Psalm 23
Video!! https://www.facebook.com/gregory.dubois.547/videos/10157757345591195
I hear that psalm read at nearly every funeral. I suppose that is because it
specifically mentions death, and the shadow of death, in the context of how the
Good Shepherd protects us and relieves us of the fear of death. But at a
funeral, fearful death has already passed. The survivors may be comforted by
the hope of the gospel, to think that their dearly departed is suffering no
more, safe in the arms of Jesus.
But, before the funeral, or after it, do people really walk about, fearlessly trusting in that good shepherd, for everyday life? Most of the time everyday life is so ordinary that we don’t even think about how fragile life is. Any moment could be your last moment on earth, from any number of causes. But we’re not afraid of that fact. We usually go about our business without even thinking about it.
Yet it is good for us to at least be conscious of the frailty and unpredictability of life. James says so where it is written: “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Now, we are not living in ordinary times. We are all walking together through the valley of the shadow of death! The corona virus has us all on the alert. The threat looms large. Why, you do not even know whether or not the person next to you is or is not a carrier. Truth be told, unless you are sick or feeling symptoms, you don’t even know whether or not you’re a carrier who could make someone else sick.
There is a lot of talk about self-quarantining. That is an important means of slowing the spread of the virus. One of my friends mentioned that he saw somewhere on the web that the Latin root of the word quarantine is a numerical term for -forty- and it does tie into Lent. So, I just had to look that up! On Wikipedia we find: The word quarantine comes from quarantena, meaning "forty days." It was first used in 14th-15th-century Venetian language and designated the period that all ships were required to be isolated before passengers and crew could go ashore during the Black Death plague epidemic. Originally it was only a thirty-day isolation period, or trentino, first imposed in 1377.
On another, more scientific website, I learned that no one knows for certain why the isolation period was extended from 30, to 40 days, but scholars have a few hunches. There’s a lot of cultural meaning packed into the number 40—plenty of Biblical events draw upon the number, such as Jesus’ fast in the desert, Moses’ time on Mount Sinai, and the Christian observation of Lent.
Lent is the period of the church year we are in now, leading up to Easter. It was designated as a period of separation for spiritual cleansing and preparation for baptism of new believers. It came to stand for an annual reminder of our frailty and our need to repent of ongoing sins. Here we all thought Lent this year would be giving up chocolate or something else. Instead we’re giving up lots of convenience and social contact. It seems like God is saying, “I’m taking it all away.”
So, as we respond to this crisis and deal with all the inconveniences and frustrations and fears that come along with such unusual circumstances, what might Christians have to offer to the world at this time?
In the 23rd Psalm, beside the assurance of God walking with us through the valley of the shadow of death, we have additional assurances of God’s provision and His concern for us. The whole psalm is developed on a metaphor, that God takes care of his people with at least the same devotion and care that a good shepherd expends on his precious flock of sheep.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing,” or in the older language, “I shall not want.” We can make a distinction between what we want and what we really need. I may want to eat a lot more fast food and ice cream. But we all know that what we really need is a healthy balanced diet. And having said that, can we acknowledge the ways we struggle with that distinction and how much we prefer our wants over our needs?
In another example, we may still want to move about freely and enjoy our friends and family as usual. But at this moment we need to be more careful, no matter how much we don’t like it. Some are even rebellious about social distancing and shutting down. They may believe it’s all hype and nonsense, serving the purpose of some diabolical plan to get us all under government control. I believe we are dealing with a seriously deadly and highly contagious disease! So, we’re being very careful about not getting sick or spreading it. Ultimately, each of us will behave according to what we believe is the truth.
Spiritually it is even harder to accept the difference between what we want and what God says we really need. We all want to worship God in our own way, or ignore him all together, depending on what we believe He is really like, or if He’s even there. We all want our own ideas about God and this world to be good enough. But what we really need is a reliable source of truth that we can trust. The Bible is that. This is not the time to go into all the details of why I believe that. But you can ask me, even in the comments, if you’re watching this Live feed.
What I will say is, what the Bible offers as the Truth about God is, that he loves us very much and has offered forgiveness for sin through Jesus on the cross. What we need more than anything else is to believe in that, and act accordingly, so that we can be alive in Christ forever. Then, even if we die from the virus in this mortal body, at least we have the assurance that we will still live forever, in a brand new body that can never get sick again!
The 23rd psalm goes on to say, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” I really appreciate how those three images speak of a peace that surpasses understanding. Real sheep never lie down unless they are absolutely sure that they are safe and secure. Otherwise they stay on their feet, ready to run from any sign of danger.
Real sheep will not take a drink from any water source except a quiet one, such as a puddle, or a stream that is so smooth you can’t hear it rippling over pebbles as it slips silently along. Real shepherds often have to go to a lot of trouble to draw water up from a well and pour it into a low trough specially prepared for the sheep to have the quiet waters they need.
