God's Promise of Comfort

Psalm 23:4 "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me."

My last Psalm 23 post was about the promise of God's presence. Even with he was fleeing for his life, David found comfort in knowing that God was with him, fully armed with His rod and staff. "For thou art with me" shows the omnipresence of God. Jehovah~Shammah, "Jehovah is there".

The history behind Jehovah~Shammah is found in the book of Ezekiel. God chose the prophet Ezekiel to announce to the nation of Israel that they have been taken as captives because of their sins. At one time, they were a proud nation, but chose to reject God over and over again. God allowed the Babylonians to attack and destroy Jerusalem. Their beloved Solomon's temple lay ransacked and in ruin. Those that survived were taken away as captives. No longer stiff-necked and prideful, the survivors felt as if God had abandoned them and were genuinely sorry for their sin.

Mrs. George writes, "In fact, their sorrow was so deep that they could not even sing their beloved songs about the beauty of Zion, of Jerusalem, but instead hung their harps on the willow trees... and wept. (Psalm 137).

God, Who is "I Am that I Am" and is always there, spoke to Ezekiel and told him that He would restore the land of Judah and return his people to it!

Mrs. George talked about what makes our God unique. Throughout history, He's always been with his chosen people. They didn't have to be in a particular place to have His presence with them.

That got me to thinking:

Adam walked with God in the cool of the day in the Garden. Noah found grace in His eyes and knew God was with him as he took shelter in the ark for well over a year. Abraham talked with the incarnate Christ at an impromptu meal in front of his tent and at the top of Mt. Moriah . Jacob wrestled with Him. Moses heard His voice in a burning bush and saw the back of His glory. He led the Children of Israel through the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night. His Shekinah glory dwelt in the newly constructed tabernacle for 40 years of wandering as well as throughout OT history. Joshua saw him as the Captain of the Host, ready and armed to fight for Israel. Gideon saw him on the threshing floor. He was in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abendego. Finally, He came as the promised Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God ~ Redeemer, Savior, and Friend ~ and now resides within those of us who know Him as our Savior!

Isn't that SO cool?

Comfort is There:

Remember that valley of the shadow of death? It's a place of constant danger, but take comfort because our Shepherd is armed!

The Rod is There:

Sheep have no defenses. They completely rely on their Shepherd to protect them. This rod/club is made from oak and is about 2 feet long. They carve a hole into it and thread in a loop to either be tied to the shepherd's belt or so that it can hang from his wrist. Sometimes metal spikes are driven in so that it can be used to kill an attacking animal.

The rod is an instrument of protection and death. The shepherd uses it to swing before him through the tall grass, preparing the way for the sheep. It can frighten away enemies, and can be used to kill any enemies of his flock, from animals to robbers.

The Staff is There:

Not only does our Shepherd defend and protect us, He directs us and points out the way. That's what the staff is for. In comparison to the rod, the staff is about 6 feet in length. It helps the shepherd climb up and over rocks, checking for their stability before he leads his sheep to there. He can check out crevices that snakes and scorpions can hide in that can harm his flock. His staff prods loitering sheep and can separate those that are fighting.

The crook on the other end of the staff can be used to restrain or guide a sheep as well as keep it from falling. And, of course, we've all seen the picture of the Shepherd rescuing a sheep that's wandered away from the fold.

The staff draws the flock together and keeps them from wandering. He counts the sheep with it by lightly tapping each one on the head as it enters the sheepfold. "A touch of the staff becomes a gesture of intimacy while walking, even though the shepherd towers over the sheep." The staff also coaxes the sheep to follow. "For instance, a tap on a back legs brings a sheep into position, and a tap on the head of the lead sheep makes it lie down so that the others will follow."

So, during difficult times, remember:

The place ~ the valley of the shadow of death.
The proclamation ~ I will fear no evil.
God's presence ~ for thou art with me.
God's protection ~ thy rod and thy staff.
God's promise ~ they comfort me.

"He's still there, and He sees all my sorrow.

He's still there when everything goes wrong.

He hears me when I cry in desperation.

He feels the pain of all my deep frustration.

He's still there. He sees beyond tomorrow.

He's still there, His love is ever strong.

He'll sustain through every care,

My lonely hours He'll share.

For beyond the shadow, Jesus is still there.

Yes, beyond the shadow, Jesus is still there.

He's still there."

God's Promise of Presence ~ Part 2

Well, yesterday showed us the way of the path when we're in the valley. Although the way was dark, we saw God's promise that He'd be with us during the difficult times.

The Walk of the Path:

Thankfully, the shepherd~king David didn't end this psalm with us in the valley of the shadow of death. Mrs. George writes, "We do not stop and stay there (in the valley) in its foreboding darkness. Neither David's psalm nor this book are meant to discourage the Lord's sheep. Oh, no! Quite the opposite! For, you see, every shadow is produced by light. It is impossible to have a shadow without light."

And, as those who are part of the flock of God, we know that "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Jesus is the Light of the world and "...lights our path...one step at a time...one turn at a time."

Mrs. George reminds us that:
a. We walk by divine appointment. The valleys are never accidental or some kind of cosmic mistake. We are led by the all-knowing, all-powerful, all-present Jehovah!

One of my favorite choruses says this:

"Oh rejoice in the Lord, He makes no mistake.

He knoweth the end of each path that I take.

