“The Great Shepherd of My Soul”
Psalm 23
Introduction
This is probably one of the most quoted and memorized passages of the Bible next to John 3:16. It can be found on funeral brochures all around the world. It is deeply personal. It addresses every aspect of one’s life. It affirms God as our loving shepherd.
I. The great shepherd
A. “The LORD is my SHEPHERD.”
The very first phrase sets the tone for the entire Psalm. David of all people would be intimately familiar with the role of a shepherd. One who tends and cares for all the basic needs of his sheep. One who takes responsibility for the growth and welfare of his sheep.
One who protects, leads and feeds his sheep.
If God is the shepherd that makes us…SHEEP. What a fitting analogy for humans! So much about sheep fits how we act. Sheep are helpless without a shepherd. They easily wander off. They destroy pasture land.
B. “The LORD is my shepherd”
There are good shepherds and not so good shepherds. Zechariah (11:15-17) spoke of worthless shepherds who failed to care for the perishing, seek the scattered, heal the broken or sustain the healthy. David rejoiced in the fact that his shepherd was none other than the Eternal God. David affirmed that the LORD was his shepherd. The one watching over us is of utmost importance. Where we turn for comfort and look for provision and protection makes a difference. The object of our faith is more important than the amount.
The character and ability of our shepherd is essential. Last week we learned that we serve a God who is aware, available and able. The shepherd of the true sheep is the none other than the LORD himself – Yahweh. This Great Shepherd is Self-existent, Unchangeable, Self-sufficient, Eternal, Incomprehensible, Omnipresent – available, Omniscient – aware, Omnipotent – able. This Good Shepherd is continually Faithful, Gracious, Merciful, Longsuffering, Loving. This Pure Shepherd is perfectly Holy, Righteous or just, Jealous, Truthful, Angry at evil, Sovereign. David recognized the magnificence of the one he called shepherd
C. “The LORD IS my shepherd.”
David realized God’s continual and ever present shepherding. Not was or will be, but the LORD IS right now my shepherd.
D. “The LORD is MY shepherd.”
David understood the personal nature of relationship with God. Not just the shepherd of Israel as a people, but also my personal shepherd. David expressed a personal understanding of intimacy between him and the shepherd. He wasn’t just one woolly among a flock of woolies. The shepherd and the lamb enjoyed a very intimate personal relationship. Even though there is a vast difference between man and beast, the Middle Eastern shepherds cultivated a personal close relationship with each of the sheep of his flock. There would be talk and touch most every day between shepherd and sheep. Even though there is a vast difference between God and his creation, God continually cultivates a personal close relationship with each individual person. He knows us intimately.
He knows what we need more than we do. The result of having God as our shepherd…
“I do not want”
In one simple stroke David expresses the ultimate result of having Yahweh as our shepherd. I am content with the presence, provision and protection of my shepherd. I need nothing more than what the shepherd provides. Out of his great love and wisdom, this marvelous shepherd provides every essential need. Paul testified to the Philippians concerning the secret to contentment in whatever circumstance of life. It was the realization that the presence of Christ enabled him to face anything.
David did not mean that there weren’t things he might like to have. He meant that he could be content with whatever God provided because he trusted Him. He followed this simple yet grand declaration of contentment with God as his shepherd with ten examples of the Great Shepherd’s provision. Is He your shepherd? Are you a member of His flock? The benefits that follow are only for genuine sheep of His flock. The world promises to shepherd us. Satan promises to shepherd us. Only one can follow through on what He promises.
II. The Great Shepherd’s PROVISION
A. “He makes me lie down in green pastures”
He addresses my need for rest and nourishment. The shepherd skillfully seeks out proper pastures for the sheep to graze. Not only was it important to have enough food but a place to relax, ruminate and properly process the food. Eating in a state of unrest and anxiety interferes with digestion. Our shepherd insists on rest and proper nourishment. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Jesus is the bread of life coming down from the heaven to give life to men.
God will do whatever it takes to get us to relax in His green pasture and eat. God will do what it takes to put us down for rest. Are you taking the time to rest and nourish your soul on God’s truth?
B. “He leads me beside quiet waters”
He addresses my thirst and need for peace and refreshment. Sheep will not generally drink from running water. Often the shepherd would direct a running stream into a still pool so the sheep could drink.
Jesus is not only the bread of life, but the living water of refreshment that wells up to eternal life and spills out in rivers to refresh the souls of others as well.
Where do you go to quench your spiritual thirst? God provides an oasis of refreshment from the howling waste of the wilderness through your relationship with Christ.
C. “He restores my soul”
The result of rest and refreshment is a restored soul. He addresses the weakness of my flesh and personal failures. The word used here means to turn from evil to good. He restores my soul to right relationship with the shepherd. He restores my soul to its ideal condition. In sheep imagery, a sheep might trip and fall and due to the weight of its wool and not be able to get off its back and die. This is known as casting. The alert shepherd would quickly restore the sheep to its feet again.
