"I lack nothing.”

​That’s how the NIV translates the Hebrew at the end of the first line of Psalm 23. 

We talked about this in last Sunday’s sermon: David’s life was full of danger, disappointment, and betrayal, yet somewhere in the midst it he was able to write, “The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing.”

We know from watching David’s life and his relationship with God that he trusted God to meet his needs. Is trusting God that much only for Biblical stars? The heroes of the faith? 

Maybe David saw things we don’t see. Or maybe he remembers when we forget. It can’t be that God has changed.

So we’re trying this as a congregation this week: Every time we think of it we say to ourselves, “The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing.”

I expect your results will be mixed, as mine are. Sometimes remembering Psalm 23:1 brings great comfort, sometimes not so much. But that’s worth noticing about ourselves. Where and when am I when “I lack nothing” brings courage? Where and when does “I lack nothing” ring hollow. What does that tell me about me? 

It’s worth asking. 

​​Yesterday we looked at the relief that comes from confession — we can be freed from the entanglements and guilt of our sin! In Psalm 32 David shows what that process looks and feels like.

It is important to note a few more lines of the psalm:

    I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
        I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. (Psalms 32:8)

The psalm turns at verse 8 when God (or perhaps a newly restored David) counsels the reader on how to go from here. We are not just restored, but re-routed. God offers us the opportunity of a U-turn (confession) and a better way:

    You make known to me the path of life;
        you will fill me with joy in your presence,
        with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (Psalms 16:11)

Who would want to turn back from that?

Which way are you headed today? 

​On this fifth day of Lent, let’s admit we get some things backwards. For example: we do something nice for our neighbor because we like the pleasure of being noticed or appreciated. We made the kind act about us rather than our neighbor. That is backwards! 

We often get confession backwards. We know confession is good for us and the right thing to do, but we avoid it as embarrassing or painful. David shows us this in Psalm 32:


 Blessed is the one 
        whose transgressions are forgiven,
        whose sins are covered.
    Blessed is the one 
        whose sin the LORD does not count against them
        and in whose spirit is no deceit.
    When I kept silent,
        my bones wasted away
        through my groaning all day long. 
    For day and night 
        your hand was heavy on me;
    my strength was sapped
        as in the heat of summer.
    Then I acknowledged my sin to you 
        and did not cover up my iniquity.
    I said, “I will confess
        my transgressions to the LORD.”
    And you forgave 
        the guilt of my sin. (Psalms 32:1–5)

The psalm ends contrasting those who cover up their sin (the wicked) with those who trust the LORD. Those who trust the LORD by being honest with him about everything find their burden lifted. By the end of the psalm David is joyfully singing!

    Many are the woes of the wicked,
        but the LORD’S unfailing love 
        surrounds the one who trusts in him. 
    Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;
        sing, all you who are upright in heart! (Psalms 32:10–11)

Lent reminds us that rather than being a burden, confession is a gift from God to clean us up and set us free for joyful living. 

Offer the Lord your sins and guilt today.

​Did you know that the 6 Sundays of Lent are not counted in the 40 days? Each Sunday in Lent is meant to be a pre-echo of the resurrection of Jesus, and thus a celebration.

So it is a paradox: When is Lent not like Lent? On the Sundays of Lent! 

What do we do on Sundays in Lent? Remember what the disciples did Easter Sunday. They got together. Here is one example:

      [The two who on the road to Emmaus] got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. (Luke 24:33–35)

They got together with other disciples. They had to tell somebody. Jesus is alive!

Gather with other Christians today. Jesus is alive!

When we are at our worst, God is at his best. He reaches out to us. 

The story is circulating today of a disturbed and violent looking man who boarded a subway in Vancouver. He was cursing, shouting, and alarming passengers. People moved away in fear. 

Then a 70 year old woman extended her hand and held his. This soothed him, and he eventually sat on the floor in tears, still holding the woman’s hand. He reportedly said, "Thanks, Grandma” and walked away without further incident.

The woman was brave and kind. The intent of her kindness was to connect, and, I believe, to restore him. That’s God’s intent, too.

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

The man on the subway showed that he repented — not as a religious act, but that’s the point. Repentance isn’t a symbolic religious gesture. It’s a change in thinking about our actions and attitudes. It’s a change of heart that produces a change in behavior. 

God’s kindness in reaching out to us is to bring us to our senses, to change our hearts, to change our behavior. 

And bit by bit we are restored. 

"Thanks, God."

For the video, click here

​The 40 days of Lent are modeled on the frequent use of the number 40 in Scripture. One important 40 day period was Jesus’ time in the desert:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. (Matthew 4:1–2)

Which inspired the hymn lyric: 

Lord, who throughout these forty days
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins
And close by Thee to stay.

Do you ever wonder what Jesus did during those 40 days? Do you remember Scripture tells us Christ prays for us?

Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

Today when you pray, remember Jesus is praying for you!

During Lent we offer up ourselves as we are now, not as we wish to be or as we would like others to think we are. We offer ourselves gladly to Jesus, who has the power to remake us. This honors him and transforms us.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1)

What can we offer Christ who suffered and died for us? Here is the final verse of the hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”: 
 
Were the whole realm of nature mine, 
that were an offering far too small; 
love so amazing, so divine, 
demands my soul, my life, my all. 


What will you give Christ today?

Today begins Lent, our preparation for the joy of Jesus’ resurrection! We prepare by confessing our sin and contemplating our mortality. To do so is to begin to allow Jesus to make us whole and fully alive.

You may find our Ash Wednesday service tonight at 7:00 pm a strong start to our season together. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1–2)