WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.740 Well, it is the season of holiday, isn't it? 00:00:07.740 --> 00:00:12.919 It's the season when here at the Lunchtime Talk, our numbers do dwindle a bit as our friends 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:14.880 ! are away on holiday. 00:00:15.700 --> 00:00:19.379 And it's natural for us to desire to get away, isn't it? 00:00:19.379 --> 00:00:24.940 To refresh ourselves after many weeks and months of labor and work. 00:00:25.379 --> 00:00:29.980 I've just gotten back from holiday myself, and it was very nice to get away. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:33.039 To get away for even just a few days. 00:00:33.980 --> 00:00:37.539 We all have different ways that we like to relax, don't we? 00:00:37.939 --> 00:00:40.960 We all have different ways that we go and seek refreshment. 00:00:41.460 --> 00:00:43.980 Some of us like to spend our time sightseeing. 00:00:44.679 --> 00:00:51.939 I personally prefer to sit on the beach and relax amidst the sun and the waves. 00:00:52.219 --> 00:00:53.600 Your beaches here are beautiful. 00:00:53.740 --> 00:00:55.040 We just got back from the beach. 00:00:55.700 --> 00:00:57.299 But they're freezing cold. 00:00:57.299 --> 00:01:06.539 While elders like to go and spend time with extended family that they haven't seen in some times, 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:13.759 but I thought since it's the season of refreshment, and it is the season where we like to get away, 00:01:14.159 --> 00:01:19.560 I thought that we would spend a few moments today looking at the biblical idea of refreshment. 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:22.359 Where does refreshment come from? 00:01:23.019 --> 00:01:28.980 Is it something that we go and achieve ourselves, or is it something that is a gift to us? 00:01:29.480 --> 00:01:35.219 And we see here in Psalm 23 a whole lot about biblical refreshment. 00:01:35.800 --> 00:01:40.400 And there are three points that I'd like us to notice here in just our few minutes together. 00:01:40.400 --> 00:01:44.020 The first is the source of true refreshment. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:48.580 The second is the place of true refreshment. 00:01:49.180 --> 00:01:52.900 And finally, the direction of true refreshment. 00:01:53.460 --> 00:01:55.620 So we begin with the source of true refreshment. 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:57.920 And we see this in our first three verses, don't we? 00:01:57.980 --> 00:01:59.700 David tells us immediately. 00:01:59.860 --> 00:02:03.800 David, of course, is the psalmist who is writing these verses. 00:02:03.799 --> 00:02:07.759 He immediately tells us the source of his refreshment. 00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:08.919 It's the Lord. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:11.300 The Lord is my shepherd. 00:02:12.060 --> 00:02:13.919 I shall not want. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:16.879 Why is he refreshed? 00:02:17.819 --> 00:02:24.439 Why is he seemingly unconcerned about physical and spiritual needs? 00:02:24.859 --> 00:02:31.199 It's because he has a shepherd, the Lord, caring for him. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:34.000 See, David actually recognizes two things here. 00:02:34.119 --> 00:02:36.560 First, he recognizes his own nature. 00:02:37.299 --> 00:02:40.739 And secondly, he recognizes the nature of God, the shepherd. 00:02:41.819 --> 00:02:45.799 See, David here actually places himself in the position of a sheep. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:53.560 Now, I don't know a whole lot about sheep, so I did copious amounts of research into this over the last few weeks. 00:02:53.620 --> 00:02:57.179 You have many more sheep here, I think, than we have in the U.S., where I come from. 00:02:57.180 --> 00:03:03.180 When I think of a sheep, I think of Sean the sheep. 00:03:04.460 --> 00:03:05.319 Britain's own. 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:07.680 Sean is brilliant, isn't he? 00:03:07.879 --> 00:03:09.000 He's really fantastic. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:09.760 He's clever. 00:03:11.200 --> 00:03:18.219 He's absolutely capable of taking care of himself and all of his friends. 00:03:19.100 --> 00:03:20.939 Now, again, I've done a lot of research on this. 00:03:20.939 --> 00:03:24.280 And I've discovered something that may shock you. 00:03:25.300 --> 00:03:28.759 Sean the sheep is a complete fabrication. 00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:37.840 I mean, I thought for sure that TV was always a reliable source for explaining reality. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:40.360 It turns out, though, that it's not. 00:03:40.759 --> 00:03:43.759 Sean the sheep is based on a lie. 00:03:45.259 --> 00:03:48.259 Sheep, it turns out, are not actually very intelligent. 