Parkwood Baptist Church

“…my cup overflows.”

Oh the generosity of the Good Shepherd!  If you haven’t sensed it by now you need to revisit this Psalm several times today.  The love and care of the Good Shepherd is lavished on us as His sheep.  He has held nothing back.  He has made it possible for us to lie down in green pastures and leads us beside quiet waters.  He refreshes us and calms our fears as we walk through the dark times in our lives.  He protects us and even continues to feed us in the presence of our enemies.  He tends to our wounds when we get ruffed up on this journey and has anointed us as His own.  Wow!  My cup overflows!  How about yours?

Read through the Psalm again.

Our God is a generous giver.  He gives without hesitation and in abundance to those He loves.  He stands ready to bless His sheep.  The most well known verse of all describes God as a giver;

“For God so loved the world that He GAVE His only Son…”

Not only did He give, but He gave everything!  He didn’t hold anything back.  The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary was the clearest picture of God’s generosity and the love that motivated it.  In fact, it is only because of God’s generosity on the cross that we can have the relationship described in Psalm 23.  We were dead in our sins, according to Scripture, but “the free GIFT of God is eternal life” and that eternal life is available because of the work of Christ on the cross!  We were sheep without a shepherd.  We had all wandered and gone astray.  Then Jesus took upon Himself the sin that separated us and made it possible for us to become His sheep…to become part of His flock…to experience the care of the Good Shepherd.

Paul expressed it best in Romans 8,

“What, then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

Praise be to our generous Shepherd!

“You anoint my head with oil”

Yesterday we talked about the practical use of the anointing oil for the shepherd.  He uses it to treat any injuries that the sheep might get while they are grazing in the field or in fights with other sheep.  Although this is the practical aspect of anointing, there is another use of anointing oil that is more prevelent in Sripture.  It was used to anoint Kings and priests to their position.  David was also familiar with this use.  He was just a young shepherd when an old prophet named Samuel visited his home and  “anointed” him the new King of Israel.  He was just a kid!  There was already a King on the throne!  The anointing was the recognition of what God intended for the nation of Israel and what He intended for David.  It was a message to this shepherd boy that God had chosen him and that God had a specific plan for him.  The Scriptures tell us that God calls each of us into His flock.  He has chosen you and when you respond to His call and enter the fold of the Good Shepherd…He anoints you.   God says, “You are now my sheep!  No one can take you away from Me.  I will take care of you.  I will lead you.  I will always be with you.  You are mine.”

“You anoint my head with oil”

You have been chosen.  God wanted you to be in His flock.  As soon as you answered the call He pulled you in and anointed you as His own.  Rest in that today.

“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows”

The Good Shepherd “anoints” His sheep.  What does this mean?  I believe that we can gain several insights about the Lord and His care for us through David’s description.  Anointing sheep is the regular practice for a good shepherd.  When the sheep were out in the fields grazing they would often get scratched by thorns or injured in a fall.  The shepherd carried an anointing oil with him in a flask to clean and treat such wounds.  It would also be used to sooth the wounds caused by fights with other sheep.  Without the care provided by the shepherd, the injuries would become worse and infection would set in and the condition of the sheep would quickly deteriorate.

A Good Shepherd examines His sheep and looks for injuries.  He can tell by the behavior if a sheep may be struggling.  He notices a limp or a change in the level of energy.  He goes to the sheep and He looks it over thoroughly.  If there is a problem the shepherd cleans the injury and anoints it with the oil.  One of the most common places for a sheep to get hurt was the head.  It is the most vulnerable part of the sheep.  The body of the sheep has some extra protection from the heavy wool coat but the face and head do not have the same buffer.  The briers of the field would often take its toll on a sheep looking for some fresh grass.

Our Good Shepherd knows that our journey through this life has its’ bumps and bruises.  The field has its’ thorns and thickets.  There are also other sheep in the field and not everybody gets along.  In fact, sometimes the deepest cuts and wounds can come from other sheep.  The Good Shepherd not only feeds us, guides us and protects us, but takes care of us when we are injured.  The anointing oil was for that purpose…to heal.  The oil soothed the pain of the scratches.  It brings comfort as the shepherd carefully applies it to the wound.

