The Reality and Promise of the Shepherd

Introduction: Let me begin by saying - I stand here this morning with great spiritual pride to preach God’s word because preaching about God and His Word is a great privilege and honor. I stand here this morning with a humble heart with reverential fear and apprehension because it is God, Holy and Almighty, that I am preaching about. I stand here with great joy because I am preaching to you, some who are God’s people and some whom God wants to become His people through His salvation and your repentance.

To those of you who are God’s people, let’s remember that the purpose of the Church is to Honor God in Worship, Discipleship, Service, Fellowship and Evangelism. If Jesus came to seek and save lost people, we will fail if we do all but the last one.

Today I want to preach from probably the most familiar scripture passage and the most quoted/used, by Christians and Non-Christians alike. .

If by chance you are not familiar with it, you can find it by holding your Bible and the Psalms are located in the center, flip open and then make your way to it from there. Or, if you are a tablet or phone person, it will be a little easier to find. The psalm speaks of Yahweh, the Lord as a shepherd, and metaphorically, his care for his sheep.

LET’S STAND TOGETHER AS WE HONOR GOD AND READ HIS WORD TOGETHER

PRAYER

Illustration: When I was pastor in South Alabama, we had a weekly pastor’s meeting on Monday mornings, much like here in the Beaver Damn Association. Many times one of the pastors would arrive late. He had a great excuse, he was a sheep farmer.

I learned a lot about the animals from him and in the different times of studying this Psalm.

Sheep were first domesticated in the Ancient Near East around 7000 BC. I wonder if it is intentional that God inspired it for sheep to be mentioned more than any other livestock in the Bible? From what I learned about sheep, I am not too sure I like being called one or compared to one. Sheep are:

stupid, gullible, very slow learners - constantly going through the same painful lesson over and over again

• demanding - demanding from the time as a newborn, more and more grass, when snow on ground steady fussing at shepherd for food

• stubborn - cannot get them to do anything very easily

• unpredictable - will watch a car coming for several hundred yards and then run right out in front of it.

• imitators - Sheep have a strong instinct to follow the sheep in front of them. When one sheep decides to go somewhere, the rest of the flock usually follows, even if it is not a good "decision." For example, sheep will follow each other to slaughter. (This can happen spiritually in a church)

• restless being very vulnerable to fear, frustration, pests, hunger - For sheep to lie down, they need the four F’s. No fear. No friction. No flies and plenty of Food.

• straying - where they are easily killed by its predators because they have little or no means of self-defense; can only run but not very fast. That’s why they are easily panicked and stampede

• Too much wool allows them to be easily flipped but sheep hate to be cleaned and sheered.

will die of starvation if not turned over by shepherd; helpless

need to be "on the move"; need a pre-determined plan, pattern of grazing but are creatures of habit; get into "ruts"

plants or drinking dirty water

Body of Sermon: Now I don’t know about you but those are characteristics i do not like to be described with, but unfortunately I often times have them. I think David, being the shepherd boy called by God to be the shepherd King understood all of this.

It is believed that David wrote this Psalm not long after he was anointed King at a young age by the Prophet/Priest Samuel. He was the forgotten about and overlooked youngest son, but God knew exactly who he was and where he was. I would imagine he would revisited and recite this Psalm many times as he faced the threat of death from many enemies like Goliath, King Saul, and even some of his own family.

• dependent - cannot thrive or survive w/o close supervision of their shepherd.

David, as a shepherd, was full aware of how hopeless and helpless sheep can be or become, yet he loved the flock he cared for, and he realized his care for his flock paled in comparison to the care of God for His flock. Even though we can become just as hopeless and helpless as sheep, we can find the same comfort and confidence, in Jesus our Great Shepherd, that David shared in writing and singing this Psalm.

Transitional Sentence and Keyword: Let’s study some of the realities about our Great Shepherd that David highlights here. (Not every point in this outline is original to me, but well worth sharing what I learned)

Jesus is a Personal Shepherd

v.1 - David says the Lord is “my” Shepherd - this possessive pronoun reveals a close and pledged personal relationship between David and his Lord. Shepherd is a much more intimate word than some of the other words David used in other Psalms such as King or Deliverer or Rock or Shield. A shepherd, like David lived with his flock and was everything to the flock: its guide, its physician, and its protector. And that is what we find here describing God.

David uses

For the Believer/Christian “my” links Jesus, “The Lord” with “I shall”

The Apostle Paul learned and taught us, it is only with Jesus and through Jesus that we shall be content in life, whether we have plenty or hardly any. It is only with Jesus that I shall have the strength to live and do His will. It is only with Jesus that I shall have His forgiveness of sin and His righteousness. It is only with Jesus I shall have eternal life and am waiting on Heaven and not heading to hell.

The Apostle Paul learned and taught us, it is only with Jesus and through Jesus that we become content in life, whether we have plenty or hardly any. It is only with Jesus that I have the strength to live and do His will. It is only with Jesus that I have forgiveness of sin and His righteousness. It is only with Jesus I have eternal life and am waiting on Heaven and not heading to hell.

Like I stated earlier, many Non-Christians quote this Psalm but they can never claim this Psalm. He is not their Lord, so He cannot be their Shepherd. If He is not your shepherd, He wants to be, that’s why He died on the cross for you. Jesus can become your shepherd today by grace through faith when you repent of your sin and seek His forgiveness.

Jesus is a Providing Shepherd

I love how the NIV translates the last half of v.1 - When the Lord is my Shepherd - it says “I lack nothing.” God’s people will never lack anything they need.