00:03:48.259 --> 00:03:52.579 Sheep are incapable of defending themselves against predators. 00:03:53.219 --> 00:03:56.639 Sheep have a tendency to be deaf and blind. 00:03:56.979 --> 00:03:59.759 I read a story about a herd of sheep in Scotland. 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:03.620 And the herd decided to follow one sheep in particular. 00:04:03.799 --> 00:04:06.560 You may call him the Sean of that herd. 00:04:07.539 --> 00:04:11.259 Well, the Sean decided to walk off the edge of a cliff. 00:04:11.259 --> 00:04:16.899 And all the other sheep decided to follow this sheep over the edge of the cliff. 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:19.639 Now, there was a silver lining. 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:22.599 Fortunately, they didn't all perish in their fall. 00:04:22.779 --> 00:04:26.819 After a while, the carcasses built up and broke the fall of the later sheep. 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:29.039 So that's something, right? 00:04:29.599 --> 00:04:33.079 But that doesn't make a very nice cartoon for children, does it? 00:04:33.079 --> 00:04:38.479 What I want us to understand about this, though, my point in bringing this up, 00:04:39.159 --> 00:04:44.379 is that sheep have a natural predisposition towards their own destruction. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:48.800 In the absence of a shepherd, they will scatter, 00:04:49.519 --> 00:04:52.779 and they will certainly meet with a very quick death. 00:04:54.120 --> 00:04:55.500 Now, how is that relevant to us? 00:04:55.560 --> 00:05:00.639 Think for a moment how we in our modern society view ourselves. 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:06.919 We are told that we have greater knowledge than at any point in the history of mankind. 00:05:07.579 --> 00:05:09.399 We have greater access to knowledge. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:13.819 We know more about the reality of our world than our forefathers. 00:05:14.180 --> 00:05:18.519 We have greater technology than at any point in human history. 00:05:19.079 --> 00:05:22.319 We're to the point now where we're not only exploring our own world, 00:05:22.620 --> 00:05:24.060 but worlds beyond ours. 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:27.539 You've probably seen recently the incredible photos of Pluto 00:05:27.539 --> 00:05:29.639 that are being released by NASA. 00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:34.839 We're at the point now where the founders of the internet company Google 00:05:34.839 --> 00:05:38.699 are trying to figure out how to make humanity immortal. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:42.120 That's going to be a frustrating job for someone, I'm sure. 00:05:43.379 --> 00:05:47.319 But what David implies of himself and of us 00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:51.339 and of all humanity in the history of the world 00:05:51.339 --> 00:05:57.539 is that we are naturally predisposed to our own destruction. 00:05:57.540 --> 00:06:01.480 And the only way to have hope, the only way to have life, 00:06:01.580 --> 00:06:04.080 the only way to have true refreshment 00:06:04.080 --> 00:06:08.400 is to submit to the guidance and care of a shepherd. 00:06:09.840 --> 00:06:11.780 And the shepherd that David knows 00:06:11.780 --> 00:06:15.259 and the one that he describes here in such beautiful language 00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:17.860 is the kind of shepherd we should want, isn't it? 00:06:17.860 --> 00:06:20.220 He is kind to his sheep. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:23.740 He leads them to the places of true refreshment 00:06:23.740 --> 00:06:28.420 where they can be refreshed with green pastures and still waters. 00:06:29.639 --> 00:06:34.160 Not only that, this shepherd meets the deep spiritual longings of his sheep. 00:06:34.280 --> 00:06:36.900 He restores their very souls. 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:42.500 And he can do all of this because he is the Lord, 00:06:42.500 --> 00:06:47.620 the God of all creation, the maker of David and of all of us. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:51.040 He is the source of our true refreshment. 00:06:52.019 --> 00:06:54.079 But when and where does he refresh us? 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:59.420 We see here in verse 4 the place of our true refreshment. 00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:00.720 He says this, 00:07:00.720 --> 00:07:04.720 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:07.279 I will fear no evil, for you are with me. 00:07:07.420 --> 00:07:10.759 Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:15.539 So what is the valley of the shadow of death? 