Shepherding Love

April 2, 2017 Background Scripture: Psalm 23 Lesson Passage: Psalm 23 How do you prepare to study what might be the most familiar passage of scripture in the Bible besides John 3:16? Psalm 23 is likely the first complete psalm memorized by children in Sunday School over the years. It often finds its way onto funeral programs and is sometimes referenced throughout a funeral service. Perhaps that is one of the reasons it is such an amazing passage of scripture. It talks about the importance of a close relationship with the Lord throughout one’s life and even into the valley of the shadow of death. Put another way, the scope of those six verses of scripture cover a person’s lifetime relationship with the Lord. The appreciation for this psalm can be attributed to the history the Bible provides about the psalm’s writer, David. The Bible presents David as a young man with a very humble personality. He seemed content to obediently obey his father, Jesse, and tend the family’s flock of sheep. This he did while his older brothers were soldiers in Israel’s army. It seems that Jesse could count on David to care for the sheep as well as to run errands for his father when needed. It was while running an errand to carry supplies to his brothers and to assess the state of the brooding conflict between Israel and the Philistines that we learn something about David that his father might not have known. David not only watched over his father’s sheep but he also defended them—with his life! David recounted that on two occasions the flock was endangered by predators. One time it was a lion and the other time it was a bear. Rather than run for his own safety, David used his slingshot to kill both predators and deliver the prey that had been taken. In many respects, David’s menial chore had been more dangerous than that faced by his brothers in the army. Rather than fighting to protect the people of God, the entire army of Israel was running from one Philistine named Goliath. David was able to observe this while on errand to the battle field for their father. David did not behave like a hired laborer over the flock. If so, then he would have run from the danger posed by the predators. David exhibited the characteristics of a good shepherd—he was willing to put his life on the line for the sheep. I think the Shepherd’s Psalm was more than just an inspiration for David but it was biographical. As a sheep, metaphorically speaking, David knew what to expect from the Lord because he understood the shepherd’s responsibility. What David was willing to do to protect his father’s flock, he in turn expected the Lord to do for him. Whatever the sheep needed, the good shepherd would provide—even if it costs him his life. Peace, food, water, protection, and correction were all provided without the need for a request because the shepherd understood what the sheep needed. When the sheep would graze in terrain that was surrounded by predators, there was no need for the sheep to fret because the shepherd was with them. So the flock could comfortably graze even with predators watching. The shepherd led them over a path that was safe for the not so sure-footed sheep. There was never a time when the sheep were without protection. And these good conditions were expected to always be so—forever. Robert C. Hudson March 1, 2017

Restoring Love

March 26, 2017 Background Scripture: Joel 2 Lesson Passage: Joel 2:12, 13, 18, 19, 28 – 32 Today’s lesson affords us a rare opportunity to examine the prophecy of the Prophet Joel as a part of the Sunday School lesson series. Some of Joel’s prophecy seems to parallel that of other writing prophets although there is no evidence in the writing that can be used to establish a date for this prophecy. Joel is only mentioned here in his prophecy and in the Book of Acts where Peter cites his prophecy as an explanation of events that occurred on the Day of Pentecost. Joel sent out a clarion call for the people of God to repent as natural disasters were beginning to affect Judah. The prophet saw in those national disasters God’s judgment against His disobedient children. Not only did he sound the warning because of the coming judgment, but in today’s lesson, he also gave a message of hope. Joel described the restoration that would come for God’s people after the judgment and repentance. It would be difficult for the people of God to see a day of hope in the midst of the judgment. Joel described the judgment as a plague of locusts and cankerworms devouring the vegetation of the land and leaving both man and beasts to suffer. But there was a promised restoration that would come with repentance. All are called upon to repent: young and old, rich and poor, laity and clergy. Such a widespread repentance would cause God to look upon His people with pity and reverse the plague and restore His blessings on them. Even the animals are assured that God’s blessing would be extended to them as well. God promised an abundance of food in the restoration and called for His people to rejoice in Him because of the coming blessings. Even that which was loss will be restored. All of this would prove God’s presence among His people. Their assurance would be in the provisions He makes for them. And then the portion of the prophecy referenced by the Apostle Peter was declared after the prophecy of the physical restoration. God would restore His people spiritually by pouring out His spirit on all flesh. Sons and daughters would prophesy. Old men would be dreamers and young men would be visionaries. Even the lowly workers, servants and handmaids, would be blessed with the Spirit of God upon them. After these events have occurred, then God would give signs and wonders as a warning that the ultimate Day of the Lord was coming. The pouring out of God’s Spirit upon all who place their faith in the finished work of Jesus on Calvary was confirmed by the Apostle Peter. It began on the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection from the grave. This will continue throughout what we call the Church Age (the time from the day of Pentecost to the Rapture of the church). During the Church Age, all who call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. As a point of clarity, the name of the Lord during the Church Age is Jesus. Jesus declared that he is the only way to God for those seeking salvation. Although the blessing of the Spirit of God is available during this age, only Jesus provides a baptism of the Holy Ghost to those who put their trust in him. It is this baptism that provides a restoration of love. It is in this baptism that one experiences the love of God made available to us through Jesus Christ. It is a restoring love. Robert C. Hudson February 20, 2017