Psalm 23:6 Forever Home

Surely your [God’s] goodness and love will follow 

me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the 

house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

This post is in memory of my precious Aunt JoAnne, who stepped through the gates into the house of the LORD on Friday evening, July 26, 2019.

David ends this psalm with confidence and praise. How can he do differently? His praise for his Shepherd has flowed from every verse.

• God is David’s provider (Psalm 23:1).
• God brings David to places of peace and refreshes his soul (Psalm 23:1-3a). 
• God guides David in the right way when he has decisions to make. (Psalm 23:3a).
• God encourages and strengthens David, even when he walks through dark times; His presence comforts him during hardship and difficulty. (Psalm 23:4b).
• God sustains David when he faces dangerous enemies and fills him to overflowing with His grace (Psalm 23:5).

Like David, we can experience God’s peace, guidance, presence, and love, no matter our circumstances. 

David doesn’t qualify his statements to match his circumstances. I do that too often. I acknowledge God’s peace when things are going well and I feel His presence when I’m on the mountain top.

During dark times, I sometimes allow despair to capture my mind and I often accuse God of leaving me to suffer alone.

We can claim the promise of David’s words: God’s goodness and love follow us every day of our lives. Not just on sunny days, not only when life is easy, but every day!

And when our days end, we can know that we know that we will step into His House and live with Him forever. We can cling to the promise that we will join our family and friends who have gone before us.

When I step into eternity, my mom, my parents-in-love, my grandparents, my Aunt JoAnne, and so many other loved ones will be waiting for me and we will rejoice with Jesus forever.

In my next post, we close out our journey through Psalm 23 and mine the gems that await us as we apply it to our daily lives. 


How do David's words in Psalm 23:6 increase your confidence in God?

Psalm 23:5 Sit at God's Table

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5

This is my favorite verse in Psalm 23. Why? Because it reveals God's grace and loving care, and it doesn't depend on me or on my choices.

God is faithful and true to His character, whether we are faithful or not. Even in our disobedience, God is with us and cares for us.

David knows a lot about enemies, even though he is young. He serves King Saul who is plagued by evil spirits and, quite often, Saul turns against him and attacks him. As David gets older, he leads King Saul's armies out to face Israel's fierce enemies and defeats them. 

Through it all, David relies on God. He doesn't assume God will give him earthly victory, but he knows God is there to sustain him and to provide protection for him. 


You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. 
What a comforting picture, especially when we feel like we are surrounded by enemies. He prepares a table - a table where we can sit and catch our breaths for a bit. 
A table full of the food of Scripture to sustain us. A table with the cooling, refreshing water of His presence to encourage us.  

You anoint my head with oil.
Oil symbolizes richness, honor; it shows how much the anointer cherishes the person he anoints. 
God Himself anoints David. 
God Himself anoints us as we sit at His table. He expresses how cherished we are to Him. Though we might be surrounded by enemies, He anoints us with the richness of His strength, courage, and the assurance of certain victory in Christ. 

My [David's] cup overflows.
David could make no greater statement of faith and gratitude to his Lord. 
How often do I praise God for His goodness in the midst of my enemies?
Even in difficult circumstances, our cups overflow with God's love, sustaining power, and strength. When we are exhausted, we are refreshed and restored by His presence. 

What tender care the Father bestows on us in our time of need. Often we're too focused on the need to see how much He cherishes us. A deep love that led Jesus to the cross and anoints us with His presence every day.

How has God fed you at His table in difficult times? 

Psalm 23:1 Choose Jesus, Your Shepherd

The Lord is my Shepherd

I shall not want. Psalm 23:1

This verse describes a beautiful truth and presents a difficult choice. All in nine words.

The Lord is my Shepherd.

An amazing truth; an unchangeable fact. 
If you have accepted Jesus’ forgiveness and are building a relationship with Him, He is your Shepherd. 

Most of us picture a gentle man carrying a lamb, with sheep gathered around Him. A peaceful, pastoral scene. But really, when is life peaceful? Bills, kids and homework, an issue at work, a to-do list at home...there's always something.

Sometimes, we feel overwhelmed by the daily problems or decisions we face. How wonderful to know that our Shepherd is right by our side to calm us, to strengthen us, and to guide us. We can say, as Jacob said to Joseph in Genesis 48:15, "God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day." 

Jesus never takes a break, He never tires of hearing your voice. He loves you beyond your wildest imagination. 

