The Lord is my Shepherd

5/16/10 Sermon by Minister Michael Johnson

Psalm 23

Have you noticed how often the Bible uses sheep to make a point? Sheep are referenced at least 236 times. The New Testament alone makes 37 references to Christians being like sheep. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t grow up around sheep. I used to just think of them as unfortunate animals that provided wool used to make the clothes we wear. Once warm in their fleece, their wool would be sheered and their skin left completely exposed to the elements. If I were pressed, I’d say they were typically followers and not leaders. Where one of them goes, the rest will follow. The more I learn about sheep, the more fascinated I am about their use in Scripture.

My wife, Anna, told me a story of when she was asked to watch the house of a family friend for a week. “Sure,” Anna said, “I will watch your house.” What a great offer. To have a week in a house alone would be a lot of fun. There was just one stipulation. Anna needed to care for the sheep owned by her friends. This meant she needed to feed them, provide fresh water and make sure they remained healthy. That certainly seemed doable. The owners showed Anna where the sheep ate during feeding time. There were two troughs that ran parallel to each other and they showed her how much of the corn feed mixture should be poured into each trough. Neither one was large enough for all the sheep to eat out of at once so they needed to be split into two groups so all could eat. Seems easy enough right? Just pour the corn feed mixture into the troughs and let them have at it. So Anna walks out for her first feeding. She has a bucket full of food and starts to fill the trough on the left. The sheep, aware of what was about to happen, watched with excitement and much bleating. Before she could even step away the sheep attacked the food. Not all the sheep could feed out of the one trough so the sheep in back nipped at the sheep in front. It didn’t make a difference after she filled the trough on the right because none of the sheep noticed. Anna then turned one sheep completely around and brought its attention to the newly filled trough. It began to eat with gusto! Soon, all the sheep in the back of the group were turned and eating out of the second trough on the right. Unfortunately this was not the end of the situation. Once the sheep on the left caught on that the other sheep had found somewhere else to feed, they all turned around and tried to make their way to the other trough, too! The ones who were unable to eat out of the trough on the left were now eating contently while the ones previously eating were now nipping at the backs of the feeding sheep. Anna was dumbfounded by this concept. Why didn’t the sheep split into two groups and feed at the same time? Why did they want to eat what the others were eating, even though it was all the same thing? Why did she have to spend the first twenty minutes constantly separating the sheep before they found contentment? It is because sheep need help and guidance. They are lost without a leader, their shepherd.

As you all know, before King David was ever a King, he was a shepherd boy. He spent a great deal of time looking after sheep and would have developed many insights into their characteristics and behaviors. Although he once was a shepherd, he wrote Psalm 23 viewing himself like a sheep. Imagine that! After all that time of dealing with their peculiar and sometimes annoying ways and rescuing them from prey or from wandering off, he finds within himself traits that are similar to those sheep. More than that, he sees the comparison of the relationship between sheep and their shepherd to him and God. It’s easy to see, then, that if we are the sheep then the Lord is our Shepherd. That theme certainly caught on in Scripture as there are 59 references to the word “shepherd” and many of these are used to indicate God’s relationship to His people. Our text for today, the 23rd Psalm, is a poignant example of God as our Shepherd and we, as Christians, being His sheep.

Let’s look at the role of the shepherd together. He cares for His flock through thick and thin. He herds them, feeds them, provides for them and protects them. Sheep sometimes run away or get into trouble so the shepherd must find and rescue them. David tells us what he did as a shepherd, as he recounts it to King Saul in 1 Samuel 17:34-35, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear.” Imagine those scenes. David is tending his sheep when large, dangerous beasts like the lion and the bear come to take one of his sheep. Instead of cutting his losses, he pursued the sheep with tenacity, even to the point of putting himself in harm’s way. He obviously didn’t take his position of caretaker very lightly. David was a tremendously dedicated shepherd but we have an even better shepherd than that.

The LORD is our Shepherd. We know that He will go to great lengths to rescue us. In fact, He already has. Look at what Jesus tells us in John 10:14-16, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” No one can provide for you, protect you, rescue you or lay down His life for you like the Lord. Without the Lord as our shepherd we would wander on our own way. We would be in search of whatever we think might satisfy us more. We would seek fulfillment in dangerous places because we would have no master to show us the right direction. Or, like the sheep in Anna’s story, we might want what someone else has forgetting that just moments ago we were content in what had been provided to us. There is no better Shepherd than the Lord Jesus Christ.