For when I am tried and purified,

I shall come forth as gold."

b. We walk by divine presence. "No matter the twists and turns, the entanglements and obstacles along the path, 'You are with me,' David declares. We are never alone along the way. God is always with us, and He never fails."

c. We walk by divine grace. Although the walk can be fearful, we must acknowledge that God promised that His grace is and will be sufficient for all of our needs (2 Corinthians 12:9). It's comforting to know that when we need God's grace, it will be there!

d. We walk by divine purpose. This walk will ultimately bring us intimacy with the Shepherd. Mrs. George writes, "Just as we must go out into the dark night to behold the brilliance of the stars, so God's presence shines the brightest in our valleys of deep darkness."

The "I Will" of the Path ~

David wrote, "I will fear no evil." If anyone ever understood what it meant to be afraid, it was David. As a young teenager, he killed a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:32-37) and he faced a giant (1 Samuel 17:45-51). As a man, he missed several assassination attempts by King Saul and had to live on the run. Even after he became King of Israel, he had to flee from his own son's attempt to overthrow his throne. David knew fear well.

However, David also knew the Shepherd well! "He boldly declared, 'I will fear no evil.' Why? Because of the presence of God ~ 'You are with me.'"

Sisters, we are not to fear. Why? Because, just like David, we walk with the Lord. Whatever may come our way, we will walk through it with the Shepherd, in His presence. As David wrote in a later Psalm, the Lord is "a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear..." (Psalm 46:1-2).

I wish to conclude today's post with Mrs. George's final thoughts.

"And so, beloved...

Sing... as you pass onward through the valley of the shadow of death, and let the notes of your joy vibrate against the walls of that valley!

Seek... greater knowledge of the Lord, your Shepherd by faithfully acquainting yourself with his omnipotence and His omnipresence as revealed in His eternal Word!

Step... out in faith onto each and every path, knowing that "The Lord is my Shepherd ~ not was, not maybe, not will be. The Lord is my Shepherd ~ is on Sunday, is on Monday, is through every day of the week; is in January, is in December, and every month of the year; is at home, is in China; is in peace, and is in war; is in abundance and is in poverty. The Lord is my Shepherd!"

God's Promise of Presence ~ Part 1

Psalm 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me..."

So far, our study of the 23rd Psalm has been uplifting, hasn't it? Our Shepherd leads and feeds us; He makes sure we have adequate rest and peace; He heals us of our soul's diseases and guides us faithfully.

However, life's going to be like the old song ~ "Give Them All to Jesus" ~ reminds us. "He never said we'd only see sunshine. He never said there would be no rain." In other words, we can't stay up in the sunny green pastures beside the glistening still waters all the time. There are times in our lives when our paths will wind down into the valley of the shadow of death.

The "valley" is associated with the wadis of the Middle East. No other term but "wilderness" fits here. It's a desert with pits, ravines, and drought. The terrain suggests nothing but danger and death.

Mrs. George writes that the term "shadow of death" occurs 18 times in the Old Testament. Each use of the word means darkness. "Deep darkness, very deep darkness, thick darkness, and a darkness as dark as death."

Sisters, have you ever experienced times in your life when the darkness seemed to overshadow you and press you down, threatening to swallow you up as you had to journey into this next step of the unknown? I have. When I was pregnant with my youngest, I had a recurring dream that I developed complications while giving birth and that I died, leaving my husband to raise 3 little ones on his own. I talked to my doc about it, and she said that those types of dreams were somewhat "normal", so not to worry. I prayed for good dreams each night, but still felt apprehensive. Fast forward to the big day. "Popsicle" arrived via scheduled C-section as planned. All went well until an hour or so later when the nurses noticed that I wasn't bleeding at all. I began to get dizzy and was out of it. I had developed a large blood clot, and had to be put under and have a procedure akin to a D&C to remove it.

I remember thinking "This is my dream, and I'm not going to make it!" I felt the icy fingers of darkness surround me, pressing me down as the anesthesiologist told me to count backwards from 10. I remember praying, "God, please be with me!" as I began to count and a peace settled over me. When I awoke and realized that I had, indeed, survived, I was overcome with a thankful heart. Even during that scary time, I cried out to God, knowing that He was right there, beside me ~ to comfort me ~ or ~ if He chose to do so, take me home.

That, my sisters, is our dear Shepherd's promise: He is with us! His grace is there to see us through those difficult times! There's an old saying that reminds us that "The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you." What's even more joyous to realize is that "I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..."

Mrs. George writes, "It's true that the perilous valley is a part of life's path.... But it's also true that we can grasp the hand of God as we descent the frightening path into the valley, into the devouring darkness. We can rest in the knowledge that He, this path, has already been trod. And we are walk...calmly...with Him...remembering the words, "Yea, though I walk..."

"So walk! Don't pause. Don't falter. Don't ponder. Just proceed. Walk! Know that as the Shepherd's dear sheep and as God's beloved child and with the Lord beside you, you will walk through it. It comforts the soul to know that the Good Shepherd does not take His sheep into the valley of darkness to stay ~ but to pass through it!"

There's more to this study, but I just want to savor this thought for today!

God's Promise of Guidance

Psalm 23:3 "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."

It has been said that it takes 21 days to eliminate a bad habit and replace it with a new one. Have you ever heard of this or done it? I've had failure and success. It seems that the old ways ~ i.e. "bad", "wrong", "lesser" ~ are so deeply ingrained that it almost seems impossible to improve or change them!

Why? Mrs. George sums it up with one word ~ REPETITION! She writes, "It is said that a habit is a custom/practice that's acquired by repetition. A habit is an action that, due to repetition, increases in performance and decreases in resistance. So, by repetition, an action becomes automatic, and a habit (good or bad) is born."

