RECAP 02.26.20

RECAP on Chapter 1 “The Lord is My Shepherd”

Good Morning Sisters,

What a WONDERFUL way to start a new season! What a great pleasure it was having a beautiful new lady with us. Thank you Judith for inviting your friend Yvonne to share in this new study with us. She is a delight! Having two daughters at the US Naval Academy she had so much wisdom to share. Many of us have kids in high school and college and it’s great to hear from women that are walking down similar roads. One of my favorite things about meeting each Wednesday is the new people God sends our way. We can glean so much from one another and the opportunity He gives us to sow life, love and encouragement is icing on the cake.

I believe that the Lord is positioning us to “receive” during this season of REST. Does the word “rested” describe you? Many times we make the storms of our lives bigger through our striving, with our own strategies. When we rest God works. When we work God rests.

When we rest we are not worrying, when we rest we are throwing our cares to God. Psalm 23 was written by a man who knew how to lean on God, a man who knew how to REST and trust God. Through Chapter one, we got fresh new insights of what it means for the Lord to be our Shepherd. I believe that by the time we complete this study our view of God will be like David's. We will see him through new eyes. Our view of Him will be enlarged. We will have a deep revelation of what it means be in His flock. Oh what an exciting few weeks it will be!

Last night we got a great glimpse of who Jesus is and how our view of Him needs to be bigger. We talked about our five senses and how we allow them to rule over God’s Word. The anointing was strong as the Lord wants us to get a deep understanding of His great love for us. He wants us to know that we are NOT alone and that we will thrive and prosper under His care. Through this study we will come to know what a shepherd is and how He cares for His sheep. Last night was a small taste of what is to come. Each Wed we will study, meditate and dig deep into each scripture of this psalm.

Next week we will dive into Chapter 2 “I Shall Not Want”. I encourage you to not only read this chapter but set quiet time aside each day and spend time with the Lord, asking Him to give you revelation of what these words mean in YOUR life. That alone time alone time with Him is invaluable. We must have it. We can never let the busyness of life keep us from the ONE thing...the ONLY thing that promises to give us peace and rest.

THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD. Meditate on these four words today! Mutter it. Chew on it. Allow it to penetrate the deep, inner recesses of your heart. Below are my notes. I was unable to get through all of them last night so I pray that they are a great blessing to you.

I look forward to seeing you next Wednesday!

Love,

Sherry :-)

My Notes on Chapter 1 “The Lord is My Shepherd”

Why is this study so relevant for today? Why do we need it?

We live in the age of anxiety...in a society that is creating fear based thinking.

Everyone seems on edge. This week Joyce Meyer talked about how everyone is so angry. People feel out of control with the way the world is today. They don’t know what to do. They are searching in the wrong places to find love, peace, security and fulfillment.

Never in the history of the world have so many people suffered from stress related illnesses. Anxiety and depression are at all time high. The increased stress is significantly impacting our lives. People are particularly anxious about their health, safety and finances and do not understand that the peace, security, and answers they seek cannot be found in this world.

“New survey results show Americans' anxiety levels experienced a sharp increase in the past year, with almost 40% of respondents saying they felt more anxious than they did a year ago. That's a big spike – following on the heels of a 36% jump between 2016 and 2017 – and it means this year's national, averaged “anxiety score” has tipped over halfway on a 100 point scale: it's now sitting at 51, with a five-point increase since 2017. (”https://www.sciencealert.com/americans-are-in-the-midst-of-an-anxiety-epidemic-stress-increase)

It’s not what is happening to you that’s causing you anxiety. It’s how you are thinking about it. David, the author of the Psalms, said that the greatest war we will ever fight is WITHIN. The war to overcome fear and anxiety. David understood that God is watching over him. God has 24 hour surveillance over you. God is watching how others are treating you.

Chronic stress can lead to all kinds of physical conditions. God never created us to live under stress. We’re supposed to live care free. Why don’t we? The most powerful thing you can do is to let go of your cares and give them to God.

Who wrote Psalm 23?

King David, who wrote the psalm, grew up and worked as a shepherd, so he knew a lot about sheep and shepherding. He loved the metaphor of seeing God, or the Lord, as a shepherd. The shepherd's job is to care for his flock, making sure they are safe, nourished, calm and happy at all times.

Psalm 23 written by David is used many times at funerals. However, this Psalm is far from being about death. Instead, it is a Psalm about our own personal journey with our Shepherd, Jesus Christ. In this study it is my desire that we learn in depth about how we can yield to our Shepherd and follow Him as He desires for us to follow.

Play the song by Holly Starr, Psalm 23,  the true meaning in worship of the psalm.

