Psalm 23
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
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Emotion
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Intro
Intro
Emotions
Review of last weeks surveys
Are emotions evil? (14% yes, 86% no)
Should we listen to our emotions? (40% yes 60% no)
Do emotions glorify God? (100% yes)
(40% yes 60% no) Do emotions glorify God? 5 people (100% yes), Does God have emotions? 6 people (100% yes). Should we always express our emotions? 5 people (100% no) Are emotions as important as reason? 4 people (50% yes 50% no) Did you listen to the sermon? 5 people (60% yes, 40% no).
Does God have emotions? (100% yes)
Should we always express our emotions? (100% no)
Are emotions as important as reason? (50% yes 50% no)
Did you listen to the sermon? 5 people (60% yes, 40% no)
Key Emotion: Fearlessness (4a)
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.
The entire Psalm is in a way a statement about who God is in relationship to His people…
…and likewise the reason that we have no cause for fear as God’s people.
Fear is natural
Fear is a natural emotion and a survival mechanism. When we confront a perceived threat, our bodies respond in specific ways. Physical reactions to fear include sweating, increased heart rate, and high adrenaline levels that make us extremely alert.
Fear is a natural emotion and a survival mechanism.
Fear is our bodies response to a perceived threat.
How we would react to a lion
How Samson reacted to a lion ()
BOTH RESPONSES TO FEAR
Fear is your bodies automatic response to a threat. Fear is crucial to our survival.
Fearlessness is not the absence of fear, but the conquering of it.
30 Words: A Devotional for the Rest of Us Word 17: Fearless
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.”
―Nelson Mandela
This is what we are looking at today. How do we become fearless? How do we conquer fear? We aren’t trying to get rid of fear, but want to face fear boldly like Samson.
Context:
Sheep/Shepherd analogy
Shepherd is Jesus/YHWH
Guardian of the sheep
Provider for the sheep
Manager of the sheep (business—purpose)
Sheep are God’s people
Follow the Shepherd
Stay near the Shepherd
Share in God’s purposes
(Image of sacrifice) Give life for the Shepherd
To be a Shepherd is to enable the sheep to be fearless
(where the illustration breaks down) To be a sheep is not to be a blind and stupid follower as some have said
blind or irrational faith
anti-intellectualism — we’re just stupid sheep who need to believe what we’re told and not think for ourselves
We are to image God:
Christians are thinking people: Intelligence
Christians are creative people: Giftedness
Christians are sacrificial people: Love
Not stupid sheep—the illustration is not about how dumb we are as sheep, but how great God is as Shepherd
To be a sheep is to be cared for by the Shepherd
The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.
1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I have what I need.
Four ways that the Lord provides what we need so that we can be fearless.
Body
Body
The first is that we can be fearless because the Lord provides us…
Rest
Rest
Fast-paced society — nothing we can do about this
2 income households — many people working two jobs (almost impossible not to have this)
kids in sports and programs
family stuff
church stuff
It used to be that people lived for the weekend—2 whole days off!—but now most people just live for a morning to sleep in.
Even when we do get a day off, we spend the day anxiously trying to figure out the schedule for our next week.
He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
green pastures (rest for the body)
The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.
lets vs. makes (implied in the Hebrew) (READ A)
In a place of tender grass, there he causes me to dwell. At a river of rest he nourishes me.
It’s not that God lets you rest --- like, if you want to, if you can squeeze it into your schedule.
It’s also not that God makes or forces you to rest when you don’t want to.
The word cause means source. The idea behind this verse is that the Lord is the source of your rest.
This isn’t so much about what God does to give rest to your body. It’s about what happens to our body—rest—when we remain close to the Shepherd.
A lack of rest may mean…
Quiet waters (rest for the soul/from restlessness and anxiety)
A psalm of David.
thirst as analogy for the longing of the soul (cf. Jesus, I will give you living water)
ILL: Most of us go through life like we’re trying to get a drink from a class 4 rapid
But, the Lord leads us to a fresh cool spring to drink.
Fearless implication
Anxiety is the fear we don’t have time to do all that we think needs to be done
The promise of this verse is that, although we may not accomplish everything we want to accomplish, if we abide in Christ, we stay near to the Shepherd, God will accomplish everything He purposes.
