My Shepherd
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Introduction - All We Like Sheep
Introduction - All We Like Sheep
Has it ever crossed your mind why you are compared to sheep in the Bible? Why not something more graceful or powerful? Here’s a hint it isnt because we are necessarily cute and cuddly, yet Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. After some digging around I found some interesting reasons we might be most like sheep. Sheep cannot care for themselves and they NEED a shepherd. They must be led to good food, they must be led to clean refreshing water, and they remain dirty unless someone cleans them. Sheep have no sense of direction. They will follow who ever is leading them even if they lead them off a cliff. If everyone else jumped off a cliff would you - sheep answer yes!
In Eastern Turkey 1500 unattended sheep fell off a cliff while the shepherds were eating breakfast far away from the flock. The first 400 fell to their death in a ravine, but the remaining 1100 were saved because the first 400 broke their fall. The sheep in the back couldn’t see past the sheep in front, so they were unaware of what lay ahead. The sheep in the front couldn’t stop because the sheep the back were pushing them forward.
One farmer has shared that if you have a bunch of sheep in a barn, stretch rope across the door before you let them out. When the sheep come out of the barn they will jump the rope, after the first few jump it you can cut the rope, the remaining sheep will still jump over the “invisible rope” now, because the rest of the flock did it.
Sheep are also defenseless animals that have been known to be beaten back by squirrels. Sheep are a defenseless animal prone to wander off, and they need constant care. Sheep without a shepherd are lost and without hope of survival let alone of flourishing.
Isaiah 53:6 (CSB)
6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way...
Jesus notably had compassion comparing a situation happening to that of sheep.
36 When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.
Psalm 23 is a Psalm from David in which he is acknowledging not only being a sheep, but that as sheep he has a shepherd and that is the best for him. We too as sheep can have a shepherd - the Good Shepherd. Lets read this Psalm together and lets learn to call Him “My Shepherd”. Follow the Lord as our Shepherd and trust Him and He will meet our every need in every circumstance.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 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.
As Shepherd, Look To God For Provision
As Shepherd, Look To God For Provision
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.
David calls the Lord his shepherd - Jehova Raha. A natural and a rather easy comparison for David who was a shepherd made king. It is remarkable to consider that the Lord would call Himself our Shepherd. In ancient Israel as well as other societies, a shepherd’s work was the lowliest of work and a shepherd the lowliest of people. If a family needed a shepherd it was always the youngest son - such as David was. Our great God has stooped low and chosen the title of shepherd for Himself, chosen to care for you and me intimately.
11 He protects his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them in the fold of his garment. He gently leads those that are nursing.
31 You are my flock, the human flock of my pasture, and I am your God. This is the declaration of the Lord God.’ ”
14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me,
David doesnt recognize the Lord as A shepherd but he calls the LORD HIS SHEPHERD. His personal shepherd caring for Him. David declares because the Lord is His Shepherd he has what he needs. In essence David is saying his only need was needing a shepherd. This Psalm is not for those who think they are self-sufficient and in need of no one, but rather this Psalm is for the one who is keenly aware of their desperate need for a shepherd.
Because the Lord is His shepherd David says I lack nothing and in fact have an adequate supply. My needs are met! The fact of God’s shepherd care was the end of unsatisfied need. All my needs are supplied and I do not need more than what the Lord - who is my shepherd gives.
David acknowledges the Lord lets me lie down in green pastures. It sounds as though we should be happy he allows us to rest. Interesting though the jist of the original language is that He actually makes us lie down. The Good Shepherd knows we need rest and will make us lie down if needed. Sheep dont always know what they need and what is best for itself, and so the Shepherd must help.
Look though where He makes us lie down - in green pastures or lush fields.
Rest does not come easy for sheep. Sheep do not lie down unless four conditions are met.
They will not lie down if they are afraid.
They will not lie down if there is friction among the sheep.
If there flies or parasites troubling them.
If sheep are anxious about food or are hungry they will not lie down
Rest comes when the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies and food.
Food for sheep is grass - but food for David and for the sheep of God is the word of God.
12 Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food. 13 Now everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant.
14 But solid food is for the mature—for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil.
2 Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,
A shepherd leads sheep to fresh grass and the Lord leads His people to the same. They do not lack food because they are made to lie down in green pastures. Resting in the word of God meditating on the food it bears. God prepares green pastures every time His word is preached by those who He calls to preach.
15 When they had eaten breakfast, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Feed my lambs,” he told him.
16 A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.” “Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.
17 He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” “Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.
Refreshment is provided because the Lord as our Shepherd leads us beside quiet waters. These are still waters, peaceful and calm waters. A shepherd must provide calm waters for rest, refreshment and cleansing. The shepherds have been known to temporarily dam a stream that was flowing to fast in order to let the sheep drink from it. So the Lord restores and refreshes our souls.
