Friday, July 19, 2013

Where is the God of Psalm 23?

Where is the God David Loved so Dearly 



The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name's sakeEven though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;  your rod and your staff they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord all my life.  Psalm 23

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I know David was not perfect. He was a murderer, but was he also a liar? Is the relationship he so eloquently describes in the psalms really possible? If so, why don't love and goodness follow me every day of my life? Is it possible that a loving father can love one child and despise another? Can God shower one child with goodness while another seems to dwell in poverty, disease ridden, and constant anguish? The Bible says that God loves us unconditionally, but how is it possible that some  never fully experience the goodness of God?  If you are honest, you'd admit that at one point or another you have had questions. We have all struggled with the issue of faith. That is why the Christian life is called a faith-walk. It is a journey. It takes time to cultivate. It does not supernaturally happen; although we would actually love to have everything coming up roses without ever lifting a finger. The Bible clearly states in Deuteronomy 4:29, Jeremiah 29:13, and in 1 and II Chronicles that only those who seek the Lord with all their hearts will actually find Him.


Unfortunately most of us do not seek God. We pray and we go to church as a routine. We want to snap our fingers and receive the blessing, but the Bible never made such promise. We instead spend our time chasing after the things that this world has to offer: lust, pleasures, riches. Unfortunately they are all temporary. We must not be distracted. We must focus on God. We must seek Him and remain connected in spite of our circumstances. There are countless events and endless obstacles that we must get passed in other to see God clearly in His glory just as David saw Him. Dear friend, seeking God is not a waste of time. There are rewards attached to seeking God truthfully. "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6


Oh! There is no escaping faith. God will be found when we go after Him, and we cannot seek Him unless we believe in Him. To experience the kind of relationship David had with God, we must also seek God with all our hearts just like David did, and just like the Bible says. Listen, we must not allow our circumstances to dictate our relationship with God. Love Him and serve Him feverishly no matter the circumstance. Death may come. Sickness may come. We may lose a job, a car, a house with all its belongings. Friends may leave. The stock market may even crash but God will always be near when we need Him.  Invest in what's important. Friends, it is time to prioritize. Even when everything is taken away, you can still have hope and a future. The word of God through the prophet Jeremiah says:  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Dear friend, the God that David loved so dearly is alive and well. He still reigns! He loves. He wants a relationship with you. He wants you to know Him intimately in all His glory. Trust Him no matter the situation. I know from experience that life can be challenging but do not let fear or doubt distract you. Know that God has a divine plan for you life. Let your pain be for His glory. Stand firm. 

Once I was young, and now I am old, Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread. Psalm 37:25

Praise the Lord!