet time I was interrupted by a desperate plea from a brother in the Lord I had met recently. He was distraught about something happening in his life. Up until now I had not spoken to him since we had met together with at a local men’s gathering called Band of Brothers. It meets twice a year for twelve weeks to study from a workbook based on ten scriptures that give purpose and direction for men as well as a call to purity and devotion and leadership in their spheres of influence. Our motto, repeated at every meeting is: “So others may live!” Broken down into various platoons we get to know a little about each other in our small group of men. Within each platoon we are assigned an accountability partner. This brother was not my accountability partner. That is what was so amazing about this sudden call for help. I must tell you that I pray for each of my brothers in that platoon every day so it shouldn’t have come as too much of a shock. God is good and I believe God will use me to help my brother. I tremble though, feeling so inadequate, but my God will supply all that is needed as our faithful Shepherd.

WORD:

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.

As I start this session with the WORD, I see something I never noticed before. The punctuation marks; they differ from version to version. There were no punctuation marks in the original. The translators added them. The NIV and some others link green pastures and quiet waters and restoring or refreshing of the soul together. The RSV links green pastures with verse one and waters with restoration. The KJV and others put green pastures and waters together and link restoration or refreshing of the soul with the paths of righteousness. Not being an expert in this field I will have to study some more to see if I can come to any conclusion.

In the meantime, what can I learn from the phrase, “he makes me lie down in green pastures”? I am struck by the word “makes”. Certainly this is not meant in a coercive sense. That would be a ludicrous thought. The shepherd in the Middle East often had to lead his flock from green pasture to green pasture. The need for rest for his sheep would be uppermost in the shepherd’s mind. However, he would not let them rest in a dry or rocky place, but in one of the lush oasis he came across. God knows we need rest and yes food in our journey of life. He gave us the word for food and the Sabbath for rest. Without getting into arguments on days, Sunday, the Lord’s day should be a time of rest. Some, though have to work, but a time of rest is important for our spiritual and physical well being. When the Lord leads you to rest, then rest. That is His will.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

A Final Thought

Here my last entry on verse 1 of Psalm 23. The next day I begin on verse 2.

September 7, 2015

Worship: All Creatures of Our God and King by Francis of Assisi; The King of Love My Shepherd Is by Sir Henry Williams Baker

All Creatures of Our God and King

Words: Francis of Assisi, translated by William H. Draper

Music: "Lasst Uns Erfreuen" Geistliche Kirchengesänge. Harmony by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ps 149:1

Topics: Adoration , Worship

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing,

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou burning sun with golden beam,

Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

Refrain

O praise Him! O praise Him!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in heaven along,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,

Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

Refrain

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,

Make music for thy Lord to hear,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou fire so masterful and bright,

That givest man both warmth and light.

Refrain

Dear mother earth, who day by day

Unfoldest blessings on our way,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,

Let them His glory also show.

Refrain

And all ye men of tender heart,

Forgiving others, take your part,

O sing ye! Alleluia!

Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,

Praise God and on Him cast your care!

Refrain

And thou most kind and gentle Death,

Waiting to hush our latest breath,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Thou leadest home the child of God,

And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

Refrain

Let all things their Creator bless,

And worship Him in humbleness,

O praise Him! Alleluia!

Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,

And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

Refrain

1 The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never.
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine forever.

2 Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth;
and where the verdant* pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.

3 Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
but yet in love he sought me;
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.

4 In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.

5 Thou spreadst a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and oh, what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!

6 And so through all the length of days,
thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house forever.

United Methodist Hymnal, 1989

http://www.hymnary.org/text/the_king_of_love_my_shepherd_is

*Verdant – adjective - (of countryside) green with grass or other rich vegetation. https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=verdant

https://youtu.be/dKzF9WrBPaw - A beautiful contemporary rendering of the song sung by Sarah Kroger. Not all the lyrics in the song are used and some verses have been changed slightly and a few lines have been added.

https://youtu.be/b3GFVW6m9Qo - A version of the song sung basically to the original words of the song (only changed the word ill to evil in verse 4) Maranatha Celtic. All but verse 5 are sung but it is included in the musical interlude between verses 4 and 6.

A little Hymn Story here about this hymn:

Origin: This beautiful hymn was written by Henry W. Baker in London in the year 1868, and was based on David’s 23rd Psalm, “The LORD is my Shepherd”. Baker was the son of a noble English Baronet and naval Admiral, yet he himself chose to become an Anglican vicar. Over the period of 10 years, Baker sought to produce a hymnbook of songs which reflected the grandeur of majestic worship to the King of Kings. His labour of love became the hymnal, “Hymns, Ancient and Modern”, which after its publication in 1861 became the leading hymnbook of the Anglican church in England. Indeed, Baker became a prolific writer and contributor of Christian hymns, many of which were published during his lifetime in several English hymnals. Baker’s songs are most of all characterised by their tone of either cheerfulness, or tenderness. At the end of his life, when Baker lay dying in 1877, his last uttered words from his deathbed were a repetition of the 3rd verse of this beloved hymn:
“Perverse and foolish, oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His Shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKzF9WrBPaw

Witness:

God is so good in allowing me to discover new songs on the internet. I first sang a song that came to mind by Francis Assisi. It was a song I heard much while I was growing up. I would take issue with him when he calls death “most kind and gentle” but the verse before and after minister to me.