Green grass and clear, quiet water refresh the sheep. For Christians, the Word of God feeds and refreshes us so that we are restored and ready to step out in faith to serve the needs of others. Jesus said some things that relate to this idea. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This world has many things that stress us out, now more than ever as we endure the corona virus crisis. Stress comes from outside of us. But how we respond to and manage stress comes from inside. Relying on Christ and trusting in him enables us to bear all things. Jesus also said, in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” And then a little later, in verse 33, He advised, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” That path is straight and narrow. God is still in charge of everything. He is the guide for those who follow him by trusting in Jesus and allowing him to be the Lord of life. There are plenty of people in this world who don’t walk this way with God. There are even those who say, “Oh, I believe in God.” But any who do not have a personal acquaintance with the real God through Jesus are in danger of going down the wrong path, the wide one. Jesus says, ““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” That is Matthew 7:13. That is the Good Shepherd leading you.
If you are with Jesus then you can joyfully and boldly proclaim with David: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
If we have God’s peace that passes understanding, we ought to also have a fearlessness about risking our lives to bless and heal others. It’s a lot like the Christian in the waters while the titanic sank. Rather than save himself, he kept swimming and pushing other people up into lifeboats. He asked many of them, “Are you a Christian?” And particularly if they said “No,” he urged them into the lifeboats so that they could get a chance to be saved for eternal life. Many lives were saved by his hands, both from the waters and from the fires of hell. But he himself drowned when he became exhausted after helping one more into a lifeboat. He slipped under before anyone could grab him.
We do not need to be that reckless in our situation. We should follow the CDC guidelines to protect ourselves as much as we can by social distancing and cleanliness. Even soldiers on the front lines of battle, fearless though they may be, also go with all the protection they can have, to be as safe as possible. That is what armor is for. But if we are sure of our own salvation, then we can be fearless because we are as safe as possible as we try to make sure that everyone else around us receives the care and attention they need, especially with regard to their eternal destiny.
I am grateful for the human kindness around us that is working to make sure that every school age student doesn’t miss the school breakfasts and lunches, and that the gap in service is met by our provision. I am praying for the elderly we might miss because they are so quiet and don’t venture out at all. One way to make sure that everyone gets noticed is for everyone who can to look around for them. I encourage all of you, everyone who hears this message to check on your neighbors. Call if you can. Visit if you must. You can stay safely outside the front door and you can find out if they are okay or if they need anything or if you can pray for them
One of my greatest concerns for all of us anywhere is to find a way to make sure that every unseen senior citizen who is alone and scared and hunkering down in their houses gets noticed, fed and comforted with the gospel. Also highly contagious is kindness, patience, love, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude. Don’t wait to catch it from pothers. Be a carrier!
We don’t have to fear death because for us to live is Christ. To die is gain. So, we win either way. It doesn't matter if we ever have church service in a building again, if we aren't the Church now. But if we will step up and step into the fray then let us go as people who believe the same thing David believed about God, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Lenten Observance: Psalm 23: 1-4 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Good Shepherd, we know these Words. We believe they are true. We bravely sing. Yet in our human frailty we often find it so difficult to completely entrust ourselves to Your care. Especially in these days we need the rod and staff of your Holy Spirit to reassure us of Your presence and forgive us for our fearfulness.
We praise You Lord for your love and grace and mercy that take away our fears as we rest in you. And yet we must confess, forgive us Lord, for the times and ways we all like sheep have gone astray.
Thank You Good Shepherd for calling us back to you, through the gospel message of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Thank you for the cross, by which we know your love, and by which we are saved from eternal death unto eternal life. Thank you for your grace that loved us first while we were still sinners, so that we could turn to you and know we’ll be forgiven.
Lord we pray in this day for all the people around the world who are suffering the most by being ill and dying from covid 19. Please bless and heal! Protect vulnerable people. That’s all of us, from becoming infected. May our social practices and cleanliness be effective in stopping further transmission of the disease. Be with our Dr.s and other medical personnel. Protect them and bless them as they work tirelessly to care for the ill and fined cures and treatments. Give them much success quickly Lord Jesus!
As people around the world suffer socially and economically, please bless and comfort those who are hardest hit. Provide the resources for survival and recovery. May all look to you for help and hope, and salvation. Thank you for the schools that are able to still hand out lunches to kids who aren’t in school
Bless the businesses that are suffering loss of income, even as they also try to be resourceful and helpful to meet other needs in the community.