So, is there any hope for us to break habits that aren't pleasing to the Lord? Psalm 23:3 reveals yet another role the Shepherd takes in our lives ~ "He LEADS us in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." That means that if we stay close beside Him and walk where He guides us, our habits will eventually change and will ultimately honor His name. We'll develop holy habits.

The Paths:

Webster's Dictionary defines a path as "a track or way worn by footsteps; a trail." We live near an historic site of the Oregon Trail. To this day, you can still see the lines etched into the earth by the literal thousands of covered wagons that made this venture in the 19th century! Talk about repetition! I knew of a woman who daily visited her daughter and granddaughter who lived next door to her. In a matter of weeks, she had worn a path that connected the two homes!

The Hebrew word for "paths" or more literally, "ways" means literal tracks made by constant use.

Proverbs 31:27 says, "She watches over the ways (paths/tracks) of her household." This diligent mom is, in reality, a shepherdess of her home. She notices the patterns of her home life ~ the general comings and goings; the habits and activities of the people at home. She keeps up~to~the~minute stats of her family members and the general flow of her home. She's aware of everything that goes on within its walls.

Those of us who are moms have, to some degree, experienced the pain of watching one of our little flock struggle, stumble and stray.

Let me share my own personal description of how this happened today. My youngest, who is almost 4, has been told repeatedly since the time she could crawl not to be underfoot when I'm at the stove. I'm nervous that I could trip over her and hurt her, or that she could be burned in some way. I adore my little "Popsicle" (as I call her) and love her near me, but she's always had issues with this. Constant "no-no's" and gentle pats on the bottom to move her along have worked to an extent, but she still returns to where the action is. Today, however, as I was transferring piping hot macaroni back to the saucepan from the colander, my little one (who was undetected right behind me) got a sprinkling of super-hot water on her little arm. She screamed in pain and a couple of red marks appeared on her skin. I felt terrible for her as I kissed her and wiped away tears. A cool cloth and attention from mommy made her feel better in time, but I couldn't help but remind her that if she had minded me in the first place, she wouldn't have gotten hurt.

Although this situation is on a much smaller scale, the fact that remains is this: Our mother's heart aches if those we love make choices that lead them down unhealthy paths. We hurt, but we also act! We do all we can to correct the situation ~ be it by setting new rules, narrowing boundaries, or making new disciplinary methods that carry more severe consequences. Why? Because we LOVE our little flock!

Now, dear sisters, we can grasp the Shepherd's divine love for us ~ His sheep! God notices the ways of our paths ~ He leads and guides us in the "paths of righteousness".

The Paths of Righteousness:

"Righteous" paths are stiff or straight paths. After all, God is pure and holy. He wants His sheep to be righteous. In the Bible, the word righteousness is used in the following ways:

1. With men, righteousness indicated a full measure. Measurements and weights were to be just and right.
2. With God, righteousness indicated a full measure in the spiritual sense. Offering God only what was sincere as opposed to half-hearted.
3. With a court, righteousness indicated a full measure of righteous judgment. Judges and officers were to render justice and make things right.

Okay, are you as intimidated as I am right now? Do you think, "There's no way I can ever measure up to that standard!" Be encouraged, my dear sisters ~ we serve a God who promises to guide us into righteousness! The One Who states, "Be ye holy as I Am holy" will guide us!

The God of Righteousness:

Jehovah~Tsidkenu ~ which means "Jehovah our righteousness". It first appears in Jeremiah 23:5-6.

After the death of King Solomon, the kingdom of Israel was divided into two kingdoms; the Northern Kingdom, which was called Israel, and the Southern Kingdom, which was Judah. Although both kingdoms "did evil in the sight of the Lord", Judah was occasionally ruled by kings that "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did".

However, by this writing of Jeremiah, the Kingdom of Judah was falling apart. God's chosen people were sinning grievously, even polluting the house of the Lord. God sent His prophets to warn His people, but their messages were completely ignored. Jeremiah, also known as "The Weeping Prophet" had to tell the people that they would, indeed, be taken away and made captives.

Although it was terrible news, God ~ Who is too good to be unkind ~ kept His promise to King David (2 Samuel 7:16) that Israel would be restored to their land, and that Jehovah would raise up to David a Righteous Branch ~ Jehovah~Tsidkenu ~ the Messiah, Jesus Christ!

That thrills my heart, sisters! Because of Jesus' work on the cross, we CAN become righteousness! Because of the covering of His precious blood, when God sees me, He sees righteousness! Like an old song states, "His blood was not just blood of another spotless lamb. But His blood was precious blood, for it washed the sins of man. And His blood, it heals my body, and it sets my spirit free. I'm so glad His precious blood still flows from Calvary."

The Purpose of God's Guidance:

This is the most compelling aspect for me ~ it's "for His name's sake". God wants us to be righteous to bring Him glory ~ to maintain His reputation. As Mrs. George states, "God's name points not only to a title for Him, but to his very nature."

So, how does God guide us into the paths of righteousness?

1. Bible reading ~ Psalm 119:105
2. Prayer

What are the desires of my heart? Is my first desire to be God's will ~ no matter what it is and no matter what it costs?

Am I living my life in a way that honors the Lord, that exhibits to the whole watching world what the paths of righteousness are?

Am I walking near the Shepherd ~ delighting in His guidance and allowing nothing to distract me from His paths?

Am I willing to go where He guides me?

Much for me to ponder on, sisters. Until tomorrow!

God's Promise of Healing

Psalm 23: 3 "He restoreth my soul."

