The end of our journey through life on earth is to be with God forever. Those who belong to the Good Shepherd receive a lavish welcome when they arrive home. At 4:30 am on Monday morning the Good Shepherd lead our brother to paradise. Carey: Henry Carey, 1723 Psalm 23 Joseph Addison, 1712 DOXOLOGY The Lord my pasture shall prepare, And feed me with a shepherd's care; His presence shall my wants . But as a preacher of the gospel, it is also my obligation to remind you that our eternal destiny is not determined by the ratio of our good deeds to our faults and failures, which the Bible more frankly calls sin. Ive seen it happen in the lives of others. This is a Psalm of David and David was a shepherd. b.) Sometimes the journey is filled with joy, and sometimes it is very sad and lonely. What also works for me is the reminder each day that "the Lord IS my shepherd" as I make my way down the path. However, I have come to believe that Psalm 23 has little to do with funerals, instead, it has everything to do with life and familiarity. The psalmist sees God in control of his life. I baptized her in 1989 and was her pastor for 29 years. The staff with its large crook at the end serves to support the sheeps body when it crosses a dangerous chasm. This sin no matter how hard we try cannot be removed by any good we might do. I want whatever it is that you will not give me. He never thought his life would be as full and beautiful as it was. Pittendreigh@aol.com. But dont forget all the great times you had together. Click here for more messages from the Psalm 23 Series. And you wont be surprised when I tell you this. As we sit in this room, and mourn but also celebrate the life of Brandy, our soul feels dead, it feels no joy or rest. (a) It tells of the crucifixion of the Messiah. God is calling me, and I must go. 3 He restores my soul. What is that hope? John Piper Apr 11, 2018 - Order of Christian Funerals, General Introduction, nos. In death, we want to know that not everything you knew of expected changed. I also trust and hope, though, that youve had some glimpses of the light. It was conversations I began having with Judy Gambill about 2 years ago that granted me new fresh insight on Psalm 23. As we come to honor the life and memory of Mary Smith, we come also to face the reality of death. Since the themes of eternal rest, peace, and comfort are so dominant throughout the six short verses, the poem provides hope and encouragement to those left behind. The prophet Micah tell us of Jesus as the shepherd . The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Don Richardson recalls his life amongst the Sawi people of Irian Jaya in a book called The Peace Child. Psalm 23 is often quoted, recited . Its a way forward. In John 10:11-13 we read, 11 "I am the good shepherd. Phillip Keller, author of Lessons from a Sheepdog, writes More than anything else in the world, he wants me to be His companion, His co-worker, His friend in helping tend His flock.1 In effect then, we are called to help the Good Shepherd. Fear can be a powerful, debilitating, paralyzing influence in our lives. And Jesus wanted to just spend some time alone, praying and thinking. /N 12 How can the Lord become your Shepherd? At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now. 1 Peter 2:25: For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. I want. There are many needs around the world and many good ideas about how to serve people well in the name of Jesus. However, that seemed to me to be off kilter somehow. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. God spares nothing to care for me. 43 0 obj He leads me beside still waters. This made her eligible for marriage, and it seemed to put the promise of God at risk, because the promised "seed" was to come through the union of Abraham and Sarah. The Christian can be thankful for the failures of those whose lives have touched their own because of the assurance that "God causes all things to work together for good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). a.) He infected us with his life, and helped us to see the light. What is the one thing necessary for a shadow to exist? a.) The light is always shining behind the shadow, and the shadow will never overcome it. And please dont hear what I have just said as an answer or explanation. For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.. The unexpected can be frightening. There is another passage, not nearly as familiar, which informs us that David's sense of peace and security is not natural, but supernatural. B. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Like sheep we have wandered into the wilderness of sin. He is our Shepherd. This was Abraham's faith, and thus it overcome his fear of death. But a guide can get you through because he knows the way so well. She was a real Christian for many years. The mother angrily replied, They dont have numbers, they have names!. God is frequently described in the Bible as being like a shepherd who cares for and tends to a flock of sheep. Psalm 23 teaches us that we, as followers of Christ, have no reason to fearever. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psalms 23:4. (a) It is impossible for there to be a valley unless there are mountains. Today, I invite you to respond to each want that rises up inside you with I shall not want. But Herod was startled, because he had not studied Gods word. It so happened that the battle continued into Christmas Day. my mother's funeral sermon - one year later. