One of the advantages to growing older is the ability to look back across our lives and see all the places where God has intervened for our benefit and His glory. At the time we are in the midst of a crisis, we often miss the superb timing, the loving touch, and the grace that allows us to emerge from a fiery trial unscathed. David, the Psalmist and Shepherd King of Israel, knew the comfort of God’s unending care and memorialized it for us in Psalm 23. This is a Psalm well known to most of us if not memorized when we were young. In fact, I learned this Psalm in French during high school language class, and in any context, it brings comfort to the speaker and hearer alike.
As we approach Thanksgiving, we need to stop and think about the message of this simple Psalm. God is likened to a shepherd who makes provision for us on a daily basis. He cares for us, leads us and takes us to places of rest. The opening verse tell us: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” We need to pause and think about all the ways that God keeps us and cares for us. Unfortunately, we often take daily blessings for granted such as food on the table, a place to sleep, a job, and our family. Instead, the enemy wants us to concentrate on all the things we don’t have. To Psalm 27:35, I add my “amen”: “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.” Though times may look difficult, the Lord walks with us even as He did with the children of Israel when they wandered for forty years in the wilderness. Their clothes did not even wear out!
Secondly, not only is the Lord with us during the good times, but He walks with us even in the valley of the shadow of death. How well, I remember that there was an eleven year span where I lost my 39 year old aunt, my grandparents and my father who died much too young. Then, came a long struggle in keeping watch for ten years as my mother went through Alzheimer’s Disease. Never did we think we would lose a grandson in 2014 at age six, but again, the Lord provided His extraordinary grace to us. No family in this world is spared from the walk in this valley, but when we have Jesus Christ, we have comfort, solace and strength to make it to the other side. Of course, we all know that one day we will walk in this valley as we prepare to go home to the Lord, but we can say “I will fear no evil” as David declared because Jesus will usher us into His presence. What we must remember is that a valley may have shadows, but they also can be very fruitful in comfort. I love what Matthew Henry has to say about this section of the Psalm: “Death is a king of terrors, but not to the sheep of Christ. When they come to die, God will rebuke the enemy; he will guide them with his rod, and sustain them with his staff. There is enough in the gospel to comfort the saints when dying, and underneath them are the everlasting arms.”
Finally, we must remember that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life. (vs 6). God has made this a promise to us. Goodness walks along side of us each day in the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us. Mercy guards our rear flank and keeps us from stumbling over the roadblocks of life. Oh, I know. It may seem like neither is there at times, but if you live long enough and look back over all you have been through, you will see the tracks of mercy and goodness behind you. God doesn’t always let us see all the dangers He has kept us from until a later time or until we see Him face to face. Yet, His promises are certain and His tender care unequaled.
As we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving this year, we need to take time to go around the dinner table and ask everyone to share one thing for which they are thankful. Then, read Psalm 23 and think about God’s total care and provision for each one of us. May our hearts be filled with His praise for we are the sheep of His pasture. Selah!
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