A MESSAGE OF HOPE The 23rd Psalms

 A MESSAGE OF HOPE THE LORD Is MY SHEPHERD

PSALMS 23

23 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, 

I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord 

forever.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation 

BACKGROUND 

The 23 Psalms was written by KIng David. No one knows the exact date of this writing. Some say in the early years when he was anointed King.Other say in older years as king when he had to time to reflect on the goodness of God.  Looking back and being truthful we can only find how good God has been to us,  To me the 23rd Psalms is a reminder of what God does in my life on a moment by moment basis.

I will reflect from the New Living Translation

Verse 1. The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 

I must start with the holy name Lord. There are many names for the Lord in scripture, depending on the context.

In this verse the Name for Lord is Yehovah, self Existent or Eternal God.

God does not need the help of anyone. He was not made, He exist. He has no beginning or ending. Revelation     says He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending. The first thing I realize is I cannot comprehend Who He is. I know no human being that does not have a beginning. God does not have a beginning or end.

HOW DO YOU RELATE TO GOD?

Genesis 1:1 reads 

 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. His creative powers is beyond human comprehension. Look around you from the ground up as far as your eyes can see and beyond God created. 

The next verse in Genesis is beyond my imagination. Gen 1:2

2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

I have never been in a formless and empty situation. I have empty

Pockets in my pants but they are not formless. You can not look and not see something. 

God’s creative process is so complete that there is nothing new that man can discover with all the technology that exists or ever will exist. We can only confirm what scripture reveals about God with our experience 

Below is a partial list of names of God, we can review and identify with.  Which name do you identify most with? 

NAMES OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT / HEBREW BIBLE

Name of God	Meaning in English	Verses
El Shaddai	God Almighty	Genesis 17:1, Genesis 28:3, Genesis 35:11
’Eh·yeh	I Am	Exodus 3:14
El Elyon	The Most High God	Psalm 57:2, Genesis 14:18, Psalm 78:35
Adonai	Lord	Genesis 15:2, Exodus 4:10, Joshua 7:8
YHWH	He Who Is	Genesis 2:4, Genesis 2:21, Deuteronomy 6:2
YHWH Nissi	The Lord Is My Banner	Exodus 17:15
YHWH Raah	The Lord My Shepherd	Psalm 23:1, Genesis 49:24, Psalm 80:1
YHWH Rapha	The Lord Who Heals	Exodus 15:26
YHWH Shammah	The Lord Is There	Ezekiel 48:35
YHWH Tsidkenu	The Lord Our Righteousness	Jeremiah 23:6, Jeremiah 33:16
YHWH Mekoddishkem	The Lord Who Sanctifies (or sets apart)	Exodus 31:13, Leviticus 20:8
El Olam	God the Eternal	Genesis 21:33, Jeremiah 10:10, Isaiah 26:4
Elohim	God	Genesis 1:1, Exodus 3:12, Deuteronomy 7:9
Qanna	Jealous God	Exodus 20:5, Exodus 34:14, Deuteronomy 5:9
YHWH Jireh	The Lord Will Provide	Genesis 22:14
YHWH Shalom	The Lord Is Peace	Judges 6:24
YHWH Sabaoth	Lord of Hosts or Lord of the Powers	Jeremiah 9:15, 1 Samuel 1:3, Malachi 1:6

THE TEXT

THE SHEPHERD’S JOB

The Lord is my Shepherd. David’s first job was that of a shepherd. He knew full well the analogy between his job and the Lord’s work.  The job of a shepherd is the complete welfare of his flock. It is a 24/7 assignment caring for the survival of the flock. A shepherd is a good leader. We need good leaders who are about the welfare of the people rather than enriching themselves. 

The shepherd walked ahead of the flock leading them to a place of safety and abundance, 

GOD’S PROVISIONS

The second part of verse 1 of the 23rd Psalms David said I have all I need.

We first meet David as a shepherd boy tending his fathers flock. In 1 Sameul 16 David was anointed king by the prophet Sameul. It was another 15 to 20 years before  David took the position of King over Israel. David had years when King Saul was tried to kill him. It was not an easy road to

The throne. David had to rely on God to protect and provide for him and

His men before King Saul was killed in battle. 

David had a history with Lord because He had given him all he needed.

You and I have a history with the Lord’s provision and protection. We may

Not have all we want, but because we still exist, we have all we need.

THE SHEPHERD’S LEADERSHIP

Verse 2. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

 The job of the shepherd was to lead the sheep to lush grazing land. Sheep have poor frontal vision and can easily get lost.  They remember voices and will follow the shepherd as he leads. 

