Confidence in God's Shepherding

November 3, 2024 Background Scripture: Psalm 23; John 10:11 — 14 Lesson Passage: Psalm 23 Psalm 23 is for many Christians the first biblical passage memorized, Many church assemblies have recited it in concert as either part of the opening exercise or the closing one for Sunday School. It is often used together with the Model Prayer as a staple for Children's Worship service. It is a very easy passage to memorize. Sometimes that is a drawback when it comes to appreciation for the message it conveys. The words can become so familiar to us that we fail to comprehend the depths of the spiritual message conveyed by them. As simple as the words of this psalm are, the message they declare is inexhaustible. We can better comprehend the depths of the spiritual message within this psalm by reacquainting ourselves with its human author. Every resource book I have used refers to Psalm 23 as a psalm of David. The bible's first mention of David presents him as a young boy, perhaps a young teenager or pre-teen. He was too young to enlist in Israel's military—even though they were engaged in a war during that time. The Law stipulated that the census for Israel should be based on the men who are twenty years of age and older and able (or fit) to go to war. We note that when David's brothers were fighting for Israel against the Philistines, they chastised him for coming to the battlefield rather than remaining at home with those "few sheep". From this we see that David's family chore was to care for the small flock of sheep owned by their father, Jesse. When the Lord sent the prophet to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king to replace King Saul, it was then that Jesse stated that David was his youngest son and the keeper of sheep. Furthermore, the scriptures describe David as a skilled musician with a harp. It was his musical ability that brought him before Israel's first king, Saul. David was recommended to the king as one who could console him with the harp whenever the king became agitated because the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul. When the Philistine's hero, Goliath, teased and taunted Israel's entire army, David heard it. Although David was too young for the military and untrained in warfare, he volunteered to fight Goliath for Israel. King Saul advised David that the task was too much for him, but David shared his testimony of protecting his father's sheep from a lion and a bear. He shared about how he rescued lambs from the mouth of both a lion and a bear. David went on to say that the Lord had delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear. He did not attribute his protection to his own ability. David assumed accountability for the protection of the sheep and their lambs, but David depended on God to protect him. David did not have weapons of war. He had a shepherd's staff, a sling, and some smooth stones for the sling. These were all he had to protect his daddy's flock. His faith in God was all he needed for his own protection. Sheep have no natural fom of protection against predators. Sheep depend on the protection of the shepherd. If there are no anxieties in the flock, it is because of the calming presence of the shepherd. There are some situations and circumstances in life in which people are vulnerable and become anxious. We must rely on the Lord to be our protector. As a young shepherd, David understood his role in protecting the flock no matter what situation, or environment, they were in. Animals are most vulnerable to predators when they are feeding or drinking. Predators watch their inattentive prey while they are feeding. At those times, shepherds must be alert. David had equal expectations of God in being his protector from situations in life when he was vulnerable. When we look at the words in Psalm 23, they reflect the experience of a shepherd who had walked with God in faithful submission. Jesus presented himself to the Jews as the good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. Faith in Jesus is confidence in God's shepherding. Robert C. Hudson October 25, 2024

