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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 7, 2011 11:50:07 GMT -5
A BOOK STUDY
PSALM 23 - Part One
"The Lord Is My Shepherd"
Who is the Lord? What is His character? How do I come under His control? In what way do I become the object of His concern and diligent care?
David,the author of the poem,himself a shepherd,and the son of a shepherd,later to be known as the "Shepherd King" of Israel,stated explicitly,"The Lord is my Shepherd."
To whom did he refer? He referred to Jehovah,the Lord God of Israel.His statement was confirmed by Jesus Christ.When He was God incarnate among men,He declared emphatically:"I am the good Shepherd."
Who was this Christ? He was directly responsible for the creation of all things both natural and supernatural (Colossians 1:15-20).
If we pause to reflect on the person of Christ - on His power and upon His achievements - suddenly like David we will be glad to state proudly,"The Lord - He is my Shepherd!"
But before we do this,it helps to hold clearly in mind the particular part played upon our history by God the Father,God the Son,and God the Holy Spirit.
God the Father is God the author - the originator of all that exists.It was in His mind,first,that all took shape.
God the Son,our Saviour,is God the artisan - the artist,the Creator of all that exists.He brought into being all that had been originally formulated in His Father's mind.
God the Holy Spirit is God the agent who presents these facts to both my mind and my spiritual understanding so that they become both real and relative to me as an individual.
© Philip Keller
"A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23"
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 7, 2011 11:51:28 GMT -5
PSALM 23 - Part Two
The Character of Christ quickly reveals an individual of enormous compassion and incredible integrity.He was the most balanced and perhaps the beloved being ever to enter the society of men.
He bore Himself always with great dignity and assurance.His entire philosophy and outlook on life were the highest standards of human conduct ever set before mankind.
Though He had no vast economic assets,political power or military might,no other person ever made such an enormous impact on the world's history.
Because of Him,millions of people across twenty centuries of time have come into a life of decency and honour and noble conduct.
Not only was He gentle and tender and true but also righteous,stern as steel,and terribly tough on phony people.
He was magnificent in His magnanimous spirit of forgiveness for fallen folk,but a terror to those who indulged in double talk or false pretences.
He came to set men free from their own sins,their own selves,their own fears.Those so liberated loved him with fierce loyalty.
It is this One who insists that He was the Good Shepherd,the understanding Shepherd,the concerned Shepherd who cares enough to seek out and save and restore lost men and women.
He never hesitated to make it quite clear that when an individual once came under His management and control,there would be a certain new and unique relationship between Him and them.
There would be something very special about belonging to this particular Shepherd.There would be a distinct mark upon the man or woman that differentiated them from the rest of the crowd.
© Philip Keller
"A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23"
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 7, 2011 11:53:31 GMT -5
PSALM 23 -Part Three
For the man or woman who recognizes the claim of Christ and gives allegiance to His absolute ownership,there comes the question of bearing His mark.
The mark of the cross is that which should identify us with Himself for all time.The question is - does it?
Jesus made it clear when He stated emphatically,"If any man would be my disciple,let Him deny Himself and take up His cross daily and follow Me."
Basically what it amounts to is this: A person exchanges the fickle fortunes of living life by sheer whimsy for the more productive and satisfying adventure of being guided by God.
It is a tragic truth that many people who really have never come under His direction or management claim that "The Lord is my Shepherd."
They seem to hope that by merely admitting that He is their Shepherd,somehow they will enjoy the benefits of His care and management without paying the price of forfeiting their own foolish and fickle way of life.
One cannot have it both ways.Either we belong or we don't.Jesus Himself warned us that there would come a day when many would say,"Lord,in Your name we did many wonderful things,"but He will retort that He never knew us as His own.
It is a most serious and sobering thought which should make us search our own hearts and motives and personal relationship to Himself.
Do I really belong to Him?
Do I really recognize His right to me?
Do I respond to His authority and acknowledge His ownership?
Do I find freedom and complete fulfillment in this arrangement? Do I sense a purpose and deep contentment because I am under His direction?
Do I know rest and repose,besides a definite sense of exciting adventure,in belonging to Him?
