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(Go To Meeting)
Steve Durham—August 12, 2023
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Today we're going to finish up Psalm 23. This is an amazing Psalm inspired by God and written by David. We've been going through it now. This is the sixth in the series of that Psalm.
We're at the end of the journey. David has all the way through. He's been meditating and he's writing his thoughts and his desires that he's had. He looks back to where he started as a shepherd, as a young boy. When he's writing this, he's king of Israel.
He's also looking forward to the future about dwelling in the house of the Lord eternally, forever with God and being in the presence of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ forever, eternally.
That's the same thing that we look forward to. That is our hope. David contemplates his life the same as we do, and the good care that God has shown him.
It's very important that we remember those and we identify the things that God does for us. It really helps us through life and gives us encouragement and gives us that faith and the encouragement to continue on.
David says that he doesn't want anything, looking back. He doesn't have anything as long as he's with the Good Shepherd. The Shepherd helps him to lie down in green pastures. He's led beside still refreshing water. His soul, mind and spirit is being restored on a regular basis. He's getting back on track every day, being renewed, being led in the paths of righteousness and God's Laws and His ways.
Even though he walked through a lot of trouble and difficulty, God was right beside him and always got him through it. He remembers that. It always brings him to the other end and continues on.
So, these are things that we can look to in our lives. He was comforted by the knowledge that God's rod and His staff was there for him and would protect and care for him, keeping the predators away.
Then he stops and he talks about a table that was prepared. Physically on the table lands of the hillsides where the pastures were for the summer grazing, and also the custom in the land about being a guest in the host's house. So, it has a dual purpose.
But God was preparing a table for David in the presence of his enemies. He had been anointed and given special care and a special future. As sheep in God's pasture, we also would have that same opportunity!
So, in retrospect, he's saying that his cup really overflows with the kindness, goodness and mercy that God gives him as a Good Shepherd. He's lovingly looking forward to his hope of living forever in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ in His Kingdom eternally.
So, now that's verse six, but I have to go back to v 5 because last time I didn't finish that and I want to finish that up.
Psalm 23:5: "You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over."
So again, this is twofold. It's a custom talking about custom in the Middle East, and it's also something that the shepherd did to the sheep physically at the end of the day.
The custom: The guest comes to the host's house and the custom was always they would greet them and they would anoint their heads with oil and kind of cool and calm, refreshing.
That was showing courtesy and respect to the guest and giving hospitality, loving their neighbor as God shows us in Matt. 22, loving God and our neighbor.
Another thing they would do is that they would give them immediately give them a cup of water; fresh, clean, cool water. Also, they would wash their feet.
Those are customs that David's talking about, showing respect and courtesy to the to the guest. We went through that in part 5. So, he sees himself at the table of an honored guest in the generous host and his house. He's been invited to dinner as a special guest.
Same thing that happens in our lives. Psa. 23 reflects on us, as well. David's writing as much for us as he did for his time in talking about the sheep.
He invites him to dinner, he anoints him, he pours out abundance, beautiful food, table set with lavish abundance. David says that his cup is filled overflowing, looking back on his life and looking at the situation.
Now, as far as anointing the sheep, this is something that would happen at the end of the day. It was a very compassionate event that the shepherd would do. They spent their entire day wandering and feeding and out in the pasture.
The shepherd brings the sheep back and he cares for all of the needs the sheep from the day's journey. this is a last scene of the day; it's called the 'rodding of the sheep.'
And remember that in John 10:11[transcriber's correction]: "I am the Good Shepherd…."—Christ is the shepherd!
Verse 9: "I am the door…."
It says the shepherd stands turning his body and lets the sheep pass.
Verse 9: "I am the door. If anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and shall find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal and kill and destroy… [we need to know the Shepherd] …I have come so that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep" (vs 9-11).
So, what he does at the end of the day is the door. He brings the sheep up to him and one by one he turns he turns his body and lets one sheep in turns back. With his rod he holds back the sheep while he inspects them one by one. Then he passes them into the fold.
He has a horn filled with olive oil and a container of cedar tar beside him, and he anoints the head to cool down the sheep. He puts the cedar tar on like a knee bruise or on if the rocks they hit it on the rocks, or they scratched their legs by thorns that they were walking through. He checks them over. He talks to them and he caresses them and rubs their nose and pats their head and talks to them for reassurance.