We all need healing and restoration~ not just physical, but spiritual and emotional healing as well. Physical ailments, the loss of a loved one, the collapse of a family, rejection, disappointment and betrayals are all kinds of calamities that happen during our lives. How can we go on? Where can we receive the healing we need?

Along with God's promises of care and provision (Psalm 23:1) and rest and peace (Psalm 23:2), God also promises us healing restoration (Psalm 23:3). Our loving Shepherd not only sees to our physical needs, but to our spiritual needs as well ~ "He restoreth my soul."

Another name of God that fits wonderfully as we talk about His healing is Jehovah~Rophe, which means "the Lord heals". Let's look at the history behind the name....

After the children of Israel had escaped Pharaoh at the Red Sea and began their journey to the Promised Land, they found that the water was scarce. Once they came to Mara, they found water, but it was bitter and poisonous. As the people began to complain and grumble, Moses cried out to God to help them. The Lord showed Moses a tree and told him to cast it into the bitter water. Instantly, it became sweet and drinkable. Jehovah~Jireh had provided for them yet again and announced, "I am the Lord who heals you" Jehovah~Rophe!

Mrs. George writes, "In the OT, 'to heal' is often used of a physician and means to restore or to cure. And just who does Jehovah~Rophe, the Great Physician, heal? He heals and restores those of His who are cast down."

What exactly does the term "cast down" mean? In shepherding terms, it's a sheep that's turned over on its back and can't get up by itself. This usually happens when the sheep lies comfortably in a little hollow in the ground. When it turns to its side to stretch out, the center of gravity shifts, and the poor animal is suddenly on its back! No matter how hard it struggles, it can't turn itself upright because its feet are sticking straight up in the air.

Interestingly, it's usually the largest and strongest sheep that get cast down. When the weather is comfortably cool, the sheep can stay like this for a day or two. But, if it's hot out, the sheep is considered to be in critical condition within a few hours! It's vitally important that the shepherd arrives soon, or the sheep will die.

This is the course of restoration that the shepherd takes:
"Stage 1 ~ Finding the cast-down sheep. Since the shepherd knows each member of his flock intimately, he will immediately notice one is missing. This begins his search for the sheep, and he surveys the land for a sheep that's in an unnatural position.
Stage 2 ~ Restoring the cast-down sheep. This process can take a while. If the sheep is found quickly, then the shepherd only needs to roll it to its feet and it will be fine. However, if the sheep has been cast down for a long while, it takes a great deal of patience, time and care. First, it's rolled over, then its legs are rubbed and massaged to revive circulation. Next, the shepherd props the sheep's head on his knee to stroke and caress it. Finally, he is able to physically lift the sheep to its feet and support it as it leans against him to walk. It can take up to an hour for the sheep to walk properly again, and it can fall. The caring shepherd will pick the sheep up again, and again, and again.
Stage 3 ~ Following the cast-down sheep. The sheep isn't restored completely until it eats its first bites of grass. The shepherd will follow and watch it closely until it is fully restored."

Can't you see the image of the Good Shepherd in the above stages? No matter our circumstances, He is there to retrieve, revive, and restore us!

God's Promise of Peace

Psalm 23:2b "He leadeth me beside the still waters."

Have you noticed that the most tranquil, peaceful places usually have the sound of water somehow?

When we lived in upstate NY, the Black River was less than a block from our house. The rushing water, plus the waterfall a little further downstream serenaded us each day. We absolutely loved it! I have a little water fountain next to my bed that I enjoy turning on and listening to when I feel stressed. That, along with my "happy candle" (Yankee's McIntosh Apple) makes mama a happy girl!

When you stop and think about it, something inside us needs that sound of water for serenity. Homeowners spend literally thousands of dollars to add water elements to their backyard landscapes such as ponds and waterfalls! Others have table top water fountains like mine, or enjoy music CDs that have water sounds, such as rain, an ocean, or a stream to help them relax so they can sleep.

Water is a place of rest. Once there, we can become "calm, inspired, energized and refocused on God's larger plans for us." This is where our Shepherd chooses to lead us ~ beside still waters.

What is it that makes us seek/crave peace? According to Mrs. George, busyness, responsibility, tension and noise are the four top reasons women crave peace. I mentioned last week that my mother/father-in-law kept the kiddos for a couple of days. Sisters, I needed that! As you know, I love my children with all my heart, but that previous week had been tough! Five continuous days of thunderstorms, rain, humidity and finalizing homeschool for the year had made us all ~ shall we say ~ a little testy!?

Well, as you may assume, that combination was getting to be a bit much! Frazzled but relieved all work was done by Friday, I called my wonderful mother-in-law and told her I needed a mental health day ~ could she help me out? She laughed with understanding ~ and was willing to let the grand kids come for a couple days' visit.

As I mentioned last week, I listened to the silence and enjoyed uninterrupted conversations with the hubs. I was able to mediate on Scripture, too, and enjoyed time alone with the Lord. Not only did my physical body need the peace, but my spiritual self craved it as well.

Mrs. George writes, "We can... testify that our souls become dry on a steady diet of stress. We quickly become depleted and weary. We stagger, we stumble, we crumble, and we make errors in judgment...all because we need a time beside the still waters." She continues,

"He ~ the Shepherd, knows all about our need for peace and provides it.
Leads ~ to where peace is plentiful and makes sure we attain it.
Still waters ~ restful waters of comfort...a peaceful place beside a quiet, tranquil stream."

