Bible Study - Storm (1) - The Shelter of GOD'S Presence - Psalms 23:1-6 - December 7, 2014

Bible Study – Storm (1) – The Shelter of GOD’S Presence – December 7, 2014

This is lesson one (1) in a six week study entitled “Strom Shelter: Psalms of GOD’S Embrace.”

Our focus scripture is Psalms 23:1-6.

GOD is with each of us no matter what we are facing.

King David wrote the 23 rd Psalm. We are not sure at what stage of life he was in but he had had enough experience with the presence of GOD in his life that he knew and trusted GOD intimately through a personal relationship. Just because David knew GOD and had a personal relationship with HIM did not mean that his life was free of troubles. David had plenty of troubling times.

Our relationship with GOD through faith in CHRIST does not mean we will have smooth sailing through life. But we have the assurance that GOD will never leave or forsake us. GOD was David’s strength and an ever present reality in his life, yet David experienced life threatening issues. His trust in GOD brought him through those troubling times and led him to the point where GOD planned for him to be.

David was a man after GOD’S own heart, yet he sinned. But he repented and asked GOD to forgive him, yet he had to face the consequences of his sins.  

King David grew up shepherding sheep. He knew what a good shepherd needed to do to be a good shepherd such as: A good shepherd was to be alert at all times to care, protect and tend to needs of his sheep. He knew the nature of sheep. Sheep would often wander off while seeking grass to eat. He knew they could get tangled in briars or fall into a ravine or be attacked by wild animals or taken by sheep rustlers.

JESUS referred to Himself as the “Good Shepherd” in John 10:11-15:

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.

As a shepherd, David became an expert marksman with his sling fending off wild animals. He even used his bare hands to protect his sheep. He used his rod to fight that which would harm the sheep and he used his staff to rescue or guide the sheep under his care.

David faced various situations while shepherding sheep. His experience shepherding sheep prepared him for his life’s journey with GOD. In certain ways his life reminds you of Joseph’s life’s journey regarding the leadership of GOD, which we recently studied.

In last week’s lesson, we saw how GOD uses the things we experience in life to prepare us to come to the aid of others and comfort them. Our life’s journey prepares us to comfort others with the comfort we have received from GOD during troubling times.

GOD can allow things to come into our lives or our choices can lead us to experience things as the result of our choices. Either way GOD is at work in our lives as the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:28:

28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

GOD is involved in all things bringing about the best that come from the situations we encounter in life.

If you wrote a psalm expressing your walk with GOD, what would you write? You might write it down just to see what you would write. Have you witnessed GOD’S presence and guidance in your life? Do you love HIM? Does HE love you?

Keep in mind John 3:16-21:

16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God. 19 “This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who practices wicked things hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”  

Let’s read Psalms 23 - The Good Shepherd- A Davidic psalm.

1 The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

GOD is our refuge and strength. When we have the right relationship with GOD, we lack nothing.

David embraced GOD. He had experienced the love and care of GOD in his life. David had built trust in GOD.

David knew the attributes of a good shepherd and GOD met those expectations. GOD was all sufficient to him and he lacked nothing because he had experienced the presence of GOD in his life. This is GOD’S desire for each of us. That is why HE allowed JESUS to come to earth to live in the flesh and give HIS life that those who place their faith in HIM will know HIM intimately. Knowing that we have a personal relationship with GOD through CHRIST is vital to all Christians. The word “Knowing” is interesting. To “know” can be head knowledge, which can come up short in our life’s journey but can lead to heart and experiential knowledge. As we walk with CHRIST and learn of HIM, we gain intimate personal knowledge. We build an intimate relationship with HIM because as we journey with HIM, false notions and myths are exposed and cast out of our lives and replaced with truth. So when the storms of life come into our lives, our relationship with CHRIST stands because we have built it upon the solid foundation of truth.

2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

Sheep need to rest and they need water. Notice that GOD does not force the rest but allows the rest: “let’s me lie down.” We all need rest and when we rest, we need the security that GOD is watching over us when we do. It is difficult to rest when we are uncertain what might be looming around us.

