The final word of Psalm 23 is “Forever”, just one word but it is not isolated from the rest of what has just been said, his confidence is that he “will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” This confidence instills Hope, Assurance, Peace, and rejoicing! Forever from the Hebrew focuses on a length […]
Psalm 23:5 continues “My cup runs over.” When a cup runs over it has been filled to the brim, and receiving more than it needs, or can hold, the excess flows over the side and covers the area around it. As we sit at God’s banquet table it is His plan, desire, and provision for […]
“Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” Psalm 23:4. The rod and staff were the symbol of a shepherd; while the staff may have been used by the shepherd in walking, or as something to lean on, the obvious message here is their function in caring for the flock, and by their use the […]
“He restores my soul” verse 3; when a sheep would fall sick, break a leg, or face some other calamity, the shepherd would be there to treat, dress the wound, and nurture that sheep back to health. God our “good shepherd” is the greatest restorer ever! From the moment our relationship with Him was broken […]
The Psalmist continues in 23:2 saying “…He leads me beside the still waters”, in some translations it is peaceful water. Still waters, stands in contrast to the torrent of rushing mighty water of which the sheep are fearful, probably because of the swift movement and noise, and from which the sheep we are told […]
“But the fruit of the Spirit is…self-control” Galatians 5:22-23. This fruit has to do especially with sexual activity, but as we learn from other Scriptures like Colossians 3:5-10, it encompasses every area of our life! The Apostle writes in 1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest…I myself should […]
“…the fruit of the Spirit is…longsuffering…” The dictionary defines longsuffering when used as an adjective as “bearing injuries, trials. Etc. patient for a long time”, and, used as a noun it is “long and patient endurance of trials.” The Bible uses this word on different occasions as descriptive of God. In Exodus 34:7 He proclaimed […]
As we saw last week peace with God, the foundation stone of real peace, has been obtained for us by Christ Jesus. Now we not only have peace with God but we are given access to “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, (and) will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” Philippians […]
Last week we looked at our joy in Him, today we are looking at His joy in us. God wants His people to be joyful; 1 John 1:3-4 indicates that there is a joy associated with fellowshipping with each other which has its roots in fellowship “with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ…” […]
