Another Take on Psalm 23

Today I want to share a contemporary take on Psalm 23 ~ written by Todd Chobotar - found in a  little book Creation Health Devotional for living life to the fullest,  "Written to be read as a person prayer to God- and intimate conversation with the Good Shepherd." 

Psalm 23: A Prayer For Hurting and Hopeful Hearts

Lord, you are my Faithful Shepherd.
You meet all my deepest needs.

You guide my weary heart to safe pastures,
and lead me beside peaceful waters.
You offer rest for my restless soul.

For the sake of your good name
you put my feet on the road to righteousness.

But even if I walk down desolate pathways
of pain or sorrow, disease or death,
I won't be afraid.
For suffering has no victory
if you're with me.

Your presence is all the comfort
and courage I need.

You give me reasons to celebrate
in spite of my trials.
You bless me with unexpected joy.
My heart overflows.

Your love and grace follow me
all the days of my life.
I'm grateful and secure knowing
that you, my Faithful Shepherd,
Hold me in your arms
and will never let me go.
Not now. Not ever.

Amen

New Insight into Psalm 23...series

"In Isaiah 43:1-3 the Lord in speaking to His own says: "I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the water, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flam kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD they God, the Holy One of Israel, they Saviour; I gave Egypt for they ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee."
These verses do not promise immunity from sorrow. They do not guarantee that the floods and fires of sorrow and affliction will not come; but they do guarantee that when they come, the Shepherd will go through them with us and will see to it that the floods do not overflow and that the flames do not kindle upon us. He proved that He was as good as His word in Noah's day and in the day of the three Hebrew children. He is still proving every hour of every day that He is as good as His word."
~page 79

New Insight into Psalm 23...series

"We look at the tapestry of our life with its beautiful pattern of variegated colors, and there is a particular spot which is woven in deep crimson. It was there that we suffered so terribly. We reach out and tear that crimson spot out of the whole beautiful fabric and say, "this is life. It is hard. It is cruel. It is unfair." But wait. Put that crimson piece back into the tapestry and stand off and view it in its relationship to the golds and the purples and the blues which surround it, and you will discover that it required just that crimson spot in your life to complete the beauty in the pattern. Without it the whole pattern would have been flat. So often we tear one page out of the book of our life- that page which was written in scarlet letters  of awful agony- and we say, "This is life." No, put the page back into the book and read the whole book- begin with babyhood, read on through childhood, youth, young womanhood, young manhood, on down through the sunset days of old age- and you will discover that the book would have been terribly dull were it not for such pages. Our trouble is that we forget the blues and the golds already woven into the pattern, and the pages of pleasure already written into the book, and since we cannot see what the future is to produce, we get terribly afraid as we view the awful present. But remember that you are in the one who sees it all and, seeing to the end, He turns to you and whispers, "Fear not."
If we could see what HE sees, if we could see ourselves arriving with Him and in Him at the destination of eternity, then our fears would be allayed. No, we cannot see what He sees, but I'll tell you what we can do: we can hear what He says; and in spite of all the tragedy and suffering which His omniscient eye detects as coming into our life in the days ahead, He sees with that same omniscient eye our safe arrival in eternity. So, cannot we trust Him even though we cannot see? If by some means you could be made absolutely certain that you were going to arrive safely and without harm at a certain destination, would not that assurance and guarantee in itself be sufficient to allay any fear which might be occasioned by a bit of rough going enroute? The one who not only sees the end from the beginning, but who also maps out the course and does that driving, whispers in your ear today, "I am the first. I am the last. I was dead. I am alive. I know all the way, and I know the end of the way, and I am saying to you today, 'Fear not.' "
~page 74

