ps231

[21:31] <04@footwasher> Tonight we will begin a close study of part of the 23rd Psalm which will continue the next two weeks as well. It is a short passage, but our study will be very detailed. I invite you to open your Bibles and join in and let the Lord reveal to You His love and His complete care through this passage.
[21:32] <04@footwasher> 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
[21:32] <04@footwasher> 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
[21:33] <04@footwasher> 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
[21:33] <04@footwasher> Tonight our focus will be on verses one and two.
[21:33] <04@footwasher> In order to fully understand this passage, we must understand the background behind its writing. So lets look at that first.
[21:33] <04@footwasher> The shepherd was a common metaphor in the ancient Near East, as many kings compared themselves to a shepherd in their leadership capacity. The prophecy of the coming Messiah incorporated the same.
[21:34] <04@footwasher> And Jesus identified Himself as "the good shephred" (John 10:14) He was also called the "great shepherd" (Hebrews 13:20) and "the chief shepherd"
[21:34] <04@footwasher> The author was David, the shepherd boy who had grown up to become king. The shepherd metaphor was a natural one to him, for it had been his way of life
[21:34] <04@footwasher> Here he was in his mature years. He had suffered deeply and had tasted the bitter cup of dispair.
[21:34] <04@footwasher> He had walked difficult paths and felt heart rendering hurt. But he had also received the Lord's comfort and had felt the ever-present touch of the Shepherd's hand.
[21:34] <04@footwasher> Can you relate?
[21:35] <04@footwasher> Perhaps you had a need and no one seemed to care. But God does care!
[21:35] <04@footwasher> David did not speak theoretically or generally. He personally knew the shepherd
[21:35] <04@footwasher> He makes it clear that he is speaking from experience, and in every situation, God faithfully cared for his needs.
[21:35] <04@footwasher> "The Lord is my shepherd"
[21:35] <04@footwasher> Here the meaning of the word shepherd is "friend, companion, and guide" Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd knows each individual sheep. "The Sheep hear His voice and He calleth His own sheep by name" (John 10:3)
[21:36] <04@footwasher> Lets look at verses 1 and 2
[21:36] <6@Shield>1 Psalm 23:1 A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
[21:36] <6@Shield>1 Psalm 23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
[21:36] <04@footwasher> In todays society, we have a lot of wants. Satisfying ourselves has become one of the highest virtues.
[21:36] <04@footwasher> What kind of things do we want?
[21:37] <04@footwasher> We want nourishment
[21:37] <04@footwasher> "I shall not want" implies that we will never be in hunger. Only those who know Jesus Christ through personal salvation can make such a claim.
[21:37] <04@footwasher> Without Him, we cried " I shall perish with spiritual hunger.
[21:37] <04@footwasher> Our Lord delights to provide for all of our needs. "He who cometh to me shall never hunger and he who believeth on me shall never thist" (John 6:35)
[21:37] <04@footwasher> We want rest
[21:38] <04@footwasher> "He maketh me lie down in green pastures" is a picture of the shepherd leading His flock to a beautiful meadow with lush green grass.
[21:38] <04@footwasher> In a cool shady spot, He beckons them to lie down and rest. For our bodies to function effectively, we must have rest.
[21:38] <04@footwasher> Due to the influesnce of sin, our souls become restless
[21:38] <04@footwasher> When we come to Christ by faith, He gives us rest.
[21:38] <04@footwasher> "Take my yoke apon you and lean on me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls." Matthew 11:29)
[21:39] <04@footwasher> Study the Bible and walk with Him by faith and you will discover deeper rest of surrender and obedience.
[21:39] <04@footwasher> We want refreshment
[21:39] <04@footwasher> "He leadeth me beside the still waters" is an emblem of all that refreshes.
[21:39] <04@footwasher> "Still waters" refers to deep, pure, and sweet water, not some stagnant pool that is repulsive to sight and taste. Those who drink from the stagnant pool will continue to thirst.
[21:39] <04@footwasher> But Jesus said "whoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give to him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life" (John 4:14)
[21:40] <04@footwasher> We want renewal
[21:40] <04@footwasher> David pulled aside the curtain and revealed the darkest hour when he said "He restoreth my soul"
[21:40] <04@footwasher> David had committed deep sin and may have wondered at one point how he could ever be used by the Lord again.