So, it's a time of one- on-one with the sheep from the shepherd and it just gives them encouragement and reassurance at the end of the day.
It reminds us of 2-Corinthians 1:3 where our Shepherd is a God of comfort: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforts us in all our tribulation, in order that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trial…" (vs 3-4).
So, as we learn that and are comforted, we are to give that back to others.
"…through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For to the degree that the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ" (vs 4-5).
He is our Good Shepherd. He's a God of comfort, reassurance and encouragement. At the end of the day, this 'rodding of the sheep' is a personal event. It's a very beautiful event that the shepherd does for the sheep. And God does that for us, too!
He gives us peace and joy when we trust in Him. We trust we hear His voice. We react to that voice of the Shepherd. We remember that He loved us first, and we love Him; our heart and our lives are in Christ! When it is that way, our lives overflow with love and acceptance.
Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you now with all joy and peace... [as you trust in Him] ...in believing that you may abound in hope and in the power of the Holy Spirit."
This is for us today, as well. 'Anointed with oil' is symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The Good Shepherd anoints our head with oil by giving us the Holy Spirit. Remember Acts 2:38:
- we repent
- God draws us
- we realize we need to repent
- we need God
- we commit
- we are baptized
then
- the laying on the hands
- we receive the Holy Spirit
So, that anointing of our heads is symbolic. It's done symbolically, but then we receive the Holy Spirit. It also gives us the fruits of the Spirit:
- love
- joy
- peace
- long suffering
- kindness
- goodness
- faith
- meekness
All those help us grow in grace and in knowledge and enjoy an abundant life, now in this physical life and in the future.
Christ says, 'I've come so that they may have life and have it more abundantly.' That's now and that's eternal life.
David was stopping at the end of the day and Psa. 23:6 here he was looking forward to that time, that hope that he had.
With the Holy Spirit—that power that comes from God—he could stay the course and fight the good fight like Paul says.
Jude 20[transcriber's correction]: "But you, beloved, be building up yourselves on your most Holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, so that you keep yourselves in the love of God..." (vs 20-21).
That's how we do that. As you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life, the end of the journey and forever.
Life can make us sometimes weary and the sheep are weary, too. They've been out there. Some of your were not cut. Some did not need that tar, but they were weary. They were just worn out. That happens to us, too. When it does, he bathes our face in our head with that refreshing olive oil. He takes the large two-handed cup, dips it in the water and gets a brimming full and overflowing from the water, the fresh clear water.
That's provided for the purpose of helping us relax and be calm. When we're weary, we need that. We need that attention. We need that drink of water. Again, that water represents Holy Spirit, as he told the woman at the well
He touches them, he caresses them to encourage, comfort and reassure them that everything is okay. As you know, the Good Shepherd and you hear His voice and you follow Him, He comes to you and takes care of you.
That's really what Psa. 23 is all about. It's our journey through life. It's an excellent Psalm to give us the Plan of God for mankind. When we're weary, Christ tells us that in:
Matthew 11:28: "Come to Me, all you who labor... [we do that totally] ...and are overly burdened, and I will give you rest."
Hebrews 4:9: "There remains, therefore, Sabbath-keeping... [a rest] ...for the people of God." There is a Millennial rest. There is a future rest, which the Sabbath pictures!
Galatians 6:9: "Now, we should not lose heart in doing well..." Sometimes we do, don't we?
- we keep plugging away
- we just get tired
- we get weary
- we get worn out
"...because we who do not faint will reap in due time" (v 9). There's that hope, that future!
In Matthew 11:28: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are overly burdened... [Christ recognizes that] ...and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (vs 28-30).
Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Patiently enduring till Christ comes or we are put in the grave awaiting His return and our change The next moment we will be with God living in the House of God forever. That's what David is reflecting on.
Matt. 24:13: "But the one who endures to the end, that one shall be saved."
You have to hang in there! David was weary at times and he always looked to the Shepherd in His present trouble and in the future. Look to the Shepherd, looking for that place of rest in God's House.
As we walk through our journey—this journey called life or three score and ten, more or less—we look to the Shepherd, as well, to have that comfort.
David wrote a lot of these Psalms, and you can go to the Psalms and get the mind and the heart of David. He was focused on Christ, focused on the future, and walking in the way of righteousness, the paths of righteousness, always not deviating from it.
Psalm 73:23[transcriber's correction]: "Nevertheless, I am always with You; You have held me by my right hand." Now there's a good mental picture for you!