New Insight into Psalm 23...series

"Considering further our little side trip into Colossians under the subject of guidance, we would point out that there are seven direct results enumerated by Paul which will be found in the life of every individual, and in the collective life of every church, where the will of God is known and done in God's way. Paul prays that these Colossian Christians may be filled with the knowledge of God's will in order that they may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing(in all things to please God), that they may be fruitful unto every good work, that they may increase in the knowledge of God, that they might be strengthened with all might according to His glorious power, that they might have all patience in longsuffering , that they might be joyful, and furthermore, that they might give thanks unto the Father. Here, then, are seven things which will characterize the life of every person who knows and does the will of God in God's way. He will be obedient, fruitful, growing, strengthened, patient, joyful and thankful."
~page 63

New Insight into Psalm 23...series

"It was alone with God on the back side of the desert that Moses learned a lot of things about God, as well as learning how to do His will...…
When He calls us to come aside and spend some time alone with Him then He can make us realize just how precious and wonderful He is. There, alone with God on "the backside of the desert, the
enemy of your soul cannot gild the sands of that spot!
There, alone with God, the din and confusion of the world do not fall upon your ear in that distant place.
There, alone with God, the crash in the money and commercial world is not heard.
There, alone with God, the sigh of ambition is not heard.
There, alone with God, the world's laurels do not tempt.
There, alone with God, the thirst for gold is not felt.
There, alone with God, the eye is never dimmed with lust.
There, alone with God, the heart is never swollen with pride.
There, alone with God, human applause does not elate.
There, alone with God, human censure does not depress.
There, alone with God, nothing is seen or heard except the stillness and light of God's presence.
Would to God that all of us would know more about "the backside of the desert" of an aloneness with God!
Alone with God is the place of searching for the guidance of God, and the place of committal to it.
The experience of the "backside of the desert" of an aloneness with God may mean for you what Isiah meant. When speaking of Christ's ministry to us he said, "To give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD that he might be glorified.(Isaiah 61:3). "
~page 61

New Insight into Psalm 23....series

“These days we need to know the secret that’s been occupied only with Him and not with “things.” Martha got into trouble worried about “things.” Mary got into blessing by being occupied with Him. As a faithful Shepherd our Lord must lead us into the shadows as well as into the sunshine. It is how we react that makes the difference between defeat and victory. If we become preoccupied with the shadows, we will become cynical, bitter, discouraged, and defeated. If we become preoccupied with the sunshine, we will become self-satisfied, self-centered, thoughtless the other, and worse still, forgetful of Him. But if we remain preoccupied with the Shepherd, regardless of shadow or sunshine, we will survive the peril of both with Victory!” page 46

New Insight into Psalm 23....series

Today we are looking at the New Testament. 

"Has the Spirit been able to write with your life.?
Our love of the "green pastures" of the Bible will be greatly intensified if we realize that on almost every page of it we will find our lovely Lord waiting for us. Here is where we can find Christ at least once in every book of the Bible:

In Matthew
He is the King of the Jews (2:1).

In Mark
He is the Servant of Jehovah (entire book)

In Luke
He is the perfect Son of man (3:38, 4:1-13).

In John
He is the Son of God (1:1).

In Acts
He is the ascended Lord (1:8-9).

In Romans
He is our righteousness (3:22).

In 1 Corinthians
He is the firstfruits from among the dead (15:20).

In 2 Corinthians
He is made sin for us (5:21).

In Galatians
He is the end of the law (3:10; 3:13).

In Ephesians
He is our armor (6:11-18).

In Philippians
He is the Supplier of every need (4:19).

In Colossians
He is the preeminent one (1:18).

In 1 Thessalonians
He is our returning Lord (4:15-18).

In 2 Thessalonians
He is the world's returning Judge (1:7-9).

In 1 Timothy
He is the Mediator (2:5).

In 2 Timothy
He is the Bestower of crowns (4:8).

In Titus
He is our great God and Saviour (2:13).

In Philemon
He is the Father's Partner (vv. 17-19).

In Hebrews
He is the rest of faith and Fulfiller of types (chap 11; 12:1-2; Chap 9).

In James
He is the Lord of Sabaoth (5:4).
(So I looked this up and did not see Lord of the Sabbath in that verse but I found it is Matthew 12:1-21 and Mark 2:27-28)

In 1 Peter
He is the theme of Old Testament prophecy (1:10-11).

