Psalm 23:6 Don’t Fear the Future CS19Oct08 2405
Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
We want to reflect on David’s last words in this Psalm.
• It’s not easy saying these words. He is confident that he will have grace and love.
• He has faith that the God whom he trusts will continue to guide him into the future.
• This is a word of faith. That God will be faithful and unchanging.
• And that this good God will bless him with ‘goodness and love’.
(1) SURELY GOODNESS AND LOVE WILL FOLLOW ME
For just for some days, but for his entire life journey
• In order words, every day!
• Just like Lam 3:22-23 says "Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Can we say the same today? With so many uncertainties today, can we say the same?
• Man fears the future, because they have no security. Events will change, people change, the world changes. We see a lot of that in the last few weeks.
• No sure security. Even banks can collapse. Even insurance cannot ‘insure’ you.
• When we look at our future, we aren’t often full of faith and hope.
But as Christians, we can face the future with faith.
• Not because circumstances will not change, but because God will not change.
• That is the reason why David was able to say "surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life".
• On what basis can he conclude this way? On the basis of his knowledge of his God, the good Shepherd.
God is our security. God is our only security.
BECAUSE HE STANDS I WILL NEVER PERISH
F. B. Meyer wrote about two Germans who wanted to climb the Matterhorn. They hired three guides and began their ascent at the steepest and most slippery part. The men roped themselves together in this order: guide, traveller, guide, traveller, and guide.
They had gone only a little way up the side when the last man lost his footing. He was held up temporarily by the other four, because each had a toehold in the niches they had cut in the ice.
But then the next man slipped, and he pulled down the two above him. The only one to stand firm was the first guide, who had driven a spike deep into the cracks of the rock. Because he held his ground, all the men beneath him regained their footing.
F. B. Meyer concluded his story by drawing a spiritual application. He said, “I am like one of those men who slipped, but thank God, I am bound in a living partnership to Christ – the solid ROCK. And because He stands, I will never perish.” …Our Daily Bread
If you do not know Him today, we live with fear and worry because we do not know what the future holds.
• If you know Him, we can share David’s confidence, and face the future with faith, because He holds the future.
• If God is Almighty and cares for us, we need not have to fear.
• In His ministry, Jesus often repeated this phrase – ‘Do not be afraid.’
• Trust God. No matter where you are in life - lying down in green pastures, beside quiet waters, walking through the valley of the shadow of death, in the presence of my enemies - God is with you, to guide you each step of the way.
Psalm 145:20 "The Lord watches over all who love him..."
• Like a father caring for his children, like a shepherd caring for his sheep.
• We do not know what the future holds, but we do know WHO holds the future. Frankly, what the future holds may not be that important, but WHO holds that future is critical.
• We know that whatever happens, God’s will is fulfilled. And His will is good.
David is not saying that there will not be any difficulties or disappointments in life.
• He himself encountered many difficulties – at one time, he was running for his life, he experience the agony of losing his son, he committed adultery and sinned against God. He was at wars often with neighbouring enemies.
• It wasn’t all a smooth life for him. He was not saying that only good things will happen to a Christian.
He says that God will care for our needs – we can still see God’s goodness and mercy.
• His goodwill will be fulfilled.
• We have to believe God in this way - “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28)
We have to believe this. Even in tough times, we don’t blame God.
• He is in control of all things; therefore His purpose will surely be fulfilled.
• This is not a promise for everybody. All things do not work together for good for everybody in the world. Evil doers will face judgement.
As believers, we are God’s children and He cares for us.
• Not that ‘all things are good’, but when they are put together, they accomplishes good. Only an all-knowing God can do that.
• We may not be able to understand everything, but God does.
• Therefore goodness and mercy will follow us.
• This is faith. God will surely fulfil His good will in each one of our life, if you trust Him.
Look at Paul – he was falsely accused and imprisoned in Rome. Was that good? No.
• But while he was there, he found the time to write some books that we now call the NT epistles. And he was able to preach to those who are imprisoned with him.
• In Acts 27, he was taken as a prisoner onboard a ship headed for Rome. The ship encountered a huge storm and was about to sink. But the angel appeared to Paul and assured him that he will face Emperor Caesar in Rome. He was able to assure the people onboard.
• We do not often understand God’s goodwill. Only when we look back afterwards, we see His goodness.
God says, “I will watch over you.” How does God watch over believers?
• Ps 91:11-12 “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
• They protect us. Like Elijah servant’s experience. Elijah surrounded by enemies (2 Kings 6:16-17) but he was not worried. The servant was very afraid and Elijah prays to God to open his eyes so that he can see. At that moment, this servant saw angels surrounding them.
• We have many angels watching over us. "God commands His angels..." – plural.
God will be with you through adversity. He gives the wisdom and the strength we need.
• He promises us He will be with us, and walk us through the valley of the shadow of death. Therefore, surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.
(2) HEAVEN IS WAITING FOR ME
"And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
David ends this Psalm by saying "We’re going to heaven!"
• It is good to know that God saved us; it is good to know that He is here to help us today, but more importantly, we are going to return home and spend eternity with Him in heaven.
• That is forever! Someday our body is going to corrupt, but we – our soul - won’t.
God has made us for heaven. We are sojourners on earth. We need to go home.
• If our soul lives forever, then we want to go back to where God is.
• This is our hope. This is an assurance no man can give you, only God can.
• He has already provided us the way home. Jesus Christ has already died for your sin.
If you accept Him as your Saviour, then you need not be separated from God forever.
• We were once separated because of sin. Christ has paid the price, and received the punishment on your behalf.
• So as believers of Jesus Christ, we are reconciled with God, and we will go home to be with Him.
Who is heaven made for? It’s made for those who are willing to accept God’s gift – the salvation we have in Jesus Christ.
• Everybody is created by God but not everyone is a child of God.
• Life on earth is just the appetizer. You’re going to spend 80 maybe 90 years here on earth. You taste a little of God’s grace here, but you’ll spend eternity over there. That is eternal life.
The problem is many thought that life is only ‘here and now’.
• Everything here is temporary – your home, your job, your education, your achievements…
• So let us plan for eternity. Know God and serve Him. Live in the light of eternity.
• Everything we have here is on loan; God give it to us, temporary. You don’t really own anything. You just get to use it while you’re here on earth.
• And then you give it up. You brought nothing into this world, and you’re bringing nothing out.
Is Jesus your Saviour? If yes, then you will “dwell in the house of the Lord forever”.
• David says, "I will dwell..." Not I might or I guess... This is what God promised us.
• Face the future with faith in God. Do not fear nor worry, nor doubt God.
• You have two choices in life: Continue to do rely on your efforts, or trust God.
• You can walk on alone, or you can invite Jesus to walk with you.
If you invite Jesus into your life, Psalm 23 will be your experience.
• Then you can face the coming days and say what David said: "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."
• Jesus is all you need. You don’t need anything else. Look at this psalm:
If I know the shepherd, I don’t have to fear anything.
I don’t need to fear poverty because the Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need.
I don’t need to fear loneliness, for He is with me.
I don’t need to fear mistakes, for He guides me on the right path.
I don’t need to fear failure, for He restores my soul.
I don’t need to fear the future, because goodness and mercy follow me all the days of my life.
I don’t even need to fear death, because I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
God is always with me - in green pastures, in still waters, and in the valley. He is around me in the presence of my enemies. He is before me leading me in the right paths. He is behind me, surely goodness and mercy will follow me. He’s even beyond me, waiting for me in heaven. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
What more could you want? That covers it all. Jesus is all you need.