As Verse 1 tells us, because the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Just as a sheep under the leadership of a good shepherd will lack nothing, so our Lord causes us to lack in nothing. Many immediately think of material desires, but in Psalm 23 to “lack in nothing” means so much more than just material needs. It is lacking in nothing spiritually. While the Lord may bless with material things, it is spiritual fulfillment that this verse is speaking about. Our Lord fills us with His Spirit, which is more lasting and safe than any material item or hiding place. When the shepherd cares for the flock it will be both physically and emotionally full. We also can be physically, emotionally and spiritually full because our Lord is sure that we lack in nothing. In order that we lack in nothing we must have nourishment. That nourishment comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit, reading God’s word, having a relationship with Him, praying and fellowshipping with one another.

Let’s look at verse 2. It states, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” A good shepherd does not place His sheep in a pasture that is full of dead grass and weeds. Instead, he leads his sheep to bountiful pastures, providing food and water that will cause us to flourish if we eat and drink it. Not only do sheep need food, but they also need safety. If a sheep feels unsafe that sheep cannot eat or rest. It will become tired and thin, making it vulnerable to sickness and disease. Sheep trust their shepherd because he will never lead them into danger. The shepherd who cares for his sheep leads them to eat, drink and rest in a place where they feel safe and free from danger. Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we lack in nothing and we can be at rest. Being at rest does not mean an absence of difficulty. It means, despite the difficulty, we can be at rest because we know who our Shepherd is. He brings us to a place where we can feed, drink and rest with the promises He’s given us in His Word. We must be content with what we have in the Lord. Some try to supplement what the Lord provides from outside sources. This is the “grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” mentality. Sure it may seem like others have a better or easier time in life, but if we saw their reality, we might find it to not be desirable at all. The enemy, and even our flesh, will use every trick in the book to try to convince us that our pasture is not tasty or nutritious as the grass “other side of the fence”, but this is no more than a lie. We either feed on the Word of the Lord or we feed on the rotten food the world has to offer. We cannot feed on both. If we find ourselves going back and forth, we are only taking one step forward and two steps back. Choose to feed on the Word of the Lord and you will find rest like you’ve never known.

Verse three states, “He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His Name's sake.” The soul is made up of our mind, our will and our emotions. Our soul can become weary from sin, disappointment, grief and the daily grind of life. It’s important that we stop to recognize the state of our mind, our will and our emotions and then, to seek the Lord for restoration. We can waste our time looking for other things to satisfy our souls but only true restoration will come from the relationship we have with our Good Shepherd. Once restored, the Lord will give us strength and lead us down paths that are safe for us. The Lord does not place us in danger. It is when we stray from the path that we run into trouble. 1 Corinthians 10:13 states, “No trial has overtaken you that is not faced by others. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tried beyond what you are able to bear, but with the trial will also provide a way out so that you may be able to endure it.” This is not to say we will not have difficulty in life. Difficulty is the effect of sin. Despite trials in life God tells us He provides a way out. When we stray from the path He will bring us back. He cries out to us and calls us back. He does this for His reputation. What sort of reputation would a shepherd have if he did not care for his sheep? What sort of reputation would he have if his sheep were starved and sickly? He would not have a good reputation. The Lord leads us down the right path because even one sheep that strays and dies is one too many. The Lord cares for His sheep and will not let His reputation be put to shame.

Verse four tells us this, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” This is often used as a verse of comfort when loved ones are nearing the end of their life here on earth because it provides comfort and hope to those dying as well as to the family. It reminds us that the Lord is near us and with us even to death. This verse is powerful during those times because we are reminded that nothing, not even death, can separate us from the love of God. This verse isn’t limited to only those situations, though. It can also be applied to those experiencing any kind of hardship: pain, suffering, disease, injury, financial difficulty, strained relationships. No matter what you are facing, the Lord is with you. As he tells us in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

We know that He is with us in trial and we know that He will not leave us. Why does it say his rod and staff will comfort us? A shepherd carries a rod and staff for many reasons. The staff can be used to check for infection on the skin by helping to separate the wool into a part. It can help to guide the sheep by using it as a directional tool. Before guns were available to the modern shepherd, the rod was used as a weapon. It could be hurled much like a javelin with surprising precision. This could be used to scare away or even kill a predator. When the Lord is your Shepherd, you have nothing to fear. He uses the rod and staff to protect and guide and only uses it as a weapon towards the enemies of the sheep. When we encounter danger we need only call upon His name and He will use His rod to protect us and His staff to comfort us. If through our sin we wander away from Him and encounter danger, the Holy Spirit will serve as a rod to speak to us and warn us about our misdirection and turn us in the right direction.

