The Shadow of God – Psalm 23’s Blueprint for Discerning God’s Plan for Us takes the scripture of Psalm 23 and others to show how the Good Shepherd reveals God’s plan for us. For links for audio and video and for the script please continue reading.
Link for bi-lingual rendition of Psalm 23 : Salmo 22/ Psalm 23 by Lourdes Montgomery
One of the mysteries of life concerns the Shadow of God. Certainly as you seek His Presence, it is before you. As you turn to God, He says, “I am here. Forget not my love for you.” But what is it that we should be doing with our lives? Scripture can give us a blueprint.
Welcome to Truth of the Spirit. I’m your host Patti Brunner. Let us tackle the difficulty in discerning God’s plan for us using Psalm 23 as a blueprint and Psalm 23’s meaning for daily life. Today’s episode is The Shadow of God – Psalm 23’s Blueprint for Discerning God’s Plan for Us.
The Lord says to us, “I Am your shepherd! There is nothing you shall want that is outside of Me, of I Am.”
A common theme of Christ’s teaching was shepherds and lambs. What is he trying to get across to us? The scripture is for people of all time but I have only known two people who kept sheep! Beyond what they have shared, I have also noticed that my Bishop carries a shepherd’s crook, a pole with a hook on the end. Why so many shepherds in Christ’s stories? The people in the time of Christ were very familiar with shepherds but I have read that the people at that time had a low opinion of them. Maybe Christ used shepherd stories because King David started his career as a shepherd. God’s love for David was proved in the promise fulfilled in the birth of the Messiah from the House of David; Jesus was born in Bethlehem and both Mary and Joseph were descendants of David. The importance of a lamb without blemish is clear in the Passover sacrifice in Exodus Chapter 12 and in the scene where John the Baptist calls Jesus the “Lamb of God”. What do these have to do with God’s Plan for Us?
The music director at my parish is a gifted composer and has looked to the Psalms for inspiration. She wrote a beautiful melody for Psalm 23 which is song about the Divine Shepherd. For the past several years I have sung in a funeral choir and it has been my privilege to sing her composition as the Responsorial Psalm during the funeral masses many times. As I look upon the grieving family I know that I am singing truth. I know my words are a comfort for them. What I had not considered before is that I was proclaiming God’s Plan for them and for me. I’ll put a link to the bi-lingual recording of her composition in this episode’s description. Singing Psalm 23’s “The LORD is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” is very comforting.
I have heard discussions on needs versus wants. How is it possible that we are without wants? Perhaps the key in the plan for our life, to have everything we want, is to make sure that the Lord is our shepherd! Jesus said in the Gospel of John Chapter 10 “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” The devil tempts us with wants that are destructive, and tempts us to throw away the abundant life for one that is selfish and sinful. Psalm 23 states clearly “there is nothing I lack”. “I shall not want”. God is enough for us. We should not choose to go after false gods whose offers are smoke and mirrors. We should not listen to those who try to lead us away from God’s plan of salvation.
My friend Jim, who was a shepherd of a small flock at a retreat center, told me this story. One day he noticed a pack of wild dogs in his pasture. As he went to check on his two newest lambs, he found one that was injured but the other one seemed ok. After returning to the barn with the injured one for medical treatment, he went back to check on the others. He found that the lamb that had appeared to be ok had gone into shock and died. He learned a valuable lesson. If he had only put the little lamb around his neck the lamb’s heartbeat would have adjusted to his own and would have been ok. If you have seen the paintings or statues of Jesus as The Good Shepherd[i] you might have noticed that often Jesus is shown with a lamb draped around his neck or under his arm.
The Gospel of Luke Chapter 15:4-5 says, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”
Let me share a vision of Jesus I had on September 11, 1998. This vision came during a Living Life in the Spirit Seminar at Dardanelle, during a spiritual exercise. In the vision I saw Jesus as He was gathering sheep and leading them up a hill. I was following him and so were others. He picked up the lambs as we went along and carried them. He had them hanging all over him. When his arms were full and shoulders and neck were full, he turned and handed one to me so he could pick up another one. He handed some to others so that He might pick up more. We still had a way to go and it was getting harder to climb, but we kept following Jesus. All of a sudden we reached a lush green area along the way. Jesus sat down and let the lambs eat the soft grass and Jesus encouraged us to take a break, relax and just enjoy the moment and the beautiful surroundings.
If you are like me, the date of September 11 is quite meaningful. What plan did the Lord have for the thousands who were killed when the twin towers of the World Trade Center were attacked and collapsed? We’ll never know. Those, who chose a path of destruction for hijacked airplanes, interfered with God’s plan. However, God’s ultimate plan is for us to join Him in heaven for all eternity. The choices we make that interfere with that plan are daily decisions. The Good News is that the Lord is leading us. And when we are overwhelmed he gives us repose. He gives us a break but does not leave us unattended. And sometimes He calls us to help him take care of others who are more overwhelmed than we are.