Bless all the congregations to see all that we have in common as the Body of Christ, the only Church that really exists. Many ministries have talked about the church without walls for years now. It ought to be noticed that this crisis has forced us into that reality. Many church buildings are empty. But the Church, the people of God, is still alive and active to care for others, and to serve as your ambassadors of the gospel. May we serve faithfully and bear much fruit as more and more people turn to you in this difficult time. We ask it all in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
Video!! https://www.facebook.com/gregory.dubois.547/videos/10157757345591195
But, before the funeral, or after it, do people really walk about, fearlessly trusting in that good shepherd, for everyday life? Most of the time everyday life is so ordinary that we don’t even think about how fragile life is. Any moment could be your last moment on earth, from any number of causes. But we’re not afraid of that fact. We usually go about our business without even thinking about it.
Yet it is good for us to at least be conscious of the frailty and unpredictability of life. James says so where it is written: “Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Now, we are not living in ordinary times. We are all walking together through the valley of the shadow of death! The corona virus has us all on the alert. The threat looms large. Why, you do not even know whether or not the person next to you is or is not a carrier. Truth be told, unless you are sick or feeling symptoms, you don’t even know whether or not you’re a carrier who could make someone else sick.
There is a lot of talk about self-quarantining. That is an important means of slowing the spread of the virus. One of my friends mentioned that he saw somewhere on the web that the Latin root of the word quarantine is a numerical term for -forty- and it does tie into Lent. So, I just had to look that up! On Wikipedia we find: The word quarantine comes from quarantena, meaning "forty days." It was first used in 14th-15th-century Venetian language and designated the period that all ships were required to be isolated before passengers and crew could go ashore during the Black Death plague epidemic. Originally it was only a thirty-day isolation period, or trentino, first imposed in 1377.
On another, more scientific website, I learned that no one knows for certain why the isolation period was extended from 30, to 40 days, but scholars have a few hunches. There’s a lot of cultural meaning packed into the number 40—plenty of Biblical events draw upon the number, such as Jesus’ fast in the desert, Moses’ time on Mount Sinai, and the Christian observation of Lent.
Lent is the period of the church year we are in now, leading up to Easter. It was designated as a period of separation for spiritual cleansing and preparation for baptism of new believers. It came to stand for an annual reminder of our frailty and our need to repent of ongoing sins. Here we all thought Lent this year would be giving up chocolate or something else. Instead we’re giving up lots of convenience and social contact. It seems like God is saying, “I’m taking it all away.”
So, as we respond to this crisis and deal with all the inconveniences and frustrations and fears that come along with such unusual circumstances, what might Christians have to offer to the world at this time?
In the 23rd Psalm, beside the assurance of God walking with us through the valley of the shadow of death, we have additional assurances of God’s provision and His concern for us. The whole psalm is developed on a metaphor, that God takes care of his people with at least the same devotion and care that a good shepherd expends on his precious flock of sheep.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing,” or in the older language, “I shall not want.” We can make a distinction between what we want and what we really need. I may want to eat a lot more fast food and ice cream. But we all know that what we really need is a healthy balanced diet. And having said that, can we acknowledge the ways we struggle with that distinction and how much we prefer our wants over our needs?
In another example, we may still want to move about freely and enjoy our friends and family as usual. But at this moment we need to be more careful, no matter how much we don’t like it. Some are even rebellious about social distancing and shutting down. They may believe it’s all hype and nonsense, serving the purpose of some diabolical plan to get us all under government control. I believe we are dealing with a seriously deadly and highly contagious disease! So, we’re being very careful about not getting sick or spreading it. Ultimately, each of us will behave according to what we believe is the truth.
Spiritually it is even harder to accept the difference between what we want and what God says we really need. We all want to worship God in our own way, or ignore him all together, depending on what we believe He is really like, or if He’s even there. We all want our own ideas about God and this world to be good enough. But what we really need is a reliable source of truth that we can trust. The Bible is that. This is not the time to go into all the details of why I believe that. But you can ask me, even in the comments, if you’re watching this Live feed.
What I will say is, what the Bible offers as the Truth about God is, that he loves us very much and has offered forgiveness for sin through Jesus on the cross. What we need more than anything else is to believe in that, and act accordingly, so that we can be alive in Christ forever. Then, even if we die from the virus in this mortal body, at least we have the assurance that we will still live forever, in a brand new body that can never get sick again!
The 23rd psalm goes on to say, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” I really appreciate how those three images speak of a peace that surpasses understanding. Real sheep never lie down unless they are absolutely sure that they are safe and secure. Otherwise they stay on their feet, ready to run from any sign of danger.
Real sheep will not take a drink from any water source except a quiet one, such as a puddle, or a stream that is so smooth you can’t hear it rippling over pebbles as it slips silently along. Real shepherds often have to go to a lot of trouble to draw water up from a well and pour it into a low trough specially prepared for the sheep to have the quiet waters they need.