In the first part of Psalm 23:1, we met Jehovah~Rohi ~ the Shepherd Who leads, feeds and lovingly warns us. "The Lord is my shepherd..." In continuation, we met Jehovah~Jireh, the providing Shepherd. "...I shall not want." Now, in verse 2, we meet Jehovah~Shalom, the God of Peace ~ "the God who brings peace."

Jehovah~Shalom is first mentioned in the book of Judges with the story of Gideon. At that time, God's chosen people, the Israelites, were stuck in a vicious cycle. To understand the significance of this, we need to back up a bit.

Rewind to the book of Joshua. After 40 years of wandering through the desert, God kept His word to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses and brought the children of Israel into the Promised Land. Once the land was divided by tribe, Joshua called all the people together. He told them that God wanted only three things from them: to drive their enemies (the Amorites, Moabites, Perizzites, Canaanits, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites) from their land, and to "Fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord." This is also where Joshua said, "...Choose you this day whom ye will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

However, Judges 1:28 says, "...when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out." Verses 21-27 and 29-33 repeat the same phrase "Neither did (Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephriam, Zebulun, Asher, Naphtali) drive out the Jebusites/Canaanites... but the Jebusites/Canaanites dwelt... among them." By chapter 2:11-13, "...The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: and they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth."

Thus, the children of Israel began the vicious cycle of:
a. sin
b. suffering (serving a foreign king)
c. crying out to God
d. deliverance
e. rest/peace ~ only to begin the cycle all over again.

This leads us to Gideon, the sixth judge God appointed to lead and deliver His people. We meet Gideon in Judges chapter 6. He is hiding in his winepress, secretly threshing wheat. At this time, the Midianites had taken control over Israel and were destroying crops (vs. 4-6). Gideon had managed to secret some grain and was threshing it so he could feed his family. Suddenly, and the Angel of the Lord (again, the pre~incarnate Christ!) appeared to Gideon. He promised deliverance to God's people and told Gideon he was going to lead them (vs. 12-16).

Gideon was afraid. He resisted. He was a nobody ~ his family was poor, and he was "the least in my father's house." He asked for a sign (the fleece) to "strengthen the weakness of his own faith and to give evidence that would convince the people that he was really God's instrument." (Scofield Study Bible).

However, the Angel ~ the Shepherd, comforted him in verse 23. "Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die." Then Gideon worshiped. He built an altar there and named it Jehovah~Shalom, meaning "The Altar of Peace with Jehovah" (vs. 24).

Here was Gideon, fearful and cowering in a hole, when the Angel of the Lord appeared with:

a. A proclamation ~ "You will save Israel from the Midianites."
b. A promise ~ "I will be with you and you will defeat them."
c. Peace ~ "Peace be with you; do not fear."
d. Power ~ "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor!"

Now he is Gideon the warrior, the fearless leader of God's people! As you may know, Gideon soundly defeated the Midianite army with 300 men bearing only trumpets, torches and pitchers! At Gideon's signal, the 300 men blew their trumpets, broke the pitchers, and held up their torches. Upon waking to the blaring trumpets and lights blazing and hearing the cry "The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon!" the Lord caused the Midianites to "set their sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host."

Upon Gideon's victory, Israel wanted to make him king and rule over them. However, Gideon had seen the true King face to face (Judges 6: 22) and refused to rule over them, saying, "I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the Lord shall rule over you" (Judges 8:23). Israel had 40 years of peace under Gideon's humble leadership.

We've met Gideon the judge and Gideon the warrior. Now, let's meet the One Gideon was privileged to meet. Jehovah~Shalom, the Prince of Peace.

Mrs. George writes, "Before we finish verse two and our visit to the still waters, we need to behold the Prince of Peace. To enjoy peace and harmony with God means to enjoy the harmony of a relationship with God. And it is Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), who makes a relationship with God possible. Peace with God includes...
a. Harmony ~ to be in harmony with God due to the payment of a debt.
b. A peace offering ~ restored fellowship between God and man, accomplished only by shed blood (Leviticus 3)."

Jesus' death on the cross did just that, sisters. He paid the debt He did not owe, and He shed His precious blood as a peace offering.

One of my favorite songs is called "In Christ Alone". If you have the time, please listen to the first song on my playlist. It sums up this last point beautifully!

"In Christ alone, my hope is found. He is my Light, my Strength, my Song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless Babe.
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save.
'Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the World by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory, sin's curse has lost its grip on me!
For I am His, and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ!

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me.
From life's first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny!
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand.
'Til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

Doesn't that just make you want to shout? Praise be to Jesus ~ Suffering Savior, Precious Redeemer ~ King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

God's Promise of Rest

Psalm 23:2a "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures."

Lying in a soft, cozy bed. Relaxing in your favorite chair with a book and cup of tea. Reclining in an outside chaise with a glass of iced tea. All picture rest, relaxation and comfort.

Rest. Our bodies need it, and our souls crave it. This verse tells us that God not only promises His sheep rest, but that "He makes us lie down." What exactly does God have in mind?

1. The Place of Rest:
Notice the place our loving Shepherd guides us to. A place of green pastures. What exactly is in these pastures?
a. Food: It's abundant and available. "Green pastures" is a picture of abundance and luxury. Mrs. George writes, "A good shepherd carefully picks out a place of pastureland that's filled to overflowing with fresh, new, tender grass. His heart is set on finding a place containing plenty of delicate green grass that will provide nourishment, health, and fresh energy for His sheep."
b. Rest: "This scene is one of satisfaction and rest, calm and contentment, sheer enjoyment." Imagine the coolness of the grass on a hot day in that arid region! After their long trek, the weary sheep could settle down and be content and at rest ~ all lovingly provided by their Shepherd!