When I was younger I heard of a farmer who would rent out his herd of sheep and goats to clear fields instead of using a brush hog on a tractor. Since sheep stay packed together for safety, the shepherd actually has to move them to other pastures so the grass can recover. It is for the ultimate benefit of the flock. Sometimes the Lord moves us from one place to another and the journey is tiresome. When Jesus fed the multitude on the mountain, a great deal of grass in that place was available for them to recline as they ate. Psalm 23 says, “In green pastures he makes me lie down”; “in verdant pastures he gives me repose”. What pastures does God have in His blueprint for your life to give you rest in the midst of the struggles in your life?
In the beautiful state of Arkansas where I have lived all my life, we have an abundant supply of water. We are bordered by the magnificent Mississippi River; we have an abundancy of springs even the famous Hot Springs in the center of our state. Through the Corp of Engineers building dams on some of our rivers we have huge lakes. Our many forests entice adequate rainfall which in turn creates beautiful waterfalls. In my younger days I spent many a day canoeing various rivers and swimming on sandy banked rivers. We also have stock ponds that catch rainwater when available and that can also stagnate during occasional hot, dry spells. Scripture uses water especially ‘living water’ to help us to understand God’s graces available to us especially in Baptism. When the rain is too abundant the fields and some towns flood, and flashfloods can cause the roadways and the riverbanks to disappear. Scripture mentions floods in positive and in negative ways. It is wonderful to be flooded by grace. It’s not so nice to have the house built on sand to be washed away by a flood. Psalm 23 says, “To still waters he leads me”; “beside restful waters He leads me”. In a river the still waters are the deepest portions. Is the Lord leading you to a plan of a deep relationship with Him? Is He slowing down the pace of being constantly on the go? Is He protecting you from hidden rocks and submerged trees in the rapids?
In the Holy Land, the Sea of Galilee is teeming with life as water flows in and out. The Dead Sea cannot support life because water only flows into it and then evaporates leaving behind non-life sustaining minerals. How does God use the descriptions of these types of flow of water in your life?
Psalm 23 says “3bHe restores my soul.” What is your discernment of this Word of the Lord? Are you aware when the Lord refreshes your soul? Through the Church the Lord provides all sorts of ministry that not only refreshes us but restores us. Sometimes I sit in adoration in hopes of His grace permeating my mind and body. I ask Jesus to draw me in, to heal me, to revive me, to renew me, or to pull me out of the ‘rut’ I am in, to awaken me from “doldrums” sometimes. One time I had a nightmare of being lost in the crowd, and so I prayed, “Do not let me lose You, Lord. Constantly check on me and allow me to catch up.” The Lord answered me, “My Child, you are not “lost” nor shall you be. You are under the shadow of the most High, you are under my wing.” I think that being in the shadow of the most High would be very refreshing. If you think about it the Lord is the Light so If we are in his shadow we are standing in the Light not in darkness. How restoring!
Psalm 23 says “He guides me along right paths*” throughout the Gospel Jesus gives examples to follow. That sounds pretty awesome and big, but with the Lord’s inspiration we can step forward. And He does this for (Psalm 23) “for the sake of his name.” “for his name’s sake” The name Jesus Christ can be translated as “Jesus the Anointed One” As a Christian, we are called by his anointing. How cool is that!
Psalm 23 “4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of deathc” … I remember that one of my first thoughts after the Lord briefly took me to heaven in 1996, was that I had experienced only “the shadow of death”. Yet now I realize that it was not heaven that was in the shadows, but the earth to which I returned was the source of the darkness.
Psalm 23 “I will fear no evil, for you are with me; “I fear no evil; for you are at my side” This reminds me of the story of the time my whole town seemed afraid because a teacher had been raped in her classroom on the weekend. That week I was waiting for my daughter in a dark parking lot and the fear started to creep into my heart. But then I heard the Lord whisper the scripture Matthew 10:28 in my ear, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul”, and my peace was restored. Psalm 23 says, “your rod and your staff comfort me.” “With your rod and your staff that give me courage”. A friend commented at Bible study that she thought of the rod and staff as the Cross. What do you think? I could also see them as the Commandments—they are for both protection and guidance; they provide correction and gentleness; they “give me Courage” no matter what. The shepherd also used the rod as a weapon against the predators. The continuing need for the power and grace of God shows the dependence that is warranted with God Almighty and those who shall inherit heaven and earth as the kingdom is released to those who trust in the Lord and have made him Lord in their lives. The basic truth of love escapes the grasp of many. They look to self for happiness and self for their needs. In Chapter 10 of the Gospel of John Jesus continues to say, “14I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep.” e
Psalm 23 says, “5“You spread the table before me”. Each Eucharist Jesus spreads the Living Bread before us at the altar! “ *You set a table before me in front of my enemies;*” “in the sight of my foes”. We can rejoice despite whatever struggle that is in our life. I have a friend that has had a rough time at work and home being attacked mentally and other ways by a few people who have a personal grudge against her. Recently her co-workers surprised her with a birthday cake for just their inner office. All of a sudden she noticed the detractors also showed up. Usually they caused my friend to panic a bit when she saw them. My friend was reminded of this scripture and she ate her cake in the sight of her enemies! The Lord calls us to “lay your burdens down. Come rest with Me.” As we surrender we will find that trust. Believing in God does not automatically mean you trust God. Like a butterfly emerging from the cocoon, the struggle can makes us strong.
