“No Fear in God's Fold”
Psalm 23 March 5, 2006 Play audio
Nothing to Fear But...
• dangers, stress, tests cause anxiety
• more subtle fear of wasting life
Provision
• not in want: lush meadows (1f)
• makes a table ready; feast of rich food for all,
abundantly (5; Is 25:6; Jn 10:10)
Peace
• makes lie down, quiet waters; His guiding (2; Lk
1:79)
• peace comes when present our requests to God (Col
3:15; Php 4:6f)
Power
• Lord restores / renews; goodness chases us (3,6;
51:10,12; 85:6)
• restored Samson after failure and capture (Judges
16:28)
Protection
• comforted in valley of shadow of death by
Shepherd’s presence, rod, staff (4)
• Palestinian shepherds looked more like warriors
than placid
• God can be gentle, OR deal with troublesome sheep
(Is 40:11; Ezek 34:12)
• protected as long as stay close by
Priority
• honoured by table set, anointing in front of
enemies (5; 31:19)
• anointing with Holy Spirit teaches us to hear His
voice (1Jn 2:27)
Place
• Shepherd is with us, despite dangers (4; Is 41:10;
Is 43:2; Ac 18:9f)
• will dwell in Lord’s house forever: a place
prepared for us (6; Jn 14:1ff)
Future Consideration
• 40 days Biblical though Lent not, strictly
speaking (Ez 24:18; Kings 19:8; Mt 4:2)
• time to reflect on fears, priorities, preparedness
for dying
• Spurgeon: death not house but porch; where shadow,
must be light
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