Verse 24: "You shall guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.... [there's the hope of the future] ...Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You I desire none upon earth" (vs 24-25).
His focus was on God. Our focus needs to be on God 100%.
Verse 26: "My flesh and my heart fail... [we're going to wear out; tie in Heb. 9:27} ...but God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever"—David's heart was steadfast! He was after God's own heart!
Verse 28: "And me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the LORD God my refuge, that I may declare all Your works."
That's why he's doing in Psa. 23 for us. Then when the day is done and the sheep are snug and within the fold, look at the contentment and the rest that they have under the starry sky at night. They can sleep well.
We meditate on this. The thought of deep rest and comfort comes to us. Sometimes when we can't sleep, we're where we're thinking about things. Have you ever just tried to ask God for Him to give His beloved sleep to us? He will!
David says, 'My cup runs over.' In reflecting all this, he's just so content and happy and full of joy and peace. He had a close personal relationship with God. He was lacking nothing. David loved God and he wanted to have that Godly relationship increase daily and that closeness with Him. David lived his life in awe and reverence of God and His Laws.
He shows us that throughout the Psalms, and the same can be for us when we make reading the Psalms a daily routine. We will have that heart as well.
David wants to spend the rest of his time on earth in the future Kingdom of God with his God, his Shepherd. He's focused on that and he's looking forward.
- God supplies his every need, as God does for us
- God is looking out for David's welfare constantly, as God does for us
- David had a very special relationship with God, same with us
- we have a special calling
- we are the first fruits
David was king over Israel when he wrote this, and he will be in the future. We will be kings and priests to reign alongside Christ, too!
David was a begotten son of God; he said, 'Don't take Your Spirit from me.' He had have God's Spirit for him to say that!
Psalm 51:9: "Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God... [we have to ask this sometimes] ...and renew a steadfast spirit within me.... [that's restoring my soul] ...Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and let Your free spirit uphold me" (vs 10-12).
God has called us and chosen us to be His guests in a family relationship to sit at the table.
- Where? In His house!
- Where is that table? It's in his house!
We're invited to be at His table as an honored guest He's:
- the Provider
- the Sustainer
- the Creator
He's: comforting and merciful
Christ attends to David's every need, caring and sharing him with personal attention and care. He doesn't want any to perish and once he's begun a good work, he's going to complete it. We're the only thing that you get in the way and we have to focus on God daily and read the Psalms and think about Psa. 23!
So, in the light of these great kindnesses and the goodness of God toward David, he realizes his cup runs over and sometimes we need to stop and think about the things God does for us, and the little things that He does. Sometimes we don't pay attention to or we just take for granted!
Matthew 10:39[transcriber's correction]: "The one who has found his life... [in the physical] ...shall lose it; and the one who has lost his life for My sake shall find it. The one who receives you receives Me, and the one who receives Me receives Him Who sent Me. The one who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive the reward of a prophet; and the one who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive the reward of a righteous man. And if anyone shall in the name of a disciple give to one of these little ones to drink a cup of cold water only, truly I say to you, he shall in no way lose his reward" (vs 39-42).
So, it's a principle. It's a way of giving back. What do we when does that water represent? The hope that lies within us and God gives us that as a Shepherd, and we give that back and it's cyclical it goes round and round.
We want everyone in the Kingdom of God. Eventually we'll have part in that and helping everyone to come to God and come to that Family.
Psalm 23:6: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."
The mercies of God are new every morning; it's a beautiful Scripture!
Lamentations 3:21: "I recall this to my mind; therefore, I have hope. It is by the LORD'S mercies that we are not destroyed, because His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul; 'therefore, I will hope in Him.' The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him" (vs 21-25).
Seeking Him daily! Once God draws us and we seek Him, that's from God; He draws us! Once we come to Him and start to know Him we seek Him daily.
God wants to see that! We're doing how we're got coming along he wants to see where our attention is.
It is good that one should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.
Psalm 23:6: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
"...goodness and mercy..." is depicted as attendance in the Lord's household; think about that! They're personified who accompany David for the rest of his life and then into the future.
Another place I read they refer to them as sheep dogs following the herd that "...shall follow me all the days of my life..." one border collie that move the sheep around and get them to where they needed to go, and the other a large dog that can handle predators.
