January 27, 2012

Once again, God has allowed me to see His hand working in a very direct way in my life.  On the 25th I wrote about the worry snakes creeping in late at night and how He had brought the 23rd Psalm to mind.  As I opened the Blackaby book this morning, I was amazed to see the next several readings were from. . . drum roll please. . . the 23rd Psalm!  So, dear reader, settle in for a few days of "The Lord is my Shepherd".


As I was reading through this psalm, a quote from Martin Luther came to mind.  Martin Luther wrote, "I study my Bible like I gather apples. First, I shake the whole tree that the ripest may fall. Then I shake each limb, and when I have shaken each limb, I shake each branch and every twig. Then I look under every leaf. I search the Bible as a whole like shaking the whole tree. Then I shake every limb--study book after book. Then I shake every branch, giving attention to the chapters. Then I shake every twig, or a careful study of the paragraphs and sentences and words and their meanings."  


I don't have the acumen or time to spend on each word of the Bible, but in this instance, one word from the 23rd Psalm did jump out at me.  "The Lord IS my shepherd."  Not "The Lord should be. . ."  Not "The Lord will be. . ."  "The Lord is when things get tough. . ."  Simply "is".  


For me "is" denotes several things.  First, current.  Second, definite.  Third, factual.  When I here the word "is" I get a sense of assuredness.  That can of course change, but for the time being "is" means "is".  No questions asked.  No doubt.  "It is, what it is".  How many Christians can say with certainly that the Lord "is" their Shepherd all the time.  


Which brings me to a final thought that I will throw out at closing..  Is the Lord my Shepherd even when I am not following His leading?  Does a shepherd cease to be a shepherd when the sheep wander from him?  Hmmm. . .

Loving Shepherd, as your lamb please help me to quiet enough to hear, wise enough enough to apply and courageous enough to obey.