Psalm 23. “You anoint my head with oil.*d” My first thought is the stories of when the youths Saul and then David were anointed as kings by the prophet Samuel as they were chosen by God. I saw a movie that showed Samuel pouring like a bucket full of oil on them. When our Bishop anointed the altar in our new church he poured a huge amount of oil on it. We are anointed at Baptism and during the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. A life-changing anointing came when I was baptized in the Spirit. “My cup overflows. e . Sharing that grace with others led me to write a book, “Fresh Anointing” to share understanding of Baptism of the Spirit with a young person. That stepping stone led to overflow of teaching with various media tools—including this episode!
Psalm 23: “6Indeed, goodness and mercy* will pursue me.” “Only goodness and kindness follow me.” It follows me; I am not the source. It overtakes me. Are your enemies following you? Who is following you? What is following you? Whenever you feel abandoned by the intensity of God’s graces know that He is with you—just as He is with you even in the virulent storms and in the misting dew. He is beyond your understanding and comprehension. Breathe. He is in your breath. The Holy Spirit is breath indeed, living in God’s creations of His image.
When you stop and reflect on life does it seem long or brief? Both? Indeed. As time continues you see the shades and variations of grace impacting your life and the lives around you. No two lives are exactly the same even if the circumstances and environments are duplicates. The Lord tells you this to bring you peace. If not for the struggle how would you know the need for strength? If not for the lost how would you find them? The continual patterns of life are like the snowflake—each life different from the other—in the moment it takes to form a snowflake and for it to dissolve lives are molded and directed and changed and then life as they know it is transformed entirely to the beauty of God’s presence. Fear not. Fear not. Rest in Him. Rest in His goodness and mercy! Psalm 23 “all the days of my life;” more, there’s always more with the Spirit.
Psalm 23 “I will dwell in the house of the Lord.” Home! Anna the Prophet when she was old and Samuel the Prophet when he was young, spent a lot of time in the temple. I see a lot of people regularly in the adoration chapel, but I think this is beyond that. When the psalmist says, “for endless days”, “for years to come” he might be speaking about heaven on earth, but surely the endless days are the days of heaven itself. We are not too old or too young to prepare for dwelling in heaven for all eternity. I certainly do not like the alternate!
As you look out upon the view from your window you see the world operating in its routine, buying and selling, birthing and dying, educating and drifting, watching TV and learning to dwell together in community. How often do the people look to the Good Shepherd? He is the source of all life. He is the source of all goodness. He is the source of all provision—yet, His people rely on themselves, they rely on the marketers and the sellers; they rely on the deceivers. Who is the King of Glory? How shall you call Him? He is Wonderful, Counselor, King of the Universe, Provider, Answerer of all Questions. Rely on the God who created you. Call upon the Name of the most high Son of God, Jesus, Christ, anointed over all the earth.
Psalm 23: “1 The LORD is my shepherd;*there is nothing I lack.a
2In green pastures he makes me lie down; to still waters he leads me;
3bhe restores my soul. He guides me along right paths*for the sake of his name. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, c I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me. 5*You set a table before me in front of my enemies;* You anoint my head with oil;*d my cup overflows. e 6Indeed, goodness and mercy* will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the Lord for endless days.”
Jesus says to us, “I Am your shepherd! There is nothing you shall want that is outside of Me, of I Am. As I prepare verdant pastures for you, the meager pastures distract and disappoint you –this only allows you to continue further down the path as hope sustains you until you reach what I have prepared for you. Your enemies shall watch, defeated in their attempts to way lay you from reaching my destination for you.
Forever more, in due time, you shall rest forever within my arms.
You’ve been listening to Truth of the Spirit and “The Shadow of God – Psalm 23’s Blueprint for Discerning God’s Plan for Us”. You can find the script for this episode on the Patriarch Ministries.com website/169. Take a look and then come back for more. With the Holy Spirit, there’s always more! Amen.
[i] The painting “The Good Shepherd,” is by Bernhard Plickhorst, a German painter and graphic artist, 1825-1907. The cover of this episode is a statue of Jesus with a lamb draped around his neck unknown artist.