Trust in God Alone

October 27, 2024 Background Scripture: Psalm 62 Lesson Passage: Psalm 62 Some of the Psalms of David describe his response to specific incidents in his life. Yet, others appear as wisdom he received from God as he experienced God's presence at different times during his life. Psalm 62 seems to be more the latter. This is not to suggest that there were no situations in David's life that are alluded to in this psalm by some of the phrases, or expressions used. The rebellion of Absalom when David was king is such a situation. However, in this psalm, David seems to write out of the wisdom gained from personally experiencing God's deliverance, consistency of character, and steadfastness over much of his life. David expresses confidence in God's deliverance without offering any specific reason for his assurance. What the scriptures record of David's life is enough for us to appreciate his faith in God. Several cases are recorded where God spared David's life beginning in his youth and extending into his later years as an adult when he was king over Israel. Whether it was a bear or a lion as a youth, or the wicked or the righteous as an adult, when David needed delivering, God provided it. Sometimes David was innocent, sometimes he was right, and sometimes he was wrong. Yet, God delivered him from all those situations. The scriptures disclose that David was far from perfect; but he maintained faith in God—even when he was wrong! Psalm 62 appears to reflect the wisdom of those experiences. At the beginning of the psalm, David declares that his soul waits in silence for God. This contrasts with the more common response of an agitated impatience when life is difficult. His silence indicates that he is not foolishly suggesting how, or when, God should deliver him. This is not confidence in his head but peace within his soul. David does not give himself any other option besides God. In other words, he does not engage in wishful thinking concerning his outcome. On the other hand, he does declare the fate, or outcome, of the wicked who attacks him. The wicked shall be destroyed for they are not trustworthy. Anyone who delights in lies cannot be trusted with the truth. Lies are a form of darkness in which liars seek to conceal the truth. Wicked people are hypocrites. They declare one thing with their mouths, but their behavior exposes their true intent within. Then David addresses himself in this psalm. He commands his soul to depend on no other besides the Lord and to patiently wait for God's plan to unfold. David's experience shows that God's way is the only way, and yet he still must remind himself of his experiences with God. God does not change. If God has been faithful in the past, then He is faithful today and forever. Therefore, David reminds himself that he is not looking for any other sources of deliverance. If God does not come through for David, then David is resigned to accept the outcome. He does not stray from his faith in God for deliverance. Having steadied himself with self-talk, David turned his attention to others who are the people of God. He encourages other people of faith to forever put their trust in God by being transparent with Him. We should open our hearts to God and empty ourselves before Him so that He may fill us with His goodness. Wicked people are nothing to be afraid of because they are weak, or empty. They cannot be relied on in time of need. Neither should one trust in riches or ill-gotten gain. None of those things have the power to deliver us from trouble. Even Jesus in the Model Prayer declared that God's power is forever. The greatest exercise of God's power is expressed in His great love for mankind. We should trust in God alone. Robert C. Hudson October 21, 2024

Praise for Deliverance

October 20, 2024 Background Scripture: Isaiah 25; Daniel 6:10 - 28 Lesson Passage: Isaiah 25:1 – 10a It is much easier to interpret historic narratives than prophetic utterances. Prophecy often casts a two-fold declaration. One is more immediate to the time of the prophecy and the other may manifest hundreds, or even thousands, of years later. The Book of Isaiah contains both historic narratives and prophetic statements. Some of those prophetic statements are in the form of poetry. This is the case for the Lesson Passage today, It is a celebration of God's destruction of powerful nations that are wicked and burdensome to the people who fear God. Even more so, it celebrates God's destruction of one of mankind's greatest threats, death. Death's destruction is pictured as being swallowed up by God. The rulers of cities and nations that are trampled down by God may dare to hope for a day when they can be rebuilt. But anything that is swallowed up is totally consumed and gone forever. There is no fear that death will ever return from such a destruction. All of these are reasons for those who fear God to celebrate and praise Him. The poem goes on to describe a celebration meal prepared by God for the occasion. The scene of the meal is in the mountain. How appropriate because the Lord, as our Shepherd, will prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies. Celebrating in the mountain will give the meal a place of visibility for any who are not invited to the meal. The finest wine and food are described as the course to be served and enjoyed. The invitees to the meal are described as all people. This is in line with God's promise to deliver, or save, people from all nations. In addition to the meal, God will remove those who have rebuked His people. The scene suggested by the prophet is one of overwhelming joy and celebration for the people of God. Put another way, there will be unrestrained praise for God's total deliverance of His people. This poem reflects much of what is written in the Book of Revelation. How we can appreciate this today is best understood from the Background Scripture taken from Daniel 6. It is the historic narrative of God's deliverance of Daniel from the den of lions. As it is with other biblical accounts of God's deliverance of God-fearing people from impossible situations, those situations often happen because of jealousy. Someone becomes enraged because of God's favor over another person's life. Daniel's faithfulness towards God led to him being brought before kings who sought his wisdom. Those kings discerned the excellent spirit God placed within Daniel. This led to Daniel receiving several promotions in the kingdom. When Daniel was considered for promotion over the rest of the king's servants, that was the tipping point. Daniel's jealous contemporaries set Daniel up for failure. This caused Daniel to be sentenced to death in a den of lions. The king who was manipulated into pronouncing the sentence stayed awake that night and fasted because of Daniel. The scripture does not record that the king prayed. However, he waited patiently for Daniel's God to deliver him. When the king discovered that God secured Daniel throughout the night, he had Daniel removed from the den and decreed that everyone throughout the kingdom had to fear the God of Daniel. Even the king who did not know God personally praised Him for His deliverance of Daniel. Situations such as this serve as reminders for us. If God can bless with such an amazing deliverance in this life, we cannot imagine what the ultimate deliverance from all enemies, including death, will be like. However, we will celebrate that deliverance with praise at a feast in the mountain. Robert C. Hudson October 14, 2024