In the section "Reflecting of God's Promises", Mrs. George reminds us that by having a daily quiet time, we can "partake of green pastures". She writes, "We have all of the Shepherd and all of His Word available to us... if we will simply lie down in His green pastures and partake! All we need to do is stop everything and enjoy a time of resting and lingering with the Lord as we feed on His Word."

When we enter into the serenity of God's green pasture, we "experience the same sense of rejuvenation, the same revival of spirit, the same deep satisfaction that literal sheep enjoy when resting in the presence of a faithful shepherd.

Our time with the Shepherd is necessary, it should be regularly, and we should want to increase our time with Him. Mrs. George uses an analogy that I like when describing how we feel about our time in God's Word. First is the cod~liver oil stage. This is when you take it like medicine to cure whatever may ail you. The second is the shredded wheat stage. You find it to be nourishing but dry. The last stage is the peaches and cream stage. You can't get enough, because you're consumed with passion and pleasure!

2. The Plan for Rest:
The kind of rest God has planned for us in this verse isn't just a quick break to catch our breath. No, our loving Shepherd wants us to stretch out completely and be fully reclined to enjoy total relaxation! It may surprise you to read that some sheep will not lie down. Why, you may ask?
a. Fear: Mrs. George writes of a flock of sheep that refused to lie down because of a large dog that was on the other side of the stream. Even though the shepherd frightened the dog away, the sheep were still fearful. Not until he walked ahead of them to the brook did they relax and settle down.

We are told several times in God's Word not to fear. Read Isaiah 41:10, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:6 and Exodus 33:14 and take comfort!

b. Hunger: A sheep will not lie down and receive rest if it is hungry. It is frantic as it wanders around searching for food. "Thus, the discontented sheep adds lack of rest to its problem of lack of food, loses its vigor and vitality, and fails to thrive." However, our Jehovah~Jireh makes sure our food is always available. We just have to decide to feed upon it!

"So many Christians attempt to satisfy their hunger... from an occasional few minutes' "feeding" from the pulpit, from a radio broadcast, or from a television message, while others seek to satisfy their needs from the odd old devotional book, or the occasional Christian programme. This is not enough... to sustain the needy soul on a daily basis.... God provides for us on a daily basis, but we must plan to partake of His provision on a daily basis."

c. Fighting: "A sheep that's involved in or even witnessing fighting also cannot lie down and receive the rest it needs. Battles between members of a flock rob all the sheep of the rest they need because of the tension that exists. Interesting, isn't it?

"Many Christians are weary and worn, not because of intense conflict with the evil one, but because of arguments among themselves. It's frightening to realize the harm done to others when we argue and fight in our homes and in our churches."

3. The Procedure for Rest:
Our Shepherd makes us lie down, even when we may not want to! He does this because He alone knows our future. Only He can know what's around the next bend, the next hill, or on the other side of the green pastures. "Will it be a long, steep climb? Will the path narrow as it leads us around a dangerous mountain? Will the trail take us into the valley of the shadow of death? Are we headed into a desert or a roaring storm?" Only the Shepherd knows.

That's why He makes us lie down! He does this to fortify and energize us so we'll be able to walk through what's ahead. He "makes certain that we won't tire, that we're not at risk because of weariness, that we're invigorated from our pasture~time for any strenuous climb."

Mrs. George writes "As I reflected on God's procedure of making us lie down in His green pastures, I thought of a number of ways that He accomplishes our rest. Illness, surgery, and convalescence afford us time with the Shepherd. So do pregnancy and childbirth. And exhaustion, too, will certainly place us in the grassy pastures of the Lord. Still another category of time in God's pasture involves just plain ol' being passed over, overlooked for service and ministry."

While we wait on the Lord in His green pastures, we have:
Opportunity to learn and trust the Lord.
Growth in patience.
Encouragement and fellowship by/with the Shepherd.
Time to energize for the walk ahead.

"He makes me lie down in green pastures ~ where He creates a resting~place for me to repose in, and there He shall feed me until I am satisfied."

"In shady green pastures, so rich and so sweet,

God leads His dear children along.

Where the water's cool flow bathes the weary one's feet,

God leads His dear children along.

Some through the water, some through the flood.

Some through the fire, but all through the blood.

Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song

In the night season, and all the day long."

God's Promise of Provision

Psalm 23:1b "I shall not want."

Yesterday we learned about Jehovah~Rohi, our Shepherd Who feeds, leads and warns us. Today's description of our Shepherd goes hand in hand with Jehovah~Rohi. He is Jehovah~Jireh, our Provider.

Mrs. George writes, "Most of the compound names of God spring from a specific historic incident." We first meet Jehovah~Jireh in the 22nd chapter of Genesis. If you went to Sunday school, I'm sure you remember the story of Abraham and Isaac. (Usually told with flannel graph!) It is in this chapter that we see God provide supernaturally for his faithful servant.

1. Abraham's command ~ came out of heaven from God Himself. "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering." (vs. 1-2)

2. Abraham's response ~ was immediate obedience! "So Abraham rose early in the morning... and took... Isaac his son... and went to the place of which God had told him." (vs. 3) Mrs. George revealed that it was a 60~mile trek.

