The Good Shepherd Wk 2

Psalm 23:2

Take your copy of God’s Word and meet me in Psalm 23…

Please stand for the reading of God’s word:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. -Psalm 23

When I was a child, I was afraid of sleeping alone in the dark. I’m still convinced that I witnessed objects moving in my room in my adolescent years. Although I was blessed with a comfortable bed, a roof over my head, sheets, pillows, and blankets, this alone wouldn’t lead to a good night’s rest. In other words, I had all the necessary components needed for me to safely snooze in my bed, and yet the loneliness and darkness were stumbling blocks. And then there was this great invention. Technically this was invented way before my time but follow me. By God’s grace, the bunkbed was invented. This allowed my brother and I to sleep in the same room, with me on the top bunk. Here’s what’s interesting, nothing actually changed about the room itself. It was still dark; I still possessed the same blanket and pillow that I had before. There were still objects in the dark that looked like monsters but were actually lamps. Why does everything look so much scarier in the dark anyway? The only aspect that changed was the presence of someone else in my room with me. Now it could have been any family member to be honest, as I remember having crazy nightmares as a kid and crawling in bed with my mother and feeling so much safer. The mere fact that my brother was present allowed me to enjoy the bed that was already purchased for me.

We’re continuing our Good Shepherd series this morning by examining verse 2a. We’ll consider the fact that our Good Shepherd, the Lord Jesus does both for his people. He purchases our metaphorical beds, and he is present with us that we may have rest. Oh, how unfortunate is the believer in Christ who is unaware of his abiding presence, and is therefore unable to rest. Maybe you’re here this morning and you’re not afraid of resting in a dark room alone because you know that scary image is just a picture on your wall, but maybe you look out at this world full of hate, injustice, pandemics, polarization, and death and don’t know how to properly rest in the presence of the Lord Jesus. Our author can relate with us, and yet he pens these words.

Here is our overarching point this morning drawn directly from the text.

The Shepherd Possesses Ranges (v. 2a)

Let’s begin. One of the resources I found extremely helpful when preparing this message was a book entitled A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller. Phillip Keller has years of experience as both a shepherd and a lay elder in his local church, therefore his contribution is considerable. It’s important to notate upfront that when I reference Keller in this series, I’m referring to the shepherd and lay elder, not the Doctor and Pastor in New York.

With that said, let’s dive into the text. He makes me lie down. Let’s stop there for now. A fun fact about sheep, due to their make-up it’s nearly impossible to make them lie down unless three requirements are met.[1]

1. Due to their timid nature, they refuse to lie down unless they’re free of all fear.

2. Due to the social behavior within most flocks, sheep won’t lie down unless they’re free from friction with other sheep.

3. Lastly, sheep won’t lie down if they feel in need of finding food.

Naturally, this will be our three subpoints under our first point.

Free from Fear

Free from Friction

Free from Finding Food

We’ll look at how each of these aspects are similar in God’s people and how the presence of our Shepherd remedies each. Let’s start with fear. Sheep are naturally easily panicked animals. It’s said that a stray jackrabbit jumping out of the bushes can result in a stampede of an entire flock. When one sheep is startled and begins to run from danger, the rest of the sheep will follow suit without even verifying that there is a real imminent threat. I read a story of a friend visiting a shepherd. She brought a tiny Pekingese pup along with her. After just one glimpse of this little pup, 200 sheep rushed off across the range in sheer terror. If there is even the slightest suspicion of danger from dogs, coyotes, cougars or bears, sheep will flee for their lives in an instant. With that said, you can imagine the difficulty of attempting to get a sheep to lie down with the anxiety of enemies lurking behind every corner. Keller writes that “I came to realize that nothing so quieted and reassured the sheep as to see me in the field. The presence of their master and owner and protector put them at ease as nothing else could do, and this applied day and night.” There’s no substitute for the keen awareness that our shepherd is nearby. This is true not only of sheep, but also of the people of God.

For the most part, our lives are filled with uncertainty and if we can be honest, this frightens many of us. Any minute of any hour can bring disaster, danger, and distress. We discussed the fall from glory last week that has impacted each and every one of us. The fact that this life is filled with countless “unknowns” goes back to the fall. The fact that this life is filled with countless “unexpected events” points back to the fall. The fact that this life is filled with countless hazards and troubles points back to the fall. No one has the ability to anticipate what new troubles a day may produce. There’s no denying this. As Christians, we don’t deny that this world is broken and full of sorrow.

