Self-Care is a popular topic these days. In case you aren’t familiar with the term, self-care is anything you do to help yourself live well and stay physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually well. You may have a self-care practice implemented in your life and not even realize it! Some people read, go for walks, journal, engage in artistic or creative activities, write, get massages, pray, study the Bible, exercise, meal prep, etc. So, what are some of your favorite self-care activities? I challenge you to look at today’s psalm study though a self-care lens as well as a leadership lens. The leadership lens will help you come up with techniques to encourage godly behavior in others. This is a valuable skill. You may help someone develop godly skills to cope with life challenges.
Today, we’re looking at Psalm 23. God’s Provision
appears all over these 6 verses. Throughout
our study, we will see how God cares for people. We should probably take notes about how we
should attend to those in our care. And
maybe we’ll even come away with a few tips about caring for ourselves. Ultimately, this psalm reveals that, as a
believer in Christ for salvation, I will
dwell forever with the Lord, my Shepherd.
When we walk away from our time together today, I want
you to know God cares for, and dwells
with, His people.
Father-God, open
our eyes and hearts to receive this familiar psalm in a fresh way. Teach us how
to connect with You, care for ourselves, and those we are responsible for as we
study today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Our text is divided into two parts, today:
1. The Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1-4)
2. You prepare a table before me Psalm 23:5-6)
Let’s take a deep look at Psalm 23.
Read Psalm 23:1-4.
This is another psalm of David. It is beautiful to read his words, because,
at the time he was anointed as Israel’s next king by Samuel, he tended sheep
for his father. David was writing from
experience of what a good shepherd did for his sheep because he was a good
shepherd. Can you just imagine David
doing this for his sheep? Can you also
see David receiving this level of care from God? What about Jesus caring for us in this way?
So, what does it mean that the Lord is your
Shepherd? He is our provider. He gives rest. He provides (living) water. He guides in righteousness. He remains with us. He protects.
He disciplines. He comforts. It means He tends and leads and guides and
rescues and feeds. It means that we know
and obey His voice, and will not follow another shepherd. It means that, under His care, His sheep lack
nothing. Are you one of His sheep? If you believe in Jesus for salvation, you
are!
So, as our Shepherd, what is it like to walk with Him
throughout a day? That’s how I saw this
psalm. What does the Lord Jesus, the
Good Shepherd do for us? The psalm tells
us. He makes me lie down in green
pastures. He makes us rest. Sometimes, I think He does this by allowing
me to get sick, and need to stay in bed.
I also see this as times He brings me to a place where I can just sit
and enjoy His creation! That might be on
a hike, at a park, in my backyard, or at Giant’s Causeway in Ireland! Sometimes, God just wants us to stop and
rest.
He leads me beside quiet waters. He leads me to places where I can refresh
myself. He does this through
prayer. He does this through Bible
study. He does this through discussing
the Bible. And through fellowship with
other believers. This is a place where I
can take in deep drinks of Him!!!
He refreshes my soul.
Yes He does. Having a
relationship with Jesus Christ is like nothing else! He makes me clean! He lightens my burdens! He brings me joy! What a Savior!
He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. He teaches me through His Word and guides me
in prayer to do the right thing. He
transforms my very thinking as I spend time with Him to make me more like
Himself.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death, I will fear no evil, for He is with me.
Whoa! Jesus’s people are never
alone. He will never leave us or forsake
us. Sometimes we know that in our head
and we know that in our heart, but we still fear. Is there something you’re afraid of? Have you identified what is at the root of
your fear? Have you taken that thing to
God? Have you asked Him to rip that root
out of your heart? Bring it to Him right
now in prayer. I’ll wait.
When I succumb to fear, I have to re-focus. I have to stop what I’m doing and make an
effort to put my focus back on Christ and Who He is, and how powerful He
is! I have to remember that He loves me. And how much He loves me. Enough to die for me! I have to remember He is sovereign. I have to remember that what is happening to
me is being allowed by Him for my good and His glory. I have to remember that what is happening to
me has been sifted through His fingers before it touches me! I have to remember that His plans for me are
good! And that whatever is happening is part
of His plan, or it wouldn’t be happening.
And I have to marinate in these thoughts. Over and over again sometimes.
His rod and staff comfort me. This is His discipline. That word has a bad reputation, but it’s
actually a beautiful word. Can you see
the word “disciple” in there? We are His
disciples when we submit to His discipline.
Scripture says He disciplines those He loves. Those He considers to be His children. His rod and staff should comfort you! It means you are His!
