Title: God Our Shepherd / Psalm 23:1-6
Contents
God our shepherd
Text: Psalm 23:1-6
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The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters. This is a famous poem of King David. He is a native of Bethlehem. He lived in the countryside, herding sheep. Truly he was a peasant with beasts. He was someone no one knew. David always lived with God. He is a pure heart. He is an extraordinary person. He is a sincere person. He is a person full of love. Compared to his brothers, he is inferior in many ways.
One day he will become king. So he compared God to a shepherd and himself to a sheep. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside calm waters. We must have food. You must have water to drink. There must be a shelter where you can rest comfortably. However, people have limits in their power. There are many things we need to have in our lives. But here the poet lives without any worries. I give it all away and live. We all have a way to live well. Are you still on a difficult path?
There are shortcuts in life. It is a life that is left to Almighty God. There is no safe zone in this world right now. We are always living in fear and anxiety. We never know when such a misfortune will come. I am always anxious about when such difficulties will come. There may be a car accident. I am always worried about how many adult diseases are now. We are always restless. Are we really worried? Are you really happy? Are we living without any difficulties? However, happiness does not automatically come to all of us when the years change. But it seems that people are too arrogant. It's dangerous to say I can do anything.
Life is not a cartoon. It's not a life where misfortune goes away. It's not just about living as you go. Life is not that easy. You can't just live your life the way it always is. But David lived his life according to the rules. That formula is God-centered life. Life is not just about living with knowledge. The truth is that David always lived a simple life. He is a man who truly loves God. He is a God-centered person. He became king not because of royalty. Here David says, The LORD is my shepherd, and I have no need. You can tell how happy he is. I also want to share grace with you today by saying that the Lord is my shepherd.
I. We Need a Shepherd
Today is a painful time of disbelief. More and more, we need our shepherds. Yet we are not looking for him. So life is always bogged down. When we were young, we trusted our school teachers. I respected you the most. We are teachers, doctors, judges, prosecutors, lawyers, these people are respected in society. But here the king is the highest in the country. In that country, he can do anything he wants. But he has someone to guide him. There were times when he was always anxious. He is a very little child before God. There were many things that didn't go his way. If God does not love him, he is nothing.
What would he lack? What was the hat? We will always say that we are happy people. Yet the truth is that he is not just such a happy person. Jehovah is my shepherd. He has no sufficiency for that. Are we really happy? Is there really no shortage? If so, how good would it be? But now the world is trembling with all kinds of anxiety and nervousness. Grab someone on the street and ask them. Are you really happy? But most will say no.
I heard this story from my Sunday School teacher when I was young. A rich man went hunting in the mountains. But the father pointed his gun at the big beast. Finally pulled the trigger. I hit it. He went to the fallen beast. But what is this? There is no beast that should be. There is no dead beast there. His own son was bleeding and dying. He is amazing. He comes down carrying his dead son. He left his son in the barn at the doorway and went to his wife. the wife asks. The son asked where he had gone and where the animals he had hunted were. Then he said that his son would soon follow.
And today's beast is a very rare beast, and anyone who cooks it must borrow a pot from someone who has not suffered any misfortune. So I ask you to go to the town and borrow such a person's pot. He went from house to house. But there was not a single house that did not suffer misfortune. At nightfall he came empty-handed. It means that they just came back because they had all kinds of difficult things from house to house. Then he goes to that door barn, honey. Look at the captured beast. So he saw the beast in the bale. What's the matter? He is not a beast, but his own son. A healthy son was bleeding and dying. It is said that at that time, honey, I thought I was a beast, and my son was shot with a gun and it was like this. Just like you went to town today, all bad things happen, so I tried to forgive me.
In this world, everyone has wounds in their hearts. But if God is with us, we will never be unhappy. Let's remember the poet that I lack nothing. Look at the Lord. He wore a crown of thorns instead of a crown. He wore a scarlet robe instead of the king's clothes. Instead of the throne of the Spirit, He died on the cross. The last time we went to Yeongdeungpo Station, a station attendant saved a child who almost got into an accident and knows a man who lost his leg. The last time researchers in Antarctica were in distress. In this age, such a person is appointed as a doctor.
We know Major Kang Jae-goo, the protagonist of a textbook who is considered a soldier among soldiers in the army. He oxidized the death of one of his men with his own grenade. He is still standing at the top of the Military Academy (Statue). We should thank God for His grace. Truly we are always thankful for God's love. The LORD is my shepherd; I have no need. He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters. We cannot live without the Lord. Not even a single day, not even a few minutes, can survive. We have to let go of the illusion that we can do something well. This arrogance makes us fail. Our daily bread, health, and living are all the grace of God. But we must not forget this grace. But I know him well. I think that it is God's grace that he became a king and that the country is not in trouble. This pure faith is David's faith.
II. I do my best, God does it all
It was 1941 when Germany attacked Russia. At one time, cartoons of Hitler holding a large bear were posted in various places. But below it was written: "I caught a bear, but the bear won't let me go". So is sin. We think we can overcome sin. I don't take sin seriously. I underestimate it too much. So I think we can free ourselves from sin whenever we want or just think. That's a really dangerous idea. The reality is that sin binds us tightly. Ultimately, it is a life that is confined to a prison called sin. Sin should not be underestimated. Sin should not be taken lightly.
David also defeated the Philistines. All the surrounding kings were really slowly carrying it. Goliath was easily defeated. But he did not win over Uriah's wife. He doesn't know how many times he wept as he repented. Tears made his pillow rot. So he became a man who completely depended on God. It has satanic characteristics. We try to distance ourselves from God. Trying to separate people from people. They always pretend to be very comfortable with us. It also tells you to pray in moderation. Jesus also tells us to believe properly. They say it's too much and ask Jesus to keep a reasonable distance. Early morning prayer meeting, Friday prayer meeting, Bible reading, Bible study, evangelism, offering, church service, and why they try to believe in Jesus in this way, they always tempt us. They tell you to look outside the church.
Worried about how we'll live in 2004. No one knows what will happen to us in the future. Only God knows. Let's leave the keys of my life to God. Let God take the handle of my life. I just do my best. The next thing is what God does.
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