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Because they had shared food together. In fact, it is a favorite funeral service text. Jesus way leads to life. Has your soul been restored? Psalm 23 is used widely in funeral service and religious traditions, including the Shabbat. God is there to comfort us and sustain us. It portrays God as the shepherd who is at once a protector as well as a caregiver. Oh Fr. Fourth, David's fear of death was gone because he was assured of God's presence. Fifth, David's faith rested in the fact that God was present with him, in life, in death, and throughout all eternity. 25-26. Message. Thou hast anointed my head with oil; If I Could Start All Over Six Lessons for Your Twenties. Sometimes they talk about memorizing it at school. We who work with God, also need to know one another. This was because all demonstrations of kindness expressed by the Sawi were regarded with suspicion. Learn more. Psalm 23 has become a daily adventure for me as I try to imagine what it means for me each day. Death was not in the cards. Knowing that his wife was beautiful, and fearing that the Egyptians would kill him, in order to marry his wife, Abraham instructed Sarah to lie, and to represent herself as his sister, not his wife. I want you to garner some of her insight as well. Jan 10, 1988. Let me remind you that the shepherd is still with the sheep. Thank you for sharing it. A second image in the Twenty-third Psalm to which I would call your attention is this: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. He was an American, but he had actually enlisted with the British army and was fighting in the war for quite some time before most Americans. Isaiah spoke of it as the Sprit of the Lord God bringing good news, binding up the brokenhearted, and comforting those who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-3). In heaven we will be totally surrounded by Gods presence, c.) God will allows us to share in His eternal victory, a.) And neither do you. The goodness and kindness of Mrs. Smith is the source of the warm memories which we have sought to recall and refresh in her eulogy a few moments ago. Let the shepherd guide you there and grieve in the meantime. Death should cause us to mourn. We want to know that we can depend on God and the way God cares for us. Otherwise, I find it quite usable. In the still, comforting waters of Holy Baptism, our Good Shepherd, the prince of Peace, who laid down His life for ours, provides rest, safety, and health. The text which I have just read from the Book of Hebrews expands on David's words in Psalm 23, explaining how David's faith in God can free him from the fear of death. 0000003632 00000 n Marsh just what I need to read tonight. 0000003787 00000 n In the face of a world that spends obscene amounts of money to convince us via advertising that we have great wants and only the right clothes, toys, cars, or even vacations can fill them how radical it sounds I shall not want. He restores my soul. Grant to them an extra measure of Your grace and pour over them an overwhelming sense of Your presence. God once again spared them. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. I know you do Kay. That is easier said than done. /Pages 40 0 R God is loving, and present, fiercely and tenderly holding all of us whom God lovingly created. For centuries the Twenty-third Psalm has been one of the most treasured passages in all of Holy Scripture. The psalm goes on to say, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. She made you feel important when she was around. You feel like you cant see a foot in front of your face. In fact, 32 separate times through the Bible, we hear about God or Jesus as the good shepherd. We ask Jesus to restore our souls. He makes us lie down in green pastures. Friday: They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet. Matthew 2:5. We trust in the good shepherd. For the non-believer for the one who does not believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the phrase "You return mankind to the dust" continues as a judgment for sin. Talk to you shepherd. 2009-2023 Michael K. Marsh and Interrupting The Silence, All Rights Reserved. She was married to James Roop on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1994. Even though I walk through the valley . In my years of ministry, I had not preached on Psalm 23 before. The soldiers of each side joined together and ate together, and sang a few songs together that had different words, but common tunes. /Filter /FlateDecode BUT TODAY I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S MESSAGE IS NOT FOR DEAD PEOPLE OR PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR LOVED We lift up the Tebbe Family and friends to You today and ask that Your peace, mercy and strength might rest with them during this time of sorrow and loss. The word repent means that we stop going our own way and return to the Shepherd. Have you believed in the Good Shepherd? God gives us a place of prominence. I know. 13 Psalm 23 - Lord Shepherd - Helen Abercrombie 1998 (MLM) - page 2 www.scholia.net shepherd; I shall not want. This sermon has inspired me greatly as I am using portions of it to prepare a sermon/eulogy for my fallen first cousin. 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