In 2020 people all across the world had no idea that there was a virus that would claim so many lives and change the world as we know it. Those New York citizens who woke up on September 11, 2001 had no idea what was in store for them on that day. Dr. Martin Luther King had no idea he would be assassinated as he stepped out of that Memphis hotel in 1968. A countless number of West Africans had no idea they would be subjected to chattel slavery prior to the transatlantic slave trade. The disciples initially had no idea that their decision to follow this Jewish rabbi would lead to their torture and death. David had no idea that the day he was anointed as King would be the beginning of a life filled with turmoil. You fill in the gap for your own life. With all this said, do we not have reason to be frightened? How could we possibly lay down and rest in the presence of so much unexpected danger that produces fear?

Similar to what’s said of the sheep when they become keenly aware of the shepherd’s presence, we’re placed at ease when we mediate on the presence of the Lord Jesus. This makes all the difference. A room that appears to be pitch black, is suddenly brightened by the presence of this shepherd. Our outlook is changed, and we have hope. And don’t think for a second that because you lack the physical presence of our shepherd that he is not with you. But don’t take my word for it, listen to the Lord Jesus.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. -John 16:7

Who is this helper? He is identified as the Holy Spirit in the latter verse. Hear what the Good Shepherd has to say about the Spirit in the chapters preceding this one.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. -John 14:16-18

So, there’s a lot here, but we’re going to zoom our lens in so you can see the connection to Psalm 23 regarding our freedom to lay down and rest amid danger. First off, he tells his disciples that it’s to their advantage that he goes away. This “going away” would include his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. The disciples have struggled with the cross being advantageous for them, as their idea of Israel’s Messiah is one who isn’t crucified by their enemy. These Hebrew disciples faced a life of unexpectant dangers just as we do. There’s a connection to death with all of the tragedies that I mentioned earlier, as well as any that have gone unmentioned. All the fear we as sheep have are connected to death, in that they remind us that something has gone wrong, i.e., the fall, and that we are one step closer to death with each day that passes. So, the Lord Jesus must deal with death, by death itself. This is the gospel message. So, it’s to the disciples’ advantage that he atones for them, but he also points to the advantage of the Spirit. This is how Jesus keeps his promise to be with his people until the end of the age, through the third person of the Godhead. If you think it would be better to have Jesus with us physically as opposed to the inward dwelling of the Spirit, you are missing the enormous blessing that comes through Christ victorious exaltation! We create a false dichotomy. It is not between Christ present and absent. That’s what he’s trying to get his disciples to see. Rather it is between Christ present in body in which he is limited to space and time, and Christ present in the Holy Spirit that indwells every believer. Well, Jesus is saying that the latter is far greater!

And what does the Spirit bring? Boldness and comfort amid life’s danger. We see a clear motif running in the Book of Acts regarding the relation between the Holy Spirit and boldness. A few examples will suffice.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. -Acts 4:31

5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. -Acts 6:5

28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord. 29 And he spoke and disputed against the Hellenists.[a] But they were seeking to kill him. 30 And when the brothers learned this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.31 So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. -Acts 9:28-31

So, it is the special office work of God’s gracious Holy Spirit to convey the Shepherd’s presence to our fearful hearts.

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 1 Timothy 1:7

Have you ever met someone who is always afraid? This seems to mark their very life and all the moves that they make. This should not describe the Christian. As we have the knowledge that even our departure from this temporal life is a doorway to our faithful lover. The Spirit reassures us that the Lord Jesus is always present with us. Therefore, we can lay down in peace and sleep. So, we can be free from fear.

But what about friction? There exists tension and rivalry within the flock itself. This should come as no surprise, considering the fact that every animal society has an established order of dominance or status within the group. Among sheep, this phenomenon is called the “butting order.” This is how Phillip Keller describes it. “Generally, an arrogant, cunning and domineering old ewe will be boss of any bunch of sheep. She maintains her position of prestige by butting and driving other ewes or lambs away from the best grazing or favorite bed grounds. Succeeding her in precise order the other sheep all establish and maintain their exact position in the flock by using the same tactics of budding and thrusting at those below an around them.”

We actually see this process described in Ezekiel 34:15-16 and 20-22. As you can imagine, this causes friction in the flock. The sheep aren’t able to lay down and rest, because they have to stay on alert in case an intruder, one of their own, attempts to challenge them. This constant conflict within the sheep can lead to the flock becoming more tense, discontent, and restless. Consequently, the sheep lose weight and are constantly irritable. But once again, the presence of the shepherd, more times than not, results in the sheep abandoning their foolish rivalries and fighting. The flock’s attention is directed towards the shepherd, and the effect is a united flock who are then able to lie down.

