The Lord is My Shepherd
Psalm 23
Today's lesson comes from a very familiar text. I'd venture a guess that this was one of the few verses of scripture that, back in the day, everybody had to learn. Even if you belonged to the CMEF denomination (Christmas, Mother's Day, Easter and funerals) - you were familiar with the 23rd Psalm. If nothing else, you knew verse 1. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want." We've blessed many a meal saying - "Lord my shepherd, I shall not want." As we look at Psalm 23 - allow the Word to do its work. You don't already know what God wants to do in you this day, so receive the word with excitement and anticipation of all that God will do. Let him lead and guide you right now if, along with me you can truly say, the Lord is my shepherd. The Lord, Jesus Christ, Messiah, Emmanuel, beloved son of God, is my shepherd. David uses the image of the shepherd because it is meaningful to him. He knows about being a shepherd, tending his father's flock. David understands that the shepherd's job centers around only one thing, the welfare of the sheep. The shepherd's job is to keep the sheep alive. From various stories in the Bible, we know that David sometimes risked his own life - fighting lions, bears, wolves - to rescue the sheep. God is to David what David had been to those sheep: trusted guide, protector, and provider.
The image of the shepherd also tells us how David thought of himself: if God is the shepherd, that would make David - and you and me - the sheep. The Lord is my shepherd. Now, I can appreciate the image of God as shepherd - wise, benevolent, courageous - the good shepherd who gives his life for the sheep. But then, when we look at the other side of this relationship - we, his people, are the sheep. I have never been around sheep. Not too many animals, period - but I've studied up on them. To appreciate what God is saying to us today, we have to understand that God could have chosen any animal he'd created to compare us to. He could have chosen a horse, graceful, quick, powerful. But he didn't. He could have chosen an eagle - independent, resourceful, and fierce, but he didn't. He could have chosen a deer - wise, agile, alert, but he didn't. He chose sheep. And in all the searching and studying I've done, the conclusion is always the same. Sheep are clueless.
I had a friend who used to farm and work with all sorts of cattle. He told a story about one of his sheep who died because she walked into a stream and got stuck in the mud and didn't know how to get out. And we all know the Bible story of Abraham who was told by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. They carried everything they needed to build an altar and make a sacrifice to the top of a mountain. When Abraham laid his son on the altar, the Lord God spared him by showing Abraham the ram in the bush. And why was the ram caught in the bush? His horns got stuck! No, the bush didn't attack the ram - there were no other animals circling and threatening it. It wasn't as if the ram was trying to make its way through a jungle or forest of brush - they were on a mountain top - vegetation is sparse. The ram just walked up to the bush and stuck its horns in. How smart is that? Yet, the Lord calls us his sheep. But I'm glad the Lord is my shepherd.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Pay attention to this one. I shall not want. The word “want” means - to have need of. And this is where so many of us get confused. To have a need is not the same as to have a desire. What we need - we must have in order to survive. What we desire - we can live without. Remember, the shepherd's purpose is to keep the sheep alive. Too many Christians look to the Lord to grant their every wish and command. We treat him like a genie in a bottle. We want to rub his lamp with a little praise, and little time in prayer, and then we expect him to make our dreams come true. But the Lord's purpose is to insure that we remain healthy and in tact. How many of you know that sometimes what we desire to have isn't the best thing for us? That relationship that we just can't wait to get into can end up leaving us battered and scorned. That job that we think will solve all our problems may only add to your troubles. God, the good shepherd, knows what we need. He knows how to satisfy with good gifts. Because he can see much further down the road than the sheep, the shepherd knows what danger lies ahead; the shepherd knows where the best grazing lies. If we could really get this down in our spirits - if we allow the Lord to genuinely be our shepherd - we'll have everything we need. We shall not be in want. We will lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Because the Lord is my shepherd - He knows just what I need. He makes me - because sheep don't always want to do the right thing - he makes me lie down. We don't always need to be moving about, having our hand in everything - sometimes, we need to be still. To lie down. And our shepherd is so good - he makes us lie down in green pastures. Lush fields of grass. The place of plenty. And that's what God wants for us. To rest beside still waters. He wants to take us to the places in our lives where there is peaceful, running water. He wants to bring us out of the swelling torrent and tempestuous seas. When the storms of life are raging, the good shepherd says "peace, be still."