In 2 Peter
He is the long suffering Saviour (3:9).

In 1 John
He is the Word of life (1:1).

In 2 John
He is the target of the Antichrist (v. 7).

In 3 John
He is the personification of truth (vv. 3-4).

In Jude He is the believer's security (vv. 24-25).

In Revelation
He is the King of Kings and Lord of lords (19:11-16).

Your Bible will be a new book to you when you learn to discern the outline of His glorious person in the story of other persons and events recorded there."
~page 36

New Insight into Psalm 23 ....series

"Has the Spirit been able to write with your life.?
Our love of the "green pastures" of the Bible will be greatly intensified if we realize that on almost every page of it we will find our lovely Lord waiting for us. Here is where we can find Christ at least once in every book of the Bible:

In Genesis
He is the Creator and Seed of the woman ( 1:1, 3:15).

In Exodus
He is the Lamb of God for sinners slain (chap. 12). 

In Leviticus
He is our High Priest (entire book).

In Numbers
He is the Star out of Jacob (24:17).

In Deuteronomy
He is the Prophet like unto Moses (18:15).

In Joshua
He is the Captain of the Lord's host (5:13-15).

In Judges
He is the Messenger of Jehovah (3:15-30).

In Ruth
He is our Kinsman-Redeemer (chap. 3).

In Samuel
He is the despised and rejected King (1 Sam. 16-19).

In Kings and Chronicles
He is the Lord of lords and King of kings (1 Chro. 12:38-40).

In Ezra and Nehemiah
He is the Lord of heaven and earth (entire books)

In Esther
He is our Mordecai (chap. 10).

In Job
He is our risen and returning Redeemer (19:25).

In Psalm
He is the blessed Man of Psalm 1.
He is the Son of God of Psalm 2.
He is the Son of man of Psalm 8.
He is the crucified one of Psalm 22.
HE is the risen one of Psalm 23.
He is the coming one of Psalm 24.
He is the reigning one of Psalm 72.
He is the Leader of praise of Psalm 150.

In Proverbs
He is our wisdom (Chapter 4).

In Ecclesiastes
He is the forgotten wise Man (9:14-15).

In Song of Solomon
He is my Beloved (2:16).

In Isaiah
He is our suffering substitute (Chap 53).

In Jeremiah
He is the Lord our righteousness (23:6).

In Lamentations
He is the Man of sorrows (1:12-18).

In Ezekiel He is the one sitting on the throne (1:26).

In Daniel
He is the smiting stone (2:34).

In Hosea
He is David's greater King (3:5).

In Joel
He is the Lord of bounty (2:18-19).

In Amos
He is the Rescuer of Israel (3:12).

In Obadiah
He is the Deliverer upon Mount Zion (v. 17).

In Jonah
He is the buried and risen Saviour (entire book)

In Micah
He is the everlasting God (5:2).

In Nahum
He is our Stronghold in the day of wrath. ( 1:7).

In Habakkuk
He is the anchor of our faith (2:4).

In Zephaniah
He is in the midst for judgment and cleansing (3:5, 15).

In Haggai
He is the Lord of presence and power (1:13).

In Zechariah
He is the smitten Shepherd (13:7).

In Malachi
He is the sun of righteousness (4:2). "
~ page 34

Oh MY!! What a lot of typing. Come back tomorrow for the New Testament. :O)

New Insight into Psalm 23...series

“History tells us that Napoleon once called all of his soldiers to stand in review before him. He told them that there was a very important and dangerous commission to be carried out. He informed them that it would take only one man to do it, but that it would mean certain death to the one who undertook it. He said he would turn his back for a moment, and the one who would volunteer should step forward one pace. When he looked again at his army the ranks were unbroken. Not a man was found. One of the soldiers, seeing the grief upon Napoleon’s face, said, “Sir, we all step forward.”
What a day of revival and blessing there would be in this world if every child of God would “step forward” to every command of our Commander!”
~ page 32

New Insight Into Psalm 23...series

"He is not forever to live solely in the glorious realization of sins forgiven through the crucifixion of the good Shepherd. The appeal is to move on from that blessed vantage point into a fuller, richer, deeper, sweeter experience of an increasing knowledge of what the risen Shepherd wants to do for him here and how. This is the story of Psalm 23."

