Good morning on this Saturday, May 22nd. One of my favorite portions of the Bible is the 23rd Psalm. This Psalm is a perennial favorite among believers of all ages and has provided instruction and comfort to people in every circumstance of life since it was written many thousands of years ago. Its powerful imagery of the Lord being our shepherd and we his sheep is beautifully expounded in the classic, A Shepherd Looks At The 23rd Psalm, by W. Phillip Keller. Every Christian should read and study his book. As a man who worked as a shepherd, he takes the Psalm line-by-line, explains in detail each concept, and applys it to our daily living. For instance, he illustrates the meaning of the clause, He anoints my head with oil, (Psalm 23:5) by explaining that the head of the sheep becomes irritated by bugs who bite or sting the sheep repeatedly. These bugs can cause considerable discomfort and inflammation to the sheep, especially around the eyes. The shepherd tenderly applies soothing oil on the affected area which sooths the wounds, promotes healing, and helps prevent further infestation. The application is obvious. We as God's children face stings, bites, and irritations from many sources and circumstances in our lives, but the Lord, our wonderful shepherd, applies a soothing balm to our wounds which is the ultimate demulcent to our cares and pains. He not only heals our wounds but helps prevent damage and discomfort to our lives. How many of us have turned to the Lord when something is "bugging" us and then experienced the meaning of His anointing our heads with oil? If you are hurting today, turn to the shepherd's care - He is only a prayer away, lovingly waiting with the anointing oil.
Tommorrow's sermon is The People God Intends Us To Be. The Blackwood Quartet will be our special guests in both a.m. services. I'll hope to see you there.
Mel Brown