As sheep we find ourselves in need of refreshment from time to time, and it is because we walk in a wearying and exhausting world. Even our fellow sheep can wear us out and dry us up.
The Lord provides spiritual refreshment and washing - forgiveness and peace for those who follow Him.
26 to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.
5 he saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
The Lord as our shepherd provides us with rest, food, and refreshment.
As Shepherd, Look To God For Direction
As Shepherd, Look To God For Direction
Psalm 23:3–4 (CSB)
3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,
He renews my life declares the psalmist. He restores my life. Sheep again are not the brightest animal, they can turn over on their back much like a turtle or a cockroach with their legs pointed upwards and flailing. An old English shepherds term for this predicament is “cast down”. A cast sheep is a most pitiful thing. In this position without any outside help the sheep will ultimately die from predators or from being left behind as the flock moves on. It needs a shepherd to put it back on its feet to renew its life.
How many times have we been “cast down” flailing on our backs? We like sheep are prone to stray and wander and to find ourselves on our backs. A straying sheep is still a sheep, and the Lord ever cares for His sheep.
12 What do you think? If someone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, won’t he leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go and search for the stray?
He leads me along the right paths. The shepherd was a guide a navigational help for the sheep. The sheep cannot find the green pastures on their own. They will settle for less also. They will stop at a muddy puddle and be content to drink the dirty water when the fresh waters are just ahead 20 yards.
A good shepherd knows the paths for nourishment as well as safety. The shepherd will guide or lead the sheep to what is needed. You cannot drive sheep as you would cattle, they must be led - they must have a shepherd. The sheep dont need to know where the grass or water was all they needed to know was where their shepherd was. We dont need to know the path, we just need to follow our Shepherd to what we need.
The Lord guides His sheep along the right path - the right way. This relates to how we live we live according to the path the Lord guides us on and that is the pathway of righteousness. We do not lack direction and guidance because we are led on paths of righteousness.
Many times the Lord’s sheep worry themselves with the question of finding the Lord’s will. The Lord as our shepherd will lead us. We dont need to worry about finding the Lord’s will. Let us be concerned with following the Lord closely, our problem is not in His guidance but it is in our closeness. This speaks of the closeness we walk with the direction and leading of His word and His commands.
Even when we go through the darkest valleys. Sheep do not like to walk in the dark valleys but often times there is great sustenance and nourishment in the valleys that the shepherds must lead them there, any way. When our shepherd leads us here He is still guiding us in the RIGHT way, it doesnt feel right but it is right for us and good for us.
28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
He leads us by His name’s sake. This means for His reputation and His recognition. As a shepherd a reputation was all you had. You needed a reputation that you are not a hireling but that you care for and are accountable for sheep. Our God as our shepherd has a reputation and a word to keep concerning His sheep. He has lost none of them - leaving even the 99 to get the one - whether its me or you.
As Shepherd, Look To God For Safety
As Shepherd, Look To God For Safety
4 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.
Even when I go through the darkest valley. Even when following our Shepherd we will still walk through the darkest valleys. I mentioned this in the last point but it’s worth mentioning again as most people focus on this part of the psalm. Life isnt always green pastures and calm waters, there will be deep and dark valleys.
The valleys may be deep and they may be dark but they lead to cooler streams and often times greener pastures.
David is describing a dark fearful experience, it is not a mountaintop experience nor is it a broad meadow. It is a valley with the feeling of being hedged in and surrounded. Other translators call this the shadow of death. A couple of things to note:
It is the valley of a shadow of death and not the substance of death itself.
One goes through the valley of a shadow of death - it is not the destination.
David declares that in this place and on this journey and path he will fear no danger, because his Shepherd is with him. No fear, no dread, no being scared or frightened, no worry of danger - evil or harm.
Like David we must know we will have dark valleys - the darkest being the shadow of death. This Psalm is a comfort at funerals because it applies to death. While it applies to death it applies not only to death but anything gloomy of calamity or even tragic. The everything in between is covered here, but even in death it will be ok.
Death is like going through a valley; you will come out of it the other side. It is not the house but the porch - Spurgeon.
It is the shadow of death - the power of death is but a shadow. A shadow can do nothing, no harm, no hurt.
55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
It is true we dont usually get dying grace until we need it. But the fact remains that death has lost its terror for us because we know that dying means going to be with Christ—and this is far better. “To die is gain.” - William MacDonald
Comfort and security is found in the Shepherd’s presence no matter the circumstance. Notice here it changes from He to You. The Shepherd is now first person.
A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."
Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."
"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"
The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room with his tail wagging and an eager show of gladness.
Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside... He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough."
For You are with me - he declares.
Our Shepherd has two pieces of equipment with Him always - His rod and His staff. The provide the comfort, care and security for His sheep.
The rod is a club for protecting the sheep from wild animals that seek to harm them.
Shepherds protect: With the whole flock examined and bedded down, finally, the shepherd himself would lie down, stretching his body across the opening. So, the shepherd literally, physically became the door! His body kept the sheep in and the dangers of the night out. No sheep could wander into danger because the shepherd’s body held them in. Wolves and robbers could enter to harm the flock only over the dead body of the shepherd. Some claim that, even in modern times, morning will occasionally find scattered sheep, without a shepherd. Upon investigation, a bleeding, battle-worn shepherd will often be found somewhere nearby—sometimes even a dead one. The shepherd would literally lay "down his life for the sheep."
7 Jesus said again, “Truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
The staff is for correction - which is needed from time to time with sheep.
A shepherd will use suffering as a last resort to get the sheep’s obedience in order that the sheep doesn’t loose it’s life. A woman visiting Switzerland came to a sheepfold on one of her daily walks. Venturing in, she saw the shepherd seated on the ground with his flock around him. Nearby, on a pile of straw lay a single sheep, which seemed to be suffering. Looking closely, the woman saw that its leg was broken. Her sympathy went out to the suffering sheep, and she looked up inquiringly to the shepherd as she asked what happened. "I broke it myself," said the shepherd sadly and then explained. "Of all the sheep in my flock, this was the most wayward. It would not obey my voice and would not follow when I was leading the flock. On more than one occasion, it wandered off to the edge of the cliff and not only was it disobedient; it was leading other sheep astray. Based on my experience with this kind of sheep, I knew I had no choice, so I broke its leg. The next day I tried to bring food, but it tried to bite me. After letting it lie alone for a couple of days, I went back and it not only eagerly took the food, but also licked my hand and showed every sign of submission and affection. And now let me say this. When this sheep is well, it will be a model sheep of my entire flock. No sheep will hear my voice or follow closely. Instead of leading the others away, it will be an example of devotion and obedience. In short a complete change will come into the life of this wayward sheep. It will learn obedience through its suffering. and discipline.”
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and discipline. So be zealous and repent.
As Shepherd, Rejoice In His Grace
As Shepherd, Rejoice In His Grace
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 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.
John R. Stott writes: ‘The scene changes. I am no longer out of doors, but indoors; no longer a sheep in a flock, but guest at a banquet.’ We can take that further because we are not mere guests, we are children and He calls us friends. David describes the scene at a house now where God goes from Shepherd to gracious host. The similarity is in the care. A Shepherd cares for His sheep and the Host cares for those in His home.
I see here David picturing his care as a sheep up to and through the valley of a shadow of death. With this picture of the Host he starts with this life and carries it beyond death and into the life to come.
Lavish hospitality David sees before him. Faced by his enemies yet there is a table the Lord has prepared for him. A full table planned and prepared for him personally. Despite the danger the Lord is with Him and providing for him. The Lord is doing it in the presence of his enemies - they would know that the Lord provides for him.
The Lord’s provision and table doesnt eliminate the presence of the enemies but shows that blessing and goodness can be experienced even in their midst. God’s provisions are both constant and abundant and this shows they can have them in every circumstance and situation.
God’s care cannot be negated nor destroyed by the presence of enemies. In the care of the Lord we can feast even while our enemies snarl.
You anoint my head with oil. This has connection to sheep and with consecration and dedication. Oil was used on a sheep to keep away the bugs that would irritate and cause anxiety in the sheep preventing rest. Also oil was used to anoint and consecrate those whom the Lord has chosen and set them apart for Him.
My Cup overflows - abundant blessing in the house of the Lord.
Anointing and a full cup was customary also to receive those into your house. Signifying everything was at their beck and call and nothing was too good for their enjoyment.
Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life - God’s blessing would remain
I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Despite the world wide popularity of this Psalm it is not a Psalm for everyone. It is only applicable to those who call the Lord THEIR Shepherd. We all know the Psalm but do you know the Shepherd?
Do you know His provision, direction, safety and grace in your life?
The Good Shepherd died for everyone, but only those who receive Him as their Shepherd in faith are His sheep.
His sheep hear His voice and follow Him - do you hear Him when He speaks from His word?
Everything hinges on the pronoun MY
The provisions of God in this life are a small foretaste of what awaits us in glory. The table here is in the presence of enemies but the table that awaits us is in His Fathers house with no enemies present. It will be everlasting - we will be with our Shepherd who constantly picked us up and put us back on our feet - anointed us, protected us and led us through the valleys to green pastures and still waters.