Please remember that as I share these awesome quotes from this book - I am only sharing tidbits of the book. There are so many wonderful quotes sometimes it is hard to decide what to share. I hope that these quotes bless your heart. :O)

New Insight into Psalm 23 series

“Every day and every hour and every moment I have to have Someone living for me and in me who can crucify every unholy thought, every unholy act, and keep me in a place of usableness before a holy God. And that is exactly what we see Him doing in Psalm 23.”

~”I Shall Not Want” by Robert T. Ketcham

New Insight into Psalm 23

I am SO very lucky to have a small thrift store nearby that has some great people who donate things to it, because I end up with some of the greatest books there are. I really feel blessed. The last few weeks the thrift store is running a sale on books - so most books are 50 cents unless it is a small book - then she only charges 25 cents. I am not sure how much she charged for this book but 50 cents would have been the most she would have. I think that was an awesome deal. I have only read the first chapter and was SO very blessed by it. I will only be pulling out the excellent quotes that really speak to me to share with you. By the way - this is such a great book - I am on the look out for me - so I can share it!!

 

 

“ The glorious truth that they(Christians) should be meeting Him every day in green pastures and beside still waters has never dawned upon them, or at least has never become a blessed, daily experience in their Christian life. True it is that one cannot know Christ as Shepherd without knowing Him as Savior, but the tragedy is that born again believers who know Him as Savior may never know Him in their daily experience as a blessed present Shepherd.”

 “I Shall Not Want” by Robert T. Ketchum pg.11 of this awesome new book I’m reading. I have only read the first chapter and wow! What insight into the 23rd Psalm. Be watching for more great quotes!! :O)

Digging Deeper into Psalm 23...part 2

Last week as I was sharing the deeper insight into Psalm 23 with my sister, she shared something she had heard on a Christian Radio Station (click on link to check out this Christian radio station - you can even listen live.

"The rod and staff are for beating off the wolves...they comfort the sheep...they do not scare the sheep. So if sheep/us stay close to the Shepherd He beats back the wolves/devil."

"The shepherd does not beat the sheep when they do wrong...that isn't the purpose of the rod/staff."

I looked up in my Andrew's Study Bible to see if there was any insight for us there and this is what I found:

Your rod and Your staff~ The ancient shepherd carried a 2-3 ft. long metal-tipped rod to ward off wild animals and a long crooked staff to rescue straying sheep.

comfort~  In Hebrew the word picture is "give forth signs of contentment." indicating total relaxation.

This insight helps us more deeply understand the phrase :
"Your rod and staff, they comfort me. "

I love digging deeper. If any of you have any digging deeper gems to share about Psalms 23, I would love to hear them. Please leave me a comment with them :O)

Digging Deeper into Psalm 23

I love to hear sermons in which it is obvious that the speaker has spent many hours with Jesus. This is shown by humility and special insight into the Word of God. Last Sabbath I was blessed to hear such a sermon.

Psalm 23 is a very popular passage. Sometimes because it is so commonly read/quoted we can think that we totally get it. But I believe there are many hidden gems in this passage, as in the whole Bible, for us to find!

1 A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. 

Psalm 23                   

 

         So our pastor was explaining that fly's and bugs like to bother sheep especially around their eyes and mouth, places where the wool is not protecting the sheep. They can cause blindness to the sheep, or even kill them if the shepherd does not cover them in oil.

 

We need to be so seeped in the oil(Holy Spirit) that the trials of live won't bother us. A person relationship with Jesus Christ is what brings the Holy Spirit into out lives and as we dig deeper into the truths that God has for us in His Word, we become more seeped in the oil, which is the Holy Spirit.