The irony of anxiety is that the symptom of anxiety is restlessness.
But, restlessness also makes your anxiety worse.
The answer to anxiety in life isn’t to get through the next week, to push through the next season, or to figure out the right formula to make the day flow right.
The answer to anxiety in life is to draw near to God, the Shepherd.
He is the source of the physical rest we need.
He leads us to the stillness of heart and mind that we need.
I have what I need.
We can be fearless because God gives us rest. The second reason we can be fearless is that God provides us…
he leads me beside quiet waters.
Direction
Direction
Direction
Direction
No matter what life path you have chosen, everyone has some sense of concern that they made the wrong decision at some point. (Anywhere from regret to mere wonder.)
Job
3 He renews my life;
College
Career
Place you live
Etc.
That gives us a sense of concern or even fear for the future.
What if I made the wrong decision in the past? I was meant to do something different with my life? What if I take the wrong path in the future? It could shipwreck my whole life and purpose?
No wrong directions.
David is only concerned with two things: Restoration to God and living righteously. — anything else you do in your life is up to you.
He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
he leads me along the right paths
Renewal of life (‘He restores my soul,’ ESV)
Gospel—message of Jesus
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously lived according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
By birth, death reigns.
By grace, we are made alive. The Lord renews your life.
ILL: The moment you become alive in Christ is the ‘from’ field on your GPS. ‘To’ is the eternal presence of God. Your direction in life is paths of righteousness or ‘right paths.’
Paths that are right—multiple paths (alternate routes)
Paths that are right
for his name’s sake.
leads — in rightness not specific paths
for His name’s sake — the right path is any path that honors God because of the grace He has offered you.
ILL: Israel was to be a light to the nations; right living paired with blessing is what demonstrated to the nations that YHWH was God of gods
cf.
Fearless implication
If you’re fearful that you have taken the wrong path…
Did you seek to honor God in that path?
If not, then confess the sin, commit your life to Christ now and move forward on right paths.
If you are fearful about your future…
Worry less about the path that you are taking or the decision that you are making and ask, How can I honor God on this path? How can I abide in Christ on this path?
God gives us direction in life but he isn’t planning every single decision for us. The direction is to come to Christ and to honor Christ wherever we are at.
The third reason that we can be fearless in life is that the Lord provides us…
Protection
Protection
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.
Darkest valley and fearlessness
Notice David doesn’t tell us to go find the darkest valleys and walk through them.
But, there is a time when you will go through the darkest valleys.
Will Davis Jr.
But, there is a time when you will go through the darkest valleys.
10 Things Jesus Never Said: And Why You Should Stop Believing Them 9 You Missed My Will for Your Life
God’s promise of grace is not an invitation to recklessness but to fearlessness.
10 Things Jesus Never Said: And Why You Should Stop Believing Them 9 You Missed My Will for Your Life
God’s promise of grace is not an invitation to recklessness but to fearlessness.
But, there is a time when you will go through the darkest valleys and in those times we are called to fearlessness.
What are darkest valleys?
Seems clear that David had to go through many dangerous situations—battles, wars, and all that comes with being king of a tribal kingdom.
Sometimes we are faced with physical trials. (maybe not wars, but health and injury and other things)
We also walk through dark emotional valleys. (Song (Maskil) for the sons of Korah)
Why, my soul, are you so dejected? Why are you in such turmoil? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him, my Savior and my God. I am deeply depressed; therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
We also walk through dark spiritual valleys. (Heman the Ezrahite)
Lord, God of my salvation, I cry out before you day and night. May my prayer reach your presence; listen to my cry. For I have had enough troubles, and my life is near Sheol. I am counted among those going down to the Pit. I am like a man without strength, abandoned among the dead. I am like the slain lying in the grave, whom you no longer remember, and who are cut off from your care. You have put me in the lowest part of the Pit, in the darkest places, in the depths. Your wrath weighs heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. Selah
He speaks of being cut off from the presence of God and worthy of the going into the Pit under God’s judgment.
We will go through dark valleys and when we do we are called to fearlessness because God is with us.
