Shepherd Heart ~ PSALM 23

​"For me personally, this is such a beautiful version of Psalm 23! There is something about the sound of the harp in the song ... and then the way the strings of the violin follow close behind ... the way they work together in beautiful harmony; the harp-strings gently being strummed ... the violin strings being caressed by its bow ... as if the strings of my very heart are being played, suddenly finding itself being woo-ed and soothed,  gently caressed by His melody of Truth bringing comfort in those aching and hurting places that otherwise feel unreachable ... there are times when music has a way of  drawing things from the depths of my soul much like One drawing  water from a well."  

​As I so  often find,  I thought I knew just where I was going with the thread of writing today ... that is until my fingers hit the "dancefloor" of my keyboard ... so ... I am not sure exactly how and where these steps will take us, but if you would like to join me ... let's step together  1-2-3 ... ready, steady ... "COME SEE!"  My heart whispers ... "L-RD, please take my hand, You be the lead ..."

​I am suddenly lead to step back to 1 Samuel 15:28-29 ... "And Samuel said to him, the L-RD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and has given it to a neighbour of yours, who is better than you. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie or repent, for He is not a man that He should be sorry."

​We continue reading to see the L-RD is sending Samuel to anoint the one whom the L-RD says "I have provided for Myself a king" among the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem. Many of us know the account of Samuel anointing David; but are we listening carefully when we read of the L-RD specifically telling Samuel NOT to look at the countenance or at the height or stature of the man (Eliab, the eldest) who stood before him?  "For the L-RD does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the L-RD looks at the heart." We see that David, the one keeping the sheep, is the one chosen by HaShem to be anointed as king ... The L-RD says, "Arise! Anoint him for this is he." And bear with me because  this is where I think I am getting to ... I think what He is wanting me to draw out ...

​I find it interesting what we see back-to-back in the following scriptures, but even more so what follows on thereafter:

1.  David is anointed ~ "and the Spirit of the L-RD came upon David from that day forward." 1 Samuel 16:13 ... and ...
2. The Spirit of the L-RD departs from Saul ~ "But the Spirit of the L-RD departed from Saul ...  1 Samuel 16:14

BUT ... let's not stop there! Not only does it depart, we are told that an evil spirit from the L-RD troubled him!  Have we ever considered this? This evil spirit was actually from the L-RD!!! But watch what happens next in what The L-RD was doing in this: Saul's servants recognise this is the case and they ask Saul to allow them to seek a man who is a skilful player on the harp so that "it will be when the evil spirit from G-D is upon you, that he will play with his hand and you will be well." 1 Samuel 16:16  Do you not find it quite something that the first introduction Saul has to the man who would take his place on the throne is the very same man who would come to serve him?! David found favour in Saul's sight and he becomes his armor-bearer; but also whenever the evil spirit from G-D was upon Saul, David would play the harp with his hand and Saul was refreshed and was well ... and the evil spirit departed from him. AMAZING!

​A quick little "detour" ... let us take a moment or two to consider the armor bearer. The Hebrew word is Nasa which root includes 'to lift up, to support, to help, to bear, to carry.' And what struck me was this: David had a servant heart! He was chosen by the G-D of Israel to be king, yes! But it is through His anointed leader in Saul that He chooses to bring David close to the throne, to serve before it becomes his own. David SERVES Saul, becoming his "second-hand man" so to speak ... and we see how David keeps his heart right toward his God-given leadership in serving Saul right to the very end. Even when Saul is consumed by jealousy and hatred toward David, even when he was determined to have David's life ... David suddenly finds himself in the place where he had the opportunity to slay Saul in a cave, but instead cuts off the skirt of his robe and presents it to Saul saying, "... there is neither evil nor transgression in my hand, and I have not sinned against thee, though thou layest wait for my soul to take it. The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee." 1 Samuel 24:12-13 Does it not immediately bring to mind Matthew 5:44 where Yeshua teaches: "love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."  AND NOW LOOK AGAIN!! Look again in 1 Samuel 24:21-23  Through David's actions, Saul not only sees but proclaims aloud that David will surely be king ... and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in his hand. And even more ... not only does David refuse to lift his hand against the L-RD's anointed (1 Samuel 24:7) he actually goes even further to make a promise to Saul in 1 Samuel 24:22-23 that his seed would not be cut off nor his name be destroyed in his father's house! And David STAYED TRUE to his promise!

