7/4/10
No matter how intelligent and freethinking a person thinks he or she is, no one is autonomous. There are so many influences that shape a person’s life and worldview – family life, education, friendships, the media, and the list goes on. There is simply no way around it. Even if a person resists these influences, the very exertion will mold a person. All this is to say that we are built for counsel and this counsel will shape us.
6/16/10
Psalm 23
Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved psalms of all time. It portrays the various blessings, which come from the reality that God is our shepherd. The psalmist’s depiction, of course, is not exhaustive, but it is surprisingly full. In six short verses, he writes that the Lord leads us besides still waters, restores our souls, and guides us in path of righteousness. For these reasons even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, or come face to face with those who would harm us, we need not fear for he protects us with rod and staff.
These words alone are enough to encourage anyone and I was reminded of this last night as I spent time with my in-laws. In the way only God could, he has been a good shepherd. As I think about my life, I can, undoubtedly, say the same thing.
There is another perspective. God is not only a God of words, but also of actions. In fact, in God the two go hand in hand. Yes, the psalmist uses the imagery of the good shepherd to encourage himself and others, but at the same time we need to bear in mind that God demonstrates that he is a good shepherd by physically coming down to be with us. In Christ, we see how good of a shepherd he really is. In John 10:11 Jesus states, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep.” The shepherd will die on a cross to protect his people.
The above act of love reminds us of another imagery. Not only is Jesus our good shepherd, but he is also the lamb that is slain. Isaiah 53:6-7 states:
We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
In light of who God is and what he has done, we can dare to trust, take risks and live by faith in his grace. May the church live out the implications of what it means to have a good shepherd who will lay his life down for his sheep. “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Ps. 23:6).
6/13/10
Psalm 3:5, 4:8, 127:2, 121:2
Psalm 3:5
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.
Psalm 4:8
I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.
Psalm 127:2
In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves.
Psalm 121:3, 4
He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
In this short sampling of verses, we see that the psalmist sleeps. Yes, he is filled with fears, anxieties, cares, and concerns, but he realizes something essential. He sees that there is a God who is in control, and a God who cares, loves, and protects. For these reasons, the psalmist is able to rest in God. He lays down his head in faith. To put it another way, sometimes what we need to do is rest, knowing that God has worked for us. We need to remind ourselves that God is bigger than our problems and that he cares more than we can ever imagine. We need to bear in mind that it is not about us in the end, but about what God has done for us in Christ. Sometimes we just need to sleep in faith. May God grant us his rest.
6/12/10
King David feared for his life on many occasions. One of these occasions was when he was fleeing from his own son Absalom. Psalm 3 offers a glimpse into his situation. David confesses that he has many foes (3:1), and that these foes are saying that God will not deliver him (3:2). For these reasons, David cries out to God (3:4) and even experiences sleepless nights (3:5). It is not a far stretch at all to say that David was filled with anxiety and fears. Continue reading…
6/11/10
We like to think that we are autonomous beings. We make independent choices and determine our own course of life. To a certain extent, this understanding is true, since in the end we are the ones who make decisions. But there is another important consideration. We are social beings and for that reason the society in which we live shapes us more than we can imagine. I think the more mature a person becomes, the more he or she will realize autonomy is a myth. Society exerts pressure and shapes our worldviews and categories of thought. Continue reading…
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