THE 23RD PSALM
The Teaching Ministry of Rick Trice
March 18, 2007
Trinity Fellowship,
THEMES
A PSALM OF DAVID
A PSALM OF CONFIDENCE
TWO MAIN THEMES: GOD’S CARE AND GOD’S GOODNESS, EACH REPRESENTED BY “THE SHEPHERD” AND “THE BANQUET TABLE”
THE SHEPHERD
THE BIBLE REFERS TO GOD AS OUR SHEPHERD NUMEROUS TIMES. HIS SHEEP RELY ON HIM TOTALLY FOR FOOD, WATER, PROTECTION. JESUS IS REVEALED AS THE GOOD SHEPHERD IN JOHN 10:11 ff
I SHALL NOT WANT
JUST AS SHEEP RELY ON THE SHEPHERD, GOD’S PEOPLE MUST RELY ON JESUS TO BE TOTALLING FULFILLED:
SO WHAT DOES FULFILLMENT LOOK LIKE? IT HINK IT LOOKS LIKE THIS:
HE MAKES ME LIE DOWN IN GREEN PASTURES
HE LEADS ME BESIDE THE STILL WATERS
HE RESTORES MY SOUL
HE LEADS ME IN THE PATHS OF HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
I WALK IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH
OLD TESTAMENT HEBREWS KNEW THIS TO BE THE MOST DESOLATE PLACE, FROM WHERE A PERSON DOES NOT RETURN; IT IS SYNONYMOUS WITH FACING THE FINAL CHALLENGES OF LIFE: DEATH ITSELF.
I FEAR NO EVIL (YOU ARE THERE)
GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE NO NEED TO FEAR THE SHADOW OF DEATH. (ROMANS 8:31: “…IF GOD IS FOR US, WHO CAN BE AGAINSTS US?” (8:38) “I AM PERSUADED THAT NETIHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NOR ANGELS NOR PRINCIPALITIES NOR POWERS, NOR THING PRESENT NOR THINGS TO COME, NOR HEIGHT NOR DEPTH , NOR ANY OTHER CREATED THING, SHALL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.” )
YOUR ROD AND STAFF (COMFORT)
THE SHEPHERD’S ROD WAS TO FIGHT OFF ENEMIES. HIS STAFF WAS TO GUIDE THE SHEEP. THEREFORE, I THINK THE ROD, FOR CHRISTIANS, IS A METAPHOR FOR THE SWORD, GOD’S WORD; AND THAT THE STAFF IS THE HOLY SPIRIT (THE COMFORTER) WHO GUIDES US DAILY.
THE BANQUET
GOD WELCOMES HIS CHILDREN INTO HIS PRESENCE AS HONORED GUESTS.
JESUS SAYS IN REVELATION TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES THAT THE OVERCOMERS WILL:
*EAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE OF LIFE
*WILL NOT BE HURT BY THE SECOND DEATH
*WILL BE GIVEN A SECRET NEW NAME WRITTEN ON A WHITE STONE
*WILL BE GIVEN POWER OVER THE NATIONS
*WILL BE CLOTED IN WHITE GARMENTS
*WILL BE FOUND IN THE BOOK OF LIFE
*WILL BE CONFESSED BEFORE THE FATHER AND THE ANGELS
*WILL BE MADE A PILLAR IN THE
*WILL BE GRANTED TO SIT WITH JESUS ON HIS THRONE.
SOUNDS LIKE AN HONORED GUEST TO ME.
YOU PREPARE A TABLE
A VICTORY CELEBRATION; WHEN YOU WANT YOUR TEAM TO WIN, YOU HAVE A TAILGATE PARTY; WHEN THE VICTORY IS WON, YOU THROW A BIG BAR B Q! HERE, OUR ENEMY, THE DEVIL, IS TOTALLY DEFEATED. WE ARE TO LIVE ACCORDINGLY.
YOU ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL
THE HONORED GUEST WAS OFTEN ANOINTED WITH OIL AT THE BANQUET. ANOINTING IS AN OUTWARD SIGN OF GOD’S FAVOR, AND OF HIS CONFERRING OF A TITLE UPON SOMEONE. DAVID WAS ANOINTED KING OF
MY CUP RUNS OVER
LUKE 7:46 SAYS THE CUP IS THE NEW BLOOD COVENANT WITH CHRIST, FILLED TO OVERFLOWING. WE ARE TO RECEIVE THE OVERABUNDANCE OF HIS OUTPOURED BLESSINGS, AND LET IT OVERFLOW INTO THE LIVES OF OTHERS. IS YOUR LIFE OVERFLOWING?
I WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER
JESUS SAID HE GOES TO PREPARE A HOUSE FOR US, WHERE WE WILL LIVE IN GOD’S PRESENCE...
FOREVER…
IN VICTORY…
THE HONORED GUEST…
IN OVERABUNDANCE…
EVEN NOW…IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR ENEMY.
(c)2007 Richard C. Trice and TriceTunes
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