Breaking Bread: The Lord is our good Shepard.

Breaking Bread: The Lord is our good Shepard.Psalm 23 relating to one's relationship with God. Seeking guidance, righteousness, mercy, comfort and restoration.

by Vernon Cloete

20-03-2023 10:00

in Christian Connect

Psalm 23:6 Photo: Pixabay

It is written, Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. What a profound truth! A realisation that eases the grip of life on man - surrendering to God in all things. Partake in this feast as we consume food for the soul, nourishing the spirit in Breaking Bread. It is Monday, 20th March 2023.

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Psalm 23 is one of the best-known Psalms by our families, friends, communities and churches in the world. This Psalm relates to how one lives in relationship to God rather than how one faces death. Psalm 23 is also a song of gratitude to a loving God in our painful world.

David expresses confidence and trust in the Lord by portraying God as the good Shepherd'' who guides and blesses them. For him God's goodness means that they have nothing to fear. Whatever happens to them, God will be with them.

Psalm 23 foretells the words of Jesus I am the good shepherd in John 10:11. The writer of 1 Peter also declares that Jesus is the shepherd and guardian of souls who leads believers when they are going astray like sheep''(2:25).

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Our first step should be to let the Lord be our Shepherd. This means that we should accept His teaching and His leadership. The green pastures and still waters which are referred to in the Psalm, represent the things He will teach us for our journey. We should set our spiritual lives in order, so that our desire is to do what is good and to love one another. This is represented by restoring our souls and leading us in the paths of righteousness.

Psalm 23 should remind us that in life or death, in times of plenty or losses: God is good and worthy of our trust. The metaphor of a shepherd who cares for his sheep describes the wisdom, strength and kindness of our God. A Shepherd cares deeply not only for all his sheep as a whole but also for each and every single one.

This is how God cares for every single one of us. He, as the good Shepherd knows when we are lost and has made provision to find us through His Son Jesus Christ. Our Shepherd will provide for everything we need. We are therefore the sheep who are always and entirely reliant on our Shepherd. When David said I shall not want'', he is acknowledging how completely reliant he is on God as his Shepherd.

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I shall not want'' because God, as the good Shepherd, will ensure we have everything we need.

We will still face challenges in our daily lives but what is certain lies in the conclusion of this Psalm: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever .

Let us join the flock of the Lord as one of His little lambs and be able to say even in the face of the difficulties, uncertainties, confusions and great losses of this life The Lord, is my shepherd, I have all I need .

ALSO READ: Breaking Bread: Are you feeling forsaken?

PRAYER Thank You God that we can rely and have trust in You because You are our good Shepherd. Thank You for being part of your flock of sheep. Thank You for being our true and living God, the Creator of all that has been made and the source of love. Amen.

Psalm 23 is een van die gewildste gebede in die Westerse wereld. Dit is ook een van die magtigste gebede wat ooit buite die Here se Gebed, uitgespreek is- wat ook gedeeltelik op hierdie Psalm gebaseer is. Hierdie pragtige versameling woorde kan die sleutel wees tot die herwinning van geestelike krag.

Psalm 23 is die gebed vir alle seisoene van die lewe. Dit bevat die volgende belydenisse:

n Belydenis van iemand wat die ervaring het van God se rigting en betekenis is sy lewe: Dit is wanneer ons somtyds uitdagende dinge aanpak en ervaar dat die Here ons die regte pad aanwys.

n Belydenis van iemand wat die ervaring het van donker dieptes, onvervulde beloftes en ondeursigtige beloftes: Dit is juis in hierdie omstandighede waar ons moet bely dat ons nie bang hoef te wees nie want God is met ons en by Hom is ons veilig.

n Belydenis dat God se paaie wel uit die donkerte na die lig lei en dat dit voel soos n feesmaal in die aangesig van ons teestanders: God oorlaai ons somtyds met Sy hartlikheid en dit word n voorreg vir ons om in die lewe saam met Hom te wees.

n Belydenis dat die ware doel, sin en betekenis van die lewe is om God te geniet en in Sy teenwoordigheid verewig te bly: Dit bring op die einde van die dag ware rus en vrede. Ons wil op die einde van die dag net by God wees en diep-tevredenheid ervaar soos n kind.

Psalm 23 moet dus vir ons n feespsalm en n troospsalm wees. Dit is dus n psalm vir alle seisoene van die lewe. Die waarheid wat ons moet lei in hierdie psalm is,dat ons hele lewe altyd by God veilig is.

GEBED Dankie Here dat U ons goeie Herder is en ons daarom geen rede het om te vrees nie. Dankie Here dat ons as skape van U kudde veilig is by U as ons Herder. Dankie dat ons weet dat U nooit U skape sal verlaat of alleen laat nie. Amen.

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/culture/christian-connect/breaking-bre...
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