3. Abraham's son ~ Isaac had a question: As they walked along with the wood, the fire, and the knife to slay the sacrifice, he asked, "...where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" (vs. 7)

4. Abraham's answer ~ revealed his trust in the Lord. "My son, God will provide [Jehovah~Jireh] Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." (vs. 8)

How did Jehovah~Jireh provide? You know the story ~ Abraham bound his only son with rope and laid him on the altar. Just as he was about to plunge the knife into his son's heart, the angel of the Lord (Who, by the way, scholars believe to be the pre~incarnate Jesus Christ Himself) "called unto him out of heaven, and said Abraham...lay not not thine hand upon the lad, neither do any thing unto him...." When Abraham looked up, there was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns, and Abraham "...offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah~Jireh...(The Lord Will Provide)" (vs. 9-14).

I want to think on this for a moment. This story goes so much deeper than God simply providing a substitute sacrifice for Isaac. In fact, it goes even farther than Abraham's faith or Isaac's willingness.

Did you catch that phrase in verse 8? The KJV states, "God will provide Himself a lamb...." Please don't miss the significance of this statement. Most versions translate this as "God Himself will provide a lamb", (a sacrifice for that particular moment in time) but this downplays the deeper meaning of this verse.

Sisters, a thousand years later, God did indeed provide Himself a Lamb ~ through his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ ~ The Lamb of God, Who taketh away the sins of the world! Not only did Abraham and Isaac meet Jehovah~Jireh, we can meet Him, too!

So, how do we know that God will provide? Mrs. George asks. "We have the promise of God (which requires it), but we also have the very nature of the Person of God (which demands it). He is all~knowing. He is all~wise. He is all~powerful. With God, to see is also to provide." I like how she further explains Jehovah~Jireh:

"In His omniscience (His complete knowledge),

God knows/sees our need.

In His power, He can provide, and

In His goodness,

He must provide

for what His knowledge and wisdom reveal

to be the true needs of His people."

Man's basic needs are: food, clothing and shelter. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus told the multitude not to worry about what to eat or drink or wear because God feeds the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the fields. He encourages and reminds them that if God cares about feeding a bird or clothing the grasses of the field that will be burnt up tomorrow, how much more will He provide for His people!

Let's not forget how Jehovah~Jireh provided for the children of Israel during the Exodus. They had guidance, food literally from Heaven, shade by day, light by night, and clothes that didn't wear out ~ for 40 years!

Mrs. George closes this chapter with a quote from Dr. Harry Ironside, a former pastor of Moody Memorial Church. He writes of God's promises:

"I shall not want...
rest, for He maketh me to lie down.
refreshment, for He leadeth me beside the still waters.
restoration, for He restoreth my soul.
guidance, for He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness.
confidence, for I will fear no evil.
companionship, for Thou art with me.
comfort, for Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.
provision, for Thou preparest a table.
joy, for my cup runneth over.
anything in this life, for goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days of my life.
anything in eternity, for I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

Just as God saw to a substitute sacrifice to save the life of the son of his faithful servant, He will not only see our need, but see to it! Let's remember that when we see His provision, we should see to it that He is greatly praised!

"Come let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker.

Come let us worship and bow down.

Let us kneel before the Lord our God, our Maker.

For He is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture.

And the sheep of His hand,

Just the sheep of His hand."

God's Promise of Care

Psalm 23:1a "The LORD is my shepherd."

Mrs. George begins this chapter with, "No words ever written have carried the weight or the comfort that these five do ~ The LORD is my shepherd." Saints young and old have the sweet assurance of God's promise that He will be our Shepherd. Jesus said in John 10:14 that "I am the good shepherd; and I know my sheep, and am known of mine." Every person from every walk and season of life need the loving care of their Shepherd.

Have you ever wondered how the thought of God as a shepherd originated? Mrs. George writes that "in Hebrew, the five English words ~ the Lord is my shepherd ~ come from two words, Jehovah~Rohi.

So what exactly does Jehovah~Rohi do? One major meaning of the word is "to feed". Sisters, we have God's promise to feed us! We need both physical and spiritual food, and can enjoy both from the very hand of our Shepherd! I think I may have shared in an earlier post about a time when we had absolutely no food in our home. Our oldest was only 6 months old, and we didn't have the money to buy her anything, either. Our only option was to buy groceries with our credit card. We prayed as we gave her the last jar of food.

That very evening after church, a couple approached us and said they had something they wanted to give us. To our amazement, they opened their trunk and began to pull out bags of groceries! The trunk was completely full, and all we could do was cry our thanks. When we got home with our bounty and began to unload the groceries, there were 2 bags full of baby food ~ down the actual brand AND flavor that I bought my little one! Oh, sisters, only a loving Shepherd would put us on the hearts of that couple! Tender to God's leading, they blessed us other times by shaking my husband's hand and placing a $100 bill in it. Every time that happened, we were in need of food or paying a bill. How thankful and awed I STILL am to this day how God fed us those difficult months!

In this book, Mrs. George shares several facts about real~life shepherds. She writes, "a good shepherd ~ when there are no pastures, he [himself] gathers the food needed for his flock by using his crook to pull down leaves and berries from the trees. Then he feeds his sheep directly and intimately right out of his own hand!" She concludes this thought with "why should we worry about food and clothing? About finances and money? About security and the needs of life? We have Jehovah~Rohi! We have the Lord as our caring shepherd!"

Not only does Jehovah~Rohi feed us, but He leads us. He is in the leadership role of a prince with his people (2 Samuel 5:2, Isaiah44:28, and Jeremiah 3:15). I think of my husband's role as leader in our home. Things can be falling apart, but when he says that everything will be all right, I'm comforted. I may not know or be involved in all the details it will take, but I'm comforted because my husband says it will be okay. That's the same with Jehovah~Rohi. He's our leader, so we don't need the details. We only need to follow.

