A model of Herod’s temple is on display at the Israel Museum and shows what the temple would have looked like at the time of Christ.
The week leading up to Easter is a great time to reflect on the work of Christ, and the many important events that occurred in those final days leading up to his death and resurrection. On the Monday of Passion week, the gospels tell us Jesus entered the temple and drove out all the businesses. What a chaotic scene it must have been.
“And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.”” (Mark 11:15–17)
In our staff meeting this morning, I shared several thoughts and applications that come out of this passage…
Each of us are described as a temple of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit has literally taken up residence in us, and abides in us every hour of every day. Are we keeping his house clean, in what we fill our heads and hearts, so the Spirit has complete ownership and control?
The people of God corporately, the church, are also described as a single temple. As a church, do we pursue purity and a sense of awe and reverence in each of our ministries?
Is there anything we’re doing that causes worship to become too ordinary, too familiar, so that we approach God in an almost casual or flippant manner?
How can we promote a spirit and atmosphere of honor, reverence, and worship at church?
Do we prepare ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually before coming into the church?
Are there things we do as a congregation, in our ministries, that distract people from the Lord?
Do we remind ourselves regularly that God is the point, and that we are not?
There is a real danger that religion can become a money-making racket. Are we stewarding God’s resources well, and seeking to honor him alone with our time, talents, and treasure?
Thank God that so many in this church are devoted to prayer, and do treat it as a house of worship. May each of us provide that kind of example for others!
Last month, I had the chance to preach on Psalm 23. It’s one of the most beloved passages of scripture, and for good reason. It describes God as a loving shepherd whose abiding presence brings comfort in dark times. In the first four verses, God is the Good Shepherd who leads, feeds, and guides his people. In the second half of the psalm, David views himself like the guest of honor at a banquet table of God’s blessing.
These verses become all the more precious when we consider how God has fully revealed himself through his son Jesus Christ, who is himself the “Good Shepherd” (John. 10:11). You can watch the video or see my full sermon outline below…
===== PSALM 23 FOR 2023 IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH JANUARY 1, 2023
Introduction • Well, it’s 2023. Are you excited? Hopeful? Maybe a little nervous? As we start the new year, I thought what better place to begin 2023 than by looking together at Psalm 23? • Psalm 23 is one of the most well known passages in the Bible. I was talking with one of our members last week, telling her that I was going to preach on Psalm 23, and she said she sang that song in Spanish to her mother as her mother passed away. I was talking to another member on the phone this week. They were sharing how God is always with them and has met all their needs. I said, “You’re preaching my sermon for me! I’m preaching on Psalm 23 next Sunday!” She said, “that was the passage my mother was saying and praying as she gave birth to me.” Many of us have a story of how God has used Psalm 23 in our lives. When I do a funeral, I often ask the family if there is a particular passage they would like me to read, and more than any other passage, they say Psalm 23. • The psalm takes us through two scenes. In the first four verses, God is described as the Good Shepherd who leads, feeds, and guides his people. In the second half David views himself like the guest of honor at a banquet table of God’s blessing. • We can outline the passage this way: First, The LORD is a Loving Leader. Then secondly, the LORD is Hospitable Host. Let’s look first of all at the LORD as Loving Leader.
