A SHEPHERD LOOKS AT PSALM 23 #12--- CONCLUSION

 A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23 #12

Dwelling in God's HOUSE forever!

                    

 I WILLD WELL IN THE HOUSE

OF THE LORD FOREVER

     THIS PSALM OPENED with the proud, joyous statement, 

"The Lord is my Shepherd." Now it closes with the equally positive,

buoyant affirmation, "And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever."

     Here is a sheep so utterly satisfied with its lot in life,

so fully contented with the care it receives, so much "at home"

with the shepherd that there is not a shred of desire for a

change.

     Stated in simple, direct, rather rough ranch language it

would be put like this, "Nothing will ever make me leave this

outf it - it's great!"

     Conversely on the shepherd's side there has developed a

great affection and devotion to his flock. He would never think

of parting with such a sheep. Healthy, contented, productive

sheep are his delight and profit. So strong, now, are the bonds

between them that it is in very truth - forever.

     The word "house" used here in the poem has wider meaning

than most people could attach to it. Normally we speak of the

house of the Lord as the sanctuary or church or meeting place of

God's people. In one sense David may have had this in mind. And,

of course, it is pleasant to think that one would always delight

to be found in the Lord's house.

     But it must be kept in mind always, that the Psalmist,

writing from the standpoint of a sheep, is reflecting on and

recounting the full round of the year's activities for the flock.

He has taken us from the green pastures and still waters of the

home ranch, up through the mountain passes onto the high

tablelands of the summer range. Fall has come with its storms and

rain and sleet that drives the sheep down the foothills and back

to the home ranch for the long, quiet winter. In a sense this is

coming home. It is a return to the fields and corrals and barns

and shelters of the owner's home. During all seasons of the year,

with their hazards, dangers and disturbances, it is the rancher's

alertness, care and energetic management that has brought the

sheep through satisfactorily.

     It is with a sublime feeling of both composure and

contentment that this statement, "I will dwell in the house of

the Lord for ever," is made.

     Actually what is referred to by "house" is the family or

household or flock of the Good Shepherd. The sheep is so deeply

satisfied with the flock to which it belongs, with the ownership

of this particular shepherd that it has no wish to change

whatever.

     It is as if it had finally come home again and was now

standing at the fence, bragging to its less fortunate neighbors

on the other side. It boasts about the wonderful year it has had

and its complete confidence in its owner.

     Sometimes I feel we Christians should be much more like

this. We should be proud to belong to Christ. Why shouldn't we

feel free to boast to others of how good our Shepherd is? How

glad we should be to look back and recall all the amazing ways

in which He has provided for our welfare. We should delight to

describe, in detail, the hard experiences through which He has

brought us. And we should be eager and quick to tell of our

confidence in Christ. We should be bold to state fearlessly that

we are so glad we are His. By the contentment and serenity of 

our lives we should show what a distinct advantage it is to be a

member of His "household," of His flock.

     I can never meditate on this last phrase in the Psalm

without vivid scenes from some of the days on my first sheeo

ranch.

     As winter, with its cold rains and chilling winds came on,

my neighbor's sickly sheep would stand huddled at the fence,

their tails to the storm, facing the rich fields in which my

flock flourished. Those poor, abused, neglected creatures under

the ownership of a heartless rancher had known nothing but

suffering most of the year. With them there had been gnawing

hunger all summer. They were thin and sickly with disease and

scab and parasites. Tormented by flies and attacked by predators,

some were so weak and thin and wretched that their thin legs

could scarcely bear their scanty frames.

     Always there seemed to lurk in their eyes the slender, faint

hope that perhaps with a bit of luck they could break through the

fence or crawl through some hole to free themselves. Occasionally

this used to happen, especially around Christmas. This was the

time of extreme tides when the sea retreated far out beyond the

end of the fence lines which ran down to it. The neighbor's

emaciated, dissatisfied, hungry sheep would wait for this to

happen. Then at the first chance they would go down on the tidal

flats; slip around the end of the fence and come sneaking in to

gorge themselves on our rich green grass.

     So pitiful and pathetic was their condition that the sudden

feast of lush feed, to which they were unaccustomed, often proved

disastrous. Their digestive systems would begin to scour and

sometimes this led to death. I recall clearly coming across three

of my neighbor's ewes lying helpless under a fir tree near the

fence one drizzly day. They were like three old, limp, gray,

sodden sacks collapsed in a heap. Even their bony legs would 

no longer support them.

     I loaded them into a wheelbarrow and wheeled them back to

their heartless owner. He simply pulled out a sharp killing knife

and slit all three of their throats. He couldn't care less.