If so,then with genuine gratitude and exaltation I can exclaim proudly,just as David did,"The Lord is my Shepherd!" and I'm thrilled to belong to Him,for it is thus that I shall flourish and thrive no matter what life may bring to me.
© Philip Keller
"A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23"
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 7, 2011 11:57:09 GMT -5
PSALM 23 - Part Four
"I Shall Not Lack Anything"
What a proud,positive,bold statement to make! The idea is of being utterly contented in the Good Shepherd's care.I have numerous friends among people who have known hardship,disaster and the struggle to stay afloat financially.But because they belong to Christ,and have recognized Him as Lord and Master of their lives,they are permeated by a deep,quiet,settled peace that is beautiful to behold.
It is indeed a delight to visit some of these humble homes where men and women are rich in spirit,generous in heart,and large of soul.They radiate a serene confidence and quiet joy that surmounts all the tragedies of their time.They are under God's care and they know it.They have entrusted themselves to Christ's control and found contentment.
Contentment should be the hallmark of the man or woman who has put his or her affairs in the hands of God.The simple Christian,the humble person,the Shepherd's sheep,can stand up proudly and boast,"The Lord is my Shepherd - I shall not lack anything."
I am completely satisfied with His management of my life.Why? Because He is the Shepherd to whom no trouble is too great as He cares for His flock.He is the Shepherd who is outstanding because of His fondness for sheep - who loves them for their own sakeas well as His personal pleasure in them.He will see that they are properly provided for in every detail.Above all,He is very jealous of His name and high reputation as the Good Shepherd.
He is the owner who delights in His flock.For Him,there is no greater reward,no deeper satisfaction,than that of seeing His sheep contented,well fed,safe and flourishing under His care.This is indeed His very "life."He gives all He has to it.He literally lays Himself out for those who are His.No wonder Jesus said,"I am the Good Shepherd - the Good Shepherd gives His life for His sheep."And again,"I have come that you may have abundant life."This is a sublime picture of the care given to those whose lives are under Christ's control.
© Philip Keller
"A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23"
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 7, 2011 11:59:53 GMT -5
PSALM 23 - Part Five
"He Makes Me Lie Down In Green Pastures"
In the Christian's life,there is no substitute for the keen awareness that Christ,our Shepherd is nearby.There is nothing like Christ's presence to dispel the fear,the panic,the terror of the unknown.We live a most uncertain life.Any hour can bring disaster, danger and distress from unknown quarters.Life is full of hazards.No one can tell what a day will produce in new trouble.We live either in a sense of anxiety,fear and foreboding,or in a sense of quiet rest.Which is it?
Generally it is the "unknown,"the "unexpected,"that produces the greatest panic.It is in the grip of fear that most of us are unable to cope with the cruel circumstances and harsh complexities of life.We feel they are foes which endanger our tranquility.Often our first impulse is simply to get up and run from them.
Then in the midst of our misfortunes,there suddenly comes the awareness that Christ,the Good Shepherd is there.It makes all the difference.His presence in the picture throws a different light on the whole scene.Suddenly things are not half so black nor nearly so terrifying.The outlook changes and there is hope.We find ourselves delivered from fear.Rest returns and we can relax.
The knowledge that our Master,our Friend,our Owner has things under control even when they may appear calamitous,gives us great consolation,repose,and rest."Now I lie down in peace and sleep,for Thou,O Lord,makes me dwell in safety."It is the special office work of God's gracious Spirit to convey this sense of Christ to our fearful hearts.He comes quietly to reassure us that Christ Himself is aware of our dilemma and deeply involved in it with us.And it is in fact in this assurance that we rest and relax.
"For God has not given us the spirit of fear;but of power,and of love,and of a sound mind."-(2 Timothy 1:7).The idea of a sound mind is that of a mind at ease - at peace - not perturbed or harassed or obsessed with fear and foreboding for the future.The picture in the Psalm shows us God's people lying down in quiet contentment.One of the outstanding marks of a Christian should be a serene sense of gentle contentment."Godliness with contentment is great gain."Paul put it this way,"I have learned in whatever state I am to be content."
