Tyndale - The Book of Hope

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The Book of Hope copyright 1998 by Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.

Many of the notes for The Book of Hope were adapted from the New Believers Bible reading tracks, copyright 1996 by Greg Laurie. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996 by Tyndale House Foundation. All rights reserved.

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ISBN 978-0-8423-3366-5

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A psalm of David.

The L ORD is my shepherd;

I have everything I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows;

he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength.

He guides me along right paths,

bringing honor to his name.

Even though I walk

through the dark valley of death,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me,

Your rod and your staff

protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me

in the presence of my enemies.

You welcome me as a guest,

anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will live in the house of the L ORD

forever.

When things are going well, we feel safe, independent, at times even invincible. But when difficulties erupt and we come face to face with death, we discover how fragile life really is. We are forced to come to grips with our very real need for protection, guidance, and provision. For thousands of years, Psalm 23 has been a source of hope and encouragement for people facing uncertainty and fear.

Psalm 23 begins by comparing God to a shepherd (23:1). And as God is the good Shepherd, so we are his sheep. Sheep are easily lost or led astray and are deeply dependent on a caring shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection. Sheep dont need to be strong or clever to survive, just wise enough to follow the shepherd. And the good Shepherd is able and willing to lead us in the right places and in right paths.

When we allow God to guide us, we will be led to places of peace and provision (23:2-3). When we choose to sin and go our own way, we cannot blame God for the environment we create for ourselves. Our shepherd knows where to find the green meadows and peaceful streams that will restore us.

Death casts a frightening shadow over us because we feel entirely helpless in its presence (23:4). We can struggle with other enemiespain, suffering, disease, injurybut strength and courage cannot overcome death. Only one person can walk with us through deaths dark valley and bring us safely to the other sidethe God of life, our Shepherd.

God offers protection to us even when enemies surround us (23:5-6). In the final scene of this psalm, we see that believers will dwell with God eternally, even though we will eventually succumb to death. God, our perfect Shepherd and host, promises to guide and protect us throughout our life and to bring us into his house forever.

Thousands of years ago, Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, posed a question people are still asking today: Who is the Lord that I should listen to him? It is difficult for our limited mind to grasp the limitless, eternal God. It has been said, If God were small enough for your mind, he wouldnt be big enough for your needs. For that reason, we shouldnt be exasperated if we cannot fully understand who God is or why he does certain things. One day, just as the apostle Paul assured the Corinthian church, everything about God and his character will be made perfectly clear to us. But until then, we will find everything we need to know about him in his Word.

P SALM 139:1-24

For the choir director: A psalm of David.

O L ORD , you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my every thought when far away. You chart the path ahead of me and tell me where to stop and rest. Every moment you know where I am. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, L ORD . You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to know!

I can never escape from your spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become nightbut even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mothers womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelousand how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable! I cant even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up in the morning, you are still with me!

O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers! They blaspheme you; your enemies take your name in vain. O L ORD , shouldnt I hate those who hate you? Shouldnt I despise those who resist you? Yes, I hate them with complete hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Scripture teaches us about many of Gods characteristics. This psalm highlights a few of them. God is our Creator, and he knows every detail about what is going on in his amazing and complex creationincluding our life. But God does not simply know about our life; he is intimately involved in it and always present with us. As the psalmist says, there is no place we can go to escape the presence of God. This brings comfort to those who know that they need Gods help but discomfort to those who wish to hide from God. Gods presence should motivate us to live a life pleasing to him.