So, it's kind of interesting that we're personifying goodness and mercy, which of course, are traits and things from God, but it's interesting to think about it that way.
The word for goodness in the original language means that which is pleasing or valuable or useful, and there's a the whole section on goodness, which is another study you can do God's goodness
James 3:17: "But the wisdom from above is first pure... [Greek: 'hagnos': Holy pure] ...then peaceful, gentle, reasonable... [Have you ever talked to somebody that wasn't reasonable?] ...full of mercy and good fruits, impartial... [not a respect of persons] ... and without hypocrisy. Now, the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace" (vs 17-18). Blessed are the peacemakers! The term for mercy is sometimes translated as:
- loyal love
- steadfast love
- unfailing love
Exodus 34:6—talks about mercy: "And the LORD passed by before him and proclaimed, 'The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.'" He's:
- merciful
- has goodness
- truth
- gracious
- long-suffering
Verse 7: "Keeping mercy to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin..."
The same word goodness is used of God's love as it relates to the faithfulness of His covenant with us. Goodness is used as God's love as He relates to His commitment and His covenant with us He loved us first! He gives us the good things, the tools that we need to make it; to continue to walk that path of righteousness and to make it into the house. That's what He wants; that's His whole point.
The verb translated as follow 'shall follow me all about my life' means to accompany or to go with! It's not to it's not to wildly run after something. Although, David says that his heart and mind was fixed, and he pursued that. But They walk with you, beside you. Remember going through 'the valley of the shadow death' God is beside you all the way through and to the other side.
Psalm 23:6: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life..."
David was giving human like qualities, an abstract blessing, to the Lord. You might say it this way:
Because You, Lord, are good and valuable, and because you love me so faithfully. I am certain that You will be with me all of my life physically and eternally!
What a wonderful thought that is, and to keep that in our mind: the goodness of God, abundant living now in this life and in the future!
2-Corinthians 9:8: "For God is able to make all grace abound toward you so that in every way you may always have sufficiency in all things... [at all times having all that you need; remember 'I shall not want'] ...and may abound unto every good work."
That's the point! Every good work with this Holy Spirit in you, leading and guiding you.
As believers we can trust that God's overflowing blessings are going to remain with us no matter what difficulties or the trials are, they're always there
Psalm 27:13: "I would have fainted unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall make your heart strong; yea, wait, I say, wait on the LORD" (vs 13-14). Just hang in there; endure!
Psalm 31:19: "Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You... [respect and honor] ...which You have prepared for those who take refuge in You before the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence..." (vs 19-20). You, God, are my hiding place!
Psalm 69:16: "Answer me, O LORD, for Your steadfast love is good; turn unto me according to the multitude of Your tender mercies."
God is the perfect Shepherd he's the perfect Host as David uses those two analogies. As our Shepherd the Lord provides:
- personal care
- guidance
- companionship
- protection
- security
But God's ultimate blessing in this life abundant life is eternal life! That's His ultimate blessing that He pours out, and our cup really runs over!
Matthew 19:29—we're talking about living in the future in God's house: "And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children..."
Now think about that we walk away—we don't physically walk away or emotionally or whatever—but our attention goes to God the Father and Jesus Christ first, and we love less by comparison our houses our brothers or sisters, father. our family!
"...or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life" (v 29)—eternal blessings!
To dwell in God's house we have to do what God gives to us to do:
- we have to love God
- we have to love the Truth
- we have to follow Him
Then He gives us the gift of eternal life at the end!
1-John 2:25—this is a theme throughout; this is the whole purpose of Christ coming, our calling and why we were created in the image of God to be part of that theme.
1-John 2:25: "And this is the promise that He has promised us: eternal life."
David knew that. David knew His reward and he wrote about it several times
Psalm 17:15[transcriber's correction]: "As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Your likeness." He already had the likeness of God when he awoke!
1-Peter 5:4 tells us what that reward is: "And when the Chief Shepherd is manifested, you shall receive an unfading, eternal crown of glory." He had to hang in there and endure; a Crown of Life.
James 1:12: "Blessed is the man who endures trials... [David sure went through them, and we do, too] ...because after he has been proved he shall receive a Crown of Life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
Having God as our Shepherd makes life worthwhile, and blessed. When our journey ends on this earth we look forward to that hope that we'll live in His house. with the Shepherd and our Father forever!
So, David ends Psalm 23:6 with that thought: "...I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
John 14:2—Christ says: "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were otherwise, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you."