The second song I had never heard before. I had Googled the words “contemporary songs based on Psalm 23”. This was the first song listed in the first entry on Google. Ironically it is not a “contemporary song” per se having been written in 1868, but when I read the words I had to sing it. I was blessed by the hymn story as well.

Word:

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.

I said I wanted to visit this phrase one more time before I moved on. We spoke of the logic of this verse. Keil and Delitzsch say this,

He who has Jahve, the possessor of all things, himself has all things, he lacks nothing; viz., kaal-Towb, whatever is good in itself and would be good for him

As we have seen from James, “all good gifts are from God”. However, we cannot assume that all gifts that are good are provided to each and every one of us. God will supply all our real needs, that is those, gifts or needs that would be suited for our own personal situations. The believer should understand that God gives only what is good for them. It may not be the same “good” He gives to another one of His sheep. And “good” doesn’t always mean “pleasant” as we will see later in this psalm. Often the good we need is a good whooping and sometimes the good is not in the situation or life experience itself, but in the good God brings out of it (Romans 8:28).

However, this is not the last thing I wanted to share, but it is something that came to mind as I read the above portion from Keil and Delitzsch. The final thing I want to share probably doesn’t really need to be said, but I will anyway. Just because we are His sheep doesn’t mean that provision is automatic. We live in a very narcissistic age where we think we are entitled to many things without putting any effort forward towards receiving them. Many sheep have the idea that because they are sheep God owes it to them to take care of them. Many have been duped by “name it and claim it” and the “prosperity gospel” teaching. As John Piper says of the latter, they aren’t necessarily wrong, their timing is just off, because much of what they desire will come in the future state of glory.

But I digress again. As God’s sheep we live as people who gratefully receive from our gracious Shepherd. We live in patience and expectancy, not with impatience, or a demanding spirit, or crass commanding. We live with pure and obedient hearts and lives in reverent fear and love for our Shepherd.

Ps 34:9-14 says:

Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. NIV

Psalm 87:11 says:

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. NIV

Matthew 6:33 is a memory verse for many. I quote it as well as the two verses before it:

³¹ So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

NIV

I do not think I need to say much more here. These verses speak for themselves. However, I will leave you with some quotes from various commentaries.

Psalms 34:10

[The young lions do lack and suffer hunger] That is, they often do it, as compared with the friends of God. The allusion is especially to the "young" lions who are not able to go forth themselves in search of food. Perhaps the idea is, that they are dependent on the older lions-their parents-for the supply of their needs, as the pious are dependent on God; but that the result shows THEIR reliance to be often vain, while that of the pious never is. The old lions may be unable to procure food for their young; God is never unable to provide for the wants of his children. If their needs are in any case unsupplied, it is for some other reason than because God is UNABLE to meet their necessities. The word "lack" here -

ruwsh

- means to be poor; to suffer want; to be needy: Prov 14:20; 18:23.

[But they that seek the LORD] That seek Him as their Friend; that seek His favor; that seek what they need from Him. "To seek God" is a phrase which is often used to denote true piety. It means that we wish to know Him; that we desire His friendship; and that we seek all our blessings from Him.

[Shall not want any good thing] Any real good. God is able to supply every need; and if anything is withheld, it is always certain that it is not because God could not confer it, but because He sees some good reasons why it should NOT be conferred. The real good; what we need most; what will most benefit us-will be bestowed on us; and universally it may be said of all the children of God that everything in this world and the next will be granted that is REALLY for their good. They themselves are often not the best judges of what will be for their good; but God is an infallible Judge in this matter, and He will certainly bestow what is best for them.

Psalms 34:9-11

Those who fear the Lord (vv. 7, 9, 11) need fear nothing else, for this is the fear that drives out all fear (112:1). When we fear the Lord, He provides all that we need when we need it. Verse 9 is the Old Testament equivalent of Matt 6:33. "No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly" (84:11, NASB). God promises to give us what is good for us and to cause all things to work together for good (Rom 8:28). If we don't receive what we think we need, it means it isn't good for us and we don't need it at this time. At this point, David may have gathered the children and youths around him to teach them the secret of real living. Peter quoted verses 12-14 in 1 Peter 3:10-12, and his instructions are wise and workable.

Psalms 34:10

The young lions. "The young lions" are the symbol of powerful oppressors of the humble saints (Job 4:10-11; Ps 57:4; Ezek 38:13; 19:2-3).

They that seek ... - (Ps 84:11; Matt 6:32-33). The limitation is implied in Ps 34:19, that "many are the afflictions of the righteous." They have the promise of "an hundred-fold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal "life" (Mark 10:30; 1 Tim 4:8).

That’s enough, if not too much, but better to cover in abundance then in “want”. J

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Lead us and guide us: Part 2

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

My fears in light of who I am and Whose I am

Monday, February 29, 2016

Lead us and guide us: Part 1

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Our Good Shepherd is Real...

Thursday, February 25, 2016

He "makes" me rest

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

A Final Thought

About Me