You and I need to be able to know the voice of the Lord and the voice of the devil. We have to study the Bible and distinguish between the voice of God and the voice of the world. The good shepherd can be relied on to tell us  what is good and right. We have a choice to obey the Word or the world. 

The Good shepherd will lead us to a proper diet and water to refresh the soul. The world promotes junk foods, drinks that have no nourishing value. 

The text says peaceful streams, not turbulent water.  Sheep want drink from swift flowing waters. The Lord wants us to live in peace. We must find a way to avoid and exit turbulent situations. We should be the mediators of peace and not violence. 

THE RENEWAL OF STRENGTH

Verse 3. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

After a day of grazing, the shepherd leads the sheep to a place of rest. God gives us 24 hours in a day . 12 for work and 12 at night for rest. The spiritual lesson is the Lord provides forgiveness and peace for those who follow Him. 

The Word is a lamp for our feet. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Constantly studying and meditating on the Word keeps us tuned to the Lord. Yielding to guidance and directions of the Holy Spirit keeps on the right path.  

It is the work we do serving others that honors the Lord, God designed and equipped us for good works;

1 Tim 6:18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come.

THE SHEPHERD’S PROTECTION

Verse 4.  Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

According the Jamison Fausset and Brown commentary Psalms 23:4

Hebrew idiom for the blackest darkness; hence, a position surrounded by great perils and deaths (Ps 44:19; Job 24:17): 

David understood the deep darkness that God  designed and allowed for his life. 

After King Saul learned he would no longer be king, he took every attempt to kill David; 

1 Sam 15:26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

Saul became bitter and angry and David was targeted for death. This was God’s design to establish David as a warrior who relied on Him for survival. 

We cannot control the conditions that God allows in our lives, but we can control our response. David said regardless of the conditions, I will fear no evil. 

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 

Because God loves us, He gives us the mental power and strength to face our fears with a sound mind.  In troubling times, the Devil shows up with doubt that God will not protect us. 

God is always in the midst of our troubles. He promised he would never  leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)

The rod and the staff are the shepherd's equipment to protect his sheep.

God is always on guard standing between us and danger. The battle is never ours, its the Lords (1 Samuel 17:47). We are comforted by our confidence in the promises of the Lord. 

GOD’S BLESSING FOR THE FAITHFUL

Verse 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

David may have been reflecting  on Israel history with the Lord

God set the  example when Israel was released from slavery in Egypt. Ex 12: And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians for jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. 36 And Jehovah gave the people favor 

The same example  was set when Israel was released from 70 years of Babylonian captivity by the enemy.

2 Chron 36:23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath Jehovah, the God of heaven, given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whosoever there is among you of all his people, Jehovah his God be with him, and let him go up.

Because of our faithfulness and total reliance on  the Lord in the midst of

Troubling times, He prepares a lavish banquet for us for our enemies to see.  For the faithful, God provides a peace that is beyond our  comprehension and certainly beyond our enemies. 

According to the Bible knowledge Commentary on Psalms 23:5

The image of anointing the head with oil, which was refreshing and soothing, harmonizes with the concept of a gracious host welcoming someone into his home. In view of the table and the oil David knew that his lot in life (his cup) was an abundant blessing from the Lord. 

God anoints each believer with oil welcoming as a guest in the kingdom of Heaven. No believer can deny the abundant blessing of the Lord in their  lives. We Can do nothing to deserve God’s grace and mercy. Justice demand payment, but grace resolves payment in the death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

OUR SPIRIT OF GRATEFULNESS

Verse 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord 

forever.

Every believer needs to conclude each day regardless of the circumstance faced that God' s royal love is present, real and active. We may not understand how God is working but we must live confidently that all things are working out for our good (Romans 8:28). We don’t need to know how, we must believe it's true. 

Jesus our Lord and savior said this; John 15:7-8

7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 

We don’t need to know when our breakthrough is coming, but must wait with confidence that God is working things out for us.  The greatest spiritual

Growth is in the waiting. 

Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

 

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LOVE FROM START TO FINISH John19:25-27

LOVE FROM START TO FINISH

MARY’S STORY

John 19:25-27

25 Standing near the cross were Jesus' mother, and his mother's sister, Mary (the wife of Clopas), and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother standing there beside the disciple he loved, he said to her, "Dear woman, here is your son." 27 And he said to this disciple, "Here is your mother." And from then on this disciple took her into his home.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation 

MARY’S GRIEF

Everyone will experience death in their family. The lost of a mother, the lost of a father, the lost of a relative. You would think Mary the mother of Jesus would have been spared the grief. The Angel Gabriel said at Jesus conception she was highly blessed, After the age of 12, Joseph, Jesus earthly father does not appear in the narrative. So Mary had suffered the lost of her husband. 

