The Good Shepherd Wk 3

Psalm 23:2a-3

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

This morning we're going to consider four points.

1. The Shepherd prepares rest (2b)

2. The Shepherd provides restoration (3a)

3. The Shepherd produces righteousness (3b)

4. The Shepherd's preeminent reputation (3c)

Let's start with the first point, the Shepherd prepares rest. Let's reread verse 2b. "He leads me beside still waters," or literally waters of rest. I’ll continue to drop rare jewels from Phillip Keller, who has experience as both an elder and a shepherd. In his book he describes how sheep's bodies are composed of about 70 percent water. "Water determines the vitality, strength, and vigor of the sheep and is essential to its health and general well-being." The dehydration of the sheep's tissues can lead to serious damage and eventual death. When sheep become thirsty and restless, if not led to good water by the shepherd, they will eventually end up drinking from polluted potholes where they can become infected by parasites and a list of disease germs.

But if they have a good shepherd leading them to pure water, they become satisfied and are able to truly rest and ruminate through the day. Human beings are not much different right? Our physical bodies warn us when our water supply is getting low, and we get ourselves into serious danger if we allow our dehydration to set in over an extended period of time. But this is not just the case for our physical bodies, the human soul has a capacity for the water of the Spirit offered by the Lord Jesus.

Solomon would say it like this, "Also, he has put eternity into man's heart" (Eccl 3:11).

In other words, nothing in this world will truly satisfy you. I like how Augustine put it, "O God! Thou has made us for thyself and our souls are restless, searching, 'til they find their rest in Thee.”

Temporal pleasures cannot offer the true rest that the eternal God gives. Like sheep, we realize that our souls are thirsting for satisfaction and rest, but in our sin, we don't seek after the good shepherd to lead us to water, we rather pursue the temporal things in this world.

Jeremiah puts it like this, "for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water" (Jeremiah 2:13).

Maybe you're listening today and you're currently in the vain pursuit of rest and satisfaction but looking in all the wrong places. I remember when my mom use to try to kill geckos with raid. It never worked because she was seeking to use something in a way it was never meant to be used.

These earthly pleasures and treasures were never meant to satisfy and replace God. Maybe you're in the midst of these vain pursuit now. Let me help you out, you'll never have enough of what you're looking for to provide you with the eternal satisfaction, and rest you were made for. It's like trying to fill bottomless pit with stuff. It'll never fill.

This is why C.S. Lewis said "If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world."

We were made for eternal glory! (DON’T AIM TOO LOW!!) So, stop looking and accept the waters of rest that the Lord Jesus offers.

"On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38).

(Sabbatical language in both Psalm 23 and gospels)

Here's the beauty in the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Not only does he lead us to still waters so we can initially find rest in him, but he continues to offer refreshment for his people every day.

Solomon says that "The steadfast love for the LORD never ceases; mercies never come to and end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Generally speaking, water for the sheep came from three main sources...dew on the grass, deep wells, or springs and streams. According to Keller, sheep can go for months on end, especially if the weather is not too hot, without actually drinking water if there is heavy dew on the grass each morning.

"Sheep, by habit, rise just before dawn and start to feed. Or if there is bright moonlight they will graze at night. The early hours are when vegetation is drenched with dew, and sheep can keep feeding on the amount of water taken in with their forage when they graze just before and after dawn. Dew is a clear, clean, pure source of water. The diligent shepherd will have to rise early in the morning to be with his flock."

If you've been a believer for a while now you know the beauty of the quiet early hours that are spent alone with God. We see this in the life of David and even of the Lord Jesus.

I like what Charles Spurgeon has to say on this topic, "Our first word should be with our heavenly Father. It is good for the soul’s health to begin the day by taking a satisfying draught from the river of the water of life. Very much more depends upon beginnings than some men think. How you go to bed to-night may be determined by your getting up this morning. If you get out of bed on the wrong side, you may keep on the wrong side all the day. If your heart be right in the waking, it will be a help towards its being right till sleeping. Go not forth into a dry world till the morning dew lies on thy branch. Baptize thy heart in devotion ere thou wade into the stream of daily care. See not the face of man until thou hast first seen the face of God. Let thy first thoughts fly heavenward and let thy first breathings be prayer."

