Psalm 23: The Good Shepherd

Introduction:

Hudson’s baseball dreams… I crushed them… Dream Crusher… A good father encourages their child to pursue their dreams…

We all want someone - a father, a mother, a friend, etc. that will help us to live out our dreams. We want people who will help guide us through life. We want someone to help us navigate all the challenges of life.

You have a Good Father who is encouraging you to pursue His ambitions for your life. He has a plan for your life… (Eph. 2:10). AND, He knows how to EQUIP you for that plan. And, He knows how to LEAD you live within the plan that He has for your life.

Psalm 23 one of the most beloved passages in the entire Bible. Often read at funerals because of its comforting words. BUT… a psalm for every stage of life because in every stage of life we need the reminder that God is a good Father and a shepherd who knows how to lead us to live a life full of joy, purpose, peace, and prosperity.

Psalm 23: You have a God who will lead you well… Will you follow His leadership?

Three truths to remember that will help you follow the leadership of your heavenly Father.

The more you walk with God, the more confident you become in God’s leadership.

Picture of shepherd in Israel - This is what David calls God - intimate - not Rock, Shield, or King in this psalm.

Psalm 22-24 probably connected - ultimately pointing us to King Jesus. Maybe written at the same time. Probably not written when he was a young shepherd boy but later in his life. He’s seen God prosper him, and he’s also walked through some really hard times. He’s experienced the pain of betray from family and enemies have pursued him. He’s cried out to God, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

BUT, David realizes that God has not abandoned him. “The Lord is my shepherd...” Throughout Bible, God referred to as shepherd. Joseph: “God has been my shepherd all my life.” (Gen. 48:15) Ez. 34:11-15: God tells His people He is their shepherd. Ultimately, John 10: Jesus is the Good Shepherd.

David knew about shepherding.... Ancient, agrarian culture very familiar with the work of a shepherd - grueling work - 24/7. Constantly leading with great care a heard of animals that have reputation of not being very smart - prone to wander. Not very selfless - while travel in flocks - animals think primarily about their own survival. Not very self-sufficient - helpless and defenseless. Easily frightened. When a predator comes - run back and forth. Think about it: no wonder you’re described as a sheep.

Why would a shepherd spend his days leading sheep through Israel’s arid, rocky land in search for quiet waters and green pastures? No animal more valuable than a sheep: meat, wool, and sacrificial animal. A sheep was your treasure.

God is a shepherd who leads you because you are valuable to Him.

David: He gives me what I need. He removes all threats so I feel secure to lie down. Quiet waters - resting places - God put Adam and Eve in a resting place: Eden. God led the Hebrews out of Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land - a resting place. God was leading David to rest in His presence. God knows how to lead us to REST in His presence - no matter what we face in life we can REST knowing He is in control.

Restores my soul - brings me back when I wander

Paths of righteousness: Ps. 1 - the Blessed Man - meditates on the Law is like a tree planted by the waters - prospers.

Over the course of his life - David learned from the Torah, from Israel’s history, and his own experience that he could trust God’s leadership. The more you walk with God, the more confidence you become in God’s leadership. Learning to walk with God means you will:

Embrace what you have been given in Christ instead of longing for what the world tells you that you need. What do you need? God… (Ps. 22:1) You need to be in His will. You need fellowship with Him. You need His presence. Shepherd who has given you complete access to Himself. YET… we constantly let ourselves be led by the world…

Embrace God’s leadership comprehensively instead of selectively choosing how you will be led. We want Jesus to lead us in areas where we know we need help, but not in those areas of our lives where we think we have everything figured out.

God doesn’t present you a menu of options and say, “decide what services you need from me.” No, He’s a shepherd King who says, “Take up your cross and follow me. Die to yourself and find life in me.”

This week have an honest conversation with God. “In what areas of my life do I need to submit to His leadership?” Then, confess that to someone: your spouse, a Christian friend. Ask them to help you hold you accountable in that area.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/florida-man-stole-r2d2-posed-disney-cast-member-security - How did he think that was a good idea? No one will look back and say, “I’m glad I didn’t listen to people who spoke truth into my life… I’m glad I didn’t listen to God...” We’ll all look back and say, “I did some really dumb things. I should have listened.”

