Since several have asked for the copy of Psalm 23 that I read on April 22, I have decided to share my preaching notes for that sermon. After you read this, I encourage you to look at several translations of Psalm 23 and create your own version.
May God’s word bring you peace,
Bob Clark
You are With Me
Psalm 23
April 22, 2018
Introduction
After Jesus was raised from the dead he spent time with his followers.
In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul lists a number of the occasions when Jesus appeared to and spent time with his followers after being resurrected. Why? The point, or one of the points, it seems to me, is teaching us about the presence of God. God is with us.
This had been an important teaching in the Old Testament. God repeatedly communicated to people that he was with them, he was in their midst.
God is pictured walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden
The Tabernacle presents God as present with the people as they travelled around. If the tabernacle alone were not enough, there was a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night to remind them all – God is with us!
And then there was the temple….
When we open the New Testament, we discover Jesus is our Immanuel – God with us.
And, of course, these post-resurrection appearances remind us in that time between the death of Jesus and the promised coming of the HS at Pentecost, that God is with us still.
So in times when we don’t have the words to comfort one another, perhaps the best thing we can do is remind each other of the presence of God. When I have no words of my own to share…I remember God is with us, that Jesus is our Good Shepherd.
So today I want us to spend some simple, quiet time with our Shepherd. I have found that in times when we have no words of our own, we are better prepared to hear God’s words.
Some of you may want to open your Bibles to Psalm 23.
Others may want to close your Bibles and just listen.
I am going to read Psalm 23 today; that’s all, just read Psalm 23 so we can focus on the presence of God; to know, to feel, to experience the Good Shepherd being with us.
As I read I will be piecing together five translations – NIV, NRSV, CEB, NLT, and MSG.
To get us ready, let’s imagine we are sitting down beside a stream, with a pool of still water…and let’s be quiet….
Listening to God’s words
The Lord
The Lord is
The Lord is my SHEPHERD
The Lord is MY shepherd
God, my shepherd!
The Lord is my shepherd…
I lack nothing.
I shall not want.
I have all that I need.
I don’t need a thing.
The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing….
He makes me lie down in green pastures
He lets me rest in grassy meadows
In green meadows
Lush meadows
The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures…
He leads me beside quiet waters
Still waters
Restful waters
Peaceful streams
He finds me quiet pools to drink from
The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters…
He refreshes my soul
He restores my soul
He keeps me alive
He renews my strength
He lets me catch my breath
The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul….
He guides
He leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake
The proper paths
True to his word, he leads me in the right direction
The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley
Even when I walk through the darkest valley
Even when the way goes through Death Valley
I will fear no evil
I fear no evil
I fear no danger
I will not be afraid
I’m not afraid
For you are with me
YOU are with ME
You are close beside me
You walk at my side
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me
They protect me
They protect and comfort me
Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
You set a table for me
You serve me a six course dinner
You prepare a feast for me
In the presence of my enemies
Right in front of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
You bathe my head in oil
You honor me by anointing my head with oil
You revive my drooping head
My cup overflows
My cup is so full it spills
My cup is overflowing with blessings
My cup brims with blessing
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
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.
Surely your goodness and love
Your goodness and mercy
Your goodness and unfailing love
Will follow me, pursue me, chase me
As long as I live
Every day
All the days of my life
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I’m back home in the house of God.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
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.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Contemplation
Which line stands out as you hear it?
Which line brings you the most comfort?
Which lines functions to help keep you grounded in God?
Let’s read it one last time…listen….
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
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.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Conclusion
We are not alone. May we always be aware of the presence of God, whether we are deep in the valley, or high on the mountaintop.
God is with us.
You are with me. Thank you, God.
