The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23

This Psalm is one of the best-known and most loved chapters of the Bible. Penned by David, whose early years as a shepherd boy prepared him for life as the Shepherd-King of Israel, it contains some insights into how God relates to His people. Jesus uses this image as He describes Himself as the Good Shepherd and so here I select a few points from the Psalm that Jesus talks about in John 10.

1. The shepherd knows his sheep
‘The Lord is my shepherd’ (v1) carries with it a personal touch and an implication that the shepherd knows his sheep. This is definitely what Jesus claims in John 10:14. In addition, the sheep know the voice of the shepherd (John 10:4).

2. The shepherd provides for his sheep
Everything the shepherd does is in the best interests of his sheep. He provides for their needs so they never want for anything (v1). He takes them to good pasture where there is rest, food and water (v2). He guides them in the right way (v3). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads His sheep and His sheep follow because they know they will be led to a good place (John 10:4) and have life in abundance (v10)

3. The shepherd protects his sheep
The sheep have no need to fear evil or death because the presence of the shepherd protects and comforts them (v4). Jesus describes Himself as being willing to lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). He will protect the flock from thieves and intruders who would seek to harm the flock even if it were to cost Him His life (John 10:11-13).

4. The shepherd promises a blessed future
There is a future element to the psalm as well. There will be protection from enemies, a banquet with abundant food and the blessing of dwelling in the presence of God (vv5,6). And this will last forever! Jesus, the Good Shepherd, is also the gate who promises salvation to all who enter through Him (John 10:9).

Further reading:     John 10:1-18

Worship Video:

To think about:
Which verse in this Psalm speaks most to your current situation?

Creative response:

Photo by Bernice

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The agony of the cross

Psalm 22:1-31

Psalm 22 is a psalm full of the emotion of pain and suffering. The psalmist describes physical and emotional suffering at the hands of evildoers. It is a psalm that is describes events seen in the crucifixion of Jesus. There are a lot of Bible references in the table below but it is worth reading them.

The suffering of Jesus was immense. Psalm 22 describes events that are fulfilled in the suffering of Jesus at the cross. It is worthy of meditation.

And of declaration of His righteousness ‘to a people who will be born, that He has performed it’ (v31).

Further reading:       Matthew 27:27-54

Worship Video:

To think about:
Having read the OT and NT comparison, what impact has this had on you in realising the amazing sacrifice that Jesus made for you?

Creative response:

Journal page by Bernice

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Resurrection

Psalm 16:1-11

It is often the case with Old Testament literature, such as the Psalms, that the author writes something pertinent to their current situation but containing echoes of truths which only become fully clear much later. Psalm 16 is such an example.

Written by David as an acknowledgment of the protection, security and blessing of the Lord, he talks about how he has prioritised and pursued God as his Lord. This leads to the wonderful juxtaposition of the two phrases in verse 8:

‘I have set the Lord continually before me;

Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken’.

We know that David was far from perfect but this verse gives an overall summary of his life: he sought the Lord and the Lord was with him. He continues in v11 to describe his belief that seeking and finding God’s presence is something that would continue throughout this life AND forever (v11).

However, this leads to a conundrum. Given the limitations of the human body and the certainty of physical death, how can someone live on into eternity? David has a firm belief that God is capable of arranging this and will do so: ‘For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will you allow Your Holy One to undergo decay’. (v10). David is convinced that even in death he will not be separated from God. He is certain that God’s pleasures are forever despite his physical frailty.

In this Psalm it is God’s Holy One who is not abandoned to death. In the New Testament we read that Jesus was not allowed to suffer decay. Instead, He was rescued from death, raised to life and resurrected for glory. Peter, in his monumental Pentecost sermon, proclaimed that it was impossible for Jesus to be held in the power of death before quoting this Psalm (see Acts 2:24-28) and saying that David, ‘looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ’ (v31). Paul, too, quotes Psalm 16:10 before saying, ‘but He whom God raised did not undergo decay’ (Acts 13:35-37). This Psalm is clearly important in the message of the early church.

