3/18/2022

Over the next two weeks I will offer a study I last did about five years ago.

Psalm of the Good Shepherd

By Ronald Ramsey

June 2017

Introduction

The crucifixion of Jesus has always been such a part of being a Christian to me. All of my life I have experienced a lot of pain and as I grew up and without Jesus I began to drink to not deal with the pain and ended up with a terminal blood disease. When I came to Jesus He healed me from the blood disease and the addiction.

But I was still left with struggling with the addiction, the physical toll on my body and the terrible memories that filled my soul even as I tried to shut them from my mind. So the pain continued with seasons and changes like the tides. Pain was always there just worse at times.

Recently the pain grew and I grew so much weaker as the memories came out and as my body dealt with what later has been diagnosed with Small Fiber Neuropathy and had to leave a wonderful Congregation and wonderful people at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson City, TN.

As I go through the process of disability I have asked the Lord for healing but this time He said “I will heal you through the pain and suffering.”

Psalm 22 has always been a favorite of mine since it spoke to me about how Jesus suffered for me and taught us how to deal with suffering. Christianity is the only life and relationship with God that not only explains suffering but shows how redemptive it can be.

I also believe that Psalm 23 is not possible without Psalm 22 for how could we ever trust the Shepherd without seeing and experiencing His suffering for us! From this I learned what has become to me a central part of my theology.

God never asks anything of us He hasn’t already given to us,

and God never asks us to do anything He hasn’t already done for us!!!

As you read the scripture and work on this study I hope you will use what I call the Trinity prayer for study.

1. Before you start to read the Bible or work on a study pray God will guide you so that He can reveal Himself to you.

2. As you study ask God to help you see what He wants you to see and reveal Himself to you. For the purpose of reading the Bible and studying is not to get knowledge, or even to teach others but it is allow God to reveal Himself to you and for to be strengthened in your relationship with Him.

3. Ask God to guide you in applying what He has revealed to you so you can become the Christian He has created you to be.

It is my hope and prayer that not only will the Good Shepherd reveal Himself to you, but that you will learn how to become a better sheep!