​David became a great leader, even in spite of his great mistakes ... G-D won many battles through him, giving Israel victory over their enemies ... and it was “From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior ~ Yeshua" And it is He, the GREATEST SERVANT-LEADER of all time who fought for us when He went to the stake to atone for our sin! He won the victory for us in the ultimate battle over the grave! Yeshua defeated the enemy of G-D and the enemy of our souls, accomplishing victory over the death HaSatan seeks to bring to our lives, as he continually attempts to  destroy relationship between G-D and man as it was originally intended right from the very beginning ... in the garden. And just as HaShem chose David to lead His people into victory, He often uses leaders He has chosen over us to bring victory into our lives. The battle belongs to the L-RD, of course, and He fights for us ... but I am reminded that even so ... David was still required to ACT! He picked up the stone and slung it in order that the  giant would fall and the Philistines would be defeated.  Through David's confidence and trust in the G-D of Israel, alongside his brave actions against the enemy, all of Israel were saved!   

​And speaking of the stone David slung ...  in the upcoming entries, I will be sharing more about the "5 Smooth Stones" that can bring His victory into our lives ... keys of the kingdom that can help us to see and receive the Power of His Love  ... STRONG ENOUGH TO OPEN PRISON DOORS, GREATER THAN ANY GIANT WE COULD EVER FACE! So stay tuned ... and prepare for VICTORY!

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So ... where to now? I know I am needing to wrap things up ... so in approaching the ending, it is leading me back to the beginning ... Psalm 23. Where does it all fit in? Can we not see the reflection of Yeshua in the life of David ... the shepherd boy who would become king! But even more ... the shepherd boy whose seed would bring forth
 
                THE KING OF ALL KINGS!  

Psalm 23 is all about the Good Shepherd, the One who looks after His sheep - [He knows us and calls us by name] - whose sheep know His voice ... can we see  a 'mutual ​knowing' in relationship being established as we determine to follow Him and walk where He leads.​

David begins with the words, "The L-RD is my shepherd, I shall not want"
​and he finishes with the words "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the L-RD forever."

​And I just feel to say ... a reminder for us all ...

"He knows just what we need, before we ever have to ask. His plans for us are good as we put our hand in His and trust Him to lead the way, to teach us how to walk in His statutes and not forget what we have been taught. But can I tell you something? He actually wants us to ask ...
​Just as a child would go to her Father with what's on her heart.
​Surely if a good earthly father is  delighted when his children come to him 'just because' ... they want to see him, to be with him, to please him in living right because they love him ...  how much more our heavenly Father with us as His children! He longs for relationship with us and that we would desire to live lives in righteousness with Him ... out of love for Him!

He is a good Father - The Good Shepherd - and He knows just how to look after us and keep us safe ... the question can often be: "do we trust Him enough to actually let Him." We may feel like we don't quite know how to walk this life, but if we will only trust Him, He can teach us how to not only walk, but to walk well ... to run ... to soar with wings as eagles!  With the hope that one day as our time on earth draws near to its end, we will be able to say with the same confidence we see in 2 Timothy 4:7 ... 
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
 
​And you know ...  I am not always certain  ... what do you think? ... but I find myself pondering this very thing ...

​If our heart's desire is first to please Him out of love for Him ... to walk closely with Him with hearts that long to be holy as He is holy ... to KNOW Him - REALLY know Him for WHO HE IS ... if our hearts are in alignment with Him and His will, then surely it is in that place that  as we delight ourselves in the L-RD, He delights in giving us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4)

​I don't know about you, but so often I can barely take that in ...
​I catch my heart whispering, "who am I that You would love me? who am I that You who are above all things would stoop down so low that our hearts could meet as one together? Who am I that You would delight in giving me the desires of my heart ...

What love is this that makes its way through every wall, breaks every chain  and opens every prison door within my heart ...

such love I have not known ... until now - for such a time as this!

And one final thought has come as I close the page for today ...

Mashiach came the first time as suffering servant, Ben-Yosef ...
but can I tell you ... He is coming again, only this time ...
​
​HE IS RETURNING TO REIGN
​AS CONQUERING KING!
​Ben-David
​
"For it is written, 'As surely as I live, says the L-rd, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will openly give praise to G-D.' (Romans 14:11)