Beloved, we have had some friction within the past couple of years. You name it, and Christians have found reason to divide over it. Everything from politics, to views on social justice, to mask wearing. We have been polarized. Could it be that one of the root causes of us not being able to metaphorically lie down as the flock alongside one another is because we have lacked a keen awareness of the Lord’s presence?

Here’s what we need to understand. We all belong to one another, rather we like it or not. We have been reconciled to one another, rather we like it or not. The Apostle Paul makes this point in the second chapter of his epistle to the Ephesian church.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[d] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[e] the Spirit. -Ephesians 2:13-22

Notice Paul uses indicatives and not imperatives in this text. It’s similar to vertical reconciliation or justification. We can’t make ourselves right with God on our own. We can’t even choose the goodness of God over sin on our own. He does the saving and justifying, and our call is to behave is if we have been justified. In the same way, Paul is basically telling this church, you’re already reconciled, now act like it. But we must be reminded of the presence of our Shepherd, Christ Jesus, through the Spirit in order to walk in this reconciliation. Let’s reread verse 18.

18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

You see the connection here? We have already established that it is by the Spirit that Christ makes us aware of his presence in our lives. Through the Spirit’s work of making Christ’s presence felt in the life of the believer, not only do we have boldness, as discussed earlier, but we also are reminded that this Spirit supernaturally unites as into one body with every other believer.

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. -1 Corinthians 12:13

Jesus never rolls alone. He always has a clique of justified blood-bought Christians with him. So, when you are gently reminded of your shepherd’s presence, this should compel you to act the truth that is already factual concerning other Christians. Nothing unites God’s people more than severe persecution. You know why? You’re forced to continually rely on and look to the shepherd. It’s hard to bicker over tertiary issues when you’re in the middle of a war. Can you imagine two soldiers with a common enemy in the intensity of warfare asking, who did you vote for? Or, what are your thoughts on the vaccine? Or, how do you nuance social justice? And then they take out their knives in the middle of the battlefield and start trying to stab one another. That’s not likely to happen because these soldiers would be so focused on the common goal of winning this war. But if you had some soldiers back at the base who are bored of reading magazines and taking naps, then these dissensions make more sense.

Many times, persecution reminds us that we are in a war, and that we have to set our eyes on the Lord Jesus to make it to the next day. And in being fully aware of the presence of our Shepherd, we are fully aware of the fact that we need one another.

Lastly, sheep must be free of feeling as if they need to find food. And here is where the green pastures come into play. By the Holy Spirit, David says, He makes me lie down in green pastures.

Most type of sheep flourish best in dry, semi-arid areas. This lowers the danger of various health issues where the climate is dry. While at the same time, these regions don’t commonly offer green pastures. Palestine, where David would have written this Psalm and kept his father’s flocks, is a dry, brown, sun-burned waste land. You couldn’t just stumble upon green pastures. They were the product of tremendous labor and skill in land use. Green pastures were the result of clearing rough, rocky land; tearing out brush and roots and stumps, of deep plowing and careful soil preparation; of seeding and planting special grains or irrigating with water and husbanding with care the crops of forage that would feed the flocks. Only the most diligent shepherd could lead his flock to green pastures. But this is essential to the success of sheep. Ewes need green succulent feed for a heavy milk flow; therefore, the good pasturage is a beautiful sight in the eyes of a good shepherd. It is in this setting that the sheep are able to lie down to rest and ruminate. Therefore, in this context, an anxiety for food is not an issue. Whereas a hungry and ill-fed sheep is always on his feet searching for a mouthful of forage to satisfy its hunger.

Once again, we’re reminded of language utilized in Israel’s early history regarding the Exodus. Remember last week, we said that the shepherding of the Lord would have reminded David’s original audience how he shepherded them in the desert by meeting all their needs. Well, the Lord instructed Moses and the Israelites that he would lead them to a land flowing with milk and honey if they would abandon their idols and follow him. A land flowing with milk and honey is a rich land with green, luxuriant pastures. This Old Testament account of Israel moving from bondage in Israel to freedom in the Promised land is a picture of God moving us from sin into the overcoming victory in Christ. As a matter of fact, Jesus’ name in the Hebrew is Joshua. Jesus is the better Joshua who leads his people into the promise land of rest.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. -John 6:35

The Lord Jesus is both the good shepherd AND the green pasture that we rest in and therefore no longer have a fear in finding food. This is the beauty of the gospel. We all have spiritual hunger, but we must be willing to become the beggar. Many of us are two civilized and self-sufficient to make such an admission. But it is only for the beggar that the Lord Jesus comes and dines with. So let us celebrate his work along with one another through the Lord’s Table.

Let’s Pray.

[1] List can be found in Phillip Keller’s A Shepherd looks at Psalm 23 (Zondervan, 1970) 35