He restores my soul. When we follow the Lord to the places he leads us - we receive restoration.. And it"s more than a physical refreshing and renewal. We can be restored - brought back to spiritual health when we feed on the food God prepares for us. He leads me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake. God turns our soul toward righteousness. Right standing with God. If left on its own, the sheep would eat anything it found. Good or not. Healthy or not. Likewise, without God's guidance, our souls - our emotions - our feelings - would lead us into evil, life-quenching, places of destruction. The good shepherd leads us another way - into paths of righteousness. To places of good ness that will truly sustain us. And God does this - for His name's sake. See, we represent Him. The places we go, the things we do, the words we speak - all represent God. We are His witnesses. Even when we don't want to be. Even when we'd rather not. Whatever we do - others see it and attribute our behavior to God. So, God, by His Spirit constantly leads us in paths of righteousness out of respect for His name. His rep's at stake.
Yea, though I walk - even though I walk through the valley - get this one, saints. We walk through we don"t stay in - we move past and out of - the valley of the shadow of death. Think about it - the valley - the lowest part - we walk through the low places in our lives - led by the Lord - we move up and out of the valley of the shadow of death. Get that. What"s a shadow? It"s only a one-dimensional representation of something that"s real. A shadow doesn"t really exist on its own. The Word says that even though I walk though the valley of the shadow of death - in Christ, death no longer has a sting - there's no victory - it"s only a false image - so I will fear no evil for you are with me.
I will not be afraid - for you are with me, Lord I"m not scared, cause you"re with me Jesus. I don"t worry about it, because the shepherd is near. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. A sheep has no ability to defend itself. It doesn"t have sharp claws or teeth. It can"t run all that fast. It can"t burrow under the ground. Sheep are utterly defenseless. They are no match for their enemies - every animal roaming about seeking whom they may devour. And neither are we a match for our enemy - on our own. But, the shepherd carries a rod, which is a stick about the size of a police baton. The rod was used by the shepherd as a weapon. When a wolf or other wild animal approached, the rod was used to fight them off. It could deliver powerful blows when yielded by a skillful shepherd. A staff is a tall stick about 6 feet high, that has a large crook at the top - big enough to scoop up a lost or injured sheep. When that sheep who has not obeyed its master, wanders off and falls into a ditch, the shepherd doesn't jump down in the ditch with the sheep, but uses the staff to reach way down and pull them out of the mess they've gotten themselves into. And the same is true of us - we should find comfort in knowing that the Lord will fight our battles and that he will rescue us from all harm.
The Lord is my shepherd. Thank you Lord, you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He anointed my head with oil. My cup runneth over. The table represents bounty, fruitfulness, plenty, goodness. Blessings. If we allow the Lord to lead us, keep us, direct us - He will indeed prepare good things for us - where everyone can see it. Even our enemies. Even those that meant you harm and not good. Even those who did their best to lead you down a wrong path. Even those who said you'd never amount to anything. Even those who've been waiting for you to fail - to get off your high horse of holiness and get "real" again . God will prepare your victory in their eyesight. They"ll just have to stand by on the sidelines and watch or follow him too. The anointing on your life that others had ignored or ridiculed will be too much to deny - If you let the Lord be your shepherd.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. I need some help with this one. (Calls two young people from audience) This is goodness. And this is mercy. No matter where I go, no matter what I do, goodness and mercy follow me. If I travel here or there. If I stop and work, or sit and be still - goodness and mercy follow me. When I"m not even thinking about God - if He"s been my shepherd - goodness and mercy follow me. When I"m worried or afraid - running from something or running to something - goodness and mercy they follow me.
And because the Lord is my shepherd - I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That"s a promise that God will deliver me from evil. God will make a place for me to dwell with him. God loves me and protects and provides for me and welcomes me to be with him eternally.
Hallelujah.
“Because the Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. He lets me rest in the meadowous grass, and leads me beside the quiet stream. He restores my failing health - and he helps me to do what honors him the most. That's why I'm safe! That’s why I’m safe! Safe in His arms.”
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