To watch her son. Jesus die a horrible death on the cross must have pierced her heart. To add insult, to see a Roman Soldier pierce His side with a sword to make sure He was dead was shameful to her.

Mary’s fairytale life would change forever with the death of her oldest son. Jesus dying on the cross added another dimension or level of tension to her grief. Jesus looked down from the cross,  assigned John as her son and she as his mother. Mary moved into John’s home. At first glance, this 

Command of Jesus seems to ignore her other sons and daughters.

Jesus had several sisters and four brothers; Matt 13:55-56

Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us.  

MARY’S TRANSFORMATION

The question is why did Jesus think it necessary to assign John rather than her own  children? God does not tell us. But Mary didn’t see it as a problem because she did as He commanded her. God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

There is no indication that any of Jesus' siblings were His disciples during His earthly ministry. In fact scripture indicate they thought Jesus was out of His mind

Mark 3:20-21

20 One time Jesus entered a house, and the crowds began to gather again. Soon he and his disciples couldn't even find time to eat. 21 When his family heard what was happening, they tried to take him away. "He's out of his mind," they said. New Living Translation 

Mary, being obedient to Jesus, moved into John’s home. It is probable that  Mary ’had not told  her children that Jesus was conceived in her by the power of the Holy Spirit and that He was the living Son Of God.

Point 1.  When you are grieving over the loss of a loved one, surround yourself with people who can emphasize and sympathize with you. Stay away from People who cannot understand what you are going through, especially people who are opposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus may have wanted to save Mary from the questions of his brothers and sisters of why she did not tell them the story of who Jesus was and

How He was conceived. Mary was grieving and didn’t need the family 

Tournoil that could occur.

Jesus' brothers and sister may have heard and believed the the Jewish Religious leaders' opinions about Jesus.  They knew and may have witness

The miracles he performed and may have understood only what was said about Him. 

Mark 3:22 But the teachers of religious law who had arrived from Jerusalem said, "He's possessed by Satan, the prince of demons. That's where he gets the power to cast out demons." Holy Bible, New Living Translation

Jesus may have chosen John because His Mother,  Salone was believed to be Mary’s sister and was a supporter of Jesus' ministry. John was single and never married. John’s father Zebedee was a prosperous fisherman. Living with John’s family ensured provisions and support for Mary 

POINT 2  Avoid pretentious religious folk, they change with the direction of the winds. 

There were many who came to hear Jesus speak to be entertained. They came to see the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the sick healed and demons casted out. On one occasion Jesus fed 5000

Men plus women and children with a few fish and a few biscuits. On another Jesus fed 4000.  They claimed Jesus to be the one who came in the name of the Lord, Lord save us. 

But doing His trial they joined the crowd saying crucify Him. Given a choice by Pontius Pilot, they chose to release Barabas, a known criminal who did nothing for nobody over Jesus, an innocent man who did everything for everybody. 

Mary was placed in a safe environment with believers who meditated on the Word and prayed continuously.

Point 3  Surround yourself with people of like minds, people who comfort one another.

 On the Sunday morning the day after the Sabbath a group of women joined together to anoint the body of Jesus. Early in the Sunday morning they headed to the tomb.  Mary the Mother Jesus was not with them but certainly in their hearts. 

Mark 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the (mother) of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.  

They saw an angel 6 And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here

Mark 16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter,

God used the women in Mary’s circle to bring her and the disciple good news and joy. 

Point 4  Comfort one another in times of Grief  Psalms 30:5

Weeping  may endure for a night, but there is joy in the morning

For those who love the Lord, God has a message of hope. We do not 

Grieve by ourselves, but we grieve as a community.  God put us together to share grief and joy together. 

1 Thess 4:13-14

13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. New Living Translation

MARY’S ROLE AS THE SPIRITUAL MOTHER

Death Should not Separate us but draw us together

We should not hide our fears but share our victories. 

Mary’s role in the church as the Spiritual Mother Began 

No one knew Jesus more than Mary. She was given the message of him blessing the world before anyone else. She endured His birth, his growth into manhood, His ridicule and His death and resurrection. She had to make decisions to keep Jesus real identity secret to guard  His safety and the safety of her other children.