I will not be devoid of the necessities of life, or if I am I will not be devoid of the ability and spiritual strength to see me through until I do have them.

“Pastures” are a place of grazing, and the ones God leads me to are always greener and better than the ones I seek or the world offers me.

In we find Abraham telling his nephew he would give him first choice of the land before them. Lot looked around and saw land that was well watered and in the same fashion as that of the garden of Eden, so he chose that part. The part he chose had the most evil and vile cities of his time, Sodom and Gomorrah.

“Pastures” are also places of settlement the shepherd would lead the sheep to find restful comfort from their weariness.

“Pastures” are also places of habitation where the sheep can gather for fellowship in the flock.

Wandering sheep or sheep not of the flock are never settled and calm. Let me encourage you if you are a Christian of another flock but God lead you to graze in the pasture of Pleasant Ridge, why don’t you make today the day you officially become a part of our local flock by joining us through membership to enjoy the full benefits of the flock.

One of the most important ways in which Jesus provides for us is in the way of righteousness, at the end of v.3 on through all of v.4 we find the reality of

Jesus is a Pioneering Shepherd

These “paths of righteousness” are describing a path of life. Shepherds are constantly moving their sheep from one location of the pasture to another because when sheep are left to themselves they will graze a plot of land down to the bare dirt, which leads to infested and diseased land. So for the health of the sheep the shepherd most move them along to continue feeding on the good stuff.

Proverbs 12:28 NASB95

In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.

Proverbs 12:28

Following Jesus is the means to life more abundantly. Following anything or anyone else leads to destruction.

Illustration: Read story of 63 people arrested at a party in Clarksville GA. Because no one would own up to the ounce of pot all were charged for it. People are crying injustice, but that’s why mama and Apostle Paul said......”bad company corrupts good morals”

Psalm 1:6 NASB95

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 1:6 NASB95

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.

A valley is a long depression in the surface of the land - but often their is found a river running through it. Anytime you find yourselves in some valley - take comfort in knowing that the river of life is running through it.

“Evil” can mean anything that causes harm, destruction or lead to misfortune - doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen - just means because of our shepherd we have no need to fear.

Illustration: Tell testimony that Nick Sadler shared with Silas about the fear of dark before and after salvation.

The great part of the promise in v.4 is that during those darkest times the Shepherd is no longer out front leading us, rather He comes in closer to be with us walking together through those valleys. And when need be

Jesus is a Protecting Shepherd

David had defended his flock from Lions and Bears, killing them in order to protect them. As a young King in waiting, he took on a giant and slew him in defense of his people.

Sheep can fall prey to their predators. Even if they survive, they might still die from sheer panic.

The shepherd would use his rod and staff to reach out and assure the sheep of his presence and calms their nerves.

This image here gives us the promise that God can and will provide us with emotional stability in life’s threatening situations.

Illustration: One lady tells the story of driving to church on Easter Sunday a few years ago, and telling her children the Easter story. “This is the day we celebrate Jesus’ coming back to life,” she explained.

Right away, her son, Kevin, three, piped up from the backseat, “Will he be in church today?”

Jesus is a Present and Pursuing Shepherd

In v.5 we find David shifting imagery a bit to show us God as our host, yet as believers, we are more than God’s guest for a day, to dine and drink at His table means we are going to be forever in His presence.

Right away, her son, Kevin, three, piped up from the backseat, “Will he be in church today?”

V.5-6 - is an earthly image not a heavenly one. We see that Jesus turns our troubles, trials and threats into triumphs, so we are to gather together and worship Him. When you gathered to worship Him, he is there.

God seeks to bring us back when we don’t gather to worship Him. He chases down the ones he loves.

Ezekiel 34:11 NASB95

For thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.

Ezekiel 34:11

Jesus in 15th chapter of Luke points out that the Jewish men would go after 1 sheep leaving the 99 behind. He would put it on the shoulders and bring it back. Then a celebration would be had with all.

We need to make sure we help other sheep of our flock who have wandered to find their way home, because we are grateful that God has done the same for us.

Depth and strength underlie the simplicity of this psalm. Its peace is not escape; its contentment is not complacency: there is readiness to face deep darkness and imminent attack, and the climax reveals a love which homes towards no material goal but to the Lord himself. And we don’t even have to worry about where to find him because He comes after us.

God seeks to bring us back.

Conclusion: This psalm is David’s way of connecting with God in his calling and context as a shepherd, and as a leader of God’s people.

1 Peter 5:2 NASB95

shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;

1 Peter 5:2

The words used by Paul and Peter - “elder” “bishop” “overseer” but especially “pastor” are all linked to the work of shepherding.

Mama never made me a promise she knew she could not keep, so I don’t want to either. So it is not lightly that I say:

God always helps me find the greenest pastures I need to grow and be spiritually healthy, and I promise as your shepherd to do the same.

God only teaches me truth from His Word. He provides a course correction when it’s needed and leads me back down the straight paths and I promise to do the same as your pastor.

God sought me out when I was scattered, and I promise to not let you wander alone and isolated.

God has always made me whole again with His comfort and I promise to show how he will for you in your time of need.

God has always guarded me from all kinds of danger, and I promise to try and do the same as your shepherd leader

God leads me to worship because of his goodness and love, and I promise to always lead you to worship Him.

God has always been there in my darkest hours to ease my fears, bring me comfort, and provide me fellowship in his presence, and I promise I will seek to do the same as your pastor.

CLOSING PRAYER

INVITATION (DON’T FORGET HAND OF FELLOWSHIP)

God sought me out when I was scattered, and I promise to do the same

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