The Lord Is My Shepherd and King

What's so good about a shepherd king? That was the theme for our Advent Service last night. What's so good about having a king that knows how to lead their flock? Everything. The ability to lead others even through the darkest shadows of the valley of death is a very important trait for someone who would be king or maybe president. The ability to protect and comfort them when times are troubling is an awesome trait for a ruler.

David was a good shepherd and a great king. But, we have one who is even greater. He is the King of Kings. He looks after us as only a good shepherd can. He will reign forever over us.

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, 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.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Psalm 23

 

What's so good about a king who is also an experienced shepherd? Everything!

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Peace Beside Still Waters

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Every morning as I pray the Shepherd's Psalm, I am reminded how much God has blessed by providing me with this place of peace near the water.

 

Some days are more chaotic than others. Yesterday was one of them. It had nothing to do with serving the congregation. It had more to do with the world around us. In spite of the fact that we are Kingdom children, we still live in a world that is so filled with "stuff" that we have to take care of that it threatens to steal our peace.

 

So, this morning, I am even more thankful for my home beside the waters that reminds me so much of the peace that only God can give. In the midst of storms in the world, I can look out and be reminded of Moses parting the sea so that the people could escape from their persecutors. The waters remind me of my own baptism into the Body of Christ. I am reminded that it is Christ who leads me beside still waters. He makes me to lie down and find rest in the greenest of pastures. He is with me in the darkest valleys of the shadows of death. The Lord is with me and in Him alone, I know peace.

 

It is a rare day that I turn down my driveway after spending a day out in the world and neglect to give thanks to God for this place of peace that He has given me.

 

May God grant you the peace that comes with knowing that He is with you and for you in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 11:1-44 Jesus Wept

John 11:1-44 NIV
There is just so much in the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus that I could take it a couple of verses at a time and stretch it out for a week, at least. But, I prefer that you all read it as a whole.

Jesus is not running to keep Lazarus from dying. He takes his time so that God might be glorified. One of the most interesting parts of the story for me is found in the two words of verse 35: "Jesus wept." Jesus surely wept not for Lazarus as he knew Lazarus would be rising from the dead when he called to him in the grave. Jesus was weeping for those who grieved; whose hearts were breaking over the loss of their loved one. They were the ones suffering. They were the ones living in the shadow of the valley of death (Psalm 23:4 NKJV). Jesus cares for them. He loves them and He loves you. He does not wish to see in you in sorrow or pain. But, when you are, He is with you. He will raise you up, again, for the glory of God, our Father.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Habakkuk 3 - Hinds Feet on High Places

"The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights." (Hab 3:19 NIV)

"The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." (Hab 3:19 KJV)

I remember a book I read years ago. "Hinds Feet On High Places," an allegory, written by Hannah Hurnard, gets its' name from Habakkuk 3:19 (KJV). The journey of Much-Afraid and her friends Sorrow and Suffering, as they follow Shepherd to the high places, where they will walk as on hinds' feet, takes them through many dangers.  It is a long journey. They must have patience. They must have persistence. But, in the end, they (we) will dance in the presence of God. 

I can't remember too many of the details of the book, as it has been quite a few years since I read it. But, I can look around me daily and watch (and even join) others as they journey through many difficult times in anticipation and the hope of the promised land.

Just as Habakkuk prayed and waited patiently for the LORD to deliver God's people from the enemy, from the many dangers that surround them; I, too pray and wait patiently (sometimes not as patient as others) for the LORD to deliver His people, who I also love, from the turmoil and dangers they encounter as they journey through the dark shadows of the valley of death.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Joel 3 - Valley of Decision

Joel 3 brings us a picture of something many of us are quite familiar with. It is the valley of decision. It refers to the day when God will judge all nations. He will try all nations for what has been done to His people.

"Multitudes, multitudes
    in the valley of decision!
For the day of the Lord is near
    in the valley of decision.
The sun and moon will be darkened,
    and the stars no longer shine.
The Lord will roar from Zion
    and thunder from Jerusalem;
    the earth and the heavens will tremble.
But the Lord will be a refuge for his people,
    a stronghold for the people of Israel.

“Then you will know that I, the Lord your God,
    dwell in Zion, my holy hill.
Jerusalem will be holy;
    never again will foreigners invade her.

“In that day the mountains will drip new wine,
    and the hills will flow with milk;
    all the ravines of Judah will run with water.
A fountain will flow out of the Lord’s house    and will water the valley of acacias."  (Joel 3:14-18 NIV)

For those who persecute God's people, these words should bring a sobering thought. But, for God's people these words provide hope. The same Word brings condemnation to those who refuse God's word and good news to those who receive it (Him).

God is our refuge and strength...

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 37 - Valley of Dry Bones

"The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  (Ezekiel 27:1-3 NIV)

Can dry, dead bones live? Of course, they can! According to Jesus: "...with God all things are possible.” (Matt 19:26) In Ezekiel's vision he was told to prophesy to the breath and when he did the breath came into those dry bones. The breath of God, the Spirit of God, gives us life. It was the very breath of God that brought Adam to life. It is His breath that gives us life. It is His breath that gives us abundant life.

So if you're feeling pretty dried out and dead, ask and you shall receive. Jesus told his followers: "Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete." (John 16:23-24)

So what will it be: a dried out life or a life filled with joy and peace in the Body of Christ? So many people running (more like crawling) around filled with depression and gloom and doom when they could live filled with the breath of God, the Spirit of God, united with one another in peace and joy. It is unimaginable, to me, that more will not walk in the way that brings eternal life in Christ, even now.

Dry bones, get up, receive the Spirit of God, and live life abundantly.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Psalm 23 - The LORD Is Our Shepherd!

Well, here is one I don't have to read.  I pray it every day, not just for me, but for all of you, as well. 

The LORD is our shepherd!  Thanks be to God that He is with us now and always, guiding us wherever He would lead us!  Yea, though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we shall fear no evil, for God is with us. 

As long as we live in this world, death looms large in front of us.  It is still before us and we live in its shadow.  But, God is larger.  Thanks be to God, Christ has overcome the power of death for us. On this side of death there will always be trials and challenges to overcome.  We will endure persecution for the sake of the Gospel (that is the good news of the Kingdom in Jesus the Christ).  We will suffer, but we know that even as these days might present themselves as a shadowy darkness, God is with us.  Our shepherd is is with us in the face of the enemy, even as He anoints our heads with oil, leading us to green pastures and still waters. 

His goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives.  We are confident that the LORD, our Shepherd, will be present with us even as we dwell in His presence, in His House, in His Kingdom, forever!  Amen!
God's Peace - Pr. J