Bible Study - Emotions (5) - Overcoming Worry - Psalm 23:1-6 - January 3, 2021

 

Bible Study – Emotions (5) – Overcoming Worry - January 3, 2021

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Overcoming Worry.”

Our focus scripture is Psalm 23:1-6.

We have no need to worry when we trust GOD.

The key words are “trust GOD.” That means building the right relationship with GOD. Right relationship means building a foundation of truth, proven to be true, based upon the test of fire; the refiner’s fire.

This is a familiar psalm which is often quoted at funerals.

Let’s read Psalm 23:1-3:

The Good Shepherd

A psalm of David.

¹ The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need.

Ground zero is the LORD/GOD/Yahweh is “my shepherd.” The psalmist has a personal relationship with One True GOD based upon experiencing GOD. It is a trust/covenant relationship. GOD desires for each Spirit-born Christian to have a personal, intimate, loving relationship with HIM. HIS desire is to be our best friend. This relationship is not to be abused but to be respected and based upon truth.

Considering the path forward, based upon this proven relationship, David describes what this relation with GOD has meant to him. David being a shepherd was using his experience as a shepherd to apply to his relationship with GOD.

David makes it clear that through his relationship with GOD, he has all that he needs. His sufficiency is in his relationship with GOD, he has all he needs.

The shepherd metaphor in scripture had both political and theological overtones. Sometimes the king or national leader was considered the shepherd and his subjects as sheep. However, there was a vast difference, GOD always can be trusted as being the Good Shepherd. JESUS stated it best in John 10:7-9, 11, 14-15:

⁷ Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came ^[a]before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

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

GOD as his shepherd, HE guides him to “green pastures” for him to feed upon nutritious grass and by still or “quiet” waters to satisfy his thirst and to help digest what he had eaten. He could lie down in the green pastures because his shepherd was keeping guard and watching out for that which could harm the sheep. GOD is the good shepherd.

We know that sheep are finicky and will not drink from moving or rushing water, therefore GOD “leads HIS sheep beside still or quiet waters.” JESUS compared “living water” with the Holy Spirit. As Spirit-born Children we are not to fear the Holy Spirit, therefore HE leads us beside the quiet waters in order for us to be filled without fear. We must have the Holy Spirit in our lives every moment of every day to be equipped to follow the Good Shepherd as HE leads.

I think of the “green pastures” as being GOD’S Word and the still or “quiet waters” as being the Holy Spirit WHO indwells every Spirit-born Christian. Christians need to “Be still and know” the presence of GOD in their lives. [Psalm 46: ¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!]

In Psalm 23:3, we read:
³ He renews my life;
he leads me along the right paths^[a]
for his name’s sake.

Because GOD is a good shepherd and takes the time to lead us to the nutritious food and the still water, HE renews our Spirit-filled lives. Our walk with GOD through faith in JESUS is renewed and confirmed as GOD leads and guides HIS sheep along the right paths because we belong to HIM and HE cares for us. HIS authority, as GOD, and HIS care for us as Spiritually born-again believers magnify and Glorify HIM to the world that seeks such a trust worthy relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. We are the light and the salt.

GOD leads HIS sheep along the right paths because HE has already gone before us and HE knows where all “paths” lead, therefore He knows which path is right for us to take. Yet, there may be a path HE may lead us along for teaching purposes.

What does such a relationship with GOD, through faith in JESUS, mean to HIS Spirit born Children? Let’s read on -----

Let’s read Psalm 23:4-5:

⁴ Even when I go through the darkest valley,^[b]
I fear no danger,

Yes, dark times will come to all of HIS Spirit-born Children. But how can we count on GOD when we go through these dark times? When we place our trust in GOD, we will not fear the danger, why?

We do not fear the danger because GOD is with us. GOD is not fickle but stands firm when we face danger. Why? It is because, as we continue to read the last part of verse 4:
“for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.”