 

The Holy Spirit comes with baggage. Normally baggage is a bad thing, but not when it comes to the baggage that the Holy Spirit has. Along with the Holy Spirit comes things like:

• mercy
• amazing grace
• truth
• and the list goes on

Isn't that beautiful?!

 

See why I like these types of sermons? When I get a more clear glimpse into the heart of Jesus and when he want me to do, I am blessed and drawn closer to Him. When sharing this sermon with my sister she shared more insight into Psalm 23. Come back next week when I will unfold even more insight into this special passage in the Bible.

 

 

 

The Twenty-Third Psalm For Today...serie.. finale

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To that only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."

 Jude 24, 34

 



The Twenty-Third Psalm For Today....Eternal LIfe

 

...and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

 

Eternal Life

 

"I am the resurrection, and the life; he that believeth in me, though in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
John 11:25-26

 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed form death unto life."

John 5:24

 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should no perish, but have everlasting life."

John 3:16

 

"In my Father's house are any mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

John 14:2,3



The Twenty-Third Psalm For Today... Assurance

 

 

 

Yea, though I walk

 through the valley

 of the shadow of

 death, I will fear

 no evil...

 

Assurance

...our Saviour, Jesus Christ,

 who hath abolished death, and

 hath brought life and

 immortality to light through

the gospel:...

2 Timothy 1:10

 

But now is Christ risen from the

dead, and become the firstfruits

of them that slept.

1 Corinthians 15:20

 

Wherefore he is able also to

 save them to the  uttermost that

come unto God by Him, seeing

he ever liveth to make

intercession for them.
Hebrews 7:25

 

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
I Corinthians 15:26

 

And God shall wipe away all

tears from their eyes; and there

shall be no more death, neither

sorrow, nor crying, neither shall

 there be any more pain: for the

former things are passed away.

Revelations 21:4

The Twenty-Third Psalm For Today... Guidance

...He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Guidance

The steps of a good Man are

ordered by the Lord; and he

 delighteth in his way.

Psalm 37:23

 

I will instruct thee and teach

thee in the way which thou shalt

go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Psalm 32:8

 

They word is a lamp unto my

feet, and a light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

 

Then sake Jesus...saying, I

am the light of the world; he that

followeth me shall not walk in

darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8:12

 

And thine ears shall hear a word

behind thee, saying, This is the

way, walk ye in it, when ye turn

to the right hand, and when ye

turn to the left.

Isaiah 30:21

The Twenty-Third Psalm For Today.... Strength

He restoreth my soul...

Strength

 

"The Lord is my strenght and my shield; my

 heart trusted in him,

And I am helped; therefor my

heart greatly rejoiceth; and with

 my song will I praise Him."

Psalm 28:7

 

"...in quietness and in confidence

 shall be your strength:..."  

Isaiah 30:15

 

"...be strong in the Lord and in

the power of his might. Put on

the whole armour of God, that

ye may be able to stand against

 the wiles of the devil."

Ephesians 6:10,11

 

"...for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Nehemiah 8:10

 

"Now I know that the Lord saveth

 His anointed; He will hear him

 from His holy heavens with the

saving strength of His right hand."

Psalm 20:6

 

"But they that wait upon the Lord

 shall renew their strength; they

 shall mount up with winds as

 eagles; they shall run, and not be

 weary; and they shall walk, and

 not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

 

The Twenty-Third Psalm For Today ~ Peace

...he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Peace

Thou wilt keep him in perfect

peace, whose mind is stayed on

thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Isaiah 26:3

 

Come unto me, all ye that labour

and are heavy laden, and I will

give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

joy, peace,...

Galatians 5:22

 

Be careful for nothing; but in

everything by prayer and

supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known

unto God. And the peace of God,

which passeth all understanding, shall

keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6,7

 

Now the God of hope fill you

with all joy and peace in

 believing, that ye may abound

 in hope, through the power

 of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13