We never walk alone, our Shepherd is with us.

• He longs to provide what we need.
• He offers guidance during difficult times.
• He offers wisdom when we face hard decisions.

I shall not want.

There is such calm assurance with Jesus as our Shepherd, but David didn't end there. He proclaimed his choice to be continuously satisfied with the life his Shepherd gave him. 

Jesus is our faithful Shepherd, but we must choose to rest in his guidance and be satisfied with His provision.  


Remember the old saying, “The grass is always greener…”?

I've got a great husband, a nice 
house, a new car, great kids, two perfect grandchildren, three fun grandpets, and a dog who loves me unconditionally. 



But...

I see bigger houses and I want them. Surely they come with a maid!
I've always dreamed of having a Ferrari. My little Ford just doesn't cut it. Give me a bright red sports car!

Of course, I'm being frivolous, but sometimes I focus on what I don't have and miss the unbelievable blessings that surround me. Sometimes, I live in a grass-is-always-greener world. 

David didn't look beyond what he had, no matter the circumstance.  

• When he hid in a cave to escape the men who wanted to kill him, he was at peace with his Shepherd (Psalm 57). 
• When he lost his son born to Bathsheba, he went before the Lord, recognizing the justice of God's punishment and confident that God would forgive him and give him another son (Psalm 51).
• When he lost his home and position as King of Israel, he was satisfied with his Shepherd's provision (Psalm 3).

What does it mean to say, "I shall not want."?

• We choose to be satisfied with what He provides, no matter how small.
• We choose to accept His guidance, though we might not agree.
• We choose to follow where He leads, though we might wish to go elsewhere.

Does that sound harsh to you? I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not sure I'll ever reach this perspective. Sometimes, I look around and see needs that are unmet. Why shouldn't we have enough income to feed and clothe our families? Why do we see others who have to rely on someone else's generosity to live a simple life? 

Through his difficult life, David learned this one thing: 

My Shepherd can be trusted with my life. 

• He won't leave us without guidance.
• He strengthens us and helps us to follow Him closer each day.
• He loves us and will continue to call us to His side.

He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs

up his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently 

leads those that have young.  Isaiah 40:11

The Shepherd never leaves His sheep.

How do you see Jesus' ministry as your Shepherd in your life?

7 Wonders of Psalm 23: Part 7

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;  my cup overflows. Psalm 23: 5-6

What an amazing statement of faith!

David trusts his Lord implicitly.

His enemies surround him.

They stand close enough to look him in the eyes.

In the presence of his enemies, he sees God’s rich blessings spread out before him.

Is he afraid? Probably.

Does he fear them? No!

He chooses to focus on God and His blessings.

David doesn’t just stumble on the table by accident.

God prepares this glorious table before he arrives!

Not only does He prepare this feast of blessings, He prepares David.

He anoints him with His presence: His peace, His strength, His grace.

 

David’s life is so overflowing with God that he faces his enemies with confidence.

Do we choose to respond like David when our enemies of despair, self-doubt, and hopelessness surround us?

God is with us!

He walks the path before us; He guides and encourages us.

If we choose to let Him, He will anoint our minds with peace, confidence, and hope.

These blessings are spread before us.

Choose Him!

Choose His blessings!


How has God blessed you during hard times?



I can’t stop…it’s just too rich! So, I’m steaming on to part 8.
Is it OK to have a part 8 of 7 wonders?
I hope so, ‘cause I’m doing it anyway!.

 

 

Photo credit  Dripping oil: zffoto via depositphoto

Photo credit Feast: Andrey Kuzmin via depositphoto

The Seven Wonders of Psalm 23: Part One

 

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s same.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,  For you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare before me a table in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23

This passage has comforted broken hearts.

Soothed frazzled nerves.

Calmed panicked thoughts.

Given hope to the grieving.

It is David’s “Lord’s prayer.”

Many of us can quote it.

Perhaps we’ve read it a thousand times.

Do we experience its richness?

Have we ever feel the wonder David must have felt as he prayed these words?  

 

Psalm 23 is a description of David's close relationship with the Lord, and it expresses the choices he made to yield his life to Him.

 

David's walk with the Lord wasn't an accident, it was a walk full of choices. 

 

If we want an intimate relationship with God, we must make the same choices.   

This is the first of seven posts on this psalm of blessing - and the choices that bring us this blessing.

When has this psalm been a comfort to you?