Advent Series 3: The Lord is my Shepherd

About a thousand years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, King David wrote what is now known as Psalm 23:

            The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want

            He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters

            He restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his 
          name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the 
          shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of 
          my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the 
          days of my life,

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

In many of David’s psalms he speaks of longing for the presence of the Lord. Here he finds that in the Lord’s presence, there is nothing to fear, because he is use to depending on the Lord for everything: his food, his drink, righteous living, restorations, forgiveness, etc. David’s psalm is actually a picture of perfect contentment with his life, and his God. This doesn’t mean there weren’t problems or trials; this means that he was okay with the problems and trials because he worshiped a God who was capable of handling them and delivering him from them.

David longed for the presence of his God and King. In His presence, David was truly comforted and unshaken, regardless of what trials he faced as King of Israel. It was in the Lord’s presence that his cup overflowed, and he felt completely satisfied.

As we enter into the busyness of the holiday season, it is too easy to lose sight of the fact that we are celebrating the coming of Jesus Christ. We are celebrating the fact that God made his dwelling among mankind and, by the death and resurrection of Christ, is now accessible to everyone. God gave us His Holy Spirit to minister to us, comfort us, and counsel us in how to live as redeemed people. Therefore, what David had, we all now have: a shepherd who provides for our needs, restores our souls, leads us in the paths of righteousness, comforts us in despair and troublesome times, and causes our cups to overflow.

Is Jesus your comforter as you are facing Christmas? Do you remember how he loved you enough to save you? Or are we consumed with the thoughts and desires of others and yourself: their wants, their needs, whether they will be happy with this gift or that gift, will you get that thing you really want, or will they forget about you? If we desire Christ, above all, then nothing else matters except the fact that He is with us. Our cups overflow, because we have God’s presence indwelling us, and no one can take that from us.