Are you in need of some healing?  Are there some injuries that you have sustained recently?  Maybe a scratch or two from a relationship that is a little rocky?  Or even a remark made by a friend that cut deeper than you expected or they intended.  What we need is a Good Shepherd who can tend to the tears and the hurts.  Just a little oil to soothe the pain and start the healing.  Take heart…Jesus, the Good Shepherd is here for you.  Bring your hurts to Him.  He will take care of you.  Relax and experience His love as He anoints your head with oil.

As we begin this next week of our Lenten journey I would like to offer you this model prayer that Jesus taught His disciples.  Throughout the day pray through it several times.  Pause on each phrase.  What does it tell you about the Good Shepherd?  What does it mean to you today?

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Lead us, not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but He rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8-11)

Sabbath rest, Moses is reminded, was instituted by God from the very beginning of time.  It was modeled by Him and commanded by Him.  It is a universal principle and essential to the balance of life.  Many times in the Scripture those who have ignored this command have found themselves on the wrong side of the Lord.  We are not wired for 24/7 work.  It is disobedience to the Lord and contrary to the way you were designed to blow off this directive.

Life can be hectic…this is true.  Schedules can sometimes take over and we find ourselves on the short end of rest, but we must do all within our power to keep a rhythm of work and rest in our lives.

Today, on this first Sunday of Spring take a deep breath.  Close your eyes and take a Sabbath moment.  God is good and longs for you to regularly rest in Him.

Blessings!

“Since we have been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!”

Throughout this Lenten journey we have been meditating on Jesus as the Good Shepherd but, in the last few days we have found that we are also being reminded that we are lost sheep.  In fact, we are sheep that have willingly gone astray.  We had a part in this separation from our Shepherd.  We rebelled against His loving leadership and declared independance from Him.  We didn’t need a shepherd.  We were fine without Him…or so we thought. It is hard to think about being God’s enemy.  I realize that,  “I once was lost but now am found”, but I never thought of myself as hostile toward God.  The Scriptures tell us otherwise.  Our sinfulness is in direct opposition to the will of God.  The bottom line is that we were all enemies of God, “but God demonstates His own love for us in this;  while we were still sinners (enemies) Christ died for us”.

Do you see it?  We should not move away from this verse in the Psalm until we do.  You were the enemy in the room looking at the table prepared for those who believe.  You did not choose to be there but, you were still invited.  You did not want to sit down and eat but you saw others eating and enjoying it.  You were skeptical but then you saw someone that you knew and they asked you to join them…and now Jesus prepares a table for you in the presence of His enemies and yours.

The cross is what makes this possible.  The verse above is clear…we were reconciled “by the death of His Son”.  All of the barriers that disqualify us from coming have bee removed because of the sacrifice on the cross.  Our sins have been forgiven and we who were once enemies are invited to be friends.   This is important to remember as we go back to our verse.  Now we can see that the presence  of our enemies is not only for our benefit but for the benefit of those who are still fighting against the Gospel.  God allows them to see you at the table so they might observe in you the blessings of following God.

So, don’t be too quick to judge who should be at the table. The Truth is that God invites all who will come.  Who is in your life right now that you can invite to the table?

Thank the Lord today that He went to the cross so you could go to the table.  Now,  look around and invite others to join you…and don’t be surprised if those who you know as enemies decide to join you.

“…in the presence of my enemies.”

Continue to imagine with me our scene at the table that Jesus, our Good shepherd has prepared for us.  It is your favorite meal and He has bid you to come and sit and enjoy it.  So you did.  He blessed the food and you have begun to eat.  It is more wonderful than you could have imagined.  Everything is perfect.  As you eat you look up and notice Jesus watching you with a grin of satisfaction.  You have never felt more blessed.

As you eat you begin to sense someone else in the room.  You look and slightly to your left is someone standing.  You are startled but not afraid.  After all Jesus is there.  You look a little closer and you recognize the person.  “What are they doing here?”  You stop eating and you look over at Jesus.  He is still smiling.  His eyes move down directing your attention to the setting next to you.  You hadn’t noticed it before.  You were so blown away at what this dinner meant to you that you didn’t think about others being invited.  You now realize that there are many empty place settings.  You look back at Jesus and He nods because He knows what you have discovered.   This dinner is not just for you…many are invited.

This is good,  but now your thoughts turn back to the one standing near you.  “I am glad others are invited, but him?”  This is the person in your life that seems to always be against you.  They are the proverbial “thorn in your side”.  The bully…the negative voice…the critic…the rain on your parade…the enemy.  This person can bring you down and steal the joy in any situation.  And now they are here in the room to do it again!

