– Psalm 23:4-6 The Psalm portion for this coming week is the much-loved Shepherd Psalm. The benefits of have Jesus as our Shepherd-King is that both goodness and love will literally pursue us. We are given the hope and promise of life with God eternally. We will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Our future has been guaranteed. Because the Shepherd-King Jesus lives forever, we have the hope and guarantee of dwelling with Christ throughout the years of our life.
Notice how highly David magnifies the Lord. He recalls how
gracious God has been. Consider what the Lord has bestowed on him (v. 5):
"Thou preparest a table before me;”
David says in essence: “Lord, You have provided me with
everything pertaining both to life and godliness.” All things needed for both
the body as well as the soul are given by the Shepherd’s caring hand. His benefits are not only for this life they
spread well into eternity. Such a
bountiful benefactor is God to all His people; and because these blessings come
from God David is called upon to utter thanks for His great goodness. David acknowledges two realities:
That he had food conveniently given to him; a table spread, a
cup filled, meat for his hunger, drink for his thirst. What is it that Christ
has given to you? Luther explains in the explanation to the 1st Article of the
Apostles Creed:
“I believe that God has made me and all creatures; that He has given me my body and soul, eyes, ears, and all my members, my reason, and all my senses, and still preserves them; also, clothing and shoes, meat and drink, house and home, wife and children, fields, cattle, and all my goods; that He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life, that He protects me from all danger, and guards and preserves me from all evil; and all this out of pure, fatherly, divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I owe it to Him to thank, praise, serve, and obey Him. This is most certainly true.”
David acknowledges that the Shepherd had this table carefully
and readily provided for him. His table was not spread with any thing that came
haphazardly; rather God prepared everything for him.
The Shepherd provided for all of his needs and prepared it
before him.
Under the heading “daily bread” Luther lists just some of the
gifts and blessings the Good Shepherd provides for us each and every day:
What is meant by daily
bread? —Everything that belongs to the support and
wants of the body, such as meat, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, field,
cattle, money, goods, a pious spouse, pious children, pious servants, pious and
faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, discipline,
honor, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.”
One question many ask during times of uncertainty is simply,
“how will we get thought this?” We get
through all this together. The Lord does provide but He does it through means –
He does it through you. As you watch out for those in your circle; especially
those closest to you family, neighbors, friends. May you continue to be the
hands, the feet, the fingers and toes of Jesus and He provides through your
acts of mercy and charity.
Lord God, You have
called Your servants to ventures of which we cannot always see the ending, by
paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with
good courage, not knowing where we go but only that Your hand is leading us and
Your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
_______________________
Image of the Risen Savior copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher
Things
Collect from Lutheran Service Book copyright © 2006
Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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