What a picture of Satan who holds ownership over so many. Right

there the graphic account of Jesus portrayed of Himself as being

the door and entrance by which sheep were to enter His fold

flashed across my mind.

     Those poor sheep had not come into my ranch through the

proper gate. I had never let them in. They had never really

become mine. They had not come under my ownership or control. 

If they had, they would not have suffered so. Even starting out

under my management they would have been given very special care.

First they would have been put on dry, limited rations, then they

would gradually have been allowed green feed until they were

adjusted to the new diet and mode of life. In short, they tried

to get in on their own. It simply spelled disaster. What made it

doubly sad was that they were doomed anyway. On the old

impoverished ranch they would have starved to death that winter.

     Likewise with those apart from Christ. The old world is a

pretty wretched ranch and Satan is a heartless owner. He cares

not a wit for men's souls or welfare. Under his tyranny there are

hundreds of hungry, discontented hearts who long to enter into

the household of God - who ache for His care and concern. Yet

there is only one way into this fold. That way is through the

owner, Christ Himself - the Good Shepherd. He boldly declared, 

"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and

shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9).

     Almost every day I am literally rubbing shoulders with men

and women "on the other side of the fence." What is my impact

upon them? Is my life so serene, so satisfying, so radiant

because I walk and talk and live with God, that they become

envious? Do they see in me the benefits of being under Christ's

control? Do they see something of Himself reflected in my conduct

and character? Does my life and conversation lead them to Him -

and thus into life everlasting?

     If so, then I may be sure some of them will also long to

dwell in the house of the Lord forever. And there is no reason

why this cannot happen if they come under His proper ownership.

     There is one other beautiful and final sense in which the

psalmist was speaking as a sheep. It is brought out in the

Amplified Old Testament where the meaning of this last phrase is,

"I will dwell in the 'presence' of the Lord forever."

     My personal conviction is that this is the most significant

sentiment that David had in his heart as he ended this hymn of

praise to divine diligence.

     Not only do we get the idea of an ever-present Shepherd on

the scene, but also the concept that the sheep wants to be in

full view of his owner at all times.

     This theme has run all through our studies. It is the

alertness, the awareness, the diligence of a never-tiring master

which alone assures the sheep of excellent care. And from the

sheep's standpoint it is knowing that the shepherd is there; it

is the constant awareness of his presence nearby that

automatically eliminates most of the difficulties and dangers

while at the same time providing a sense of security and

serenity.

     It is the sheep owner's presence that guarantees there will

be no lack of any sort; that there will be abundant green

pastures; that there will be still, clean waters; that there will

be new paths into fresh fields; that there will be safe summers

on the high tablelands; that there will be freedom from fear;

that there will be antidotes for flies and disease and parasites;

that there will be quietness and contentment.

     In our Christian lives and experience precisely the same

idea and principle applies. For when all is said and done on the

subject of a successful Christian walk, it can be summed up in

one sentence. "Live ever aware of God's presence."

     There is the "inner" consciousness, which can be very

distinct and very real, of Christ's presence in my life, made

evident by His gracious Holy Spirit within. It is He who speaks

to us in distinct and definite ways about our behavior. For our

part it is, a case of being sensitive and responsive to that

inner voice.

     There can be an habitual awareness of Christ within me,

empowering me to live a noble and richly rewarding life in

cooperation with Himself. As I respond to Him and move in 

harmony with His wishes I discover life becomes satisfying 

and worthwhile. It acquires great serenity and is made an 

exciting adventure of fulfillment as I progress in it. This is made

possible as I allow His gracious Spirit to control, manage and

direct my daily decisions. In fact; I should deliberately ask for

His direction even in minute details.

     Then there is the wider but equally thrilling awareness of

God all around me. I live surrounded by His presence. I am an

open person, an open individual, living life open to His scrutiny. 

He is conscious of every circumstance I encounter. He attends 

me with care and concern because I belong to Him. And

this will continue through eternity. What an assurance!

I shall dwell in the presence (in the care of) the Lord forever.

     Bless His Name.

                           ....................

NOTE:

Ah yes, what an uplifting, encouraging, and educational book from

Phillip Keller. I hope you found it as good to read as I did once

more, in uploading it to my Website. I think you will now agree

with me when I said at the beginning chapter, Phillip Keller has

a way of pulling at your heart strings. I believe you will also

be inspired and educated through Keller's other book I have

uploaded called "A shepherd looks at the GOOD SHEPHERD."

Keith Hunt