Introduction:

What is the main issue with studying the Scriptures in the 20th century?

The Bible was written by men of humble origin...simple nomadic people familiar with nature and the outdoor life of the countryside in which they lived. Today many who read or study the Bible come from an urban, man-made environment who are unfamiliar with subjects such as livestock, crops, land, fruit, or wildlife. We miss much of the truth taught in God’s Word because we are not familiar with sheep, wheat, soil and grapes.

Because of this Psalm 23 has often been misunderstood. The author Phillip Keller (1920-1977) has a deeper appreciation than most men of what David had in mind when he wrote Psalm 23. He grew up in East Africa. He made his livelihood for about 8 years as a sheep owner and sheep rancher. He has first hand experience with every phase of sheep management.  It is out of the variety of these firsthand experiences with sheep that the chapters have emerged. This is the first time a sheepman has ever written at length about the Shepherd’s Psalm. He has written over 35 Christian books but is best known for this one.

Read Scripture John 1:1-18. John is not saying that Jesus represents the word or is similar to the word, but he is saying Jesus is the Word. The Word that created the earth, the Word that created light, the Word that separated water and land. The Word is Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Shepherd.

The original word for comprehend does not mean understanding, but rather to lay hold of or to make one's own. Paul expressed to us in Philippians 3:12 that he had not already obtained or arrived at the goal but he pressed on. Why did he press on? So that he could lay hold of that which Christ has also laid hold of him. To comprehend we must press toward the same goal - to lay hold of Christ and all He has for us. So ask yourself this, Have you made Jesus your own, have you received Him completely? Are you prepared to bring Him the dark areas of your life? Are you seeking to lay hold of ALL Christ is in truth?

When we say “The Lord is my Shepherd” it immediately implies a profound yet practical relationship between a human being and His maker.  It means a mere mortal becomes the cherished object of divine intelligence. Wrapping our human minds around this concept is difficult. As we meditate on it, our spirit quickens and awakens us to our value on this earth.  The greater, the more majestic our view is of Him the more vital our relationship to Him. When David spoke of the Lord as His shepherd he spoke with a great sense of pride and devotion. This is because David knew WHO His Lord is. Through this study may we ALL know Him like David knew Him.

WHO is the Lord? What is His character? Does He have the qualifications to be your Shepherd...your manager...your owner?  And if He does...how do you come under His control? How do you become the object of His concern and care?Phillip Keller states this in chapter one (pg. 22) of his book:

“Christ literally lays Himself out for us continually. He is ever interceding for us; He is ever guiding us by His gracious Spirit; He is ever working on our behalf to ensure that we will benefit from His care.”Jesus doesn’t by chance happen to be good. He is good by His very nature. We must find the goodness of our Shepherd in all the fruition of God which is displayed in the nature of the good Shepherd. He is the One who continually sacrifices for us. Jesus gives what He has, not what He has not: He gives the happiness that there is, not the happiness that is not. When we reject the good Shepherd and all He has to offer we fall into three alternative behaviors – to be like God (wanting to be in control); sharing God’s goodness in creaturely response (wanting to partake in the goodness without the sacrifice); or to be miserable (not claiming His promises and trusting). Do you desire to partake in the goodness of Christ, but you don’t want to yield to Him? We must learn to follow the Good Shepherd and yield to Him.

This begins by recognizing His sacrifices for us and continues with our identifying with Him. Enjoying the goodness of the Savior calls for us to yield to Him, but the rewards we reap when we partake in His goodness are awesome beyond compare. They are rewards that feed us from now throughout eternity.Jesus said,“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep.” John 10:10-11“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

How are you laying down your life for others? Are you forgiving those who have hurt you? Are you loving those who have rejected you?How do YOU view HIM? The Lord that David refers to is Jehovah, the Lord God of Israel. His statement was confirmed by Jesus when He declared “I am the good Shepherd.” Who is this Christ? Is our view of Him too small? Too human? Because of how we view Him we often are unwilling to allow Him to have authority or control over our lives. HE is the One who created all things natural and supernatural.

Colossians 1:15-20 (the Supremacy of the Son of God)“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."

Take a moment to reflect on the person of Christ.But before we do this it helps to hold clearly in mind the particular part played upon our history by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.God the Father is God the author --- the originator of all that exists. It was in His mind, first, that all took shape.God the Son, our Savior, is God the artisan --- the artist, the Creator of all that exists. He brought into being all that had been originally formulated in His Father's mind. God the Holy Spirit is God the agent who presents these facts to both my mind and my spiritual understanding so that they become both real and relative to me as an individual.The relationship given to us over and over again in Scripture between God and man are those of a father to his children and a shepherd to his sheep.

