“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23, ESV).
Will 2023 be happy for us?
There are those who are optimistic that lot of good things could happen this new year. But there are also those who said that if bad things happened in 2020, 2021 and 2022, worse could happen in 2023!
Let’s consider what Paul wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1, “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.”
However, whether events or attitude of people in this world “will go from bad to worse (verse 13),” God’s people can still face the coming days without fear.
In fact, they can… FACE THE FUTURE WITH JOYFUL CONFIDENCE, as we discuss this time our text (Psalm 23).
So, why face the future with such confidence? Why face 2023 with feeling or belief that good things will happen? Why face the coming days, not with apprehension but with joyful heart?
Realize that Psalm 23 was written by David. We know that he was a shepherd. He defeated Goliath. Though he was anointed to become a king, but first for a long time he was hunted like a criminal. When he became the king, he committed adultery and murdered the husband of the woman. His son, Absalom, rebelled against him. He was cursed and dishonored by Shimei.
And yet in verse 6 of Psalm 23, he declared: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” Could we also utter the
same words? Why? Because of…
I – WHAT GOD HAS MADE HIMSELF KNOWN (verses 1, 3 and 4).
We read verses 1, 3, and part of verse 4, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…” “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake…” “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;…”
Notice that God reveals Himself, as the Shepherd of David. For David, God is not just “the” Shepherd; God is not “their” Shepherd,” or even “our” Shepherd. But, God is “my” Shepherd – God and David have an intimate relationship with each other. They know each other closely. They have a close personal relationship.
During those times, the quality of a king is associated with a shepherd. So, God reveals Himself as King of David. And David could mean also, “The Lord is MY King…” His Sovereign Protector.
Also, notice the words that David declared in verse 3, “…for His name’s sake.” God, who is His Shepherd or King, is giving him favor, e.g. leading in the way that is right, not because of his own merit, but for the sake of God Himself. In other words, the favor that David enjoyed was based on the goodness, on the grace, on the mercy of God alone. God reveals Himself that He could extend favor on David based on God’s own Name or Glory.
Also, David said, “…for you are with me.” God made Himself known that He is always with David. He is with David, not only when he is in green pastures. But also when David is going through difficulty or even dangerous situation.
Even today, God made Himself known that He the Shepherd or King of every Christian. A true believer, like David, could sincerely say, “The Lord or God is my Shepherd, or my King…”
Today, God made Himself known that He bestows favor or blessing based not on our own merit, but for His own Glory.
God made Himself known that He is always with His children, no matter what. Whether we are in pleasure, or in pain, He is with us.
Jesus said in His prayer in the first part of verse 6 of John 17, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world…” In the first part also of verse 26, “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known…”
Now, the question for us here: Did Jesus made known His Father to us?
As a believer, do you really know that God is your Personal Shepherd or King? Do you really know that He grants you good things not based on your goodness or good things you have done, but because He is a Good God? Do you really know that He is always with you, whether you are rejoicing or suffering?
If we really know Him, then, we will always listen to Him. We will always follow Him. We follow Him not only through this year, but through the rest of our life. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” ((John 10:27).
Just to know that the Sovereign God is your Shepherd, your King, that He can bless you, not because of your good performance but because He is your Good Shepherd, and He will never leave you nor forsake you ought to strengthen you to face the future with joyful confidence.
So, invest more time to know Him more, as you read, study and meditate on His Word. Strive to know Him more intimately, by praying to Him often, listening regularly to His words, even storing them in your heart.
What is another reason why we could have the confidence that good things will happen in the coming days? Because of…
II – WHAT GOOD THINGS GOD CAN DO (verses 2-5).
We read verses 2-5, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
The Shepherd or King of David is the Sovereign God. The good things He plans and performs for David overwhelm his life. For David, God “makes,” “leads,” “restores,” “guides,” protects, comforts, prepares, provides, anoints.
David declared, “He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Whether he is in a palace or in a cave, God grants him the contentment that all his needs are met.
“He leads me beside still waters.” According to David, God leads him in the way that he could enjoy peace. “He restores my soul” – God renews his strength. “He leads (or guides) me in paths of righteousness…” David suffers wrong decisions or treads the wrong way, but God guides him back in the right way.
Though David went through difficult or dangerous situations, God protects and comforts him. Also in spite of opposition from his enemies, he is able to enjoy God’s overflowing provisions.
Most people face the future with positive outlook, because of their abundant possession, because of their excellent abilities, good connections, or whatever skill, strategy, or effort they could do.
But David was able to say, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” because of what God, his Shepherd can do to him.
So, like David, true believers should expect that good things will happen to them. But in order for them to happen, they should not rely on their resources, or what they can do, but on the good things that God can do to them.
It does not mean they should just sit down or lay down and wait for the good things to pour down on them. They need to plan and work to implement their plan. But whatever good plan or strategy they conceive, they need to trust that only God could make good things to come out of it. Proverbs 19:21 states, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”
And whatever productive result they could achieve, they need to remember the words of Isaiah in chapter 26, verse 12: “Lord, you establish peace for us. All that we have accomplished, you have done for us” (NIV).
So, like David, every one of us here could say, “Surely goodness and mercy (love) shall follow me all the days of my life…”
And we could be certain about it. Why? Because the Sovereign and Loving God Himself will be the One to make good things to happen. He will not only cause or make good things to come, but He will also lead, guide us in the right way. He will restore, protect, comfort and provide for us. And nothing or no one can prevent Him from accomplishing His good purpose for us.
Let us, then, strive to make good plans, asking God for His guidance not just for the good result, but for the glory of His Name. Let us work hard to execute our plans and if ever we fail, we know that our Sovereign God can cause all things for the good of those who love Him.
Let’s face the coming days with confidence that we can share God’s Word to more people, that we can overcome our bad habits, that we can pursue holiness, that we can have more time to read and study God’s Word, or even memorize more Bible passages, that we can overlook the shortcomings of others and pray and love our enemies, not because of our own best effort, but because of God.
As Paul wrote in Philippians 2:13, “… it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
CONCLUSION:
In closing, surely, we should not allow apprehension to dominate in our heart as we face the coming days. Rather, there must be joyful expectation. Good things will happen to all true believers. Besides, today, God reveals to us that if have faith in Jesus Christ, God “gave us the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). He is not just our Shepherd or our King. He is now our Loving Holy Father!
Now, not only we can expect good things to happen all the days of our life, but we can say with joyful confidence, “… and I shall dwell in the house of my Heavenly Father forever!”
