Talk to you shepherd. And the shadow cannot overcome or extinguish it. 0000003043 00000 n The first part of the verse is clearly about life, using the words all the days of my life. The prophet Micah tell us of Jesus as the shepherd king from Bethlehem. No one wants to. Marsh for adding a new dimension to my understanding of the shadow being backed by a source of light. At 4:30 am on Monday morning the Good Shepherd lead our brother to paradise. On at least one more occasion, Abraham and Sarah lied again. Thank you Jerry. Shepherds know the needs of their sheep. Will you do that today? Through Christ we pray. /Prev 108275 The basis of David's faith is expressed in Psalm 23. His fear was replaced by faith. The psalmist sees God in control of his life. Psalm 23 has become a daily adventure for me as I try to imagine what it means for me each day. David killed lions and bears with his own hands. He took on human flesh and lived among men. If Interrupting the Silence has been meaningful in your life or helpful in your ministry please. 8"2UF@'x.s!3@9]8|,Uv QYtLM'FL 6EG:81#. I want to share with you a passage of scripture that has been a source of comfort for many people. But Abraham, like all men, feared death, and this fear enslaved him. /Lang (en-US) If this is death, it is sweet! I. Now as we mourn the loss of our departed sister in Christ; we know that our loss is heavens gain. Thank you for adding so much to the meaning of it all. You must know and love the sheep. Tuesday: [They were] asking, Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? But Abraham and Sarah were unable to bear children. Ps 23:3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His names sake. Americans especially hated Germans with a deeply racist attitude. 0000016588 00000 n Let me remind you that the shepherd is still with the sheep. To live as a sheepdog is a reminder that you must know the shepherd well. While we are walking in this valley, God is still with you. startxref Lessons from a Sheepdog. I shall have gone higher, that is all out of this old clay tent into a house that is immortal, a body that sin cannot touch, that sin cannot taint, a body fashioned into His glorious body. My cup overflows. He is there, right beside you, guiding and leading step by step. = Believe that Jesus died for you and rose again. People Listen In Different Wayscan You Reach All Of Them? Isaiah 53:6 says: All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Psalm 23. Man's fear of death is well-rounded. The psalm begins, ''The Lord is my shepherd'' (v. 1). xref 0000018083 00000 n for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Through repentance and faith. Even today, prophets point us back to God. He restores my soul. He makes me lie down in green pastures. If not, will you ask Christ to be your Shepherd today? They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: It is glorious! The rod is used by a shepherd to ward off evil and to direct the sheep as they walk. His son who was standing by his bedside said, No, no, father, you are dreaming. The restoration He gives is forgiveness of sin and peace with God. As we sit in this room, and mourn but also celebrate the life of Brandy, our soul feels dead, it feels no joy or rest. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me . I want whatever it is that you will not give me. David knew that he had received God's lavish care all his life. Ashley, I suspect, would describe it as what he called the matrix. Shortly after coming to St. Philips he started telling me about experiencing the matrix. Let the shepherd guide you there and grieve in the meantime. 23 (READ). Amen. 0000003308 00000 n He gave Abraham and Sarah as son, when they were "as good as dead" so far as child-bearing was concerned. She often times went above and beyond for people that she knew. God spares nothing to care for me. Call it the light or call it the matrix, it doesnt matter. Our love has driven us to talk about our guests with compassion and a desire to serve those whose lives feel so different from those of us who are not worried about where we will sleep tonight. He restores my soul. Post Reply b.) Yet the promise that God has already given us eternal life with him sustains us in our journey and gives substance to our hope. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley," or as most of us memorized it, "the valley of the shadow of death.". Judy trains sheepdogs, as well as others who have sheepdogs. 0000019551 00000 n Having trouble logging into your account? I want you to learn to smile at death. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. She had a feeling of wanting. He had lost his kingdom; his family; his home; and his peace. However, I feel that most people miss out on some of the deepest and richest truths that it has to share. It tells us that David's faith, as expressed in Psalm 23 is not natural, but supernatural. Psalm 23:1-2 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. God once again spared them. (2) The Lamb of God died for us, and triumphed over death by His resurrection. David's word for God's tender affection is a term used in the ancient world to mean love that flows out of deep emotion rather than duty. Thats because when God created this world, He created us to be with him. He is the only one to journey through death and come out victorious. And even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.". The fighting stopped, and all was quiet. A shepherd who knows this sheep will lead and this sheep will always need more attention. You may know the 23 rd Psalm, but do you know the Good Shepherd? - Psalms 23:6. