Psalm 23
James 1.2-8, 3.13-18
They knew they shouldn't be doing it
these secretaries in a missionary society office
but it was such fun,
this book about how to tell your fortune from your palms.
They were a bit embarrassed when the director came through.
What would he say if he found out; they hoped he didn't know.
But as he went out the door he said over his shoulder
'You should spend more time with Psalms than palms'.
What a positive thing to say.
The Bible is both positive and negative about the future
It clearly warns us against reading palms, tea leaves, horoscopes,
going to a fortune teller, ouija board
any attempt we make to peer into our futures
These are forbidden by God
because basically they are attempts by us to control and manipulate
or they are expressions of fear rather than faith.
Of course we would all like to know what is going to happen to us,
tomorrow next year 10 years time?
But maybe if we really did know we wouldn't like it at all?
The really positive encouraging thing that the Bible offers us
is a God who loves, guides, saves
a God who will be with us, will be our friend,
no matter what happens.
The palm might tell us how long or short our life will be
but the Psalms promise us that long or short God can be with us
in good times and bad he can help us;
which would you rather have?
If you want to study what the Bible says about palms and fortune telling
there are some printed notes
but I want us to spend some time with psalms
to see and celebrate the God who guides and cares.
'The Lord is my shepherd'
A shepherd is one who guards and (in the Bible lands) leads the sheep
I shall not be in want.
The shepherd provides
He makes me to lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
The shepherd protects and provides good food and drink.
he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
The shepherd brings back the strays
and puts them in the right paths
because he has a name a reputation to maintain.
What would you think of a shepherd
who did not protect and provide for his sheep?
Isn't it a great and reassuring claim: The Lord is my shepherd.?
And this remains true in the darkest most difficult situations:
'Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death'
I will fear no evil,'
Why should I fear no evil? Because I am strong and think I can cope.?
No, of course not.
There come moments in the dark valley when however cheerfully we start
it becomes very difficult.
I remember trying to climb Carrantouhil
It is the highest mountain in Ireland and any time I try to climb it
it is covered in mist
It was demanding ...
at one point we climbed 1000 feet steeply in the mist
not a dark valley but a dark steep mountain side
and I felt tired fed up and depressed, and others did too.
The reason to fear no evil does not come from our own resources.
But when we have entrusted ourselves to the Lord ?
Does looking at your horoscope make you deeply confident?
Perhaps for a moment there is relief, but can you really be sure?
No, there is a more sure and more true and trustworthy reason
for being confident about the future
in five very short and simple and strong words
'for you are with me';
God is with us - the message of the whole Bible
the promise repeated throughout and summed up in the name Emmanuel
It is not a promise that life will be easy or straightforward,
the 'comfort' of his rod and staff may be stern comfort
as he corrects us in his love.
But he is with us, isn't that amazing?
There are enemies round about but he prepares a table for us
even when the enemies are near by.
And then we have these lovely pictures of a head anointed with oil
and a cup overflowing
pictures of blessing and welcome and healing and lavish hospitality
That's the way that we ought to experience
that the Lord our Shepherd is with us
Psalm 23 can be summed up in three simple statements
Because the Lord is my Shepherd:
I have everything I need
I am not going to be afraid
I am going to live with God
If those things are true, do we need to know the future?
Is it not safe with God?
If he is in control, why do we need to control?
And this is God who speaks to us through Jesus the good shpeherd
as he calls him self in John 10
the good shepherd who calls his sheep by name and leads them out
the good shepherd who says 'My sheep hear my voice and follow me'
This is the only guidance that we need
to hear the voice of Jesus and follow him
Jesus as we read of him in the Bible
Jesus as the Holy Spirit makes him live from the words on the page
to become a living Word whom we meet and trust and follow
Jesus who alone gives peace and forgiveness and confidence.
A friend of ours once sent a Christmas message
about the good shepherd.
In fact she was the widow of the man I mentioned earlier
who commended the Psalms over palms.
He died in a car crash and a couple of months later she wrote us this:
'When the good shepherd speaks to his own he never speaks words of despair, frustration, defeat, discouragement, fear confusion or failure
but he gives his sheep words of
hope, rest, victory, power, joy, encouragement and love
It's the same in James 3. 17 isn't it?
There is a wisdom that is earthly unspiritual of the devil,
full of bitterness and disorder.
'But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure
then peace loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit
impartial and sincere'
If you want good guidance
first of all put your whole trust in Jesus
your whole self no half measures
and then with the Bible to guide
you will know not always what to do but how to do it.
e.g. if we ask what should I have for breakfast porridge or cornflakes?
Or which soccer team should I support Man United or Liverpool?
The Bible gives no answers to that sort of question;
we have freedom to choose
God does not alter his attitude to us
because of what we eat for breakfast or which team we support
But supposing I shout at the children in the morning
because they've taken all the milk
Suppose I discriminate against someone
because he supports the wrong team.
The Bible offers us much relevant wisdom on the how
the attitude, the motivation with which we do things
Have you come across the letters WWJD?
what would Jesus do?
Some young people wear these letters on a bracelet to remind them
to live their lives by what Jesus would do.
It reflects what Paul writes to the Colossians 3.15-17
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom,
and as you sing praise with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.'
Maybe you are not inclined to accept what I am saying about fortune telling
you see no problem with
reading your horoscope getting your palm read or whatever.
You may go out to day thinking
that's just his opinion but I will do as I please.
It's not just my opinion, it is what God's word says
but if you are still determined to get a fix on your future I challenge you:
take this verse and the next time you set out
to read your horoscope or get your palm read
say it to yourself and relate it to about what you propose to do.
Can I really do this in the name of the Lord Jesus?
Can I really give thanks to God the Father through him
and at the same time deny his loving claim on my whole life
You know you can't do that
and when you know the Shepherd is with you
you don't have to worry about the future or your 'fortune'
you have everything you need
you don't have to be afraid
whatever happens, you can have a life with him for ever,
* Give yourself to Jesus Christ 'a living sacrifice' (Romans 12.1-2)
* Let his word dwell in you richly (Colossians 3.16, Psalm 1)
* Ask the advice of trustworthy friends.
* Listen for the voice of the good Shepherd. (James 3.17)
* Keep thanking him for what he has done and his promises.
let me hear you speaking in accents clear and still
above the storms of passion the murmurs of self will
speak to reassure me, to hasten or control;
O speak and make me listen, guardian of my soul
O let me see your footmarks and in them plant my own
My hope to follow rightly is in your strength alone;
guide me, call me draw me, uphold me to the end;
and then in heaven receive me, my Saviour and my friend
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,
since as members of one body you were called to peace.
And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom,
and as you sing praise with gratitude in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed
do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through him.
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