Coffee With The Lord

This psalm’s uniqueness is in its personal character!  

David, prompted by the Holy Spirit, focuses not on his leadership as “shepherd” of God’s people Israel. Nor does he even emphasize the collective nature of the Lord’s leadership and care of His “flock.”

Rather, the emphasis of this great “Psalm of David” is upon the Lord’s personal leadership, provision and care in his life…

In fact, it appears that David reflects upon the things he did as a shepherd for his sheep as a young man and applies it to his personal relationship to the Lord! “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD!”

As I read and reflect upon the message of this Psalm I need to keep that PERSONAL FOCUS in mind… How is the Lord MY Shepherd? Do I look upon Him – and depend upon Him – in that way? John 10:3-5, 14 comes close to capturing the personal nature of this psalm as it relates to the claim of Christ upon his followers!

Thanks for reminding me David – the Lord is MY Shepherd… and He can be YOURS as well!

The Shema is a Jewish prayer that serves as a centerpiece of the morning and evening Jewish prayer services. Its first verse encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the LORD is one!” (Deuteronomy 6:4) Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of their daily prayers in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a mitzvah (or religious commandment). Also, it is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words of the day, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night.

Today, during my Bible reading during “coffee with the Lord” I became aware that Apostle Paul, a Christian Jew, expanded the Shema to explicitly include Jesus Christ, the Messiah… “For us there is “One God, the Father, from Whom are all things and for Whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things and through Whom we exist!” (From 1 Corinthians 8:6)

I have to tell you, as a Gentile Christian who loves and worships Father God and Jesus Christ, His Son and my Savior, I rejoiced at Paul’s expansion of the Shema to include Jesus, the Christ! Praise God! Believe me, as a Christian I will use Paul’s inspired words in worship!

Well crafted “mission statements” mark those who are effective and productive leaders!

Part of my Bible reading today during my time of “coffee with the Lord” included the first few verses of Isaiah 61…

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor… to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn — to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (From Isaiah 61:1–3 ESV)

Check out Luke 4:16-19 in your Bible… Jesus applied this passage to Himself… Who He was – HIS “MISSION STATEMENT!”…

“He opened the scroll, found the place where it was written [read this passage] Then He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him And He said to them ‘TODAY THIS SCRIPTURE IS FULFILLED IN YOUR HEARING!‘”

WOW! WHAT A POWERFUL MOMENT IN HUMAN HISTORY!!! The “Messiah” revealed and His mission declared!!!