Also, notice that GOD leads HIS chosen to pause and drink from the still waters. Sheep will not drink from rushing water, therefore like a good shepherd GOD makes certain that HIS chosen take the needed rest that they need at just the right times in their life.

Consider water as the Holy Spirit. Christians need to rest from busy activities and be refreshed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. GOD leads them to take such a needed rest.

3 He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake.

The presence of GOD in our lives restores, reassures and refreshes us when we pause and focus on the path forward. When we move forward, we are assured that we are moving in the direction GOD has chosen for us to follow.

GOD’S care for David renewed his life such that he could continue toward the goal that GOD had for him. There are times when we need to pause and reflect on our relationship with GOD. It is easy to get into the doldrums just dealing with the routines of life. His faith and trust in GOD, regardless of circumstances, led him to be at the right place at the right time.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff —they comfort me.

There were dark times in David’s life but even in these dark times GOD was with him in a mighty way. It was GOD’S power and strength that protected and comforted him. It was David’s faith and trust in GOD that prevented him from taking matters into his own hands.

GOD used HIS rod, which was what shepherds used to fend off that which would harm the sheep and HIS staff which shepherds used to rescue sheep that were in trouble or potential danger. The shepherd’s also used their staff to guide the sheep to keep them on the right path and out of trouble. David had built such a personal relationship with GOD that he trusted GOD with his life and journey through life.

In the darkest times in our lives we are to rely upon and trust GOD because what we learn in the light we are to practice in the dark.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Trouble comes into all of our lives but when it does, GOD is there with us. When we keep our eyes fixed upon HIM in troubling times in our lives, we experience HIS presence. In these dark times HE shines HIS light into the darkness and we know we are secure in HIS care.

When we are in right relationship with HIM, HE prepares a feast for us in the midst of turmoil and in the presence of our enemies. During the times of uncertainty, we can cast our cares upon HIM and enjoy HIS presence, protection and care.

In the midst of our enemies, GOD does not cut short HIS care and provisions for us. HIS arms are long enough to reach us no matter how deep we think we have dropped from HIS presence. HE anoints us with HIS presence whether our enemies are physical or emotional.

HIS care for HIS children is a witness to their enemies who are also enemies of GOD. When a feast was given, the guest’s heads were anointed with fragrant oil by the host. Often it was an olive oil infused with fragrant spices.

Another thought regarding the anointing the head with oil. When a shepherd led his sheep back to the sheep fold after being in the field, he rubbed the sheep with fatty oil (often animal fat) mixed with spices. It is thought that this had healing properties and was soothing to the sheep. GOD cares for HIS children even in the midst of trying times. We need to relax and allow GOD to apply HIS healing balm to our troubled hearts.

6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

Because of the love of GOD for us, we place our trust in HIM. When we have built a genuine relationship with HIM, through our faith in CHRIST, only the best can continually be ours to claim. This does not mean that life will always go smoothly. It does mean that our walk with GOD is in unity, harmony and in step with HIS will for our lives. Whether we dwell upon earth or die and go to heaven, we belong to GOD.

The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:4-9:

4 Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent (human body), burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 And the One who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment. 6 So, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we • walk by faith, not by sight, 8 and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

David had an intimate personal relationship with GOD. He trusted GOD because he had experienced HIS loving care. GOD was faithful to him and he was faithful to GOD. Therefore, no matter where he was or his circumstances, GOD was with him and he trusted GOD to lead and guide him.

Trusting GOD to lead and guide us as HIS children is one thing but do we have the relationship with HIM to respond and put into action that which HE calls us to do?

The Apostle Peter wrote in 1Peter 5:6:

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

GOD cares so much for you that HE allowed HIS only SON, JESUS to come to earth and give HIS life for you. Place your faith in CHRIST now by asking HIM to forgive you for your sins and to come into your life. When you do, you will receive eternal life by being born into GOD’S family and begin your life’s journey with HIM as HIS child.

Father help us to build such a relationship with YOU that we will respond to YOUR leadership and guidance and get to know YOU in an intimate, personal way. Keep in mind we were not made for time but for eternity. To be absent from the body is to be present with our LORD. Blessings!!!