Green grass and clear, quiet water refresh the sheep. For Christians, the Word of God feeds and refreshes us so that we are restored and ready to step out in faith to serve the needs of others. Jesus said some things that relate to this idea. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
This world has many things that stress us out, now more than ever as we endure the corona virus crisis. Stress comes from outside of us. But how we respond to and manage stress comes from inside. Relying on Christ and trusting in him enables us to bear all things. Jesus also said, in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” And then a little later, in verse 33, He advised, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
“He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” That path is straight and narrow. God is still in charge of everything. He is the guide for those who follow him by trusting in Jesus and allowing him to be the Lord of life. There are plenty of people in this world who don’t walk this way with God. There are even those who say, “Oh, I believe in God.” But any who do not have a personal acquaintance with the real God through Jesus are in danger of going down the wrong path, the wide one. Jesus says, ““Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” That is Matthew 7:13. That is the Good Shepherd leading you.
If you are with Jesus then you can joyfully and boldly proclaim with David: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
If we have God’s peace that passes understanding, we ought to also have a fearlessness about risking our lives to bless and heal others. It’s a lot like the Christian in the waters while the titanic sank. Rather than save himself, he kept swimming and pushing other people up into lifeboats. He asked many of them, “Are you a Christian?” And particularly if they said “No,” he urged them into the lifeboats so that they could get a chance to be saved for eternal life. Many lives were saved by his hands, both from the waters and from the fires of hell. But he himself drowned when he became exhausted after helping one more into a lifeboat. He slipped under before anyone could grab him.
We do not need to be that reckless in our situation. We should follow the CDC guidelines to protect ourselves as much as we can by social distancing and cleanliness. Even soldiers on the front lines of battle, fearless though they may be, also go with all the protection they can have, to be as safe as possible. That is what armor is for. But if we are sure of our own salvation, then we can be fearless because we are as safe as possible as we try to make sure that everyone else around us receives the care and attention they need, especially with regard to their eternal destiny.
I am grateful for the human kindness around us that is working to make sure that every school age student doesn’t miss the school breakfasts and lunches, and that the gap in service is met by our provision. I am praying for the elderly we might miss because they are so quiet and don’t venture out at all. One way to make sure that everyone gets noticed is for everyone who can to look around for them. I encourage all of you, everyone who hears this message to check on your neighbors. Call if you can. Visit if you must. You can stay safely outside the front door and you can find out if they are okay or if they need anything or if you can pray for them
One of my greatest concerns for all of us anywhere is to find a way to make sure that every unseen senior citizen who is alone and scared and hunkering down in their houses gets noticed, fed and comforted with the gospel. Also highly contagious is kindness, patience, love, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude. Don’t wait to catch it from pothers. Be a carrier!
We don’t have to fear death because for us to live is Christ. To die is gain. So, we win either way. It doesn't matter if we ever have church service in a building again, if we aren't the Church now. But if we will step up and step into the fray then let us go as people who believe the same thing David believed about God, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Lenten Observance: Psalm 23: 1-4 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Good Shepherd, we know these Words. We believe they are true. We bravely sing. Yet in our human frailty we often find it so difficult to completely entrust ourselves to Your care. Especially in these days we need the rod and staff of your Holy Spirit to reassure us of Your presence and forgive us for our fearfulness.
We praise You Lord for your love and grace and mercy that take away our fears as we rest in you. And yet we must confess, forgive us Lord, for the times and ways we all like sheep have gone astray.
Thank You Good Shepherd for calling us back to you, through the gospel message of faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Thank you for the cross, by which we know your love, and by which we are saved from eternal death unto eternal life. Thank you for your grace that loved us first while we were still sinners, so that we could turn to you and know we’ll be forgiven.
Lord we pray in this day for all the people around the world who are suffering the most by being ill and dying from covid 19. Please bless and heal! Protect vulnerable people. That’s all of us, from becoming infected. May our social practices and cleanliness be effective in stopping further transmission of the disease. Be with our Dr.s and other medical personnel. Protect them and bless them as they work tirelessly to care for the ill and fined cures and treatments. Give them much success quickly Lord Jesus!
As people around the world suffer socially and economically, please bless and comfort those who are hardest hit. Provide the resources for survival and recovery. May all look to you for help and hope, and salvation. Thank you for the schools that are able to still hand out lunches to kids who aren’t in school
Bless the businesses that are suffering loss of income, even as they also try to be resourceful and helpful to meet other needs in the community.
Bless all the congregations to see all that we have in common as the Body of Christ, the only Church that really exists. Many ministries have talked about the church without walls for years now. It ought to be noticed that this crisis has forced us into that reality. Many church buildings are empty. But the Church, the people of God, is still alive and active to care for others, and to serve as your ambassadors of the gospel. May we serve faithfully and bear much fruit as more and more people turn to you in this difficult time. We ask it all in the powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
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