CELC Fourth Sunday in Lent

The Fourth Sunday in Lent – March 6, 2005

Psalm 23

Where is God in all of this? That is a basic question we often ask. If someone is ill, dying, or hurting for some reason, we want to ask that age old question, “Where is God in all of this?” Some ask it sarcastically or without faith. We ask it faithfully.

It is a question we need to ask when we are planning ministry as a congregation. You can look at the needs of others and ask, “Where is God in all of this,” and you may discover that God is working through you to meet the needs of others. There is that neighbor that needs a ride to their radiation treatments. There is your nephew who needs a meal. There is a friend that needs a phone call. Ministry is something God does through you.

“Where is God in all of this?” is a question that may have been on the mind of David, as he wrote the 23^rd Psalm. It is a familiar scripture. Everyone knows it; most have memorized it. “Where is God in all of this,” was probably David’s question.

Walk with me today the path the 23^rd Psalm takes us down as people of God. Walk the path God gives through the words of David, the shepherd king. The first three verses reveal David’s path: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name sake.”

Notice David begins with God. He doesn’t say something like, “Well, I am this nice shepherd fellow and God likes me.” No, David says, “The LORD is my shepherd…” and you see how he answers the question, “Where is God in all of this?” God is first, present and loving David. That message is for you as well: God is first, present and loving you. David wants you to know it always begins with God. God loves you, like a shepherd, as the Good Shepherd himself, Jesus.

Next is a little phrase that speaks so much: “I shall not want.” What a statement of faith and confidence in God. David is saying God is good, present in all we do, so we will not want. Now, it does not say, “you will have every little thing you desire, from a play station to a new car.” No, David reminds you that God provides what you need. You can count on it. “Where is God in all of this?” God is present, providing for us.

The next sentence tells you God is present and making you lie down in the good places. It does not say, “invites” or “suggests” you lie down in the good places. It is clear, God is first, present and loving you such that you lie down in the green pastures.

The sentence continues with God leading you beside the best waters, the waters that refresh and nourish. Again God is first, present and loving you.

Finishing the sentence is, “he restores my soul.” What a lovely statement of God again acting for you. God restores, renovates, and repairs your faith. What a loving God we have to do for you what is needed so that you can continue to have faith and trust in God. Ask the question, “Where is God in all of this?” and the answer is restoring, repairing our faith so that our relationship with God can remain strong and loving.

After all, we sometimes forget God, don’t we? I was recently teaching our youth in Confirmation class and we learned how easy it is to leave God out of your life.

The lesson was about “choices.” I asked the youth to list the steps they would take in buying a car. They came up with lists like getting a job to pay for the car, test driving the car and more. Then I asked them to outline how they might choose a college to attend. Again they made great lists. Finally, I asked them how they would respond to a friend that offered them drugs. What choice would they make about smoking dope? Again they shared great lists and made a good choice to say, “No.”

What was interesting in all of this choice making is the youth never included God. I pointed that out to them and they were a bit embarrassed and a bit surprised.

It is so easy to forget God, especially when we make choices. David, however, concludes about God: “He leads me in right paths for his name sake.” If we are going to choose the right path when making a choice, God needs to be in the decision making process. How else will God lead us to the right path?

To include God in the choices we make means that prayer and daily attention to the Word of God is needed. It is through study of the Word and prayer that we are able to call on God and hear God in the midst of our choice making.

When we turn to God in scripture and prayer, you know the truth of Psalm 23, that God is first, present and loving us. I believe that is what the cross is about. In the life, death and resurrection of Jesus God’s grace comes to us. God is first, going to the cross to die for your sin; God is present, hanging on the cross for you; God loves you through gift of the very life of Jesus himself.

If in this Lenten season there is going to be more of God’s path and less of “my” way; if you are going to be granted vision when you are blind, then seeing the grace of God in the cross is the path of faith. Remember that your bad days are never so bad that you are beyond the grasp of God’s grace and that your good days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’ grace.

Or you could say it this way, “Your bad days are never so bad that you are beyond the grasp of God’s grace in the cross. Your good days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace in the cross.” Then pray, “O Lord, grant us to walk your path of grace through the cross.” Amen.

Pastor Robert F. Holley