Sunday, 6th March 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
In this difficult time, when we cannot see the light, who can we rely on? During the pandemic, everyone is afraid to go out and social with others, we thought staying home can keep us safe. But nothing on this world can fully protect us, we can only rely on God and rely on His Word. Psalm 23 is a psalm that we use to encourage people and bless people, especially when we visit the sick, the hopeless, the depressed… it was written by King David, who was anointed the king of Israel, but when he was young, he was only a shepherd for his father, facing the big field and protecting his father’s flocks by himself.
David knew he could only rely on God, day and night, there may be danger to his sheep, such as bears and wolves. He wrote Psalm 23 to declare that God was his reliance.
1. The Lord Cares for Me
Psalm 23:1 says, ‘The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.’ The sheep knows who is its shepherd, we must also know who is our Shepherd, who protects us and looks after us. We are in this dark environment, there is the virus, wars, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions… who can protect us 100%? Even the medical grade masks and vaccinations can only protect us up to 99.99%. But our God is the ‘I Am Who I Am’ God, the beginning and the end, there is no one in this world that can replace God
2. The Lord Leads Me
Psalm 23:2-3 says, ‘He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’ God makes us lie down in green pastures, He wants us to rest. It does not mean that we don’t do anything, but for us to relax, to stop worrying and stop having the anxiety. When we take a big breath, relax ourselves, then we will be able to sit back and see God’s Great Work!
Why do we worry and fearful? Because we are in lack and because we don’t know God is with us and leading us. God knows where to lead us to water and pastures, we don’t need to worry! Not only He will supply our physical needs, He will also provide for us spiritually, He will restore our soul, we can be awaken and we won’t have to be afraid anymore!
3. The Lord Delivers Me
Psalm 23: 4-6 says, ‘Yea, 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 runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’ Not only the fear and hardship will not come to us, but also we will receive an overflowing cup, all our lives we will receive the goodness and mercy. It is our decision, who do we choose to protect us? The world? The money? The people? Or our Lord Jehovah?
Today we have a choice, do we want to have goodness and mercy with us all our lives? In darkness we must know that the Lord protects us, leads us and delivers us. God is real and He can! Even though hundreds and thousands of people fell beside us, we do not need to be afraid, because God is our Shepherd.