| Pastor Tim Lee: Goodness and Mercy |
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23:1 The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. 23:2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 23:3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 23:5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. This was our homecoming service after three years worshipping together at Praise Temple. The message comes from probably one of the most beloved scriptures in the Holy Bible.King David penned these words probably from life's experiences. David as a lad had the experience of tending to his father's sheep. This was where David took on a lion and a bear, he knew how important it was to protect the sheep. Without a shepherd the sheep would have been lunch. David made this very personal saying the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. God provides green pastures, God provides the best for his sheep. He leadeth me beside still waters, for the sheep feared running water the wool being wet and the heaviness that would have caused drowning. David said the Lord restoreth my soul, David spent many years staying out of King Saul's reach. This had to make him weary from running even to the enemy of Isreal to spare his life from a devil possessed Saul. David knew about paths of righteousness, that's really where God would have all his children to dwell. When David was completely right with God, there was no enemy big enough to cause him grief. David mentioned for his name sake, David become the most upset , when he heard the giant cursing the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. David speaks of a place that most people will one day encounter, that being the valley of the shadow of death. Is the worse thing the devil can do to you is kill you? David's life was sought after even by his own beloved sons, there was a plot to overthrow David with the use of his trusted counselor. David's son sought the counsel of those his age instead of the wisdom of those that help bring David to power. David had seen the shadow of death many times on the battle field, as he slew his tens of thousands. For thou art with me, what greater assurance does the man or woman of God needed than those words? David in a right standing with God was never alone. Jesus promised the New Testament believers that he would never leave us nor forsake us. Jesus would go with you even until the end, that place don't exist to Jesus. ( the end ) I will fear no evil, evil has no place in the life of a child of God. Time after time Christian's make the devil much bigger than he really is. Satan has to go to God to get permission to attack God's people, "remember Job". Thy rod and thy staff comforts me, something about having the great Shepherd tending to you as his sheep. I think, I understand what John meant when he penned, Greater is he, that is in us, than he that is in the world.David says, thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Many that partook of the table of King David, were his enemies especially those that thought with age David was ripe for overthrowing. David reminds himself that God had anointed his head with oil, God choses a man after his own heart. David had no say so in God replacing a rebellious king with a righteous king. My cup runneth over, reminds me of Micheal Comb's song, Drinking from my saucer cause my cup has over flowed. David had his cup over flow as he danced before the Lord in returning the Ark of the Lord. David spoke of goodness and mercy following him all the days of his life. God has that in store for all that will call upon the name of the Lord. Goodness, only good things come from the Lord, God has so much that he would do, if only we would let him. Mercy, thank God for his mercy after David had a faithful servant killed to cover up David's sin of fornicating with his wife. David saw the promise of one day dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. There is a heaven that even those of the old testament understood as dwelling in the house of the Lord. Jesus even made it plainer than that by telling us that he's going to prepare us a place in my Father's house. An where I am there ye may be also, a prepared place for a prepared people. Surely, God's goodness and mercy is what you would have follow you all the remaining days of your life. Is the Lord Jesus your Shepherd? Shouldn't he be the Lord of your life? Why not today? |
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