MARY A TOWER OF FAITH

After the death and  resurrection of Jesus, Mary could share the complete story of Jesus to the young Growing Church. Perhaps through her the true light of Jesus could be revealed. She was probably  relieved to share her story. No need to keep any secrets. No one rejoiced more in Jesus resurrection than Mary. In Him she could see the whole story of man redemption and restoration played out. Mary could share revelation from the Angel Gabriel, her conception by the Holy Spirit. She could share the

Visit by wise men from the east and the gifts given her by them. She could share the protection by God from the terror of Herod the great. 

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, all of His brothers came to Christ and became active in the Church. James became a leader in he church. What joy to Mary to see all her sons come to faith in Jesus. She had to wait many years for that day. Acts gives the conversion of Jesus’s half brothers

Acts 1:13-14

13 When they had entered the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying; that is, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. 

GOD’S DIVINE INTERVENTION IN MARY

I think we have some insight as to why John was called the disciple Jesus loved. Jesus knew John’s heart and the spiritual insight and revelations of heaven and hell he would be given.  He would be obedient enough to look after Mary until her death.  

God puts people in our lives for a reason and a season. Joseph was put into the life of Mary to be the earthly father of Jesus. Mary birthed Jesus 

To make her a tower of faith and inspiration to all believers and I believe

Especially to all mothers. Mary's sons and daughters were put into her life to show all parents the differences in children and how we must rely and wait patiently on God for guidance and their growth and development.

John was put into Mary’s life to ensure love, financial support and family unity.  The other mothers were put into Mary’s life for emotional support, prayer, devotion and worship. No one can identify with a mother like another mother.

THE IMPORTANCE OF MARY IN OUR LIVES TODAY

Mary was put into our lives to show parenting is a life long commitment

That requires faith in the Word of God and confidence in all His promises. Mary’s life exemplifies real life struggles that requires us to trust God in

All situations and wait patiently on His guidance protection and provisions.

Life is but a few days but fill with many problems. In the midst of life we are given Jesus' joy and abundance of peace. Note this,because of her faithfulness, Mary didn’t have to rely on her children. God had a better plan.

A. Mary’s Humbleness

She humbly reverenced the Angel Gabriel and accepted His divine message that she would be the mother of our Lord and Savior.

It took courage to give up her plans for marriage for God’s Plan

True humility chooses God over self.

B. Mary’s Faithfulness

Araham is known as the father of Faith. Mary in my opinion should be known as the MOTHER OF FAITH. She was grateful to allow her

Body to be used as an instrument of the Holy Spirit conception

She risked being ostracized or stoned to death  by being pregnant

Before marriage. Her faith was stronger than the fear of the unknown 

She immediately began acting as the Mother of Jesus by traveling 90 to 100 miles to learn parenting and to be comforted from her older cousin Elizabeth. She faced the music by traveling back to Galilee 3 months pregnant.  God showed her favor with marriage of Joseph

C. MARY EXERCISED HER FAITH CONTINUOUSLY

Mary orchestrated the first miracle of Jesus at a wedding feast. 

She informed Jesus that the wedding party had run out of wine. 

She commanded the servants to do as Jesus commanded as He

Turned water into wine. She walked by faith and not by sight

D, MARY’S OBEDIENCE

Mary was obedient to God the Father, Joseph her husband and to Jesus. Our Lord and Savior

Mary’s obedience was the start of God’s redemptive action for mankind.  God chose a virgin teenager between 13-15 years of age to be His vessel.  Mary showed unusual maturity for her age.

E. MARY’S DISCIPLESHIP

Mary was the first disciple of Jesus and the first member of the Church. Before there ever was a church, the seed of discipleship grew in her. She was the first believer in Jesus Christ. Mary’s discipleship is poof that you are never too young to serve God.

F. MARY’S WISDOM

Mary made thoughtful God led decisions.  Her life provides guidance and moral insights for all believers. She knew when to keep things hidden in her heart and when to speak up

Her quiet strength shows how faith upholds us terrifying and uncertain moment in life.

 G.   MARY’S PATIENCE

She endured the challenges of life with calmness and complete trust

In God. Scripture records no complaints from Mary of how treat throughout Jesus lifetime. No complaints from her giving birth among animals, no complaints for the trip to Egypt to avoid the murder of Jesus by Herod, No complaints as she watched her son die on the cross. Her devotion to God the Father sustained her.

H. MARY’S PRAISE

Mary praised God for favoring her from the start of her commission. 

Luke 1:45-55 is known as her song of praise. The praise of God went up and blessings of God showered her throughout her life span.

Mary teaches us praise  before problems, praise during problems and praise after problems. Praise should never cease from your mind and lips. 

THE DEATH OF JESUS ON THE CROSS DID NOT SHAKE HER FAITH