1. The LORD as Loving Leader (vv. 1-4) • David knows a thing or two about shepherding. He’s been doing it his whole life. He understands better than any of us what it takes to be a shepherd. In fact, the first time we meet David in the Bible, in 1 Samuel 16, he’s not in town with his dad and brothers, but out in the field “keeping the sheep” (1 Sam. 16:11). David is a shepherd. But here he says, “I have a shepherd too. The LORD (Yahweh) is my shepherd.” Several ways the Lord leads you and me… • Read verse 1. When you are needy, he provides. “Want” here in v. 1 carries its Old English meaning to be in need of something, to be deficient. NIV “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” CSB “The LORD is my shepherd, I have what I need.” You and I have needs, but God promises to meet those needs. Keep depending on him! None of your needs go unseen and none of your prayers go unheard. Phil. 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God has a limitless bank account, so to speak. He never runs out of resources. The same God who created the universe out of nothing promises to take care of his children. When you are needy, he provides. David continues… • Read verse 2. When you are weary, he gives rest. Verse two is the perfect picture of peace and serenity. The flock is spread out in a lush green field, well fed, fully satisfied, and now ready to lie down for a nice long nap. Even better, there is a steady source of fresh, cool water nearby to satisfy their thirst. These sheep are completely at rest, not a care in the world. Sheep are spooked easily and will not usually lie down unless they feel safe, and the shepherd brings that sense of safety. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt. 11:28). And what if we begin to stray from God? • Read v. 3a. When you are broken, he restores. Have you ever been to a classic car show? It’s amazing how people can take a rusty old car and turn it into a sparkling new hot rod. “Restoration” can refer to renewal or rebirth. Returning to a healthy condition. Maybe you’ve wandered off from God. He will restore your soul, if you will cry out for mercy. Maybe you feel worn out and useless. God will repair you and give you new life and purpose. He is the Great Physician, and he specializes in healing what is broken. How does he do this? He does this through scripture (Ps. 19:7), repentance (Ps. 51:12), prayer (Ps. 80:1-3), and victory over our enemies (Ps. 71:20-21). • Read v. 3b. When you are lost, he guides. How lost we would be without guidance from the Lord! All of us will face decisions in this new year. Some will make life-changing. Don’t you want to make wise decisions that will honor God? Maybe thinking about a new job, or moving somewhere new, or starting a dating relationship? Do not simply choose the path that is easy, or the path that is popular. Choose the path that is righteous. God will help you to make those wise choices. Trust in the Lord with all your heart…in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight (Prov. 3:5-6). • Notice all the activity of God, his intimate involvement in your life (vv. 2-3). • Read v. 4. When you are in danger, he protects. Lit. “Valley of Deep Darkness.” In Hebrew, this is not the normal word for “dark” but a “deep darkness.” Job uses the word of going deep down into a mineshaft. Job 28:2–4 “… [Man] searches out to the farthest limit the ore in gloom and deep darkness. He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives…” In Tolkien’s story, The Hobbit, Bilbo and the dwarves come to a spooky place called Mirkwood, where everything is dark, overgrown, and sickly. Light can barely pierce the thick canopy of trees and make it all the way to the forest floor. What’s worse is that Galdalf their leader does not go with them. They had to face this challenge alone. Thankfully, in our valleys and dreary forests, God remains with us. • The Valley of the Shadow of Death can be different things. It could be physical danger or a season of depression. You and I will go through trials, so gloomy and dark that they are aptly described as “The Valley of the Shadow of Death.” • Biblical counselor Bob Somerville, grappled several years ago with the question, “If I’m a Christian, Why Am I Depressed?” In fact, that became the title of a book he wrote on the subject. He writes, “depression is a snare that has been trapping men and women throughout history and into our present age. It appears that women are more likely than men to experience a major depression probably because of the hormone fluctuations they experience at various stages in life. [But] Depression comes to the Christians and non-Christians alike, the weak and the strong. We are not only spiritual beings; God has made us of clay – vulnerable to weakness, sin, disease, and yes, depression.” (p. 24). • Even David struggled with discouragement and depression. He knew all too well what it was to go through the valley of deep darkness. He said for example, in Psalm 13, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” And in Psalm 55, “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.” • You say, this doesn’t sound very positive for the new year! Oh, but this same David can write in Ps. 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his children begging for bread.” God is faithful! His rod and his staff comfort us even through the valley of death’s shadow. We are never alone, even in the place of darkness. • Review: When you are needy, God provides. When you are weary, he gives rest. When you are broken, he restores, When you are lost, he guides. When you are in danger, he protects. • All of these are aspects of God being a loving leader. No wonder we call him Good Shepherd! In vv. 5-6, David paints a second picture for us, one of being seated at a banquet table. God himself has spread out a lavish feast, and you are invited! Let’s see secondly…