The fearlessness that comes from abiding in the Lord reminds me of the Apostle Paul’s words to the Philippian church:
“I shall never have to admit defeat, but with complete fearlessness I shall go on, so that now, as always, Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or my death.”
all in accordance with my most confident hope and trust that I shall never have to admit defeat, but with complete fearlessness I shall go on, so that now, as always, Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or my death.
David says that the Lord is with him and so there is no fear of physical valleys (danger), of emotional valleys, of spiritual valleys.
But why?
10 Things Jesus Never Said: And Why You Should Stop Believing Them 9 You Missed My Will for Your Life
God’s promise of grace is not an invitation to recklessness but to fearlessness.
Rod and staff
discipline or protection?
Comfort (from fear) because God protects.
Fearless implication
Paul said that he pressed on fearlessly because God is able to protect him in all things.
I fear no danger,
We must see our lives the same way.
Even if there is threat of physical harm, even death, Paul says, “Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or my death.”
We have an eternal hope. Even death on this earth is not death for those who abide in Christ and so fear does not cripple us as Christ followers. Rather, in Christ we conquer fear.
We are comforted because God is able to protect us.
And if he chooses to let us die, then we enter into His presence. There is comfort in life or death.
Finally, the fourth reason we can be fearless is that the Lord provides us…
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
Sustenance
Sustenance
That is, he provides what is needed to sustain us (The LORD is my Shepherd, I have what I need).
What is sustenance? — more than food, it is all that sustains physical life
(Not going to spend time here)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
in the presence of my enemies;
Provide a table
you anoint my head with oil;
imagery for food
Anoint with oil
Usually a sign of commissioning, but in context this is a symbol of God’s blessing and good health
Anointing
Cup overflows
Oil
plentiful
Cup
Overflows
Fearless Implication
my cup overflows.
ILL: food is easy — 30-40% of the US food supply goes in the trash.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Notice the pattern
God provides
rest
direction
protection
sustenance
That produces in David fearlessness
But, that fearlessness gives way to confidence in God.
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.
The fearlessness that comes from trusting God will build in you confidence that God’s promises will always remain true
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.
The Psalmists fearlessness gives way to confidence in 3 realities.
Notice these are not things that the Psalmist says he will pursue, but he is certain that, because of God’s promises, these things will be true.
all in accordance with my most confident hope and trust that I shall never have to admit defeat, but with complete fearlessness I shall go on, so that now, as always, Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or my death.
Goodness…will pursue me
Have you ever felt like evil was perched behind every door, lurking around every corner, trying to trap you and ensnare you?
David says that evil doesn’t pursue him, but goodness.
When you abide in Christ and trust him for rest, direction, protection, and sustenance, then goodness pursues you.
I know the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking who he can consume:
It’s not that there is no temptation to sin
It’s that there is less propensity to sin and less likelihood you will be in the circumstance to sin when you are near the shepherd because when you are near the Shepherd, goodness pursues you all the days of your life.
What that means is that your intentionality to recognize God’s working in all areas of your life and to trust his promises and his ways over your own strength will result in a tendency to walk in paths of righteousness.
On the flip side: If you see sin lurking around every corner it is because you are not walking in paths of righteousness for his names sake. — You need to get near the Shepherd and Walk a new path
Faithful love will pursue me
In a faithless world that values fairness and equality to the point of vengeance, when you abide in Christ, you stay near to your shepherd, you will find that God is faithful in love even when others are unfaithful.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord (God’s presence)
David has a keen sense of God’s presence, that he will dwell in God’s house forever.
He can sense the presence of the Lord in his life, but also has a great confidence that he will dwell in God’s house forever, eternally.
And that’s the promise of all of scripture, that if we believe that Jesus is the way to find God, and commit our loyalty to Him, then we will have confidence in the presence of God, the faithful love of God and the goodness of God. And we will have that forever.
NOTE: I taught my small group to pray the Psalms on Tuesday:
all the days of my life,
PRAY
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
as long as I live.
all in accordance with my most confident hope and trust that I shall never have to admit defeat, but with complete fearlessness I shall go on, so that now, as always, Christ will be glorified in my body, whether by my life or my death.
A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 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.
10 Things Jesus Never Said: And Why You Should Stop Believing Them 9 You Missed My Will for Your Life
God’s promise of grace is not an invitation to recklessness but to fearlessness.