PSALM TWENTY THREE

AN APPROPRIATING FAITH. 
 
   Psalm 23 has been a blessing and solace to the people of God for
over 3,000 years. Much has been said about the Shepherd Psalm, and much
more will be said. David knew the life of a shepherd from beginning to
end, but what inspiration he must have received to be able to say,
"Jehovah is my shepherd."  The psalm thus begins with a great step of
faith. It is an appropriating faith. It is the faith which says, "MY
Shepherd."  God is not only a shepherd, not only the shepherd, He is MY
shepherd. 
   David delights to sing, My Lord, My God, My Rock, My Salvation, but
now with intimate knowledge of the subject, he says, MY SHEPHERD. The
faith which says this, turns prophecy into history...what God has
promised is fulfilled in the life of the believer. Such faith turns
promises into performance; it turns sorrows into joys; it turns prisons
into preaching places; it turns perils into pastures; it turns battles
into victories; it turns death into life; it turns darkness into light. 
   
   Can you say, "The Lord is MY shepherd"?. If so, then all is well. 
   The faith which can say, "The Lord is MY shepherd", can also say, "I
lack nothing."  The Bible declares that no good thing will He withhold
from them that walk uprightly. The shepherd feeds guides and controls
His flock. If then we are the sheep of His pasture, we will surely know
that all things will work together for good to them that love the Lord.
He will provide every good thing for His sheep. He will provide every
good comfort for His flock. 
   Shepherds had the custom of leading the flock to rest at noon. When
things get too hot for us - He leads us to a place of rest. There is
always a place of rest in the plan of God. The Gospel of Mark mentions
a number of resting places where Jesus went when he laboured on earth.
It is not the purpose of God for us to live restless and disquieted
lives. He knows where there are green pastures and still waters. The
faith which can say, "My shepherd!" is the faith which is content to
rest where God leads and in what He has provided. 
   The appropriating faith knows that the shepherd keeps. There is a
world of a difference between a shepherd and a butcher. Our God wants
sheep not mutton. The shepherd feeds ... but only by faith can we
partake of what He provides.  The shepherd guides ... but only by faith
can we follow. The shepherd controls ... but only by faith can we obey.

  Can you truly say, "The Lord is MY shepherd!"? 



Copyright (c) 1995, Hedley Palmer. All rights reserved.



----------------------------------------------------
file: /pub/resources/text/hpalmer/psalms: ps-023.txt
.