Psalm 23
Scripture:
Psalms 23:1-3
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Observation:
David was a shepherd in his youth, so he understands what it means to be a shepherd. In Psalms 23, he uses the shepherd/sheep analogy to describe the relationship between God and his people. The shepherd cares for his flock; he anticipates and provides for their needs and protection. Sheep follow their shepherd. If they do, he guides them and provides for all their needs. If they don’t, they face the consequences of danger, hunger, and isolation (sheep are social animals and become agitated when separated from their flock).
Understanding:
David was a shepherd in Israel. I have never been there, but in pictures, the terrain looks kind of similar to Southern California. I haven’t come across a whole lot of naturally occurring green pastures and quiet waters in So Cal. I’m not saying they don’t exist, but that they are few and far between. So, to be a shepherd in Israel would take knowledge, wisdom, and planning to know where to move your sheep, throughout all the different seasons of the year, to make sure their needs were met. It’s your job to keep those sheep alive, healthy, and thriving. I’m sure that sometimes that meant long, dry, dusty, tiring treks. I’m also sure there were times those sheep weren’t happy. I can hear Sally Sheep now:
“Baa - I’ve had enough of this incessant walking for days. I love my shepherd and he usually takes good care of me, but this time I’m not so sure he knows what he’s doing. I’m so thirsty. I’m hungry. I’m tired. We’re never going to get to the next oasis. Baa - I’m going to go find myself some grass and water that are closer.”
Sally has forgotten that if she follows the shepherd, her needs will be met. But she’s soon going to find out what it means when she is no longer under the shepherd’s protection. The shepherd knows the right path. Let me say that again: THE SHEPHERD KNOWS THE RIGHT PATH.
Life Application:
Deep down, do we truly believe that God knows the right path for us? Or do we think we know better? He says all we need to do is follow His direction. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
Thank you God for this reminder. All I need is to follow You. You know the right path for me.
-Debbie Dunn
Deuteronomy 8
Scripture
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
“He did this all so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.”
Observation-What does it say?
God continues to speak to Moses so that Moses can relay God’s commands to the Israelites. God wants Moses to remind the Israelites of all the struggles that they have been through, and how God has always been faithful for rescuing them, providing for their every need, and guiding them. God wants Moses and the Israelites to always remember Him and obey His commandments. God will be bringing them into a land flowing with milk and honey and does not want the people to forget how and WHO got them there. God warns them not to get too prideful from their success, but rather remain faithful to obey His commands.
Understanding-What does it mean?
“The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.””-Job 1:21b NIV
One thing that keeps me humble in life is knowing that as hard and as long as it may have taken me to accumulate my success’-(job, money, health, family, etc), God is able to take it away from me in an instant. Now although God may not want to take away His blessings from me, I understand that I must remember that it is because of God that I am where I am. It is God who blesses me with the physical strength, mental capacity, work ethic, and discipline to achieve what I have. So, I must make sure to never think that I did it on my own strength, but rather God’s. I must make sure to thank God and give Him all the glory and praise every single day because as soon as I try to fool myself and think I can do it on my own and make it without Him, I’m certain troubles will come my way. It’s like how God warns the people of Israel in this passage:
““But I assure you of this: If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.” -Deuteronomy 8:19
Life Application
Be thankful and remember all that God has done for me.
Spend some time in prayer today. Reflect on all the things God has done for you and brought you through. Thank God for all He has done. Give Him all your worship and praise. God deserves it! 🙏🏽🙌🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽
-Moses Gaddi
Deuteronomy 7
SCRIPTURE
Deuteronomy 7:17-18
You may say to yourselves, “These nations are stronger than we are. How can we drive them out?” But do not be afraid of them; remember well what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt.
OBSERVATION – What does it say?
The Israelites had been miraculously delivered from the Egyptians where they were slaves for over 400 years. God was bringing them through the wilderness to the land he had promised to give them. In this chapter, God speaks to the Israelites through Moses about how they are to drive out all the nations who currently lived in the land God promised them.
Many of the nations currently living in the promised land were large, powerful and stronger than the Israelites. So naturally, the thought of engaging in a fight with them brought fear.
God commands them not to be afraid, but to look back and remember that the same God who delivered them from the Egyptians in the past will deliver them from every nation that they face in the future.
UNDERSTANDING – What does it mean?
“REMEMBER WELL WHAT THE LORD YOUR GOD DID.”
Several years ago I found myself once again stressed about finances. I was crying out to God for help and I sensed God ask me, “How many times have you been worried about finances before?” Embarrassed I knew the answer was more times than I could count. Then I sensed God say, “And you’re still here, right?” I looked around and it was like the light bulb finally went on. God has provided for me every single time. I still had a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food in my stomach. For every time it looked like I wasn’t going to make it, God came through. Ever since that day, I can honestly say that I haven’t gotten stressed about finances.
The day after Jesus fed the 4,000 he was in a boat with his disciples when a couple of them began to panic because they forgot to bring bread for their journey. Jesus responded, “Do you still not understand?!” He pointed to two occasions in the past where there was a great need and he provided so much that there was a bunch left over. In other words he was saying, “How long until you get it? Remember well what the Lord your God did and you’ll learn that with God you’ll never have to worry about having enough bread.”
David had courage to face Goliath because he remembered well. He told king Saul: “The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:37)
May God bring this lesson to mind next time we read the verse on the wall of our Family Room, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
LIFE APPLICATION
What is your need today? What is causing you fear today? Look back and “remember well what the Lord your God did.” In scripture. In your own experience. The same God who delivered/provided/protected/healed/saved in the past will do the same for you today.
God, forgive me for the times I give into fear and anxiety. I choose to remember well what you’ve done in the past and put my faith in you for the things I’m facing today. Amen.
- Levi Thompson