The Good Shepherd at His Father's house is preparing a place in that house for us!
Verse 3: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; so that where I am, you may be also."
That's the wedding feast! He's coming back to get His bride; going back to the table the banquet after the wedding and sitting at that banquet on the Sea of Glass at that table, not only then but for the rest of our life in that relationship!
David knew this and he wrote about it he was thinking about it and he gave it to us. dwelling in the house not made with hands, eternally in heaven It will be here on the earth in New Jerusalem in the Father's house, in which there are many mansions, sure dwelling places quiet resting places for His people for all eternity. 'I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.' As a shepherd, David spent many nights lying on his back looking up at the stars. Or sitting on a rock looking at the stars and recalling his future. When he laid there looking up at the starry night he must have thought:
That's going to be my dwelling place forever with God at His house.
Psalm 8—sometimes we go camping and we go out and we have an opportunity to look at the clear sky—if we ever get that out in the country away from the city lights—and we look at the stars and David said:
Psalm 8:3: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained... [what's the purpose] ...what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You care for him?.... [we are the sheep of his pasture] ...For You have made him a little lower than God and have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; the birds of heaven, the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the paths of the seas. O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth!" (vs 3-9).
- David loved God
- he loved His Law
- he knew man's purpose was to live with God and His Family forever
- he was writing about this
- he knew that living with God forever in His house was the reward of the of the righteous
- he was waiting for that city
He's listed in Heb. 11 with the other patriarchs who are waiting for that city! God's given us the Holy Spirit and a close relationship with Him to help us be there. Paul talks about David in v 32 sojourned in the land of promise like a foreigner dwelling in tabernacles like the feast of tabernacles moving around with Isaac and Jacob and joint heirs of the same promise.
Hebrews 11:13: "All these died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them from afar, and having been persuaded of them, and having embraced them, and having confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. For those who say such things make it manifest that they seek their own country, as promised by God" (vs 13-14).
You know we are not we are citizens of this country or whatever country you're in but ultimately we are citizens of the Kingdom of God, that's where our citizenship is; that's where our focus is!
Verse 39: "But these all, though they had received a good report through faith, did not obtain the promise." Not yet!
Verse 10: "For he was waiting for the city with the foundations of which God is the Architect and Builder."
Our houses, the House of God, They are the temple and we go there and we live in Their houses. David knew having the Lord as our Shepherd makes life worthwhile and blessed.
When our journey on this earth ends we will be in His house to live with our Shepherd forever. That's the next thought, that's the next conscious thought more changed boom there we are, He knew living in a righteous life was necessary. Keeping God's Law and loving God are necessary in order to be in God's house forever.
Proverbs 21:20[transcriber's correction]: "Precious treasure and oil are in the home of the wise, but a foolish man devours it. He who follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor" (vs 20-21).
Psa. 15—when David wrote this I'm sure he was thinking about this in this relationship of what he needed to do and what he needed to get new to get there:
Psalm 15:1: "LORD, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell upon Your Holy hill?" Here's what he needed to do, and he's telling us:
Verse 2: "He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the Truth in his heart"—has a love of the Truth in the inward man! It's a circumcised heart, the Truth in his heart!
Verse 3: "He does not slander with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor"—loving his neighbor!
Loving God with all of your heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself
Verse 4: "In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD; he who swears to his own hurt and does not change it."
That's beginning to develop the character of God because God does not change; 'He's the same yesterday, today and forever!
- Are we?
- Is our word rock solid like God?
- Are we thinking, operating, speaking, living and walking and with the Word of God?
Verse 5: "He who has not put out his money at usury, nor has he taken a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved."
That house or city is called New Jerusalem, and it has many mansions. David helped to establish the city! Remember when they conquered the Jebusites? He helped establish Jerusalem, and I'm sure it had a special place for him.
Revelation 21:2: "And I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from heaven say, 'Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men; and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God'" (vs 2-3). That's what David was looking for!
Verse 4: "And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall not be anymore death, or sorrow, or crying; neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away." What a wonderful time!
Verse 5: "And He Who sits on the Throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'...."
That's the restitution of all things, We have that ministry of restitution, restoring all things!