So, what kind of follower/sheep am I? Mrs. George writes of 3 types of sheep.

The first is restless and discontent sheep. These sheep jump into other fields, climb into bushes and thorns; they sometimes fall and break their legs. "These nervous and dissatisfied sheep cause the Good Shepherd endless trouble."

The second is worldling sheep. Worldling sheep are intent on pursing their own pleasures and selfish interests ~ none of which have to do with the Shepherd! They "run from bush to bush, searching for variety and sampling every kind of food." They lift their heads every once in a while to see where the Shepherd is, just so they don't wander too far away. These sheep choose to nibble on what is meaningless and even harmful.

The third is the devoted sheep. As Jesus said in John 10, each sheep has a name. The devoted followers answer joyfully whenever the Shepherd calls. "By prolonged and continued fellowship, the sheep who follow nearby enjoy the Shepherd's presence and become His familiar companions. To those closet to Him, He shares the choicest portions of food which He's gathered."

Lastly, rohi also means to warn. Our Shepherd warns us not to consume, partake of, or be involved in activities that don't exalt God (Proverbs 15:14, Isaiah 44:20, and Ezekiel 34:16).

"By penning these two Hebrew words ~ Jehovah~Rohi, David's imagery lifts our thoughts to the highest and tenderest aspect of God's nature. No other name of God carries with it the intimacy and tender friendship of Jehovah~Rohi. Yes, you and I are cared for and cherished ~ so much that God promises to lead us and feed us. Think of it! To be the friend of God!"

I'll close today's post with the words to a favorite old song of mine, entitled "Gentle Shepherd".

Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us,

For we need You to help us find our way.

Gentle Shepherd, come and feed us,

For we need Your strength from day to day.

There's no other we can turn to.

Who can help us face another day?

Gentle Shepherd, come and lead us,

For we need You to help us find our way.

God's Promises for You

Other than John 3:16, the 23rd Psalm is probably the most known passage in the Bible. I believe it's the standard Scripture used at most funerals because it offers peace at the most difficult time of life.

As we begin this walk with our Shepherd, let me echo Mrs. George's first reflection. Where does life find you today? What season of life are you in?

~ Spring ~

"Are you in the early beginnings of life?

Are you tasting the joy of fresh starts

and taking your first steps as a Christian?"

~ Summer ~

"Or have you progressed along the way with the Lord to the place of wisdom,

of a blossoming knowledge of the One you walk with?"

~ Fall ~

"Or is yours a fast-paced, terrific season

of tremendous fruit-bearing, of harvest,

of reaping profusely from the benefits

that come from a close, sustained walk with God over time?"

~ Winter~

"Or are you experiencing endings

that for the first time seem to have no new beginnings?

Are you being pressed to adjust to a new path

that leads in directions you did not anticipate or choose?

Are you approaching the next bend in the path with some measure of fear?"

Sisters, isn't it comforting to know that whatever season we're in, we're blessed because "we have the Lord ~ and his promises ~ as a shepherd for all seasons!"

As you know, David is the main author of the Psalms. It's interesting to note that in his life, he experienced these seasons:

Refreshing seasons of youth and maturity

A season of rejection ~ He was expelled from his home and throne.

A season of fear ~ He had to flee from Saul's murderous intentions.

A season of discouragement ~ He had been anointed as King, yet was considered a fugitive.

A season of disappointment ~ God wouldn't allow him to build the temple.

A season of heartbreak ~ He suffered the death of his infant son and witnessed strife, division and death among his children.

Mrs. George writes, "What's true in music is also true of David: On any stringed instrument, it's the strings that are strung the tightest that emit the sweetest music and play the sweetest songs. Yes, only someone who had experienced life and its hardships could have written the Twenty-third Psalm."

David was a man of great faith. He is an ancestor of Jesus Christ, and beloved of God. In fact, God describes David as "a man after My own heart, who will do all My will." (Acts 13:22) David is also listed in Hebrews 11's "Hall of Faith".

David was also a man of great failure. We all know that he not only committed adultery with Bathsheba, but also arranged for the murder of her husband, Uriah (2 Samuel 11). He also directly disobeyed God by taking a census of the people (2 Samuel 24).

What is so encouraging to me is that no matter how bad David messed up, God never gave up on him ~ never wrote him off. Why is that? Here are lessons we can learn from God's beloved.

1. David admitted his failures. Once the prophet Nathan confronted David of his sin, David confessed it. He said, "I have sinned against the Lord." Psalm 51 is a beautiful prayer of his confession and desire to be forgiven to restore his relationship with God. After he confessed his sin, the joy of his salvation was restored and his sins were washed whiter than snow!

2. David suffered sin's consequences. Although God forgave David, he had to pay a price for his disobedience. His baby died, his son betrayed him and his family was divided. Although you can remove nails from a board, the nail holes ~ the scars still remain.

3. David went on. After the death of his child, "David arose from the ground, washed and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into to house of the Lord and worshiped... and he ate" (2 Samuel 12:20). It's interesting to see that David harbored no bitterness towards God, either. He accepted the responsibility for his wrong doings. (Read Psalm 51:3-4) He owned his sin and considered the Lord to be "gracious.. and righteous; yes... [and] merciful" (Psalm 116:5).

David shows us a pattern for our spiritual growth. Our role as a Christian is rise up and go on. God's role is to sustain us along the way... and He promises to do just that!

Sister, let's lift up our praise to God, rise up, and go on our journey with the Lord. Let's "taste and see that the Lord is good" as we see 12 of His precious promises in this brief psalm of encouragement and refreshment.