The 23rd Psalm:

The world around us is going “crazy”.

We are still in a “pandemic”.

The government wants to mandate vaccinations for everyone which violates our freedom of choice.

The Seattle City Council wants to “defund” the police in the city.

Some whites want to hate blacks, and some blacks want to hate whites.

The government wants to pay people more money for not working, and on, and on, and on.

We just had a mass shooting.

You can’t pick up a newspaper, turn on the TV or radio, or surf the internet without seeing, hearing, or reading about someone wanting to do something to someone or challenging our freedoms.

There is so much anger and tension in the world and it continues to grow.

One of these days it’s going to explode.

What are we to do? We being you and me? How can we cope with all the

things going on around us? Is there a magic formula that we can plug into

that will help solve our issues? Not really but we have a way that will help

us through it.

Sure Ed, what are you talking about?

Turn with me to a very comforting passage in the book of Psalms.

Psalm 23 a psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd;

I have what I need.

2  He lets me lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside quiet waters.

3  He renews my life;

he leads me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

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.

5  You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

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.

Now let’s stop and look at what it is saying.

Are you a believer?

As a believer I have a shepherd. Someone who watches over me and provides what I need. Just like the shepherd of old and even modern day shepherds he watches over his flock. He makes sure that they have food, water and are protected from outside injury or attack.

He takes them to pastures where they can feed on the green grasses that provide nourishment. Where they can rest and be refreshed.

Sheep do not drink from fast moving streams so he will take them where they can be refreshed with the cool, slow moving waters of a smaller stream or a pool.

This calming brings refreshment and renewal. We don’t have to be worried about what is going on around us because we have the protection of the Lord, our Shepherd.

Each day He leads us. Where? Through the darkness into the light, through those tough places, onto the pathway that is safe. How does he do it? He works through the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit directs our path, shows us the way, like the shepherd guides the errant sheep gently with his staff.

Then we come to our needs. Notice I didn’t say our wants, but our needs.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil my cup runs over.” Are you really in need of more than what He is supplying? I find that if I sit down and look at what I have, I have to say thank you to Him for everything He supplies. I have food, a home, health, those are the things that matter. And He has supplied them.

As well as a multitude of other things that He feels I need.

He is an amazing God. His love covers me each day. When I get up in the morning, I know that He is with me and I will have Him to watch over me throughout the day. He is the shepherd and I am one of His flock as the Psalmist says.

How about you?

Ed Johanson