00:07:16.120 --> 00:07:22.319 Well, it's actually a very realistic and sobering term for the here and the now. 00:07:23.219 --> 00:07:28.219 It's in one way of really saying the world that we occupy. 00:07:29.099 --> 00:07:31.180 It's exactly what it sounds like. 00:07:31.699 --> 00:07:37.000 It's an unpleasant place where there is pain and sadness and suffering, 00:07:37.000 --> 00:07:41.259 where hardship and brokenness is an inevitability. 00:07:42.560 --> 00:07:48.199 What David tells us is that the place of refreshment is in the here and the now. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:52.480 It's in the valley of the shadow of death, in the dark places. 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:56.399 Now this contrasts with what many Christians might tell you. 00:07:56.399 --> 00:08:02.079 Oftentimes when we're going out trying to tell people about Jesus and how great Christianity is, 00:08:02.620 --> 00:08:03.299 you'll hear people say, 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:07.199 Well, when I trusted in Jesus, I was happy all the time, 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:09.899 and everything was nice and good, 00:08:10.359 --> 00:08:13.579 and everything's just always so great now. 00:08:14.339 --> 00:08:15.779 Now these people are either lying, 00:08:16.539 --> 00:08:17.439 or they're delusional, 00:08:18.139 --> 00:08:21.419 or they're setting themselves up for severe disappointment. 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:24.980 Because what David shows us is something very different. 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:29.920 And the reason why David describes his life and his world this way 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:35.120 is because he was a man who knew what it was to suffer. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:42.000 David was a man who knew what it was to lose close friends and family prematurely. 00:08:42.639 --> 00:08:47.960 He was a man who knew the helplessness of having to stand by and watch his own child die. 00:08:47.960 --> 00:08:53.340 He was a man who knew what it was to be betrayed by close family. 00:08:54.460 --> 00:08:59.639 See, he understood the reality of life in our world in a profound way. 00:09:00.379 --> 00:09:05.759 And his expectation of that life was not that he would enjoy constant pleasure, 00:09:06.940 --> 00:09:12.780 but that he is strengthened by God to face the calamities of this life. 00:09:14.280 --> 00:09:17.480 See, for David, the place of refreshment is here. 00:09:17.960 --> 00:09:22.120 And now, as long as God stands with him. 00:09:23.400 --> 00:09:24.620 Now what about us? 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.139 What is our place of refreshment? 00:09:29.200 --> 00:09:34.900 Usually for us, our place of refreshment is found anywhere but here, isn't it? 00:09:35.800 --> 00:09:38.800 If I could just make enough money to buy the house in the neighborhood, 00:09:39.700 --> 00:09:42.480 or this particular neighborhood, or a particular town, 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:44.340 then I'll be okay. 00:09:44.340 --> 00:09:49.780 If I could just make it to my next holiday, then I'll be okay. 00:09:49.780 --> 00:09:54.160 If I could just make it to next weekend, then everything will be a little bit better. 00:09:54.560 --> 00:10:00.600 If I could just get enough funding in my pension, then I'll be safe, I'll be secure. 00:10:00.600 --> 00:10:05.800 We oftentimes turn to escape in order to find renewal. 00:10:05.799 --> 00:10:10.759 Whether that's losing ourselves in work. 00:10:11.240 --> 00:10:14.719 Whether that's trying to buy the things that we feel give us pleasure. 00:10:15.819 --> 00:10:21.519 Whether that's seeking refreshment in the bed of a lover. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:23.879 Or fleeing to a new location. 00:10:23.879 --> 00:10:28.939 We see this even, in a sense, in our current migrant crisis, don't we? 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:33.200 Why are so many people trying to get into Great Britain? 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:39.519 It's because there are people who have walked through the valley of the shadow of death 00:10:39.519 --> 00:10:42.659 in a very real and very profound way. 00:10:42.659 --> 00:10:49.019 In a way that you and I probably and hopefully will never experience ourselves. 00:10:50.019 --> 00:10:53.919 And our hope is that life in Great Britain will somehow be better. 00:10:55.079 --> 00:10:56.360 And in many ways it will be. 00:10:57.319 --> 00:11:01.819 But in many ways, they're going to experience a new and different kind of disappointment. 00:11:02.579 --> 00:11:05.519 And they're going to experience a different kind of suffering. 00:11:06.079 --> 00:11:10.000 Just as all of us who live here already know, it's a wonderful place. 