We find our continual refreshment as believers from the well of the Lord Jesus each and every day.

(EXHORT TO READ BIBLE, BIOGRAPHIES OF GODLY MEN HAVE DONE THE SAME. MAY LOOK DIFFERENT FOR SOME)

Our second point this morning is The Shepherd provides restoration. Let's reread 3a, "He restores my soul."

The word restore simply means to "bring back.” Sheep are known to stray away from the flock and the protection of their shepherd. David, the author of this psalm, uses a term in Psalm 42:11 that is related to what happens to a sheep when they go astray.

"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God" (Psalm 42:11).

A cast down sheep refers to one that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself. They are literally helpless and at the mercy of their shepherd to find them and roll them on their right side. According to Keller, this happens when sheep roll on their side slightly to relax.

The center of gravity in the body shifts so that it turns on its back far enough that the feet no longer touch the ground. Keller also adds the sheep that choose the comfortable, soft, rounded hollows in the ground in which to lie down very often become cast. In such a situation it is so easy to roll over on their backs due to the comfort they have sought.

I find this to be the case in the Christian life as well. We get to a point where we forget we're in a war, we relax and kick back and next thing you know we have strayed away from our shepherd. This is what took place in the life of David. 2 Samuel provides the context in which David sinned with Bathsheba. It says when kings went out to battle, he kicked his feet up in his own home. Next thing you know, he was ensnared by sin.

This happens when instead of spending time with God in the morning we get too busy.

(Problem as Americans who want to see the results right then and there)

Believer, maybe you're in a place where you need to be restored, brought back into the fold. Look to Jesus! He is not disgusted with you and will not beat you out of anger, he already poured that out on his son. He has forgiveness to offer you if you will repent.

The true God-man pursues those who stray away from him. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So, it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18:10-14) (This text is for straying believers in particular)

This is the wonderful promise that we have from our shepherd. He provides restoration to his people.

Let's move to our next point, The Shepherd produces righteousness. "He leads me in paths of righteousness..." For this point we once again consider the experience and wisdom of Phillip Keller. Sheep are notorious creatures of habit who, if left to themselves, will follow the same trails until they pollute the ground. No other class of livestock requires more careful handling, more detailed direction, then do sheep. Keller offers an instance where he purchased his first sheep farm as a young man.

He said, "an absentee owner had rented the place to a tenant. The latter simply loaded the ranch with sheep, then left them pretty much to their own ways. The result was utter desolation. Fields became so overgrazed and impoverished they would grow little but poverty grass. Little sheep trails had deteriorated into great gullies. Erosion on the slopes was rampant and the whole place was ravaged almost beyond repair. All of this happened simply because the sheep, instead of being managed and handled with intelligent care, had been left to struggle for themselves-left to go their own way, left to the whims of their own destructive habits. The consequence of such indifference is that the sheep gnaw the grass to the very ground until even the roots are damaged."

As you can see, sheep are not to be left on their own. So, to prevent overgrazing, the wise shepherd must keep them on the move. They must be shifted from pasture to pasture periodically, or these stubborn animals will continue down a path of destruction. Does this sound familiar? We've seen what we look like when left to our own devices. Have you ever read Judges? Look at the world, wars, racism, hate, murder, slavery, abuse, gossip, idolatry, slander, jealousy, fits of rage, this is humanity unchecked. Ever since our federal head Adam sinned, we are born insane. Like the sheep, we do the same things over and over and yet expect different results.

Isaiah would say "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way"(Isaiah 53:6).

I remember when Neriah was just learning how to walk, she couldn't do much without my guidance. As a matter of fact, if she tried to get somewhere without me, this could lead her into some serious danger. But if she would follow daddy, she can be sure that she is safe. Some of you may be offended by that example because you think I am comparing you to a child.