This leads us to our first principle:
Jesus cares for
His people’s “present” in every way.
What is your daily walk with God like? What has Jesus given you that you’d like to
thank Him for? When has Jesus given you
rest and enjoyment in His creation? How
might you make some time this week to enjoy His creation? When has Jesus led you beside quiet
waters? How does Jesus refresh your
soul? Where is Jesus guiding you right
now? Do you find it difficult or easy to
not fear evil? What needs to change in
your heart and mind to make your fears flee?
What are your feelings toward Christ’s discipline in your life? What changes will you make to embrace and
welcome His discipline?
Now let’s shift our perspective a bit. It seems we are headed to a reward banquet.
Read Psalm 23:5-6.
This shift is very interesting to me. How did we get from the field to the dining
room? Have the first four verses
represented our walk on earth with Christ as our Shepherd, and these last two
verses represent what is awaiting us in the future?
My Shepherd preparing a table before me in the presence
of my enemies sounds like the Wedding Supper of the Lamb in Revelation 19! So he is feeding me in these verses. He is protecting me from my enemies in these
verses. He is healing me in these verses. He is blessing me. He is sending His goodness and love after me
every day. He is promising I will dwell
with Him forever. He is my home!
He anoints my head with oil. He heals my wounds. This is a bestowing of blessing. Oil is often symbolic of the Holy Spirit in
Scripture. It is also associated with
joy and gladness. So much blessing that
this verse goes on to say my cup overflows.
Such blessings!!! Joy and
gladness. The Holy Spirit!!! Abundant blessings! The next verse mentions two of those
blessings:
His goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my
life. Once you become a Jesus-follower,
His goodness and mercy follow you! In
Hebrew, the word for goodness means “beautiful” or “pleasant”. Mercy is the unconditional love of Jesus, the
Good Shepherd! Can you picture these two
blessings pursuing you? What a beautiful
picture!!!
I will dwell in His house forever. Jesus is preparing a place for me in heaven
with Him for eternity! And the amazing
thing is, I get to spend all my days on earth with Him, too! His Spirit lives in me from the very moment I
accept Him as my Savior!
Does this make you want to accept Jesus as your
Savior? If so, say this prayer with me:
Jesus, I am a sinner in need of a
Savior. And I acknowledge You are that
Savior. I believe You are God, and You
came to earth to die for my sins. I
believe You rose on the third day, conquering death, and You are alive today at
the right hand of the Father. I thank
You for dying for me, and for calling me to be Yours. Amen.
If you said that prayer, praise Jesus! Go find a Bible preaching church, start
reading the Scriptures (I suggest beginning in the New Testament with the
Gospel of John), and pray.
And here is our final principle:
Jesus cares for
His people’s “future” in every way.
How has Jesus provided for you in the midst of
persecution? How has He protected you
from enemies? How has God made you glad
and brought you joy? Where is your cup
overflowing? How is Jesus’s goodness and
mercy following you today? In what ways
are you preparing yourself to dwell with Jesus forever? How are you enjoying the benefits of dwelling
with Jesus now?
A shepherd has a lot of responsibility.
Are you a shepherd of sorts?
Everyone has a sphere of influence.
Whether you are a parent or a grand-parent or a neighbor or a teacher…
How are you caring for your “sheep”? Are you pointing out all that Christ has done
for them? Are you helping them see these
things for themselves? How might you
suggest a friend enjoy God’s creation, or a moment of peaceful serenity? A hike?
A picnic? A day at the
beach? Or the lake? Lake waters can be nice and still.
What might refresh their soul? Some time in the Scriptures and prayer? Maybe listening to praise music? Singing at the top of your lungs? Going on a retreat? Memorizing some verses? Or serving in their church? Serving is a great way to honor Jesus!
How would you advise someone to let go of fear and live in
complete trust of God’s plan for their life?
How can you encourage a friend to keep walking obediently to Christ and
the Scriptures in the midst of a trial?
How might you encourage someone to embrace Christ’s guidance and
discipline?
Where has your friend been blessed by God? How might you encourage a friend to give
thanks and praise to God for their overflowing cup? How might you help your friend recognize
their overflowing cup of blessings? Or
the goodness and mercy of Jesus they experience?
How might you prepare a friend for their eternal home?
Maybe you could use these suggestions to come up with some
self-care tips based on Psalm 23. Which of
these suggestions could you use to point yourself back to Jesus? Let’s pray.
Father-God, thank You
for such a robust spiritual benefits package!
Teach us to appreciate all the blessings You have given. Teach us to shepherd those in our care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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