Outline
Ⅰ
Psalms 22 through 24 are a group of psalms revealing Christ from His crucifixion through His shepherding to His kingship in the coming age:
A
Psalm 23, which concerns Christ as the Shepherd in His resurrection and ascension, is the bridge between Christ's redeeming death and His church-producing resurrection in Psalm 22 and Christ's coming back as the King, who will regain the entire earth through the church as His Body in Psalm 24.
B
In His heavenly ministry Christ is shepherding people, and we need to cooperate with Him by shepherding people; if this fellowship is received by us, there will be a big revival on the earth to bring the Lord back.
Morning Nourishment
Psa. 22:22 I will declare Your name to my brothers; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You.23:1 Jehovah is my Shepherd; I will lack nothing.
24:9-10 Lift up your heads, O gates; and lift up, O long enduring doors; and the King of glory will come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah of hosts—He is the King of glory! Selah.
Psalms 22—24 are a group of psalms revealing Christ from His crucifixion to His kingship in the coming age. In Psalm 22 we see Christ’s death, His resurrection, and His many brothers produced in His resurrection to form His church. Psalm 23 concerns Christ as the Shepherd. This Shepherd today is in His resurrection. Psalm 24 concerns Christ as the coming King in God’s kingdom. Thus, in these three psalms we have Christ crucified, Christ resurrected, Christ producing the church, Christ being the Shepherd and shepherding His flock, the church, and Christ coming back to be the King. (Life-study of the Psalms, p. 137)
Today’s Reading
[Psalm 23] tells us that Christ’s shepherding of us is in five stages. The first stage is of the pastures and the waters of rest (v. 2). Pasture and waters are for our nourishment, including cherishing and enjoyment. The second stage is the stage of the paths of righteousness (v. 3). The paths of righteousness indicate our walk. After we enjoy Christ, are filled up with Christ, and are nourished by Christ, we walk on the paths of righteousness. The third stage is the valley of the shadow of death (v. 4)…Christ’s shepherding leads us through the valley of the shadow of death. The fourth stage is the battlefield (v. 5), where we are fighting against the adversaries. At the battlefield a table, a feast, is spread for us. Finally, the last stage is to dwell in the house of God for the length of our days (v. 6).Our resting in the Lord will shorten the valley, reduce the shadow, and remove the death. We should not talk about our being in the valley…The best way is for us to forget that we are in the valley, because we have the Lord with us. We do not fear evil, because He is with us.
The Lord spreads a table—a feast—before us in the presence of our adversaries (1 Cor. 10:21). The Lord’s table is a feast. Every Lord’s DAY when we come to His table to take the feast, it is always in the presence of our adversaries. Every day is a fighting day to us…On the one hand, we enjoy the feast of the Lord, and on the other hand, we should fight for the victory.
Outside of the church, without the church, there is no way for Christ to shepherd us. This is because He is the Shepherd of the flock, and the flock is the church. To get out of the church is to get out of the flock, and the Shepherd is always with the flock. (Life-study of the Psalms, pp. 139, 144-148)
I hope that there will be a genuine revival among us by our receiving this burden of shepherding. If all the churches receive this teaching to participate in Christ’s wonderful shepherding, there will be a big revival in the recovery… Shepherding and teaching should be like two feet for our move with the Lord.
John 21 reveals the apostolic ministry in cooperation with Christ’s heavenly ministry.
Shepherding is something divine. In order to be a shepherd, we must be a witness of Christ, a member of Christ, and a brother of Christ, sharing His sonship. Then we will participate in the oracle of the sonship to become a prophet. As a prophet for God’s oracle, we will speak for the Lord. Meanwhile, we need to shepherd people. This is the way to be fruitful, to have the multiplication and the increase. If this kind of fellowship is received by us, I believe there will be a big revival on the earth, not by a few spiritual giants but by the many members of Christ’s Body being shepherds who follow the steps of the processed Triune God in seeking and gaining fallen people. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 5, “The Vital Groups,” pp. 92-93)
Further Reading: CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 5, “The Vital Groups,” ch. 4