That's exactly what I'm doing. Jesus said unless we are like one of these, we won't enter into the kingdom. We must humble ourselves and realize that we need him. And if you're starting your day without first going to him, you're practically saying that you don't need him. But the beauty in these words is the fact that he offers to lead us in paths of righteousness, like a shepherd leading a sheep. I like how Peter Jeffery said "Our problems is not really one of guidance, it is one of closeness to God. "

This verse isn't a promise that God will enlighten you with every decision you need to make. God has provided his people with the capability and responsibility to make different decisions in life. So, we shouldn't be as concerned with "finding the Lord's will for your life," as you are with walking close to the Lord. This brings us back to the Bible. The Lord God is calling for conformity to his Word, this is the paths of righteousness that He is leading us to. This verse won't allow us to claim the Lord's leadership for any action that is opposed to his Word. But you have to believe that the path the Lord God has provided is for your good and for your flourishing. He knows what’s best for his people. On our own, we are naturally like sheep who are stiff necked and want nothing to do with following a righteous path. But the Lord Jesus is a trailblazer. He came and lived the perfect life of righteousness and then provides us with His Spirit to empower us to follow the path that the Lord God is leading us on. And what is his primary motivation you ask? This leads us to our final point.

The Shepherd's preeminent reputation. It would do a shepherd well to guide his sheep in the right paths to keep from having an eroded farm. The owner's entire name and reputation depends on how effectively and efficiently he keeps his charges moving onto wholesome, new, fresh forage. So, it's a benefit to the sheep that a shepherd would care so much about his reputation,

because him caring about his reputation is what is motivating the shepherd to lead the sheep so well.

Look, I know that the popular way of preaching right now is making the Bible all about you.

But I wouldn't be a good under-shepherd if I told you that was true. Paul says that in the last days people will gather to themselves false teachers who will tickle their ears. Can I be frank? The whole Bible is all about Jesus! It all points to him. And let me be even more clear, God is primarily concerned with his name and his glory being placed on display.

This is a truth that is plastered throughout all the Scriptures.

Ezekiel 20:5-9 5 and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: On the day when I chose Israel, I swore[a] to the offspring of the house of Jacob, making myself known to them in the land of Egypt; I swore to them, saying, I am the Lord your God. 6 On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most glorious of all lands. 7 And I said to them, ‘Cast away the detestable things your eyes feast on, every one of you, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt; I am the Lord your God.’ 8 But they rebelled against me and were not willing to listen to me. None of them cast away the detestable things their eyes feasted on, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt.“Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. 9 But I acted for the sake of my name, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the nations among whom they lived, in whose sight I made myself known to them in bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

Did you catch what he says there? He acted for the sake of his name. Ephesians 1:3-14 makes this case as well. For time's sake, I won't read it but check it out when you get the chance. But this is actually a benefit for us. We don't want God to be primarily humanly motivated, we are way too fickle. The fact that He places his glory and name on the line is a guarantee that he will complete his work.

I would like to close with a story from our friend Phillip Keller. "I recall so clearly standing under the blazing equatorial sun of Africa and watching the native herds being led to their owner's water wells. Some of these were enormous, hand-hewn caverns cut from the sandstone formation along the sandy rivers. They were like great rooms chiseled out of the rocks with ramps running down to the water trough at the bottom. The herds and flocks were led down into these deep cisterns where cool, clear, clean water awaited them. But down in the well, stripped naked, was the owner bailing to satisfy the flock. It was hard, heavy, hot work. Perspiration poured off the body of the bailer whose skin glistened under the strain and heat of his labor. As I stood there watching the animals quench their thirst as the still waters, I was again immensely impressed by the fact that everything hinged and depended upon the diligence of the owner, the shepherd. Only through his energy, his efforts, his sweat, his strength could the sheep be satisfied. "

There is another shepherd I know of who was stripped naked. But he wasn't lowered into a well, rather he was lifted upon a cross. And it's by his energy, his effort, his sweat, his strength that any of this is possible. By his death, we live again. None of this is possible apart from what took place at the cross. It's by the cross of Christ that rest is prepared. It's by the cross of Christ that restoration is provided. It's by the cross of Christ that righteousness is produced. And it's at the cross that we see his preeminent reputation placed on full display.