Shepherd of Peace
Psummer in the Psalms • Sermon • Submitted
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The Lord is my Shepherd...
The Lord is my Shepherd...
This may be one of the best known phrases and most known Psalm
We have put it on signs and shirts, we have reworded it, embroidered it and tattooed it
If you start saying out loud, someone will know it
The question is though do we really know what it means
Have we ever taken a deep look into it?
What is a shepherd? - Picture
We lived in Sicily we saw this everywhere -
We don’t really know shepherding today in our culture.
The tending and caring of sheep has been around 1000’s of years
Shepherd does everything for the sheep to ensure its safety and well being
David, who wrote the 23rd Psalm was a shepherd himself.
He knew what it took to be a Good shepherd and was able to recognize one
The other side of this is the sheep
Sheep are easily distracted and poor decision makers
They will wonder off a cliff.
They need a shepherd to feel and be safe
We are described as sheep
When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.
The only safe place for a sheep is by the side of his shepherd, because the devil does not fear sheep; he just fears the Shepherd.
— A. W. Tozer
I tell you all this without a shepherd in our lives there will never be peace
We wander off and over cliffs. We will be ravaged by predators. We will not survive.
David knew this as shepherd and as one needing one
That’s what we will look at today
A psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, 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. Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
Let’s pray
The Shepherd of Peace will take care of you when...
I do not know how people honestly function today without faith
Life is to chaotic and hard
If God be our God, He will give us peace in trouble. When there is a storm without, He will make peace within. The world can create trouble in peace, but God can create peace in trouble.
- Thomas Watson
In the midst of the chaos, storms and trials, God shows us
The Shepherd of Peace will take care of you when...
you are exhausted by the struggles
He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
Places of rest and quiet - we need desperately for quiet in a noisy world
Find a place, where you will not be distracted or interrupted, let the Shepherd sooth you
The Shepherd of Peace will take care of you when...
you are exhausted by the struggles
He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
We can’t hide forever, as much as we want too
Shepherd gives us the strength and urging to get back up
Never leaves us in the rut - warning - Shepherds will prod to move the sheep
The Shepherd of Peace will take care of you when...
3. you are going through times of crisis.
Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me.
CSB Study Bible: Notes Psalm 23
it is in the darkest valley where the greatest danger (such as a predator) lurks
The Shepherd is never unaware or surprised by our situations.
That rod is used to guide and protect and He is ever with us
The Shepherd of Peace will take care of you when...
4. you are facing opposition
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
The Shepherd has your back - think about that
It does not mean you will win every battle Does mean the war is already won.
He goes before, behind, and all around us
As a follower I am justified and sanctified in Him and what the others around think - does not matter
I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
The Shepherd of Peace will take care of you when...
5. you have won your fight
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
Our Shepherd is always with us
No struggles, pains, or tears can diminish it
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Shepherd of Peace
The Shepherd of Peace
David saw this in God
Today we can do and live the same because of Christ
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Because of the empty tomb, we have peace. Because of His resurrection, we can have peace during even the most troubling of times because we know He is in control of all that happens in the world.
- Paul Chappell
We are offered the guidance, direction, protection and peace form our Shepherd.
The choice is ours. - I lead or He leads - they go to two very different places
Which way do you go
Let’s pray