Psalm 28 is an interesting Psalm where the writer moves from an unknown threat to a song of thanks and praise. The “pit” is a metaphor for death or Sheol (cf. Job 7:9; Psalm 30:3; Psalm 88:6; Psalm 143:7). The writer struggles to escape the silence of God. How many times in our troubles do we feel like God is not there for us? Yet, the Psalmist cries out to God to hear him (Psalm 28:1-5). He is concerned about experiencing the ultimate punishment of wrongdoers. The Psalmist apparently is in worship and calls out for help and lifts his hands to God’s most holy sanctuary. Makes me think of the inadequacy of our contemporary worship experiences that often lack this type of sacrifice. We gather to worship to fulfill our religious duty, while the Psalmist gathers to cry out to God for help in a concern over substance (death) than trivia (our wants). The Psalmist is looking for justice and I wonder if his friends would have counseled him not to judge or that he needed to be more inclusive of his enemies. The Psalmist is not concerned about our contemporary feelings or political correctness. He sees clearly the wrongs people have done against God (Psalm 28:4-5). The bottom line is that God hears (Psalm 28:6) and the writer moves from his concern about the pit to praising God. I wonder if our worship experience moves us this way? Do we worship in fear of something? Is the conclusion a movement from fear of the pit to praise of God? The psalmist ends in Psalm 28:7-9 in praise. He recognizes God’s protection, he offers a song of thanks, he moves to seeing that God is the strength for all his people and not just an individual, he focuses on salvation, and he sees God as a shepherd carrying his people (cf. Isaiah 40:11).
Posts Tagged ‘Shepherd’
Day 229: Psalm 28 — From the Pit to Praise
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010Day 161: John 1:1-21 — Jesus the Shepherd and the Gate
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
John 10:1-18 provides us with the image of Jesus as the good shepherd. Some of the most popular pictures of Jesus are those that portray him as a shepherd; leading a flock of sheep; caring for the sick; and/or carrying a sheep. This is a wonderful image of our Lord. However, it is not the only image. In John 10 there is another image that is just as important and must be balanced with the caring shepherd image.
There is a tendency to read John 10 as if Jesus is only the good shepherd. But, there is more. Jesus is also the image of the gate. The two “I am” statements of John 10 present the reader with two Christological images that must be held together and not separated. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises to God’s people. Yet Jesus is more than the good shepherd for whom Israel waits (Ezekiel 34), because he is also the gate for the sheep. Jesus is the way to life (the gate), and he leads the way to life (the good shepherd). While these are closely related, they are not the same thing. Jesus is the way to life because he is himself life (John 10:10; John 14:6). Jesus leads the way to the life because he lays down his own life (John 10:11; John 10:14-15).
The distortion of this text is easily seen in those who would claim there are multiple gates to God. I beg to differ and so does the Bible. The gateway and shepherd of God is Jesus Christ. Who is Jesus? He is the Son of God who lays down His life for His sheep. He is not only an exceptional shepherd, He is the gate for the sheep to enter the fold. In other words, “You ain’t gettin’ in, if you don’t know Jesus!”
We should spend some time in reflection of these verses and their meanings in our lives.
Day 114: Luke 12:22-40
Saturday, April 24th, 2010Greetings to everyone! When I read Luke 12:22-40 this time around, I ended up thinking about why Jesus came to earth in the first place. Jesus chose to come down from the heavenly Father to show us how to do His will instead of our own selfish will, the will of the people, or the will of the government. Put God’s will first and foremost, and eternity will be great, but you may find yourself doing some strange things on earth, like performing miraculous signs and wonders, teaching hungry hordes of people wandering like sheep without a shepherd, raising people from the dead, and dying painfully on a cross.
“Do not worry about your life,” Jesus says, because spiritual matters are more important than earthly issues, and your soul is more important than your flesh. God is in control, taking care of both. If God takes care of ravens, lilies and grass, He will take care of us, too. But there is this rebellion issue– WE of little faith! We want good food, flavorful drinks (when water really is the best thing for us), nice clothes, large homes, and lots and lots of toys. Now, these are all examples of my selfish will, not God’s will for my life. The funny thing is, if we focus on God’s will and strive for His kingdom, Jesus says all these things will be given to us as well. Note Jesus does not say I will ever earn them, but they will be given to me because it is the Father’s good pleasure to provide them in His kingdom. But first, I must obey Him. I must give up my rebellion, quit trying to do everything for myself and chasing after these things the nations of the world consider important. I must submit, humbly bow to the Creator, and accept the gift He offers.
