Bible Study-Psalms 23 (The Shepherd Psalms) PART 6

Text: Psalms 23:6

Celestial Escort to the House of the Lord:

• "All the days" there are many days that will come in our lives: spring days, autumn days, winter days, birthdays, death-days, winter days, sick days, etc. Through all these days we will have goodness and mercy two personified attributes of God following us.
• Good and Mercy: The two go together (Psal 100:5) "The Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting" God's goodness is vast: (Psa 34:8, Zech 9:17) Mercy is his delight (Mic 7:18) his wealth (Eph 2:4) he is rich in mercy; his throne "I will commune with thee from off the mercy seat" (Exo 25:22, Luk 6:36)
• The Shepherd goes before us while mercy and truth follow to protect us from our foes. The word "follow" could also imply that God's mercy and truth follow his wandering children. He does not break off his kindness and his faithfulness. They continue for "His mercy endureth forever" (Chro 16:34, Psa 106:1)
• "Surely," the psalmist says, why so sure? because our God is unchangeable and everlasting: he cannot withdraw what he has once given. (2 Tim 2:13, Rom 11:29, Jam 1:17)
• "Surely" because God has never failed in the past. He has pledged himself by exceeding great and precious promises (Psa 73:1) says "Truly God is good. . ." so he sustains us each day (Deut 33:25)
• With each passing year, our hearts seek a permanent dwelling place. So when the lesson is learned and our school bell rings, we will go home to "the house of the Lord" which Jesus says (Joh 14:2)
• Because of our faith in Christ and being sealed with the Holy Spirit, we believe Jesus words (Joh 14:3) and we can affirm these lines, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." But before we get there, the Lord's house can also be possible here. David also seemed to enjoy heaven before he got there (Psa 27:4, 91:1) David did dwell in the house of the Lord. He dwelt in the presence of God, by habitually recognizing the all-loving, all-encompassing presence of God. Like him, we don't have to wait to "enter the gates of the city"
• May the Holy Spirit make real to each of us this possibility of living in the house of the Lord hourly and daily. Our shepherd leads us to green pastures, so we cannot hunger, beside still waters so that we cannot thirst.
• Two ways we live: positionally and experientially we are seated in heavenly places in Christs thats our position. We must make a choice to live by faith and be victorious each day through the spirit (experientially) (Eph 1:19)

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The Campbells