This Psalm is all about personal faith and trust in God, and the blessed assurance that comes to those living in the will of God. This Psalm expresses what the expectant faith of the obedient believer knows God will bring to pass, in due season.
GOD IS THE SHEPHERD OF HIS CHILDREN, v1. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Because of the believer’s personal knowledge of God’s righteousness, God is judged to be faithful in all He has promised.
GOD IS THE PROVIDENTIAL KEEPER OF HIS OWN, v2. “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” Although our faith teaches us that with food and raiment therewith be content, our experience manifests that God sends “handfuls of purpose” to bless us in our way, as we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THAT WHICH PRESERVES HIS PEOPLE, v3. “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” God’s performance of His promises will never mar His name. God’s people have their salvation and their eternal glory, all due to the grace of God. It is by the power of God that those trusting in Him are made to overcome.
GOD’S CHILDREN FIND PEACE IN SUBMISSION TO HIM, v4. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Since every child of God is chastened for their own profit, and this is known to be God loving His own, this endears God’s children unto Him. God’s children lean and depend upon the superiority of their heavenly Father. Knowing God is watching over us for our good, promotes love and respect towards Him.
GOD’S PURPOSE TO EXALT HIS OWN, RESULTS IN CHRISTIANS REJOICING IN THE LORD, v5. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” God’s plan is to use the lives of those who have a testimony of faith in Him, to manifest the riches of His grace to a lost world. This involves God doing things that are obviously for the benefit of His children, in the sight of those who are opposed to them. It is the faithful believer’s joy to know that God works all things together for their good, as they honor Him in life.
GOD’S CHILDREN ARE DRAWN TO HIM WITH GRATITUDE, IN FULL ASSURANCE, v6. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” For those who love God, God’s house brings them into closer communion with the One they want to know more of, the source from whence all blessings flow. God’s house is preferred above every other place, by those who know the glory of God. A Christian seeks not only to commune with God, to be fed by His Word, but also to enjoy the fellowship of their brethren in Christ, whom they love in the Lord.
The world cannot appreciate God’s house, because the natural man discerns not spiritual things, but rather comes short of the glory of God, knowing only the pleasures of sin for a season.
The net result of one’s experience in God’s house is consistent with their faith, or the lack thereof: “According to your faith, be it unto you.”
To forsake God’s house manifests that one has lost sight of the glory of God’s righteousness, and has become blinded to the incompleteness of their human state. IS GOD YOUR SHEPHERD?
SHARING