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.820 But there are disappointments, aren't there? 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:19.519 See, human nature is to seek refreshment by attempting to avoid pain and suffering. 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:24.480 It's an attempt to try and avoid the brokenness of our world by any means necessary. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:27.960 But that is ultimately insufficient, isn't it? 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:35.000 And see, what's interesting about the life of David is that suffering, 00:11:35.139 --> 00:11:37.019 what he calls the valley of the shadow of death, 00:11:37.299 --> 00:11:39.759 is something that's assumed by him. 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.740 It's an assumed aspect of his life. 00:11:43.519 --> 00:11:45.659 But David is also king. 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:49.039 He's the last person that you would expect to suffer. 00:11:49.720 --> 00:11:51.019 He lives in the palace. 00:11:51.340 --> 00:11:52.379 He has tremendous wealth. 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.899 He's known as a great warrior. 00:11:54.220 --> 00:11:55.460 He's surrounded by family. 00:11:55.840 --> 00:11:59.500 He's surrounded by beautiful women, his wives and his concubines. 00:11:59.500 --> 00:12:05.519 He has everything that we think can prevent suffering in this life and this world. 00:12:05.519 --> 00:12:07.699 If you walked out on the street and you said, 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:11.360 what do you need to protect yourself from suffering and hardship? 00:12:11.679 --> 00:12:17.220 Most people would probably list one of those things as what they need to be happy in life. 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:20.700 But he expects suffering. 00:12:20.700 --> 00:12:28.080 But he also expects to be able to not only stand up under it, but to flourish under it. 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:30.700 But only if God stands with him. 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:37.220 I will fear no evil for you are with me. 00:12:38.220 --> 00:12:44.020 See, in places of darkness, companionship is always welcome and it's always comforting. 00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:49.759 But some companions inspire greater confidence than others, don't they? 00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:58.860 See, the place of true refreshment is the place where God is found walking with us through our suffering. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.340 God doesn't leave us to stand in our suffering. 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:03.679 He meets us in it. 00:13:03.899 --> 00:13:05.039 He guides us through it. 00:13:05.580 --> 00:13:12.120 And he guides us in a very specific direction that we see in verses 5 and 6. 00:13:13.460 --> 00:13:17.620 David reveals to us here the direction of true refreshment. 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:18.919 He says this, 00:13:18.919 --> 00:13:42.860 As God directs our refreshment, as he guides David to full refreshment, 00:13:43.500 --> 00:13:45.459 there are two places that he leads us to. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.159 The first is victory. 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.919 And the second is home. 00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:54.159 The imagery of verse 5 is one of a celebratory feast. 00:13:54.719 --> 00:13:55.819 And we read that and we think, 00:13:55.919 --> 00:13:59.879 Well, why are the enemies there at this dinner? 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:03.659 Because they are enemies that have been conquered. 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:08.259 And they are now being brought under the rule of the conquering king. 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:14.379 From being anointed with oil to drinking from the overflowing cup. 00:14:14.379 --> 00:14:21.419 We see the imagery of David's enemies being brought into a covenant treaty with him. 00:14:21.819 --> 00:14:23.580 They no longer can do him harm. 00:14:23.700 --> 00:14:26.059 They are subjects of him. 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:31.000 And David acknowledges that this doesn't come from his own military skill or might. 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:37.059 It's brought about because of the work of God who prepares the table. 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:43.360 God is actively subduing David's enemies and bringing about true peace. 00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:48.180 See, true peace has been found in the work of God on David's behalf. 