GOD stands along beside us and equips us with HIS rod to beat back the enemy and HIS staff used to rescue HIS sheep. The shepherd’s rod was generally an oak club used to fight off large wild animals such as lions or bears. It did its intended job in the hand of the user. GOD defends us against the wields of Satan who comes as a roaring lion seeking whom he will devour.

The shepherd’s staff had a crook on its end to rescue sheep who have fallen into a hole, pit or thicket. The shepherd is equipped to take care of the needs of the sheep.

We, as Spirit born-again believers, through faith in JESUS, can rest assured that GOD will prepare a victory feast for us. What is our part? To trust in GOD as our Good Shepherd, WHO gives us a victory banquet ------

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

GOD prepares a victory banquet which HIS Spirit-born Children relax and enjoy in the presence of the onslaughts Satan attempts to throw at us. GOD’S Children are victors as represented by the anointing of our heads with oil or the Holy Spirit and our cups never running dry or the need for living water.

Anointing oil was olive oil and represented the Holy Spirit. The good shepherd also carried an animal fat/herb infused ointment he used at the end of the day to apply to the wounded or sore areas of the sheep, such as the sheep’s foot or feet so the sheep would be ready to continue its or their journey to the shepherd’s intended destenation.

When our Good Shepherd leads us, HE chooses the path designed to help us to follow HIM, trusting and growing Spiritually. There will be tough terrain, smooth terrain and terrain that builds trust as HE leads.

Let’s read Psalm 23:6:

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

Worry is not necessary when our trust is in JESUS, The Good Shepherd. Why? It is because we live in the big house where GOD/JESUS resides. We belong to GOD’S Household.

What did JESUS have to say about worry? Let’s read Matthew 6:25-30:

Do Not Worry

²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one ^[j]cubit to his ^[k]stature?

²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not ^[l]arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Do we, as GOD’S Children through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth place our trust in GOD our Heavenly FATHER through faith in JESUS?

What does all of this mean to the person who is in right relationship with GOD? What does it mean to those since the birth and passion of JESUS? It means that our faith in JESUS assures us that GOD will never leave us or forsake us! We will have eternal life through faith in JESUS.

How well does GOD know us as HIS Children? Matthew 10:30:

³⁰ But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. That is how intimately GOD knows each of us. After all HE formed us in our mother’s womb.

In 1 Peter 5:7 we read - ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. GOD has loved each of us even before HE created the world and HE chose us to be HIS Child through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. The question is that all of us have to answer is, “Do we choose JESUS as our Savior?” If so, have we made HIM the LORD of our lives?

Is JESUS your Savior? Have you made HIM the LORD of your life? If not, why not? What is the cost to you if you have not asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for JESUS to come into your life, believing that HIS shed blood paid, in full, for your sins? Upon your physical death, you will enter eternity without your sins being forgiven. Why is it vital that your sins be forgiven? It is because it is only through the shed blood of JESUS and your faith in JESUS as the true sinless SON of GOD that atones for your sin. Without faith in JESUS your sin remains.

Do you desire eternal life? If so, then ask JESUS to forgive you and for HIM to come into your life. If you ask JESUS to do this, then thank HIM for saving you from the consequence of your sin, which is eternal death and thank HIM for giving you eternal life through faith in JESUS. You have been Spiritually born into GOD’S Family and you are now GOD’S Son or Daughter through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. Your destination is eternally secure, Heaven. Your relationship with GOD is confirmed by the eternal seal and confirmation of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Now you must grow Spiritually. Tell a Christian friend what you have done and if you are not in a Christian church or Bible study group, then ask GOD to lead you to the place where you can serve and grow as a Christian. Read the book of Mark to help you get started reading the Bible. You will learn that Mark was the first streaker in the Bible. Read the Gospels – Mark, Matthew, Luke and John.

When you read this, we will be in year 2021. Assess where you are Spiritually. Make some notes so that when you get to year 2022 you can see how much you have grown Spiritually in a year. In fact, you can think back over this past year, which has been full of issues we have had to deal with, to review how we have grown Spiritually during this past year. Remember, GOD cares for you!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!

Blessings!!!