Read Psalms 23
Highlights:
David's confidence in the Great Shepherd; the King of Glory; David's love for God's House; his prayer for God's help; thanksgiving for deliverance.
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. . . . He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake (Ps. 23:1,3).
No other livestock requires so much attention as sheep. If they are left alone, they will follow the same trails until those trails become ruts. One sheep may become so engrossed in following its own eating path that it becomes separated from the flock and is lost.
We, by nature, are like sheep, blindly and habitually following the same paths that we have seen ruin the lives of others, or becoming so wrapped up in our own affairs that we lose our way. We turn our backs to the Word of God and go into the crooked roads, which lead us down the wrong paths towards destruction. We hear the phrase in life of "living in your own little world." This is so true of us even as Christians at times. We often don't see or won't see that which is going on around us. Scripture refers to the child of God, saying: We like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Is. 53:6). The enemy likes us to be this way because he has his trap laid in wait for us to fall into. The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the Light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (II Cor. 4:4).
There is something almost terrifying about the destructive self-determination of those who refuse to be led in the paths of righteousness (Ps. 23:3) by actually going their own way, even though it has taken others into great trouble.
How many times have we prayed for our Shepherd to lead me in the paths of righteousness, while in our day-by-day conduct, we still refuse to deny self or give up our "rights" or yield our own interests to the interests of others? It is easy to speak one way, but to act in another way entirely. We often will tell the Lord that we hear His Commands and understand. However, God is calling us to do, not just to hear and understand. But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves (James 1:22).
If we truly seek God's will, then the offer of the Great Shepherd is still open: I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight (Is. 42:16).
Thought for Today:
The tender voice of our Good Shepherd is still calling, "Come unto Me."
Christ Revealed:
As our Shepherd (Ps. 23). Christ called Himself the Good Shepherd and vowed to lay down His life for the sheep (John 10:11).
Word Studies:
26:1 slide, waver, fall; 26:2 reins, desires and thoughts; 26:4 dissemblers, pretenders, deceitful ones; 28:2 Holy Oracle, Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies; 28:3 mischief, evil.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Staff: Kevin Jennings • Government Official: Rep. Collin C. Peterson (MN), and Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC) • Country: Kuwait (2 million) in the northeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula • Major languages: Arabic and English • Some religious freedom • 95% Muslim; 4% Christian • Prayer Suggestion: Trust the Lord; He will never forsake you (Ps. 9:10).
Optional Reading: Colossians 2
Memory Verse for the Week: Lamentations 3:22-23