2. The LORD as Hospitable Host (vv. 5-6) • Read vv. 5-6. • A few years ago, our family went to the Living Desert zoo in Palm Desert. One of the most beautiful and dangerous creatures is the jaguar. They are expert climbers and hunters, so they not only have high walls, but have think netting over the top of the entire exhibit. Jaguars have been known to escape from zoos and eat other animals if they’re not carefully contained. I call them the velociraptors of the animal world. Natalie told the kids to bring their nature journals, and they all sat down around the jaguar cage to draw a picture. One of my kids plopped down on a rock so that only their head was visible to the jaguar. After a bit, he took interest, left his log on the other side of the cage, glided down into the pond and came nearer, ready to pounce. Natalie realized he wanted to eat our child for lunch, so she said, “stand up.” And when our daughter stood up, the jaguar immediately dropped . Thankfully, the cat could not hurt our daughter. There was a thick glass wall between them. We could see the jaguar, and he could see us, but there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. Abby was completely safe, behind that shield. In a similar way, David can see his enemies. They would do anything to get to him and do him harm, but David is safe from their evil plots and intentions. If there are those who seek to harm you, take comfort that nothing happens outside the protective gaze and strong arm of God. • Instead of focusing on his enemies and their schemes, David notices a banquet table before him, like a Thanksgiving Feast. There is food, drink, comfortable furnishings, and God himself is host. This is a word picture for God’s kindness and generosity. • Often, a guest would be anointed with oil at their arrival. It was a way guests could “freshen up” at the start of the evening, sort of washing up and putting on a splash of cologne. • And I love this next phrase in v. 5, “my cup overflows.” The word means to reach full capacity, to be fully saturated. Have you ever been to a nice restaurant and the service was so good that your cup would never even get empty? You’d take a few sips, and already, the waiter would be there to fill it up again. That’s the idea here. God’s mercies never cease. His blessings are ceaseless! The only thing limiting our supply is the size of our container! We are filled up to the brim with God’s blessing. • Thomas Watson: “God’s mercy is an overflowing mercy; it is infinite… The vial of wrath doth but drop, but the fountain of mercy runs. The sun is not so full of light as God is of mercy; God hath morning-mercies, Lam. 3:23., “They are new every morning;” and night-mercies, Ps. 42:8, “In the night his song shall be with me.” God hath mercies under heaven, those we taste of; and in heaven, those we hope for.” – Body of Divinity • This is what excites me about 2023. We get to experience fresh mercies from God. Oh yes, there will be setbacks and disappointments, and the world may not get any better. But we get to see new works God is going to do. People he is going to save, believers he is going to sanctify, people who are going to find Christ for the first time, people get baptized, new friends will be made, some who wandered off will be rescued and return back home, young people dedicate their lives to Christian service, new waves of mercy, fresh grace. Pause at the end of the year. Look around, and count your blessings. Can you not agree with the psalmist, “My cup overflows”? • The psalm ends on a high note, by saying God’s kindness will follow us. This is not a passive word, as though his goodness will drift along and might catch us now and then. No, it’s an active, an aggressive word. It speaks of chasing, like kids playing tag, or a hot police pursuit. Did you know you’re being followed? Someone is continually following you around and catch you. That’s right. You’re being followed by the goodness and mercy of God. • One of the songs we sing sometimes at Immanuel is the Goodness of God. There’s a line that says, “Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me. With my life laid down I’m surrendered now. I give You everything. ‘Cause Your goodness is running after, It keeps running after me.”
Conclusion • Our God is a Good Shepherd, isn’t he? He is a loving leader, and he is a hospitable host. • Jesus picks up this language in the New Testament. He says in John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” He did that for you when he went to the cross. In the supreme act of love and sacrifice, the shepherd died for his sheep. • Isaiah 53:6 says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned – every one – to his own way.” And yet John 10 says Jesus laid down his life for the sheep (v. 17-18). • Have you heard the voice of the Shepherd? He’s calling you to follow him. Let him pick you up and take you home. Let him wash your wounds. Let him feed you, comfort you, and protect you. Why not do that right now? He invites you to confess your sin, and to turn to him for forgiveness and healing. As you go through life’s trials, and the valley of deep darkness, let his rod and his staff comfort you. Let his goodness and mercy pursue you day after day.
A few days ago, in an “Ask Pastor John” episode, John Piper was asked about depression, and whether a Christian hedonist can experience it.
If you’re not familiar with Christian hedonism, you should pick up Piper’s classic book Desiring God. His basic premise is that “God is most glorified us when we are most satisfied in him,” and that God actually created us to know and enjoy him. True Christianity is not the denial of pleasure, but rather discovering that we were made for pleasure, and that true joy is found in God alone. Christians are to be hedonists in the true sense of the word, and pastors in particular should be those who taste and see that the Lord is good, then share him with others.