You look back at Jesus.  His eyes are still filled with love and another verse comes into your mind, “love your enemies”.   “No…no…not now…not here.  This is my moment!”   Another verse…”you cannot love God and hate your brother”.   You have stopped eating and started pouting.  Jesus has sat down beside you on your right.  “Remember”, He whispers, “you were my enemy when I first invited you to this table” and the verses began to flow through your mind about God’s great love for you…a sinner.  What He did for you on the cross.  You begin to understand that this dinner is not about you.  It’s about Jesus.

When you look back up into Jesus’ face He nods His head toward your left.  He is urging you to interact with the person.  What will you do?  You are not sure.  You are a little afraid, but Jesus is there.  So you pull the chair out next to you and you invite this “guest” to join you.

We are blessed to be a blessing.

“…in the presence of my enemies.”

Imagine sitting down to your favorite meal.  It has been meticulously prepared just the way you like it.  All the things that you love about it are there along with everything you need to enjoy it.  The table is set with all the plates and utensils and Jesus Himself is standing there waiting for you to step forward.   Your eyes meet and a smile comes across His face.  He pulls back the chair and motions for you to come and sit.

You move forward and sit down.  As you sit He moves the chair forward and says to you, “Everything is ready.  I know you are really going to enjoy this.”   His eyes are sparkling and you sense that He is excited about what He has done to prepare this meal for you.  You survey the table and your mouth begins to water.  You are slightly startled when pitcher of your favorite drink comes over your shoulder and fills your glass.   It is Jesus doing that too!  He takes the napkin from next to your plate and places it in your lap.  He has not only prepared the meal but He is going to be your waiter!   Almost like a breeze blowing into the room a verse comes to your mind from the Bible where Jesus said, “I have come to serve”.   While you are thinking this you realize that He is looking at you with that look…”I know what you are thinking” and He smiles again.

“Are you ready to begin?”  You realize that you have not spoken a word since you walked in.  You are barely listening as He explains what is on each dish and then He reaches into the center and picks up a basket containing bread.  He lifts it up with one hand and His other hands rests on your shoulder as He stands next to you.  He prays.  Your eyes fill with tears as you listen to the Lord bless what you are about to eat.  You start to shake a little as you are filled with gratitude…His hand on your shoulder gives you a slight squeeze.  He’s reminding you that He is there and He knows you’re overwhelmed…”You’re welcome”, He whispers as He puts down the bread.  When He does, you see that one of the pieces is broken and you remember what has made this all possible.

“…in the presence of my enemies”

The Good Shepherd invites you to the table even when your enemies are around.  He does not wait until your enemies are gone.  He does not eliminate your enemies.  He takes care of you with your enemies present.

This is not exactly what we would expect.  “I just want God to come down on my enemies with His righteous anger and destroy them.”   Even if He doesn’t take them to task I expect Him to, at least, chase them away.  But the Good Shepherd does not do that.  Why?

There may be several reasons for this.  First, we will never know how to rely on God for relationship issues of we are not around difficult people.   We need trials and testing in our life so that we can experience God’s power, deliverance and provision.  It is through testing that God reveals His grace and mercy in our lives.   Rather than praying for God to somehow eliminate the hostile people from our lives we are forced to depend on God for our sufficiency.

Secondly, dining in the presence of my enemies allows them to observe God’s care for you.  As Christians we are called to give a witness to what it means to follow Christ!  That means we are called to do it even in the presence of those who are against us.  Think about the powerful words of Jesus on the cross spoken in the “presence” of His enemies.

“Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing”

There is no greater example than Jesus dying on the cross for those who were crucifying Him.   It was His peace and His confidence in those moments that reveal to us that He was sitting at the Father’s table.  His enemies were not only there but seemed to be taking Him down on defeat.   Yet, He held the course and came to the table prepared for Him so that you and I would follow His example.

Today, do not wait to come to God’s table.  He wants you to come now even with your enemies present.  Don’t worry…He will be with you (remember the last verse).  There is something bigger than you going on here.  God just may use your Christlike attitude as you sit at His table to speak to the heart of the very enemy you want to destroy.

Commit yourself to be a testimony of God’s grace, like Jesus on the cross, so that even those against Him will hear of His forgiveness.