"...Then He said to me, 'Write, for these words are true and faithful.' And He said to me, 'It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts... [that cup of water; the still waters] ...I will give freely of the fountain of the Water of Life. The one who overcomes shall inherit all things... [tie in Rom. 8:14-17] ...we're inheritors and I will be his God, and he shall be My son'" (vs 5-7)—forever in the House of God
That was David's desire, to sit at the table with God and to live in His house in the House of God forever!
Christ told the disciples that, too! So, this for us is today as well as the disciples, as well as David.
Luke 22:29: "And I appoint to you, as My Father has appointed to Me, a kingdom; so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and may sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel'" (vs 29-30).
David will be there, as well. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Revelation 3:11[transcriber's correction]: "Behold, I am coming quickly... [go through read all about the Churches of God] ...hold fast that which you have so that no one may take away your crown. The one who overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall not go out anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem... [they're going to have those names on us somehow] ...which will come down out of heaven from My God; and I will write upon him My new name (vs 11-12). Look what we're going to have:
- He owns us
- He bought us
- He's going to take care of us
- we are His eternally
Having the Lord as our Shepherd makes this life worthwhile and blessed, and when our journey on this earth ends we will enter into that permanent relationship in heaven and inherit this earth to live with our Shepherd forever.
Revelation 7:17: "Because the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them, and will lead them to fountains of living waters; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
This continues that relationship! That's why Psa. 23 is so valuable. The greatest blessing is in:
Revelation 3:5 "The one who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments; and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life, but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels."
Why? Eternal life! David knew that that was that reward waiting for him; he pressed hard after it!
Psalm 63:8[transcriber's correction]: "My soul follows hard after You; Your right hand upholds me."
He's there to take care of us, so nothing can separate us from His love!
We can use trials to make us more aware of God's love and we can grow rather than become bitter;that's a choice David anticipated that at the end of his life he would be resurrected in God's time—at an appointed time—and enter the house of the Lord and live there forever.
David expressed his conviction in his thoughts and remembered in Psa. 23; all these things that God's goodness will be with him throughout his life whether its green pasture, and still waters lay ahead, or David was required to walk to a valley—a dark valley—and God was with him. God's goodness would accompany him as long as he walked with God in a righteous Crown of Life and was waiting for him and living in the House of God forever awaited him. Over those years, David always found that:
- God was good
- He was the same
- He never failed
- His love was always there
It was present with him on every step of the journey! We need to understand that, as well. Recognize that we call on that and Paul encouraged in:
Romans 8:35: "What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Accordingly, it is written, 'For Your sake we are killed all the day long; we are reckoned as sheep for the slaughter.' But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs 35-39). We can be assured of that we know that to be true!
Hebrews 13:5: "...for He [Christ] has said, 'In no way will I ever leave you; no—I will never forsake you in any way.'"
- God keeps His word
- He's faithful and true
- He upholds that word
Psa. 23 and the rest of the Bible God's Word is a source of our hope, our peace and our comfort. We can draw great comfort from Psa. 23.
I hope you've followed through this series these six different messages.
Be encouraged in the tough times ahead knowing that the Lord is our Shepherd and that we will live with Him eternally in His house forever!
Scriptural References:
- Psalm 23:5
- John 10:11, 9-11
- 2 Corinthians 1:3
- Romans 15:13
- Jude 20-21
- Matthew 11:28
- Hebrews 4:9
- Galatians 6:9
- Matthew 11:28
- Isaiah 40:31
- Matthew 24:13
- Psalm 73:23-26, 28
- Psalm 51:9-12
- Matthew 10:39-42
- Psalm 23:6
- Lamentations 3:21-26
- Psalm 23:6
- James 3:17-18
- Exodus 34:6-7
- Psalm 23:6
- 2 Corinthians 9:8
- Psalm 27:13-14
- Psalm 31:19-20
- Psalm 69:16
- Matthew 19:29
- 1 John 2:25
- Psalm 17:15
- I Peter 5:4
- James 1:12
- John 14:2-3
- Psalm 8:3-9
- Hebrews 11:13-14, 39, 10
- Proverbs 21:20-21
- Psalm 15:1-5
- Revelation 21:2-7
- Luke 22:29-30
- Revelation 3:11-12
- Revelation 7:17
- Revelation 3:5
- Psalm 63:8
- Romans 8:35-39
- Hebrews 13:5
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Matthew 22
- Acts 2:38
- Hebrews 9:27
- Hebrews 11:32
- Romans 8:14-17
SD:bo
Transcribed: 9/3/23
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