Going through this video series “That the world may know” in small group now. It follows a group trip in Israel, looking at the nation n excavation findings to help us appreciate the cultural, physical and social context in the Bible better. This week, we looked at the wilderness and sheep rearing in Israel. And it shed an entire new light on Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters”
The picture that so easily comes to mind reading that two verses, would be lush green fields and the sheep grazing in the abundant grass. But looking at Israel’s terrain, where brown is seen more often than green, it doesn’t take much to realize that THAT picture may not quite be David’s experience when he wrote the Psalm. And so Ray (the teacher) highlighted that the sheep needed the shepherd to lead them to a green pasture each day. Not so a case of “not being in want” because of the plentiful greens; but more so a daily trusting and following the good shepherd to bring them to what they need for each day.
And so is this not how it is with God’s provision in our lives? So often we lament that the Shepherd is not good enough because we are not in lush fields. But the Good Shepherd promises to give us our daily bread. And I shall not be in want because I know His grace is sufficient for me today. Wondering about tomorrow’s green pasture causes worry, but will the Good Shepherd not bring us to the green pasture tomorrow as He did yesterday and today?
Not just so for physical needs- but in everything. The grace to handle the challenges at work or in school, the strength to persevere in living by faith, the courage to face the unknown, the love for people around… He is Jehovah Jireh.
And in light of some of the “big questions” of life I am musing about, this comes as His comforting reply. Is it finally time for me to leave my job so I can spend more time in ministry? And where? In what capacity? Is He calling me to spend a bit more time in China? I will trust my Lord to lead me day by day, I shall just be faithful in being His silly little sheep, to see no more than His feet.
The picture that so easily comes to mind reading that two verses, would be lush green fields and the sheep grazing in the abundant grass. But looking at Israel’s terrain, where brown is seen more often than green, it doesn’t take much to realize that THAT picture may not quite be David’s experience when he wrote the Psalm. And so Ray (the teacher) highlighted that the sheep needed the shepherd to lead them to a green pasture each day. Not so a case of “not being in want” because of the plentiful greens; but more so a daily trusting and following the good shepherd to bring them to what they need for each day.
And so is this not how it is with God’s provision in our lives? So often we lament that the Shepherd is not good enough because we are not in lush fields. But the Good Shepherd promises to give us our daily bread. And I shall not be in want because I know His grace is sufficient for me today. Wondering about tomorrow’s green pasture causes worry, but will the Good Shepherd not bring us to the green pasture tomorrow as He did yesterday and today?
Not just so for physical needs- but in everything. The grace to handle the challenges at work or in school, the strength to persevere in living by faith, the courage to face the unknown, the love for people around… He is Jehovah Jireh.
And in light of some of the “big questions” of life I am musing about, this comes as His comforting reply. Is it finally time for me to leave my job so I can spend more time in ministry? And where? In what capacity? Is He calling me to spend a bit more time in China? I will trust my Lord to lead me day by day, I shall just be faithful in being His silly little sheep, to see no more than His feet.
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Incoherent Ramblings...
Feeling that I’m “in new grounds” in my walk with Him of late, grounds that I’ve never been before. A bit overwhelmed each time He would involve me, a bit excited and scared about the prospects that can possibly lie ahead, a bit thinking “He's too good to me”…
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Feeling I am somehow “not getting Him still”. Realized I relate more to the woman who would gladly pick up scraps from under the table rather than as His princess. Though desiring to be sitting in His arms in eternity, I prayed from asking for a seat by His feet to being able to see Him from afar.
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Feeling i need to fight the devil's lies and my insecurities to embrace the truth that I am really THAT special to Him.
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