Jesus tells us not to be afraid, but I must admit I’m intimidated by the things God’s had ask others to do for Him.
Noah, build an ark on dry land.
Abraham, sacrifice your son.
Moses, lead my people out of Egypt.
Joshua, march around the walls blowing trumpets.
Samson, don’t cut your hair.
David, kill a giant with a slingshot.
Solomon, quit clinging to your wives in love.
Elijah, battle the prophets of Baal, only 400 to 1 odds.
Isaiah, prophecy poetically, and heal a boil with figs.
Jeremiah, do not pray for the welfare of this people, a rebellious house.
Ezekiel, eat this scroll.
Jonah, pay attention, don’t run away, now go save Nineveh.
Jesus, go down there and show them my love, and die trying.
To all of the rest of us, follow ME.
Ever noticed the difference between ‘Me’ and ‘We’ is the leading letter is turned upside down? When we do what we want instead of what He wants, everything gets turned upside down.
Now, don’t be afraid, don’t worry about a thing. Just have a little faith. (Gasp.)
Day 48: Matthew 26:56 –If Scripture is good enough for Jesus, it ought to be good enough for us
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010In Matthew 26:47-56, Jesus is betrayed and arrested. We know the story of Judas’ betrayal, the “kiss,” the disciple pulling out his sword to cut off the ear, Jesus’ reattachment of the ear, the discourse on violence, and the disciples fleeing. While I was reading, something caught my eye. Twice in this section, Matthew tells us that Scripture was fulfilled (Matthew 26:54 and Matthew 26:56). People always focus on Judas, the High Priest, the ear gets a lot of attention, violence, and the disciples fleeing. However, we ought to focus on Jesus and Jesus is focusing on Scripture. The Old Testament in Zechariah 13:7-9 tells us that the Shepherd will be struck and judgment will come upon the people because of their idolatry and sin. A time of refinement will be put in place where the people are tested and honed. Yet, the good news is that it will lead to a time when God will claim His people and the people will claim their God.
A few things:
1. Jesus was struck as the Good Shepherd as Scripture foretold.
2. The disciples fled as Scripture foretold.
3. We are being honed and tested as Scripture foretold.
4. We can call on the name of the Lord and He answers as Scripture foretold.
5. God claims His people and His people claim Him as our God as Scripture foretold.
6. The disciples return and in fact in the second chapter of Acts, Peter preaches about Jesus Christ and quotes scripture. His message cut to the heart (Acts 2:37) and they asked what they needed to do. If you would like to see the answer go read what Scripture says in Acts 2:38-40.
Day 13: Matthew 9:18-38 — Leadership
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010Throughout this early section, we have been introduced to Jesus’ ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing. We have a recap in Matthew 9:35. In Matthew 9:36-38, we have a transition to Matthew’s upcoming “Mission Discourse” in chapter 10. I think this section is very sad. We see Jesus looking on the crowds with compassion. Two images are given. The first is that of sheep without a shepherd. The second is a great harvest without enough workers to bring the harvest in.
The biblical image of sheep without a shepherd is a figure of speech that shows the depressing state of a nation that does not have true leadership. Look at some of the Old Testament references: Numbers 27:16-17; 1 Kings 22:17; 2 Chronicles 18:16; Jeremiah 50:6; Ezekiel 34:1-16; Zechariah 11:15; 2 Samuel 24:17.
The image of a shepherd is more than our desire to be consoled, listened to, or be taken care of. Remember in Psalm 23, the shepherd has a staff and a rod – he pokes and prods with them. He teaches, he disciplines, he restores our soul, he leads in paths of righteousness. The shepherd is concerned about the sheep growing spiritually and protecting them from the evil one(s) that seek to devour them through confusion, deceit, and false instruction.
I have heard once that a shepherd in the field would break the legs of a straying sheep and carry them over their shoulder until the sheep healed and became so close to the shepherd that the sheep would never go far away again. What an image!
Question:
I wonder if spiritual, we might need our proverbial legs broken. What do you think?