1. INTRODUCTION / BACKGROUND
This afternoon, I will briefly discuss Psalm 23 and how it gives us hope in the midst of trial and tribulation. God loves us, offers us a wonderful plan for our lives, and created us to know God personally. The book of Psalms includes 150 songs that were sung by the Hebrew people about God and to God. They show people expressing all the human emotions: joy, anger, fear, and sadness. God wants us to release these feelings in appropriate ways, as Christ did, so we don’t explode or burn ourselves out. This psalm was written in the Old Testament time by King David, who wrote most of them. Even though he sinned by sleeping with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, then had him killed, as we see in 2 Samuel 11, David was called a “man after God’s own heart.”
This gives us hope, since we, too, are sinful and separated from God, so we cannot know God personally or experience God’s love on our own. Thank God, there is grace and forgiveness for us if we repent, if we are sorry, and try to change. I John 1:9 states, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Jesus Christ is God’s only provision for our sin.
Through Christ alone we can know God personally and experience God’s love. Christ said, in John 14:6,“I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” This is a strong statement, but one we need to consider. Christ died on the cross for us, so our sins could be forgiven if we ask for it. Regarding
2. THE SHEPHERD, THE PASTURE & THE WATER ANALOGIES
Sheep are so stupid, they run into a quick — running river and drown. They stay on brown, dead grass, don’t move to green grass, and starve to death. We, too, are sometimes like that. Christ said in John 10:11 - 16 “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hireling, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hireling and is not concerned about the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and I know My own, and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they shall hear My voice; and they shall become one flock with one shepherd.” If we take time to be quiet, God will speak to us through the Holy Spirit, through our conscience. God wants to help guide us, to be our shepherd.
Shepherds protect and provide for their sheep. God is like this for us, too, especially in times of crisis and grief, which some of us are experiencing now. The Hebrew word for “The Lord” here is Jehovah-Jireh, which means “God our provider.” God provides for us by giving us homes to live in (sometimes green tents), clothes to wear (sometimes green BDUs), and green pastures (sometimes green MREs). God gives us peace by leading us to the quiet waters. “Be still, and know that (He) is God.” This leads to
3. SOUL RESTORATION
The soul can be defined as our mind, will, and emotions. As we are grieving, it is normal for us to go through shock, to feel pain, to be in denial, to question, and to bargain, until we finally get to acceptance. Eventually, we surrender to the changes, re-awaken to the potential, the hope of the present and future. This leads to a renewed, changed life.
These time periods are not necessarily linear or in order, and they frequently overlap. (c/o The Association of Professional Chaplains) God heals us from our grief and pain. God leads us to goodness, in the paths of righteousness, to the kingdom of God. We may end up in
4. THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH
Remember, the valley is sometimes where the water is. We sometimes have to go through death to experience life, similar to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. We may never understand why God allows bad things to happen to good people. In the midst of grief, we can trust “that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” as we see in Romans 8.
God protects us, so we don’t have to fear. God is always with us and is everywhere (omnipresent). God is all-powerful (omnipotent). God knows everything (omniscient). Finally, God is all-loving (agape). God will help us get through our pain, our grief. There are several ways God does this.
5. THE ROD AND THE STAFF
God corrects us when we need it. “He chastens those He loves”. God sometimes does this through others. “Like iron sharpens and iron, so friends sharpen one another.” (Proverbs) God sometimes uses our chain of command to correct us as well. God guides us if we seek the will of God.
“Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33) If we make God the priority in our lives, God will not only provide our needs, but some of our wants, our desires as well.
6. THE TABLE IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR ENEMIES
Even in the midst of our enemies, God is with us. Prisoners of war who have something to live and hope for, such as family, friends, God, heaven, and so on, are the ones who survive the incredible torture, who help give us our country’s freedom. They survived on hope, as we do.
7. IF I HAVE OILY HAIR, DO I NEED CONDITIONER?
Anointing the head with oil was a symbol of royalty. David was anointed as king this way in 1 Samuel 16. This was right before he defeated Goliath, the giant, with just one rock and a slingshot. We, too, will be victorious when we have God on our side. This is when we ask God to be in control of our lives, to lead us in the way we should go.
8. FREE REFILLS ON OUR OVERFLOWING CUP
God doesn’t always just give us what we need and what we want, but sometimes more than enough! Finally,
9. OUR HOME IN HEAVEN IS FULL OF GOODNESS & MERCY
If you watch football, you’ve probably seen the signs in the field goals that people hold up with John 3:16 on them. It states, “For God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
We see a little earlier in John 1:12 “As many as received (Christ), to them He gave the right to become children of God.” We must individually receive Christ as Lord and Savior.
I’m thankful that PFC Sierra came from a Catholic family that knows Christ. We have looked at Psalm 23 and how it can encourage us. I will close with the Lord’s Prayer. Feel free to pray out loud with me if you know how.
“Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our (sins), as we forgive those who (sin) against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever, Amen.
BENEDICTION
Lord God, as your Son Jesus Christ said, “I am the resurrection and the life . . . if you believe in Me you will never die.” So we go, remembering and celebrating PFC Sierra, and looking for the hope of the resurrection in the life to come. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