[21:40] <04@footwasher> But he received the joy of restoration through confession of sin and God's gracious forgiveness
[21:40] <04@footwasher> During our times of despair, we need the touch of His holy hand to restore joy in our hearts
[21:41] <04@footwasher> Next week will will continue in the study of this passage, but for now, I'd like to stop and allow you all to discuss your insights on tonights study

[21:43] <04@footwasher> how do you think David was feeling as he wrote this?
[21:43] 1<Natasha32>1 in the depths of despair
[21:43] <04@footwasher> yes natasha.. i believe David was speaking from where he had been.. in despair
[21:44] <6@Shield>1 I certainly think David was writing from his heart...
[21:44] <04@footwasher> but.. you have to remember, that God had always provided for him.. and he remembered that
[21:44] 1<mumzee>1 does everyone relise that a sheep will not lay down if it has anything wrong with it ,if it is hurt or hungry or afraid so for the sheep to lie down in green pastures it feels totally content and secure thanks to its shepherd
[21:44] <04@footwasher> that he was shield
[21:44] 1<kerux>1 in fact the sheep and flock idea refered to the nation of ISRAEL but now HE is Bishop of our souls
[21:44] 1<Natasha32>1 good point mumzee
[21:44] <04@footwasher> right mumzee... we have to look at how sheep relate to the shepherd
[21:44] 1<Rolo>1 yep
[21:44] 1<Natasha32>1 He didn't need a thing
[21:45] 1<Elroy>1 they know His voice
[21:45] 1<Natasha32>1 God was his sheperd
[21:45] <04@footwasher> we as sheep are to be dependent on our Shepherd
[21:45] 1<mumzee>1 yep and we can have the same security and provision in our shephard Jesus 13,0P14,0raise 13,0T14,0he 13,0L14,0ord
[21:45] 1<Elroy>1 so they actually must relate with Him in a powerful way
[21:45] 1<kerux>1 jn 10 theme is wonderful
[21:45] 1<Rolo>1 12P13raise the 12L13ord!!!
[21:45] 1<Natasha32>1 God had bedded him down in lush medows
[21:45] 1<mumzee>1 yep
[21:45] <04@footwasher> right natasha.. i think sometimes we allow other things to be our shepherd don't we?
[21:46] <04@footwasher> good point elroy
[21:46] 1<mumzee>1 yep too quickly we can forget that He will not lead us astray
[21:46] <04@footwasher> He certainly won't mumzee
[21:46] 1<Rolo>1 :)
[21:47] 1<mumzee>1 thankkyou Jesus for being the great shepherd
[21:47] <04@footwasher> what does a shepherd do for his flock?
[21:47] <04@footwasher> he leads them.. you said that
[21:47] <04@footwasher> what else?
[21:47] 1<jarmy>1 protects them
[21:47] <6@Shield>1 he devotes his life to them
[21:47] 1<mumzee>1 attends to their wounds
[21:47] <04@footwasher> right.. from all sorts of things
[21:47] 1<Elroy>1 he makes sure they get everything they need
[21:48] 1<Elroy>1 he cares for them'
[21:48] 1<jarmy>1 He defends them
[21:48] <04@footwasher> definitely shield.. he does devote his life to them
[21:48] 6* kerux 4*5kjv4*:5 Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
[21:48] 1<Rolo>1 supplies all of their needs
[21:48] <04@footwasher> and our God devotees all to us..
[21:48] <04@footwasher> he sure does rolo
[21:48] 1<Rolo>1 :)
[21:49] <04@footwasher> How has the Lord been your shepherd?
[21:49] 1<mumzee>1 and remember the story of how when one sheep was lost the good shepherd left the 099 and went and searched for it
[21:49] <04@footwasher> yes mumzee.. good
[21:49] <04@footwasher> he cares for each one individually
[21:49] 1<mumzee>1 yep
[21:49] 1<kerux>1 all the wonderful charecteriology of a good shepherd
[21:49] 1<Elroy>1 i just find i keep ending up in Him when i even doubt that i'm gonna keep walking in His ways
[21:50] 1<mumzee>1 yeh kerux there is heaps
[21:50] <04@footwasher> amen elroy
[21:50] 1<kerux>1 psalms 22-23-24
[21:50] <04@footwasher> He continually guides us and leads us back when we stray
[21:50] 1<Psalmy>1 6P13raise 6G13od!