The idea of a man who whose body would not simply decay in the ground is a revelation of the highest order and points us inexorably to Jesus who was ‘raised on the third day according to the Scriptures’ (1 Corinthians 15:4). And ‘if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.’ (Romans 8:11)

This applies to us too. We can have a share in that resurrection!

Further reading:         Acts 2:14-42

Worship Video:

To think about:
God says he will never leave us but have there been times when you thought you had been abandoned by God? How did you find out that you hadn’t been abandoned?

Creative response:

Photo by Bernice

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The son who becomes king

Psalm 2:1-12

Psalm 2 paints a picture of earthly kings standing in opposition to God (vv1-3). Their plan to rule while ignoring Him will prove to be a futile exercise and, as verses 4&5 indicate, will not end well for these arrogant rulers.

God has a different plan! His plan involves the installation of His own King in Zion (v6). So who is this King?

All is revealed in verse 7: ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten You’. The King who will be appointed by God is His very own Son. Paul quotes this verse when he is preaching in Pisidian Antioch, linking it directly to the resurrection of Jesus when he says, ‘…God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten You.’ (Acts 13:33). This implies that the appointment of Jesus as King is linked to Him being raised from the dead, as this demonstrated His conquering of all enemies, the last one of which is death (see 1 Corinthians 15:26).

Not only this, but His Son is told that He can ask and will be given ‘the nations for His inheritance and the ends of the earth for His possession’ (v8) and the opposing nations will be crushed and shattered (v9). This idea of inheritance is something the writer to the Hebrews picks up on. The epistle opens with a description of the supremacy of Jesus. He is described as being far greater than the angels because ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten You’ (Hebrews 1:5, quoting Psalm 2:7) and He has ‘inherited a more excellent name’ (1:4).

The king the psalmist describes is not going to be a normal king. He will be the Son who becomes King!

The Psalm then finishes with a reminder that God is worthy of worship, His Son is worthy of honour, and that there is safety for those who seek Him (vv10-12). This is not some tyrant who will be appointed as King, but a righteous ruler who will provide both judgment and mercy.

Further reading:       Hebrews 1:1-14

Worship Song:

To think about:
In Romans 8:17 we are told we are co-heirs with Christ. In light of that and the study today where Jesus is given the nations as His inheritance, what is our inheritance in Jesus?

Creative response:

Journal page by Bernice

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My Redeemer Lives

Job 19:22-29

Job is a book all about one man’s response to the suffering he undergoes. Job’s faith in God is put under the spotlight as his life falls apart as he loses his family, possessions and health. The account of the interchanges between Job and his friends covers many different themes but it is peppered with revelation of who God is and what He is like. Chapter 19:25-26 could be described as the high watermark of the book as Job articulates a significant truth about God.

In verse 25 Job declares, ‘My Redeemer lives and at the last He will take His stand on the earth’. This is significant on a number of fronts. Firstly, the Redeemer is alive! Job is not basing his hope of redemption on something abstract or remote. His hope is in the Living God as his Redeemer! The redemption he talks about is that he will be justified in some way. He has earlier declared that God is his witness and advocate (see 16:19) and so when the charges are read against him he will be vindicated. This thought is now included in the idea of his redemption.

Secondly, the Redeemer will stand on the earth. At the end of all things, the Redeemer will arrive and take His stand on the earth. Not just stand on the earth, but take His stand. There is a combative element as the Redeemer deals with anything that is going to jeopardise the redemption.

Thirdly, Job believes that there is life after death which he will experience, and he will obtain a renewed body of some sort. In verse 26 he says, ‘Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God.'

Fourthly, Job believes he will see God. That is incredible, given that no-one was meant to able to see God and live! In contrast, Job believes that his Redeemer will become visible to him after his life on earth is finished.

It sounds to me like Job has caught a significant glimpse of Jesus, the Great Redeemer, and the work He will do in our redemption and in guaranteeing our future resurrection!

Further reading:      1 Corinthians 15:50-57        1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Worship Video:

To think about:
Job received a significant revelation of Jesus as Redeemer. What revelation of Jesus have you received recently and how has this affected your relationship with Him?

Creative response:

Photo by Bernice

Please remember to go back to previous blog posts to see the creative responses that have been added. Click on the thumbnail pictures to view them.

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