Tuesday, 21 July 2020
Title: The Lord is My Shepherd
By: Pastor Isaac Yim

Psalm 23.1-6

The pandemic and current natural disasters like flooding and earthquake in many countries are impacting all individuals as well as communities.  The very fabric of daily life is changing right before us. We are living in unprecedented times. We are living with much uncertainties, anxieties and fears.  In the midst of all these gloom and doom, God is inviting us to allow Him to lead us through this “valley of the shadow of death.” We don’t have to travel alone through this life’s journey. He wants to walk with us as we put our total trust in Him.

Let us reflect on the implications of Psalm 23 in all of our life, may it be on the mountain top or down in the darkest valley.

“The Lord is my Shepherd.”  It talks about a personal relationship between a sheep and its Shepherd. We are not a number. He knows us by name.

“I shall not want.”  The Shepherd is the source for all our needs. In Him all our needs are met.

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures.”  The Shepherd provides splendid contentment and rest.

“He leads me beside the still waters.” The Shepherd provides cool, peaceful refreshment.

“He restores my soul.” The Shepherd provides revitalization and healing.

“He leads me in the paths of righteousness.” The Shepherd will personally lead and guide us to do His will.

“For His namesake.”  He gives a purposeful direction in life.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Our life’s journey will inevitably take us to some testing in the darkest valley, even to death!

“I will fear no evil.”  The Shepherd will give us the confidence and protection in the darkest and lowest points of our lives.

“For you are with me.”  What a promise! Our Shepherd will constantly walk beside us.

“Your rod and your staff will comfort me.”  That’s is God’s protection for us when we are under attack by our enemies.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.”  When faced with our enemies, our Shepherd assures of support and hope.

“You anoint my head with oil.”  That’s care, dedication and consecration! The Lord anoints us and sets us apart for service to Him.

“My cup overflows.”  The blessings of God are just too many to count! God’s abundance is flowing to us so that we can share these blessings with others.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”  How lavishly God’s blessings, power and grace will accompany us every step of our journey till we meet Him.

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord.”  The Shepherd will not part with us or abandon us along life’s way. He will guide us to our eternal home in heaven.

“Forever.”   That’s now and always – for eternity!

Now, we understand the Lord is my Shepherd. A shepherd doesn’t just watch sheep, he cares for his sheep. He takes them to where food and water are, and he shelters them from storms. Because sheep do not have claws or teeth to protect themselves, he protects them from other animals that want to eat them. Because the shepherd is there, the sheep are protected, comforted, and fed. Without a shepherd, the sheep would not last long in the wilderness. That’s a pretty good picture of how God cares for us, isn’t it?

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 ESV)

The post Covid-19 may be a difficult road for us. We don’t have to walk alone. Invite the Good Shepherd to accompany us.  He will provide and protect through every situation along the way till we reach home.

Prayer for Today

Dear God,

Thank you that you are our good Shepherd and because you are our good Shepherd, we lack nothing. We are grateful for your guidance and care for all our days. Thank you that you restore our souls, give us peace, and bring us hope in all our days ahead. Thank you for your protection and strength that surrounds us like a shield. Thank you that we need not fear because You are constantly walking beside us. Thank you for your goodness and love that follows us daily even when we are unaware. Thank you that you are our trustworthy God and you are our refuge and hope. In you alone is our rest and peace. We praise you for the assurance that we will dwell with you forever.

In Jesus’ Name. Amen

每日灵粮
星期二，2020年7月21日
标题：耶和华是我的牧者
作者：严以撒牧师
翻译：杨仕涵弟兄
诗篇23：1-6

当前许多国家所面临的疫情和天灾如洪水和地震，实在影响了整个社会。日常生活的习惯、运作等结构在我们眼前改变。我们现在活着的时代是史无前例的。我们生活在许多的不确定、焦虑和恐惧中。在这一片阴郁与厄运中，上帝邀请我们，让祂带领我们走过这“死荫的幽谷”。 我们不必独自度过这人生的旅程。祂要我们完全地信靠他，和祂一起行走。

即使我们在生命中的高山或低谷，让我们都来默想诗篇23在我们生命中的意义。

“耶和华是我的牧者”。这里提到羊和牧人之间的亲密关系。我们不是一个数字。祂知道我们的名字。
“我必不致缺乏”。牧人是满足我们所有需求的源头。祂得以满足我们的所有需求。
“他使我躺卧在青草地上”。牧人使我们满足并提供我们安息。
“领我在可安歇的水边”。牧人为我们提供凉爽、宁静的休息处。
“他使我的灵魂苏醒”。牧人为我们提供恢复和医治。
“引导我走义路。”。牧人会亲自带领我们行在祂旨意中。
“为自己的名”。祂指导我们走有意义的路。
“我虽然行过死荫的幽谷”。生命的历程，必然把我们带到最黑暗的幽谷，试炼我们，甚至于死！
“也不怕遭害”。牧人将在我们生命中最黑暗、最低的情况下给予我们信心和保护。
“因为你与我同在”。何等美好的应许！我们的牧人将不断地与我们一起同行。
“你的杖、你的竿都安慰我”。这是上帝在我们受到敌人攻击时对我们的保护。
“在我敌人面前，你为我摆设筵席”。当面对敌人时，我们的牧人保证支持和希望。
“你用油膏了我的头”。这是上帝对我们的关心、把我们献上，分别为圣！上帝恩膏我们，使我们与他人分别，来事奉祂。
“使我的福杯满溢”。上帝的祝福实在太多了！上帝的丰盛满盈流入我们，使我们与别人分享
这些祝福。
“我一生一世必有恩惠、慈爱随着我”。上帝的祝福、力量和恩典将伴随我们的每一步，直到我们见祂的那一刻。
“我且要住在耶和华的殿中”。牧人不会在生活的过程中抛弃我们。祂会带领我们至到天堂永恒的家。
“直到永远”。这是现在、永远，直到永恒！

现在，我们知道主是我的好牧人。牧人不只看羊，他关心自己的羊。他领羊群到有食物和水的地方，他保护羊群，躲避风暴。因为绵羊没有爪子或尖利的牙齿来保护自己，所以牧人也保护羊群免受野兽的伤害。因为有牧人的同在，羊群受保护、抚慰、喂养。没有牧人看守，羊在旷野中生存不会长久。这副图描述了上帝如何关心我们。

耶稣说，“我是好牧人，好牧人为羊舍命。”（约翰10：11）

疫情过后的生活可能艰难。我们不必独自行走。我们可以邀请好牧人陪伴我们。祂会在我们生命中每一种情况下为我们预备和保护。

今天的祷告

亲爱的上帝，
感谢祢是我们的好牧人，我们不致缺乏。我们感谢祢引导和关心我们。感谢祢苏醒我们的灵魂，赐我们平安，带给我们前路有希望。感谢祢的保护和力量像盾牌一样包围着我们。感谢祢我们不必害怕，因为祢一直陪伴在我们的身边。感谢祢赐下不断随着我们的良善和慈爱。感谢祢因为祢是我们可信的上帝，祢是我们的避难所和盼望。只有在祢里面我们才得正真得安息。我们赞美祢因为我们能确信，我们将永远与祢同在。
奉主耶稣的名。阿门。