Savior, Like a Shepherd
Griffith Baptist Church – 11/25/07
P.M. Service
Text: Psalm 23
Introduction
I was riding in a tour bus from Jerusalem to Jericho, sitting in the front seat, since I was leading a group, and about half asleep, having made the same trip many, many times. Suddenly, the bus lurched to a stop, waking me up. There in the middle of the street was a Shepherd. Now, with a 48 passenger bus running straight at me, I wouldn’t be out there, but there he was. And the sheep started to cross the road. Not all at once, but in twos and threes and ones. But the shepherd never shooed them, or hurried them, he just stood his ground until the last sheep was safely off the road. Then he followed them, and threaded his way through the flock until he was back up front again, leading the way. Dr. Marion Henderson
1. The phrase “for thou art with me” (verse 4) is a great thought to get a hold of.
2. Jesus is our shepherd as testified to in the New Testament
A. John 10:14 – I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
B. Hebrews 13:20 – Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
C. 1 Peter 5:4 - And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
3. For a few minutes, let’s spend our thoughts on being sheep (weave a story of the Shepherd)
A. We are out in a pasture and we see our shepherd
B. What kind of Shepherd do we have?
Body
1. The Kind of Shepherd We Have (1a)
A. He is Lord – Jehovah - The self-existing, everlasting, uncreated one
B. He is personal – my - Not in the sense of us owning Him but Him owning us
C. He is faithful – Shepherd
i. Shepherds had to be faithful, even if it meant facing death.
ii. Verse 4 says that He is with us.
iii. This is an abiding presence
This particular Psalm, the Shepherd Psalm, tells us what His presence means:
2. The Presence of the Shepherd means: (1b-6)
A. He is able to meet every need I have (1b)
i. Psalms 34:9-10 - 9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
ii. The need for love
iii. The need for provision
iv. The need for understanding
B. He provides a place for me for nourishment and rest (2a)
i. Green pastures not dry deserts
ii. Comfort when I need comforting
iii. Rest when I am weary
C. He quenches my thirst (2b)
i. These are not raging waters but calm streams
ii. This is the Word of God – Ephesians 5:26 - That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
D. He revives me (3a)
i. Revives me when I sin and confess it to Him – 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ii. Revives me when my heart gets weary – Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
iii. Revives me when it seems everyone else is failing me – Job 33:30 - To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
E. He keeps me on a path that is right and safe (3b)
i. This is a path that He knows well
ii. It is a good and safe path, even when the going is steep and the cliffs are shear – Isaiah 42:16 - And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.
F. He protects me from that which would destroy me (4)
i. Isaiah 41:10 - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
ii. Satan is hunting for you
iii. The world could care less about you
iv. The flesh wants to have your loyalty
v. With the presence of His light there is no darkness or danger that can harm you
G. He makes His blessings evident (5a)
i. He does not prepare a table in the presence of our friends, but our enemies
ii. No matter what they do to us or think of us, God’s goodness is evident
iii. This is in the face of every enemy that you have
H. He gives us His Spirit in abundance (5b)
i. 1 John 2:27 - But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (see also 2:20)
ii. The “oil” is a type of the Holy Spirit
iii. Kings were anointed with oil to show God’s hand of approval upon them
iv. Ours is overflowing, abundant, never empty, always accessible
I. He protects us with His grace (6a)
i. We have pursuers that are not so good (worry, fear, temptation, laziness, etc)
ii. Gods goodness and mercy can overpower anything that might try to overtake us
iii. This is, in essence, is His graciousness, that has our back
J. He gives everlasting security and hope (6b)
i. Forever is eternal
ii. We have his presence now and forever
iii. It is our hope and security
Conclusion:
Do you allow the Shepherd to guide you and protect you?
Do you try and escape the fold for your own independence?