The more you walk with God, the more willing you are to follow God in the hard places.

We’ll trust God when life is going well, and we’re getting what we want. BUT, it’s a lot harder to trust God when life is hard.

Psalms - David learns to trust God in the hard times, and he had lots of hard times.

Notice shift in the language - describing the Shepherd to praying to the Shepherd: “I trust you...”

Times when he walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Rocky canyons - flash floods, steep cliffs, navigating to find green pastures and quiet waters. (Think En Geidi) Wild animals lurking… Waiting to pounce on defenseless sheep...

David knew what it was like to walk through the valley as a shepherd and metaphorically - and the greatest obstacle in the valley is fear. “I fear no danger...” “Will I make it through? Is God with me? Will He protect me?” David’s answer: God is with me in the valley. His rod and staff comfort me. Rod - a short, thick stick carried around the waste to use as a weapon. Staff - walking - shepherd’s hook - keep the sheep close. God protects and keeps you close.

We fear when we find ourselves in the hard times… Will I be ok? Yes. Walk by faith in the valley. Keep trusting and obeying.

We fear when God calls us into hard places. Times when God says, “Let’s go into the valley....” “Can I obey?” But, whether you find yourself in a hard seasons, or God is calling you into a hard place, He is with you.

You should fear staying in the easy place where you are resisting God’s will more than you fear going in the the hard place where you know God is calling you. Easy not to invest in that lost coworker because it’s so messy even though you know God is calling you. Easy not to go on that mission trip even though you know God is calling you. Easy not to give sacrificially to the work of God’s ministry even though you know God wants you to give sacrificially. What is it that God is calling you to do where you are saying, “It’s too hard?” God doesn’t call you to comfortable. He calls you to follow Him in obedience even if it’s into a hard place. Where you’re saying, “It’s too hard...” say instead, “Wherever you lead, I’ll go...”

You are missing out on real blessings when you fear the valley and resist the leadership of the Shepherd. In the hard place God does refining, sanctifying work in your life. In the hard place you grow. In the hard place you have tremendous opportunities to share the Gospel. In the hard place you learn about grace. In the hard place you learn how to minister.

The more you walk with God the more willing you are to follow God in the hard places because you know that God is present and at work in the hard places.

The more you walk with God, the more you see God’s plan unfold.

Metaphor shifts - The Lord is David’s shepherd AND his great host.

David in God’s house - His presence - God prepares a feast for him in the presence of his enemies. This is more than an invitation to dinner - This is God signifying to David and David’s enemies that He is loyal to David.

You, like David, have been on a journey. You have walked through this broken world. You’ve experienced the valley of the shadow of death. BUT, God will bring you home. He will lift you above your enemies - sin and death. He will anoint your head with oil - you will reign with Him forever. Your cup will overflow with blessings. You will live in His house forever.

You will look back over your life and you will say, “All the days of my life, goodness and faithful love have pursued me.”

Yes, life has been hard. Yes, there’s been unexpected twists and turns. Yes, you’ve suffered. You’ve struggled. But, the more you walk with God, and the more you look back, the more you see how God has been pursuing you with goodness and faithful love every step of the way.

You will not look back over your life and say, “God didn’t bless me.” If true, follow Him.

You will look back over your life and say, “God has been good to me.” Even if life has been hard, God is good. Praise Him. You have seen goodness and faithful love follow you.

David wrote this psalm about His experience, but pointing to Jesus - Ps. 23 was Jesus’ experience - came to this earth as a sheep - a lamb. A lamb who perfectly followed the voice of His Shepherd, His heavenly Father.

The Lamb of God never wandered from His Shepherd. He did not want for the things of this world. His eyes were on His Father. He walked through the valley of the shadow of death without fear.

The valley of the shadow of death would lead to a cross… He would die in our place - as a sacrificial lamb for our sins.

BUT, He would rise again. (He restores my soul… Ps. 23:3…)

Now, He is forever with His Father - He feasts in the presence of His enemies. He is our Anointed King - He is our shepherd.

David was a shepherd-king - Jesus is the true Shepherd King - He is our Good Shepherd. (John 10:11) The Shepherd that died for His sheep.

He is the shepherd that invites you into a relationship with Himself. Today, turn from your sins and turn to Him by faith.