© Philip Keller
"A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23"
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 7, 2011 12:01:05 GMT -5
PSALM 23 - Part Six
In the presence of Christ......it is the humble heart walking quietly and contentedly in the close and intimate companionship of Christ that is at rest,that can relax,simply glad to lie down and let the world go by.When our eyes are on our Master,they are not on those around us.This is the place of peace.
To be close to Him,conscious of His abiding presence,made real in our minds,emotions and wills by the indwelling gracious Spirit,is to be set free from fear of others.We would much rather have the affection of the Good Shepherd.This is one of the main functions of the gracious Holy Spirit.In Scripture,He is often symbolized by oil - by that which brings healing and comfort and relief.
The Holy Spirit makes real in us the very presence of Christ.He brings quietness,serenity,strength and calmness in the face of frustrations.He does take over in His own wondrous way.He applies the healing,soothing,effective antidote of His own person and presence to our particular problems.There immediately comes to our consciousness the awareness of His dealing with our difficulties in ways we had not anticipated. And because of the assurance that He has become active on our behalf,there steals over us a sense of quiet contentment.
© Philip Keller
"A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23"
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 7, 2011 12:02:14 GMT -5
PSALM 23 - Part Seven
In the Scriptures,the picture portrayed of the Promised Land,to which God tried so hard to lead Israel from Egypt,was that of a "land flowing with milk and honey,"a land of rich,green,luxuriant pastures.And when God spoke of such a land for Israel,He also foresaw such an abundant life of joy and victory and contentment for His people.
For the child of God,the Old Testament account of Israel moving from Egypt into the Promised Land,is a picture of us moving from sin into the life of overcoming victory.We are promised such a life.It has been provided for us,and is made possible by the unrelenting effort of Christ on our behalf.
How He works to clear the life of stony unbelief.How He tries to tear out the roots of bitterness.He attempts to break up the hard,proud human heart that is set like sun-dried clay.He then sows the seed of His own precious Word,which if given half a chance to grow,will produce rich crops of contentment and peace.He waters this with the dews and rain of His own presence by the Holy Spirit.He tends and cares and cultivates the life,longing to see it become rich and green and productive.
It all denotes our Shepherd's desire to see our best interests served.His concern for our care is really beyond our comprehension. At best all we can do is to enjoy and revel in what He has brought into effect.This life of quiet overcoming,of happy repose,of rest in His presence of confidence in His management is something few Christians ever fully enjoy.But the Good Shepherd has supplied green pastures for those who care to move in onto them and there find peace and plenty.
© Philip Keller
"A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23"
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Post by MIRIAM JACOB on Jan 7, 2011 12:04:01 GMT -5
PSALM 23 - Part Eight
The gracious Holy Spirit will lead us into truth. He will come as a Guide and a Counsellor. He will lead us into the things of Christ. He will make us see that the life in Christ is the only truly satisfying life. We will discover the delight of having our souls satisfied with His presence. It is in the valleys of our lives that we find refreshment from God Himself. We are thrilled beyond words when there comes restoration to our souls and spirits from His own gracious Spirit. What a comfort this is to the child of God, who can trust in God's care.
We find the gracious Holy Spirit,"The Comforter," drawing us together into a warm, personal fellowship with one another. It is also He who draws us to Christ. Through Him I am "in touch" with Christ. There steals over me the keen awareness that I am His and He is mine.I am God's child, and He is my Father.I experience and know firsthand the feel of His touch - the sense of His Spirit upon my spirit. He actually conveys the mind of Christ to my mind.
In tenderness, compassion and care, our Shepherd comes to us. He draws near and lifts us by His Spirit. What patience God has with us! What longsuffering and compassion! What forgiveness! Your Spirit, O Christ, is my consolation! We must have the daily anointing of God's gracious Spirit upon our minds. God alone can form in us the mind of Christ. The Holy Spirit alone can give to us the attitudes of Christ.
Our Shepherd always has our best interests in mind. No matter what storms we face, His very life and strength and vitality is poured into ours. It overflows so the cup of our life runs over with His life.It is full and overflowing with good, with the life of Christ Himself, and with the presence of His gracious Spirit.He looks upon the travail of His soul and is satisfied. He looks on our lives in tenderness, for He loves us deeply. He longs for love - our love. And we love Him - only and because He first loved us. Then He is satisfied.
© Philip Keller
A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
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