In computer imagery it might read, the Lord “reboots my system.” When you reboot a computer due to a lock up or when the system freezes, it resets the system to all the original settings and restores original function.
Our good shepherd continually brings us to a place of soul restoration through his word.
The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul. Psalm 19:7a
Following regeneration of our spirit, God concentrates on the renewal of the soul through the word.
Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16
Is your interaction with the Scripture (feeding on the Word) as regular as your physical eating? What happens when you don’t eat right? You loose your appetite for healthy food and intensify your appetite for junk food.
D. “He leads me in righteousness ruts (tracks)”
Once we are refreshed and nourished, we can get back on the road. The Good Shepherd directs our paths. He addresses my need for direction and establishment of good life habits.
The word means to herd or direct one along the right path. This is a reference to a well-worn path, an established pattern of life. We all travel in ruts. The question is whether they are ruts or patterns of right actions or ruts of wrong actions. When we listen to the voice and direction of the good shepherd we will keep in the righteous ruts. God gives us the word to equip us.
Doctrine – Reproof – Correction -- Instruction in righteousness
The verb usage here has to do with a caused action in an ongoing pattern not necessarily completed or yet established. The good shepherd brings about circumstances that continually direct me in right ruts. He directs us in paths that bring Him the greatest glory and us the greatest good. His direction is for His great name’s sake. There is no greater purpose than to live in such a way that brings attention to the Kingdom. We can either refuse or regard His direction. Refusal to follow His direction will put us in places and situation detrimental to our well being.
E. “He is with me everywhere and always”
He addresses my fears in times of trial and darkness and even the shadow of death. Even when I encounter times of deep darkness and confusion and danger, this shepherd addresses my fears by making his presence known. The result of our awareness of His presence is faith and trust in him rather than fear of the circumstances. The translation here is the “valley of deep darkness”. This is not just a psalm to quote when facing death but any experience of darkness and confusion and sense of despair or fear. It is the realization of the presence of the shepherd that eliminates fear. David emphatically declares his lack of fear through the realization of the Shepherd’s presence.
Realization of God’s presence and purpose can eliminate fear. This was David’s declaration. The reality is, there were times David did not always live this way.
F. “He comforts me with his rod and staff”
My Shepherd addresses my need for protection and rescue. During times of deep darkness God’s rod and staff represent protection and control. God is working on my behalf. The shepherd would use his staff to ward off predators, direct or discipline wayward sheep.
Whether it be discipline, guidance or protection I can trust that this good shepherd will skillfully use whatever necessary for my good.
G. “He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies”
He addresses my need for affirmation. The picture here is a place of honor as well as refreshment. This is not just a supply of food but a banquet prepared just for me. I have such confidence in the shepherd that I can sit down in safety and eat even though surrounded by danger. This wonderful acknowledgment and affirmation of me takes place right under the nose of those who wish to destroy me and ridicule me.
Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. Luke 12:35-38
H. “He anoints my head with oil until my cup runs over.”
He addresses issues of continual care. Anoint the head with a medicinal oil prevented pesky flies that would often drive the sheep to their death. Anointing the head was also a symbol of honor and commission for a task and a sign of acceptance. However David saw the act, it caused a joy at the realization of God’s abundant care. A full cup was an indication of contentment and abundance and joy.
I. “He pursues me with goodness and mercy all my days”
The word used here means to pursue, to overtake as in war. David felt the utmost confidence (surely) that the goodness and mercy of God would never fail all of his days on this earth. This is a beautiful picture of God’s desire to live in relationship with His sheep.
He will look on us with mercy and withhold our due punishment. He will shower us with good things.
J. “He invites me to live in His house forever.”
David not only had contentment and hope for the present but assurance of security and continued relationship in the future. Jesus as our good shepherd promises a place in the house of the Lord which he has gone to prepare for us that where he is we will be also.
What a shepherd! We may not emotionally feel His care but the Word says this is how he operates and feels. God is GREAT and God is GOOD! The more we understand his greatness and goodness the more content with his work in our life we can be, even if we don’t always understand.
“The LORD is my shepherd I shall not want.”
He provides rest and nourishment when I’m tired and hungry
He provides peace and refreshment when I’m stressed and thirsty
He provides restoration for my soul when I’m down and discouraged
He provides direction and purpose in life when I’m lost
He provides courage in tribulation when I struggle in the darkness
He provides direction, discipline and protection when I am wandering
He provides affirmation when I’m surrounded by the enemy
He provides purpose when I feel useless.
His goodness and mercy pursue me my whole life.
He promises a place to live through eternity.
For thus says the Lord GOD, "Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. As a shepherd cares for his herd in the day when he is among his scattered sheep, so I will care for My sheep and will deliver them from all the places to which they were scattered on a cloudy and gloomy day. "I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries and bring them to their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the streams, and in all the inhabited places of the land. I will feed them in a good pasture, and their grazing ground will be on the mountain heights of Israel. There they will lie down on good grazing ground and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock and I will lead them to rest," declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick; but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with judgment. Ezekiel 34:11-16
BENEDICTION
Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