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:55.779 A work that brings goodness to his life and culminates in his dwelling in the house of God forever. 00:14:56.460 --> 00:15:02.700 Once again, we have to juxtapose the words of David against the backdrop of his own life and his own experience. 00:15:02.700 --> 00:15:05.720 Remember, again, David is the king. 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.379 He's a mighty warrior. 00:15:08.100 --> 00:15:10.120 And he lives in his palace. 00:15:10.420 --> 00:15:13.060 The most comfortable and secure house in his earthly kingdom. 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:19.440 But he still is looking forward to the day when God will bring him to dwell in his house. 00:15:19.940 --> 00:15:23.500 When he will overcome his enemies and bring him to live with him. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:26.080 Now let that sink in for a moment. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:38.240 David lives like the queen of England. 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:44.740 Yet he recognizes that he can't be satisfied until he lives in the house of the Lord. 00:15:45.820 --> 00:15:47.660 What's so great about that house? 00:15:48.860 --> 00:15:52.960 This is the point where I'm supposed to tell you that it's a really nice house. 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:59.360 And David has a great room with an en suite, with a jetted tub separate from the shower, 00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:08.259 and a nice view overlooking the ocean, and a wet bar that never runs dry. 00:16:09.660 --> 00:16:10.960 But that's not it, is it? 00:16:12.300 --> 00:16:16.879 It's a special house because of whose house it is. 00:16:17.400 --> 00:16:18.720 It's the Lord's. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:23.180 And it's the house of the king of creation. 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:26.220 And he invites David to live there. 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:30.019 And he invites you and I to live there. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:34.100 The one who walks us through our suffering. 00:16:35.820 --> 00:16:38.320 The one who overcomes all of his and our enemies. 00:16:39.160 --> 00:16:42.440 Invites us to come and to live with him. 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:46.860 It is home in its fullest and truest sense, isn't it? 00:16:46.860 --> 00:16:51.340 It's home as it was always intended to be. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:55.860 Because it is home with our Creator who restores our very souls. 00:16:57.860 --> 00:17:01.700 See, true refreshment always comes back to the source. 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:05.440 David has shown us the source of true refreshment. 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:07.660 He's shown us the place of true refreshment. 00:17:07.900 --> 00:17:10.539 He's shown us the direction of true refreshment. 00:17:10.599 --> 00:17:12.099 But he's shown us something even greater. 00:17:12.099 --> 00:17:16.459 He's shown us something about the character and work of God. 00:17:17.679 --> 00:17:20.399 He is the shepherd who cares for you. 00:17:20.919 --> 00:17:24.379 The friend who walks through your sorrow with you. 00:17:24.919 --> 00:17:30.579 And the king who brings you into his home to dwell eternally with him. 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:33.859 And there's even better news for you and for I. 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:37.519 Because this God who David knew in shadows. 00:17:38.179 --> 00:17:39.599 And through the words of prophets. 00:17:40.460 --> 00:17:43.619 And who he can express deep truths about poetically. 00:17:44.619 --> 00:17:50.419 This God we have known and experienced and seen fully and concretely. 00:17:50.799 --> 00:17:52.659 In the personal work of Jesus Christ. 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:55.119 Who says this about himself. 00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:57.139 Here's Jesus' words about himself. 00:17:57.140 --> 00:17:59.140 I am the good shepherd. 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:04.020 And the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. 00:18:05.660 --> 00:18:08.940 See, everything that David says about the Lord. 00:18:09.400 --> 00:18:11.940 Christ says about himself. 00:18:13.060 --> 00:18:15.860 He is the good shepherd who looks after his sheep. 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:20.720 He is the good shepherd who walked through very real suffering. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.259 For you and for I. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:26.960 And he's the king who's going to bring us all the way home. 00:18:27.140 --> 00:18:28.900 Please pray with me.