Doubt

Prone to wander L-rd I feel it. Prone to leave the G-d I love.


I remember reading through Exodus a while ago and being amazed at the Israelites. It takes no in depth analysis of the Old Testament to see that the L-rd provided for His chosen people. One of the greatest accounts of His provision is recorded in Exodus 14 as the L-rd parts the Red Sea. This epic saga is one so famous that many people outside the Church even know it, it is nothing short of a breathtaking miracle.

But what causes me to be amazed at the Israelites comes later at the end of Exodus 15 and the beginning of Exodus 16. What is recorded here (directly after a nationwide worship session might I add) is something i have unfortunately found to be true of humanity, they forget.

Coming out of one of the most impressive and memorable miracles in all of history the Israelites begin to grumble (Ex 15:24) and say to Moses, “Would that we had died by the L-RD’S hand in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the pots of meat, when we ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” (Exodus 16:3) They forget that G-d has just delivered them and are now deluded into thinking that He may be trying to kill them.

Now it is easy, at least it is for me, to begin to look down on the Israelites and think foolish they are. But, how different am I? The L-rd provides for me in miraculous ways (and this is something, I am beginning to see, that happens daily) and yet I am so prone to forget and so prone to doubt. And just as I am beginning to see this happen I am also beginning to see a pattern; doubting follows forgetting. I think this makes sense because how could we doubt if we are constantly remembering what G-d has done (12 times the Israelites are told to "remember" what the L-rd has done in just the 5 books of Torah). And you see it elsewhere in Scripture for it seems that everything points us back to Him, reminds us of our Father and of His love and power.

An so now, even as I am writing this, doubt is no longer an infirmity but rather it is a symptom, one that calls me to remember the Father.

Maybe you are in a boat similar to mine, I do not know your doubts, and maybe you need to remember. Remember that you are in the Father's hands and cannot be snatched away. Remember that your Father will provide for your every need with the utmost love and attention. Remember that you have not been left alone as an orphan but given the indwelling Spirit and the title of Child of the Most High. Remember that He is working ALL things for your good. Remember that by the blood of Christ you now stand clean. Remember that you are incomprehensibly loved by the Creator of the universe.

Grace and Peace beloved,

In Christ,
AC

Jesus the Good Shepherd and Psalm 23

Hey guys,

As promised, here are some of the notes that I had to skip over on Friday. I really just wanted to share some quick thoughts I had on Psalm 23.


"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (John 10:11)

A. He is the shepherd.
Jews had their own ideas about who the Shepherd was.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
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 goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23

Quick observations about Psalm 23
1. God meets all the desires of the heart that we might not be in want. (v.1)
2. He is our peace. (v.2-3)
3. He has the power to make us righteous. (v.3) Man is evil but God can make us righteous.
4. There is comfort found in the rod. (v.4)
-The rod was used to protect the sheep from predators. (I will fear no evil)
-It was also used to discipline the sheep.
-It was used to keep the sheep from straying too far.
5. Because of the Shepherd, we receive blessings that overflow. (v.5)
6. Because of God’s grace (the mercy that follows him) the Psalmist is committed to “dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

“God would never leave nor forsake him in a way of mercy; and therefore he resolves never to leave nor forsake God in a way of duty (Psa_23:6). In this he had certainly an eye, not only to the blessings of God's providence, which made his outward condition prosperous, but to the communications of God's grace, received by a lively faith, and returned in a warm devotion, which filled his soul with joy unspeakable.”
Matthew Henry Commentary

When Jesus calls himself the good shepherd, Jews associate the good shepherd with God who gives this kind of overflowing blessing and for whom they have an eternal devotion.

The Psalmist wrote ch.23 to speak of the great blessings bestowed upon him by the LORD his shepherd. This chapter follows immediately after ch.22, a chapter of great prophecy of the Christ.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
From the words of my groaning?
O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer,
And by night, but I find no rest.”
(Psalm 22:1-2)
“All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads;
‘He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him;
Let him rescue him, for he delights in him!’”
(Psalm 22:7-8)
“For dogs encompass me;
A company of evildoers encircles me;
They have pierced my hands and feet –
I can count all my bones –
They stare and gloat over me;
They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.”
(Psalm 22:16-18)

It is as if the blessings that the Psalmist receives from the shepherd follow the prophecy of the death and sacrifice of the Christ.

The sermon should be on the podcast soon enough. I hope this blesses you guys.

MTL