So, back to the matter of depression. A listener named Hannah from Los Angles writes Piper a courageous question: “…There is a very real place of deep darkness that I’ve experienced. When I hear you speak of Christian hedonism, and joy and pleasure in God, I feel a tinge of fear, because I’ve often lived in valleys where I feel little joy. Can flourishing Christian hedonism co-exist with seasons of dark depression, or is that a stark contrast of terms?”
I love what Piper says about the psalms. “The most experiential parts of the Bible are very realistic as far as the ups and downs of our relationship with God.” This is good news for us. We are not to be driven and tossed by our emotions, but they are a genuine part of the human experience, and we should be neither surprised nor alarmed by them, but rather seek to take those emotions and thoughts captive to the will of God.
Piper then distinguishes between “flourishing” Christian hedonism where depression is unlikely to be felt and “rugged” or “unbroken” Christian hedonism that experiences ups and downs. He makes an interesting point that depression is not mainly finding joy in something other than God, but is more complicated than that. Depression often involves physical factors and attacks from the enemy. With depression, “the capacity to cherish at all has dried up and there is a deep, dark numbness of the soul.”
This is a helpful definition and comes from the voice of experience. I would have loved to hear a scripture at this point, giving biblical support for his definition and diagnosis. I think it can be justified by the language of Psalm 42 and passages such as Job 3 and Ecclesiastes 4. But while Piper does not cite scripture in his definition, he does give five very helpful scriptures to serve the soul during bouts of depression. If you struggle with a “deep, dark numbness,” know you are not alone, and that God can help you just as he has helped these Spirit-inspired authors before you.
Micah 7:8–9 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.
Psalm 139:7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
Psalm 42:5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation
1 Peter 2:2–3 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Piper says we press on to make Jesus our own, because he pressed on to make us his own.
As those who have tasted that the Lord is good, may the Lord help us every day to crave for him and find our satisfaction in him, pushing through the darkness and embracing the One for whom we were made.
(I first shared this post in a blog called “Shade for the Shepherd” that I briefly started in 2020, but then I decided to stick with my existing blog “Pinch of Clay.” Thanks for reading!)
2020 took a toll on all of us, and many have still not recovered. It has been almost three years ago since COVID was declared a global pandemic and the world went into complete lockdown. Our need for community and our desire for connectedness took new forms, including a turn to social media. But this was not the cure we had hoped for. In fact, in many cases, it only exacerbated our longing for human relationships.
In the summer of 2020, Alan Shlemon from Stand to Reason explained why so many people were feeling exhausted in 2020. He doesn’t mention the word COVID even once. In his article, “How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul,” Shlemon suggests it was actually the 24 hour news cycle, and constant exposure to tragedy all over the world that was sucking the life out of us. Has anything changed? He writes,
“Through the internet and social media, technology has given us ringside seats to every event, tragedy, and evil act that happens in any part of the planet. That’s not something we’re created to handle. It’s made possible, though, because of the internet. Though technology often helps us, it also creates two problems that hurt our soul: faux omnipresence and faux omniscience.”
Yes! I guess I’m not the only one who closes Twitter or Facebook feeling more anxious than I started. I told a friend the other day that social media is like meth. It is self-inflicted, highly addictive, and deadly. First, you are drawn in by genuine interest in others and a natural curiosity of our world. Soon, the social media diet turns more insidious, fueled by anxiety and anger. The breaking news, the death tolls, the political corruption, the conspiracy theories, the constant need to be “in the know” keeps pulling you in. And then it kills you.
The digital age is taking its toll. Shlemon calls this “faux omnipresence and faux omniscience” because it’s as though we are playing God, trying to be everywhere-present and all-knowing, yet without the power to do anything about it or the wisdom to understand how all things work together for good. He then closes with four ways to escape social media meth:
Perhaps, then, we should take better care of ourselves. Here’s what I suggest. First, unplug from the internet and/or social media. This is mandatory. Set up times when you walk away without taking sneak peeks. Second, spend time in nature. For example, take a hike through the woods and observe the simplicity and beauty of God’s creation. I love to notice delicate flowers or watch the gentle dance of birds in the trees. It helps me escape—for a time—the harsh reality I must eventually return to. Third, pray and discern when and where you can shoulder other people’s burdens, and find friends who can help carry yours. This is a biblical mandate. Finally, develop a habit of giving thanks to Jesus, the one who took on our burdens.