[21:50] 1<kerux>1 all sort of tie together
[21:50] 1<kerux>1 cross-crook-crown
[21:51] <6@Sword>1 I have found comfort & peace in the Shepherd....placing all my trust in Him as my master, one with whom you can cast all burdens upon, the healer, the care taker....
[21:51] <04@footwasher> amen sword!
[21:51] 1<Rolo>1 12A13men and 12A13men!!!!!
[21:51] 1<Psalmy>1 NIV Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
[21:51] 1<mumzee>1 and also when he has brought them into the enclosed area the shepherd would sleep across the gate to protect them from predators
[21:51] 1<Nemo>1 me too
[21:51] <6@Sword>1 Simply put....my 4"all in all"
[21:51] 1<Rolo>1 :)
[21:51] 1<mumzee>1 amen Sword
[21:52] <04@footwasher> thats a great point mumzee.. shows his total devotion
[21:52] *** Shine (java@203-96-102-145.dialup.xtra.co.nz) has joined #TownHall
[21:52] <04@footwasher> yes psalmy.. did you all see that verse?
[21:52] 1<mumzee>1 yep leads and then carries if we cant walk
[21:52] <04@footwasher> 1 NIV Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.
[21:52] 1<Nemo>1 goodbye all
[21:52] 1<mumzee>1 amen
[21:52] <04@footwasher> he gathers the lambs in his arms..
[21:52] 1<Psalmy>1 6P13raise 6G13od!
[21:52] 1<Psalmy>1 yessss
[21:52] <04@footwasher> and carries them close to his heart
[21:53] 1<Elroy>1 and listens to our despairing
[21:53] <04@footwasher> the Lord certainly does that for us
[21:53] 1<kerux>1 look at luke 15
[21:53] 1<Psalmy>1 He so wonderful
[21:53] 1<kerux>1 the parable
[21:53] 1<mumzee>1 yep and i am soooo glad He does
[21:53] <04@footwasher> yes kerux
[21:53] 1<kerux>1 about a lost sheep
[21:53] 1<Rolo>1 the Love he gives us, even when we fall short of him, he goes out to look for us and brings us home
[21:53] 1<Psalmy>1 yesss
[21:53] <04@footwasher> yeah someone mentioned that earlier...
[21:53] 1<Psalmy>1 Jer 29:11 "for I know the plans I have for you,"declares the Lord,"plans to prosper youand NOT to harm you, plans to give you Hope and a Future"
[21:54] <04@footwasher> you all have made some excellent points
[21:54] <04@footwasher> thanks for being so courteous to one another during this discussion time
[21:55] <04@footwasher> Next week, we will continue in this study with the next couple of verses.
[21:55] <04@footwasher> I hope you can all be here for that as well..
[21:57] <04@footwasher> lets pray
[21:57] <04@footwasher> swpord will you lead us?
[21:57] <04@footwasher> sword
[21:57] <6@Sword>1 Sure....
[21:57] <6@Sword>1 Let's bow our hearts in closing prayer.....
[21:57] <6@Sword>1 Father, we thank your for this time together and bible study....
[21:57] <6@Sword>1 Lord I ask that you bless each one for coming tonite, bless those that couldn't make it tonite for other reasons....
[21:58] <6@Sword>1 Help us to maintain our daily walk as we continually serve you, seeking to fulfill your will....
[21:58] <6@Sword>1 As we now part Lord, may we walk away with a better understanding of you as the Chief Shepherd....
[21:59] <6@Sword>1 May we always be found sharing your word in a world seeking answers, proclaiming that Jesus reigns....
[21:59] <6@Sword>1 Father I ask that you also increase our hunger for holiness, granting others a passion to witness, and receive our praise as we maginify your Holy name with a pure heart....
[22:00] <@Sword> The Lord bless you as you part....And all Gods saints said....Amen ! [For Your Glory Father]
[22:00] <@footwasher> Amen!