Psalm 23
The US is now averaging 2,441 new COVID deaths each day, according to John Hopkins University. The US has surpassed 900,000 total deaths. COVID is still finding places to take from. But this pandemic is not the only taker. This week, high-functioning depression took the life of Cheslie Kryst. The 30-year-old attorney and former Miss USA died after jumping from a building in New York City, according to police. Who knew her private hurts? Her mother didn’t. All the more reason to have a caretaker—but not just anyone—a Psalm 23 Caretaker.
I live in East Texas—deep East Texas. Deep in the heart of this heart of Texas, towns are courthouse-square quaint. Tall pine trees are only interrupted by houses with porches and tire swings in front yards. Lakes filled with bass beg to be fished. A well-stocked pond is only a stone’s throw away from anywhere for anyone with a pole and a bad day. If there is an unreachable place for a plague it’s East Texas. One family begs to differ.
COVID trouble found them. The 84 -year-old patriarch contracted it. His 80-year-old wife of 60 years did, too. They passed it on to one of their four children. COVID wasn’t done. One daughter lost her job of 18 years. In Job-like proportions, trouble struck.
"I said, 'God, please do not let me lose all my family.’” She was talking to the right person—a Shepherd, a Caretaker. Who will be your caretaker when trouble threatens to take, and take and take?
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23
The 23rd Psalm is a familiar passage—maybe too familiar. We tend to gloss over the familiar, but for David of the pasture and a family of piney woods, the Psalmist’s words were a source of comfort when trouble came like a Texas flood. With the help of the “p’s”, lets drill down deeper to find the care of the Caretaker when bad times try to take.
1. Provision: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. (v.1) No matter the need, the Caretaker is equal to the task to provide, in kind, the answer to the scarcity.
2. Prosperity: He makes me to lie down in green pastures. (v.2a) Out of scarcity, the Caretaker is able to produce “cup-runneth-over” abundance.
3. Peace: He leadeth me beside the still waters. (v.2b) The Caretaker is able to create confidence even in the presence of conflict—the Hebrew definition of peace.
4. Replenish: He restores my soul. (v.3a) Only the Caretaker can take an empty pitcher and fill it as a full fountain. Ask the widow of 2 Kings, chapter 4.
5. Purpose: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (v.3b) In every loss, there is a found purpose, a course change that leads to a planned destiny that is the will of God. Ask Joseph.
6. Presence: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me. (v.4a). With the Caretaker at your side, you are not alone as you go through your valley. Trouble is only a shadow.
7. Protection: …thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (v.4b) The Caretaker is not passive. Armed with instruments, He’s equipped to defeat the wolf.
8. Preparation: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; (v.5a) The Caretaker is not caught unaware of your trouble. His “get ready” is to stay ready.
9. Position: …thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (v.5b) The Caretaker has elevated, appointed and anointed you as “His”, lacking nothing. renemy is fully aware of this.
10. Promise: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. (v.6a) The Caretaker is a promise keeper. The blessings of God, centered in a love relationship is not temporal, but eternal. Count it done.
11. Place: …and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (v.6b) The Caretaker is a habitation. When you live in Him, you are never homeless.
For one East Texas family, a pandemic found them, but not without a Caretaker. The 80-year-old matriarch survived 60 days on a ventilator. Even though her beloved lost his battle with COVID, they know that when the Lord is your Shepherd, when trouble threatens to take all, goodness and mercy shall follow you. And they will be together again in their forever-home, piney woods and all.
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