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. i) Psalm 23:4 (1) David talks about a valley. The Lord is our shepherd, the one who shepherds us, who leads us, who guides us. From the Gospel of Matthew, we get a glimpse of the scripture lesson we hear most around Epiphany. This is not my doing. I also trust and hope, though, that youve had some glimpses of the light. The Lord Jesus Christ then died for our sins, and suffered the penalty, our penalty, of death. In Christ, even in our want, we want for nothing. Neither of those are optional. Indeed, we are still walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And so is Thomas question, How can we know the way (John 14:1-6)? Heaven is the completion of Gods grace for us, 1.) Prophets have foretold the way of Jesus. God gives us a place of prominence. Throughout this series, we will hear from Judy on living with sheep and sheepdogs. %PDF-1.7 They are mine. To start saving items to a SermonFolder, please create an account. Our new Preaching Suite solution makes it easy to prepare, preach and archive your sermons. Why do they need a shepherd? A short time elapsed and then, following what seemed to the family to be the death struggle he spoke again: This is my triumph; this my coronation day! To breathe new air, and find it - celestial; To feel invigorated, and find it - immortality; To rise from the care, the loneliness, and the turmoil of earth. He leads me beside still waters. We shall not want. This passage puts Psalm 23 into perspective. 4 A thousand years in your sight. The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. Will you take the Shepherds hand and let him lead you through this valley of darkness so that you can say at the end of the psalm-, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Spend time in the Bible today, so you know Gods will and way. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Isaiah spoke of it as the Sprit of the Lord God bringing good news, binding up the brokenhearted, and comforting those who mourn (Isaiah 61:1-3). The pastor should take time to talk with the family of the deceased before the funeral and learn something about him/her. The source of this hope is to be found in the texts of both passages which you have heard today. 1 Peter 2:25: For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. Funeral from Psalm 23. The unexpected can be frightening. Message. Let me make a few comments about the hope which God offers to all those who face death, a hope which exchanges fear for faith. << I want candy, I want my cookie, I want my toy. Presbyterian/Reformed. Amen. Funeral Sermon for Irma Emilie Stenzel - Mount Olive Lutheran Church / Pr. So whatever you might think about in your last moments, look to Jesus. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art . My heart hurts for this family, I know too well their hurt. Jesus way leads to life. We are the sheep in this passage. Yes, the shadow of death is our reality today. The LORD watches over you--the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over. He infected us with his life, and helped us to see the light. 1. Copyright 2003-2023 | Outreach, Inc., All rights reserved. It seems too hard. God is frequently described in the Bible as being like a shepherd who cares for and tends to a flock of sheep. God will never leave us or forsake - He is always there for us. A. You did create that! A mother was asked by a census-taker how many children she had. That is our way through the valley of the shadow of death. When Pharaoh rebuked Abraham, and asked why he would deceive him about his wife, Abraham admitted that he feared death. 0000003787 00000 n Second, David's faith rested in the fact that God was His shepherd. Do you have a personal relationship with Him? The shadow is dark and the valley is long and deep. THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD Psalm 23 is the best-known psalm in the book of Psalms. In the Old Testament, the sins of Israel were temporarily atoned for by the sacrifice of a lamb. It is by Christ's death that we are saved from our sins. My question to you this evening is, do you know the shepherd? It is the greater reality of today. God is there to comfort us and sustain us. a. Psalm 121, Psalm 23, Psalms 23:1-6, 52-week preaching calendar to help you plan your sermons, Customizable sermon manuscripts for verse-by-verse preaching, Preach with creativity and impact throughout the year, [NEW YEAR] 4-Week Series to kick off 2023, [PRODUCTIVITY] Fulfill your full potential, [FOUNDATIONS] Getting back to what matters most. Awakening from a sleep, he said, Earth recedes, Heaven opens before me. David tells us that goodness follows us all the days of our lives. Only those who know the Good Shepherd will enjoy the benefits of this Psalm. Hear us today, Father, and grant these requests of Your people. Learn how your comment data is processed. I mentioned earlier that death was not apart of Gods plan. Heaven is our living hope, even in death, 2.) 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