The Nightingale

Scripture

The LORD is my Shepherd, I have all that I need.

~Psalm 23:1, NLT

Quote

If He be a shepherd to no one else, He is a Shepherd to me.

~Charles Spurgeon

The 23rd Psalm is undoubtedly the most popular of all the Psalms. It is probably the most popular passage in the Old Testament and I imagine, the most quoted poem in all the world. The Poem is about God’s provision, protection and presence as our chief guardian and guide. It is a poem for any occasion but for the last century and half, it has been used primarily to comfort the suffering and dying. It is a great text for a Celebration of Life Service but it is a great text for anytime or occasion. If the Psalms were a mountain range, the 23rd would be the peak. Henry Ward Beecher called it the “Nightingale of the Psalms.” The nightingale sings its most beautiful music in the darkest hours of the morning. David wrote this Psalm late in life, perhaps after or during the rebellion of Absalom. David was certainly acquainted with grief and sorrow–he buried three of his own sons. Standing at a grave of a parent or friend is one thing: standing at the grave of your children is something else. It is the dread of every parent. It does not shock me that this poem comforts the grieving.

The poem begins with this phrase, “The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” I love the story of the black preacher who was using the 23rd Psalm as his text at a COLS but he never got further than the first three words…The LORD is.” He used this as a diving board and plunged into the eternal nature of God. God’s personal name is Jehovah or Yahweh which is the Hebrew verb for being. The black preacher simplified this very complex Hebrew verb…He said,the LORD is, He always has been is and He always will be is.” David said, “The LORD is my Shepherd.” My is a personal pronoun, this is David’s affirmation of faith…The LORD is my Shepherd. We can add one word to the phrase that will change everything…The LORD is not my shepherd. This is the creed of the post-modern secular culture in which we live…“The LORD is not my shepherd, I will do as I please.”

Oprah Winfrey says there are millions of ways to heaven, not one. The answers you seek are within yourself. You are god and your salvation comes from within not without. In other words Oprah is saying, “The LORD {Jesus} is not my shepherd, I am doing things my way.” She is positioning herself to be the next demo to run for president. She intends to put all of the “deplorables” is their place. Listening to Oprah, I get the idea that she is not only angry with white males, she doesn’t think much of males in general. All the feminist will vote for her and all the sissy men. These are the only two groups that I think will support her other than the “dupes” and they make up the vast majority of the democratic party.

When David said, “The LORD is my Shepherd,” he was affirming that God meets all his needs. The Palestinian shepherd took care of his flock. He lead them, he fed them, he protected them, he cared for them, he named them, he claimed them and he loved them. He, in one person, was all that they needed. The sheep did not have a shepherd for still water and another shepherd for green pastures: they had one shepherd who could met all their needs. Likewise, David said, “The LORD is my SHEPHERD, I have everything I need.” Think about it: What do you need that Jesus cannot provide. The world can provide for some of your physical needs and social needs but can the world give you peace? Can the world give you satisfaction? Can the world give you a sense of purpose? Can the world give you a future beyond the grave? Can the world give you victory over your sin? Can the world give you forgiveness?

Abel said, “The LORD is my Shepherd”...Cain said, “The LORD is not my shepherd”... Jacob said, “The LORD is my Shepherd”Esau said, “The LORD is not my shepherd.” Let’s face the fact: Jesus either is or is not your Shepherd. If He is your Shepherd, you will look to Him for all your needs; if He is not, you will look to yourself and the world for all your needs. Woe to them! For they have gone the way of CainLike Balaam, they deceive people for money and like Korah, they perish in their rebellion. Every person on the planet is in one of two lines: they are either in line with Abel who did it God’s way or in line with Cain who did it his way. Cain is the father of self-will.

  • I went to see Fuzz last night. He was feeling pretty good but still has a lot of fluid. He is in ICU at Decatur General.
  • A heat wave coming today I hope and the good news is 6o’s for Sunday. I may wear a T-Shirt.
  • I’ve been preparing for the Winter Bible Study at Sardis Springs and I was really struggling until yesterday. I had a break through and then found out that one of our deacons had prayed for me earlier in the day. Thank You! I need all the prayer I can get.
  • The DHS Lady Hawks advanced to the finals of the Morgan County Tournament this Saturday. The 9th grade boys had already advanced. The Varsity Boys got eliminated last night. The girls will have to play Brewer who is always very good. The 9th grade {Big L’s team} will have to play Hartselle and they are also very good.

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