These concepts were first conceived in the mind of God our Father. They were made possible and practical through the work of Christ. They are confirmed and made real in me through the agency of the gracious Holy Spirit. So when the simple --- though sublime --- statement is made by a man or woman that "The Lord is my Shepherd," it immediately implies a profound yet practical working relationship between a human being and his Maker. It links a lump of common clay to divine destiny --- it means a mere mortal becomes the cherished object of divine diligence. This should make us all stop in our tracks and give great worth to ourselves. It should make us realize how great our purpose here is and give great meaning to our short journey on this planet.The greater we see HIM the greater our relationship will be with Him.When David is speaking of his shepherd he is speaking with a great sense of pride and devotion and admiration. It was as though he literally boasts aloud…”LOOK at WHO my shepherd it...my owner...my manager...it’s the LORD OF THIS UNIVERSE” David knew that the lot of any sheep depended on the type of man who owned it. If the owner was not gentle, kind, intelligent, brave and selfless in their devotion to their sheep they would struggle, starve, and suffer endless hardship. Whether they flourished and thrived would depend solely on the character of the shepherd.

So if the LORD is YOUR shepherd shouldn’t you know something about His character?We all should frequently go outside and lay down on the ground (like Abraham) and  look up at the star-studded sky and remind ourselves of His majesty and might. It is very humbling to realize that we are a mere mite of material in a huge universe. The earth is a mere speck in space. It drains the “ego” from us and puts things in proper perspective. To understand that Christ the Creator of this enormous universe calls Himself YOUR Shepherd and calls you His sheep.(p17) Who better to care for you than the One who brought you into being? You belong to Him simply because He intentionally chose to create you as the object of His affection.

His ownership of us is legitimate. Many people have a problem with this and refuse to admit that anyone really can claim ownership or authority over them by virtue of bringing them into being. This was a risk God took when he made man. He even restored the relationship with us after Adam and Eve turned their backs on Him. Isaiah 53:6 says “all we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”Jesus is our Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep.

Did you know that sheep do not “just take care of themselves”? They require more than any other class of livestock, endless attention and meticulous care. It is not by accident that God has chosen to call us sheep. The behavior of sheep and human beings is similar in many ways as we will see in further chapters. Our mass mind (or mob instincts), our fears and timidity, our stubbornness and stupidity, our perverse habits are all parallels of great importance. Through this entire psalm we see the matter in which the Good Shepherd spares no pains for the welfare of His sheep.Do you take pride in knowing that YOU belong to the Good Shepherd?

His life reveals a person of enormous compassion and incredible integrity.He was the most balanced and the most beloved person ever to enter society.He was born amid disgusting surroundings, the member of a modest working family, He always bore Himself with great dignity and assurance. He enjoyed no special advantages as a child. His entire philosophy and outlook on life was the highest standards of human conduct ever set before mankind. Although he didn’t have vast economic assets or political power he made an enormous impact on our world’s history. Because of Him million of people spanning over 20 centuries of time have come into a life of decency, honor and noble conduct.He was gentle, kind, tender and true yet also righteous, stern as steel, and very tough on phony people. He forgave generously but was a terror to those who were hypocrites and engaged in false pretenses and double talk.He came to set men free from their own sins, their own selves and their own fears.

When we come under His management and control he puts his mark on us.We stand out as His. Sheep are also marked by their Shepherd. Each shepherd has his own distinctive earmark which he cuts into one of the ears of the sheep. Even at a distance a person can tell to whom the sheep belongs. They lay each ewe on a wooden block and notch it deeply with the razor-sharp edge of a knife. It causes pain for both of them, but is through that mutual suffering that a relationship is formed that can never be erased. They did something similar in the Old Testament. When a Hebrew slave, chose of his own free will, to become a member of that household they would put his ear lobe against the door post and puncture a hole through it. From that moment forward he was marked for life as belonging to that house.

What is the identifying mark of the Christian? It is the mark of the cross.

Jesus said “If any man would be my disciple (follower), let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” In other words, you allow your life to be guided by God and not yourself. You come under His direction and management.

That means we give up our own fickle and foolish ways. We can’t have it both ways. Either we belong or we don’t. Jesus warned us that there would become a day when any would say “Lord in Your name we did many wonderful things,” but He will respond that He never knew us as His own.We should ask ourselves:

Do I really belong to Him?

Do I really recognize His right to me?

Do I respond to His authority and acknowledge His ownership?

Do I find freedom and fulfillment in this arrangement?

Do I have a sense of purpose and deep contentment because I am under His direction?

Do I rest in knowing that I belong to Him?