Psalm 23:4d
I love how this part of the psalm turns personal. Not only has the writer been saying me rather than us, now he no longer speaks about the Shepherd in the third person but turns it to a direct address. He says "You are with me."
The Shepherd does not lead us where He
Himself has never trod. No, He leads us on paths first trailed by the Son of
God. No temptation has He not faced, no sorrow has He not shared, no joy nor triumph has He not seen, no loss has He not experienced. He has been there.
Psalms 118:6 says, "The LORD is on my side; I
will not fear: what can man do unto me?" But from this side of the cross, it is even more than that. No longer is the Shepherd merely by my side, and with me. Jesus said it is better that He went away so that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit would come and live within me.
Could it get any better? Well, actually yes. There are the assurances of God’s Holy Presence not on being in me, but also staying with me.
God’s WORD--1 John 5:13--These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”
God’s WILL--John 1:12-13 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Eph. 1:5 “having predestined us to
adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of
His will.”
God’s WORK-- Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
John 10: 28 “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.”
God’s WITNESS of the Holy Spirit--Romans 8:15-17 “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
John 14:16-17 “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever -- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”
“Thank you, my Shepherd, for not only being with me but in me forever. Amen.”
