Oil

Psalm 23:5b,  "You anoint my head with oil"

    Insects of all kinds can become extremely annoying and upsetting to sheep during the summer time.  There is a particular insect called a nasal fly which aggravates sheep most of all.  These flies buzz around sheep's heads and try to deposit their eggs in the soft mucous membranes of the sheep's noses.  If they are successful, the eggs hatch into worm-like larvae which cause much irritation and inflammation.  Sheep will beat their heads against trees or rocks and rub then in the dirt in an effort to rid themselves of their pain.  They may try to run away from their torment or shake their heads up and down over and over in a futile effort to find relief.  The antidote is for the shepherd to rub the sheep's heads with a specially prepared oil mixture at the first sign of flies and to continue to make applications of this mixture as long as flies are around.
    We have lots of "life's little frustrations."  There are many aggravations and irritations that buzz around us and upset us, that cause us to lose our peace and joy and become ill-tempered.  Phillip Keller says,  "Just as with the sheep, there must be continuous and renewed application of oil to forestall the "flies" in my life; there must be a continuous anointing of God's gracious Spirit to counteract the ever-present aggravations of personality conflicts" and other frustrations and irritations that rub our personalities raw.  When God's Holy Spirit is in control of our lives, He enables God's children to react to the daily  problems of life calmly, with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.

Father, thank You that Your Holy Spirit will produce this kind of fruit in our lives, that we can experience this kind of Christian life as long as we allow Your Spirit to be in control.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

I wake up, and "Yuck," I say.

This is my appointment with the dentist day.

Fellowship

Psalm 23:5a,  "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies."

     King David invited Mephibosheth, the crippled son of his dear friend Jonathan, to live at the palace and receive his provision and protection.  David told Mephiposheth, "You will always eat at my table."

     The "table" in Psalm 23 speaks to us of protection and provision but also of fellowship.  Friends eat together and visit with each other over their meal.  The promise in Revelation 3:20 is not only for salvation for those who respond appropriately to Jesus but also for His Presence with them.  Jesus said,  "Here I am.  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him and he with me."

     Dining together, feasting, is also a picture of celebration.  We have Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners and picnics on the Fourth of July.  We celebrate marriages with receptions where food is served and people eat together.  There will be a great feast one day in heaven when the bride of Christ, the church, joins her Bridegroom.  This celebration is called "the wedding supper" or "the marriage feast" of the Lamb. 

     We are assured of God's Presence with us in the presence of our enemies.  Whether we are facing persecution, difficult circumstances, evil doers, or our final enemy, death, we can rejoice and celebrate because our God is with us--providing for us, protecting us, and blessing us with Himself!

Father, You have given us many blessings but the greatest one is the gift of Yourself!  Thank You.  Amen.

God, Our Provider and Protector

Psalm 23:5a, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

The “table” speaks of God’s constant provision for us.  As Philippians 4:19 tells us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

The diligent shepherd has gone ahead of the sheep and prepared safe places for them to graze in the high country during the summer months.  He has carefully removed poisonous plants.  He has chosen places with ample water supplies; He has looked for signs of any predators that might harm the sheep.  We see in the shepherd’s care not only his provision but also his protection.

If God provides for us in the presence of our enemies, there is the implication that He will protect us so we can partake of His provisions, be nourished by them, and enjoy them.  We have this promise in Proverbs 1:33, “Whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”  Charles Spurgeon comments on this passage of Scripture in his devotional book Morning and Evening by saying, “Let’s draw the inference from this, that come what may, God’s people are safe.  Let convulsions shake the solid earth, let the skies themselves be rent in two, yet amid the wreck of worlds the believer shall be as secure as in the calmest hour of rest.  If God cannot save His people under heaven, He will save them in heaven.  If the world becomes too hot to hold them, then heaven shall be their place of reception and their safety.  Let no agitation distress you, but be quiet from fear of evil.  Whatever comes upon the earth, you beneath the wings of Jehovah will be secure.”

Thank You, Heavenly Father, that You are our Provider and our Protector, our Refuge and Strength.  Amen.

Life's Little Frustrations

We're having a heat wave this summer, so soon.

It feels like it's August, and it's only June.

If it's this hot already, oh goodness me,

At the end of the summer how hot will it be?

The Shepherd's Staff

Psalm 23:4c,  "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

      The shepherd's staff is a unique tool.  No one in any other profession uses a shepherd's crook, and the staff is not used for any animal other than sheep.

      There are at least three areas of use for the shepherd's staff. 

First, a shepherd sometimes uses his staff to gently lift a newborn lamb and return it to its mother if they are separated.  Second, the shepherd uses the staff to draw individual sheep to himself.  Third, the staff is used to guide the sheep along a desired path or through a gate.  Interestingly, the shepherd lays the tip of the staff against the side of a sheep and presses it gently to show the sheep which way the shepherd wants it to go.  Phillip Keller comments,  "Sometimes I have been fascinated to see how a shepherd will actually hold his staff against the side of some sheep that is a special pet or favorite, simply so that they are "in touch"!  They will walk along this way almost as though it were "hand in hand".

      You may have guessed by now that the shepherd's staff is a symbol of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.  It is God's Holy Spirit Who prompts us and guides us by nudging us gently to walk in the paths of righteousness.  The Holy Spirit is not only our Guide but also our Comforter, Our Teacher, and our constant Companion.  His ministry in our lives draws us to our Heavenly Father and keeps us close to Him. 

What peace and comfort, what a sense of protection and provision and well-being, we have from the constant presence and over-flowing love and care from our Father through His Spirit within us!

Father, how we thank You for Your indwelling Spirit Who will never leave nor forsake us.  Amen