I commend the whole article to you, including a great quote by Charles Spurgeon and an interesting reference to the Scopes Monkey trial. You can read the whole thing here.
Have you developed any strategies to limit your social media intake and remain joyful and at peace? If so, share below!
(I first shared this post in a blog called “Shade for the Shepherd” that I briefly started in 2020, but then I decided to stick with my existing blog “Pinch of Clay.” Thanks for reading!)
A couple years ago, I experimented with a new blog called “Shade for the Shepherd: Helping Pastors Endure in Ministry and Avoid Burnout.” I abandoned the project pretty quickly and decided to stick with my current blog “Pinch of Clay,” which allows me to write more broadly on many topics that interest me including church leadership, theology, family news, and even hobbies like astronomy and hiking.
When I first started writing a new blog to encourage pastors, I asked, “Why am I starting a blog? Who am I trying to reach?” Although I closed down that site, I think the answers to those questions still guide me as I decide what and when to write here. Three reasons came to mind:
The Need for Encouragement. Pastors need encouragement, and one of the chief ways they can be encouraged is by other pastors who know what it’s like to be in the trenches. The Apostle Paul talked about mutual encouragement in the opening verses of Romans. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11-12). Someone might read this blog and wonder if it’s some kind of cathartic exercise or cry for help. By God’s grace, I do not struggle deeply with depression, but I know pastors who do. I have never contemplated suicide, but I had a friend who not only considered it, but carried it out. I’m quite familiar with the labors and dry seasons of ministry. A healthy dose of encouragement would help more ministers finish strong. A few years ago, Warren Wiersbe passed away. Some knew him as “The Pastors’ Pastor.” Jerry Vines says, “He encouraged and taught, by example, thousands of pastors and multiplied thousands of laypeople in the convention to do biblical exposition.” That title “The Pastors’ Pastor” always stood out to me, even as a kid. Perhaps it was God already tugging at my heart to pursue ministry and teaching me that pastors have a difficult job in shepherding, and should never go it alone. It is a sad reality, but relationships inside the church often deplete a pastor’s energy. A pastor must also cultivate relationships that renew, invigorate, and sustain.
The Joy of Writing. Writing is both art and science. It is a discipline of soul that takes your accumulated knowledge, marries it to your personality, and ignites it through imagination. Actually, writing is closely related to preaching. Most ministers would become better preachers if they would do more writing. This is one of the benefits of college and seminary — they teach you how to write. Tim Challies has blogged nearly every day since 2003 and says there’s still a need for more Christian blogs. “I am convinced the church will be healthier and those ministry sites will ultimately have better material to share if we continue to have a thriving Christian blogosphere.” For me personally, the dual disciplines of journaling and blogging (albeit sporadic) have made me a better writer and clearer thinker. I have written hundreds of posts already and wish to focus even more on pastors and aspiring pastors. I still have a long way to go in learning to write. But I enjoy the process, and hopefully along the way I say something that helps someone else.
The Providence of God. Nothing happens by accident. God uses every conversation and every circumstance to conform us into the image of Christ and make us a sharper instrument. I pray my gifts and experience could be used by God to encourage others. I spent my childhood years as a “PK” (pastor’s kid), went through church splits and drama, was blessed with a great theological education and broad ministry training, have countless godly role models, have been trained as a pastor coach, have weathered several family health and church unity crises, and have nearly 20 years experience as a pastor. These are no cause for boasting. My heart is grateful that God would use me at all. But these life lessons and experiences become a kind of stewardship. Young pastors often say they wish they had more mentors. I hope to make a small dent by providing an encouragement and example, and connecting them with others who can continue the conversation.
I prefer to write a couple times a week and have more ideas on topics such as rest, peacemaking, endurance, family time, prayer, productivity, book reviews, and pastor interviews. Out of curiosity, what are you looking for in a blog? What topics are missing? What do you enjoy reading the most? What has been most helpful to you in the past, and what would you like to see more of? Please subscribe and join the conversation!
Pinch Of Clay 