A Plea for Deliverance

October 13, 2024 Background Scripture: Psalm 22; Daniel 3 Lesson Passage: Psalm 22:1 - 11 Today's lesson focuses on God's response to the faith of His servants in times of distress. Psalm 22 and Daniel 3 are used as the Background Scripture. The historic account recorded in Daniel 3 is an example of what David described in Psalm 22 from three perspectives: faith in God for deliverance, deliverance by God, and praise to God for deliverance. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were Hebrews living in captivity in Babylon. The Babylonians knew them to be devout men who had faith in the God of the Hebrews. Therefore, they plotted against them by having a law declared in Babylon that they were sure to violate, and that would lead to their punishment. They were faced with the daunting challenge of obeying Babylonian law by bowing down to an idol god or being executed for obeying the Law of the God of the Hebrews. As they stood before the king of Babylon to answer the accusations against them of not bowing to the idol god of the Babylonians, they declared their faith in God's ability to deliver them if He decides to do so. They vowed to continue to obey God even if He did not deliver them. Of course, God did deliver them. And that deliverance led to the king of Babylon proclaiming the Hebrew God as a God to be revered throughout Babylon. Psalm 22 is one of the psalms of David. It begins as a lamentation and ends as a psalm of praise. This transition within the psalm happens because it includes the fact that God answered David's prayer for deliverance. The prayer contains lamentations, confessions, and petitions to God. The psalm opens with a painful cry to God at a time of great trouble when David felt abandoned by God. The question is asked, why have You abandoned me? The cry is to God because He is the one David's ancestors taught him to call upon. God had a track record of delivering David's family because of their faith in Him. So, when David was faced with his own trouble, he knew that God is the only one he could call upon and expect results. The prophetic nature of this psalm is astounding. It is a prophetic psalm that describes the details surrounding the crucifixion and post-resurrection of Israel's Messiah, David's descendant. The actual words spoken by Jesus while nailed to the cross are recorded in this psalm. This was not Jesus merely repeating what He knew David had written over one thousand years earlier. That is evident because this psalm also details what the Gentile soldiers did as well as statements made by the priests during the crucifixion. Some of the reactions of people in the crowd around the cross are also described in this psalm. Again, Psalm 22 has two very distinct parts, lamentations and praise. The first part focuses on the plea for God's deliverance from the agonizing torment of his enemies. It ends by acknowledging God's answer to David's prayer. The second part is a celebration of praise for God's deliverance of His servant. The opening verses of Psalm 22 is our Lesson Passage. Beginning at the first verse of this psalm, our minds quickly go to Calvary's cross. Although we appreciate the pattern within this psalm, we cannot ignore the prophetic description it provides of the Messiah's crucifixion. The details in this psalm are the same as those in the accounts of the Gospel which are the reports of eyewitnesses. This psalm should remind us that God never changes. Whether it is David, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the Messiah, or Christians today, this lesson is a reminder that God is always attentive to the prayers of His servants for deliverance. Robert C. Hudson September 30, 2024