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During this season of Lent, we’ve
been discussing Psalm 23 at our Wednesday evening services. While we
might be accustomed to hearing this Psalm at funerals, it’s actually
a Psalm that can apply to our life each and every day. Before being
a king, David was a shepherd. Perhaps that’s why he would write a
Psalm about the Lord as his shepherd. David understood the role of
the shepherd quite well. He knew exactly what it was like to care
for his sheep. He knew how to lead them to food and water each day.
He knew how to guide them with his staff. He knew how to protect
them from predators with his rod. He knew the trails up to the
higher country when the green grass below became scarce. He knew how
to care for them, putting oil on any of their wounds. He knew the
heat of the long day, the cold of the night, the fatigue from his
work, the challenge of keeping his sheep from wandering...and the
love he had for his sheep. He also knew that God cared for him,
protected him, guided him, and loved him. And so, he wrote “The Lord
is my shepherd”.
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In this upcoming season of Easter, may
you feel God’s presence in your life as your shepherd. May you hear
his invitation to let you lie down in his green pastures for
comforting rest. May you feel him leading you to calm waters that
allow you to daily reflect on your baptism by water and the Word.
May your strength be continually renewed as you feel God restore
your soul. May you focus on the Lord as your righteousness. May you
feel God’s protection and guidance in all circumstances, knowing
that God is with you. May you know that you have been anointed as a
child of God. May God’s overflowing grace fill your cup each day.
May you feel the love of God each day as we all celebrate victory
over death through our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
[Dave Griffith,
Synod Authorized Minister,
Immanuel Lutheran, Lincoln] |