Verse five reminds us the Lord will always feed us even when our enemies are watching us. The Lord prepares for us an abundance of nourishment in the sight of all. He does not do this in the cover of night. He does not hide from our enemies the provision he extends to us. I have heard time and time again of people who are not Christian asking Christian friends how it is they can be so happy or content despite adversity. The answer is we are fully fed by the Lord our shepherd. Sheep are content to eat wherever there is proper supply of food. Prey may be lurking, and sheep will not eat if they are stressed, but, if they trust their shepherd completely, they will be eat peace and eat without a thought towards their predators. The same is with the Lord as our Shepherd. He provides us a meal that we feast upon. However, it is only available to His flock. Enemies cannot partake of this feast and for this reason they are jealous. Despite this desire to feast on the food set before us our enemies will not commit to the care of the shepherd that will provide this meal. They may gaze upon us in wonder as we are content and full, but may never call on our Lord as their Shepherd. This is because we are set apart. We are anointed with oil and covered by the Blood of Christ.

Being anointed with oil is a concept used frequently in Scripture. Oil has several purposes in a sheep’s life. It can keep flies from bothering and biting the sheep. Oil can also be used to kill off parasites that get onto the sheep’s skin below the wool by dipping the sheep into the oil. The sheep’s head is included in the dipping. In the same way we are refreshed with oil. The Lord sets us apart from the disease-infested flesh of the world. Under the care of our loving Shepherd we are free from the disease of sin. In the New Testament we are told to anoint the sick with oil when praying for healing. We are sheep who are anointed by the most caring shepherd over any flock and are set apart from the rest of the world

Being set apart means we are to behave differently from the rest of the world. The first half of the final verse states, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…” You might ask yourself, “When I speak to friends, leave the office, or even go to the grocery store what follows behind me?” Do we leave frustration and sadness or do we leave goodness and mercy. In my studying I have learned that sheep will eat anything. According to agricultural experts, the manure of sheep is some of the best you can find of any animal. Hang on, I will tell you why that is important in just a second. Sheep will eat weeds and thistles that other animals will not. As such they can clear land that has been ravaged with weeds. Because their manure is so rich with nutrients it also aids in the growth of lush grass. Just by their nature healthy sheep can turn a dying field into a prosperous and valuable piece of land. Do we leave places better than when we arrived? People who are tended by the Lord and listen to His voice leave behind goodness and mercy. This is a hallmark of a healthy Christian.

The final half of verse six states, “…and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Sheep find comfort in the shelter of safety provided by the shepherd. The shepherd may travel with the sheep through difficult paths, but by the end of a long journey, the shepherd leads the sheep to a home that is peaceful. When the sheep are content they do not want to leave. The same is for us as the sheep of the Good Shepherd. We will desire to dwell in the Lord’s house. We will have no desire to leave. In fact the Lord will not allow us to stray from His dwelling place. We may start to wander. We may be curious of what lies on the other side of the fence. Despite this curiosity He will always call us back and we will always listen. John 10:27 states, “My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” He brings us back to the safe dwelling place and we are content. We are safe. The Lord holds us in His arms and meets all our needs.

While sheep may not be the noblest creatures they are among the most cared for animals. They require great care and selfless love. If a sheep has a master that is cruel and uncaring they will wither away with disease and sickness. However, the sheep with a watchful shepherd will grow and prosper. These sheep will give birth to lambs that are strong. In the same way we as Christians grow and prosper under the Good Shepherd who is our Father in Heaven. We are set apart from the world. We feed off the Word of the Lord and it is completely satisfying. Our Lord pays attention to us with a watchful, protective eye. We know the voice of the Lord and we follow it. We can rest knowing we are safe. We know the enemy cannot harm us. Our feet are planted firm in the Name of Christ and we can boast in His Name. Praise be to God! Our Shepherd is the Lord and we will dwell in the House of the Lord forever!