An Oasis in a Parched Wilderness
Psalm 23:2,3a
We live in a day of uncertainties. Any hour can bring danger or disaster or distress.
In an instant, a car could careen across the median of the interstate and take the lives of people who were driving safely and minding their own business.
At any minute, an otherwise quiet and peaceful morning can be interrupted by news that a couple of airplanes have been flown into the World Trade Center…and our whole country, our lifestyle and our security crumble like the twin towers.
Some say the economy is improving. Others say it is a house of cards ready to collapse at any minute.
The germs and viruses that are infecting us can attack and render us totally nauseated and weak in a matter of minutes.
Amber alerts are happening with alarming frequency—and it reminds us how quickly life can change.
At one minute a pastor can be preaching and the next minute, a gunman takes his life.
In the midst of all of this, believers can live with anxiety or fear OR with a sense of quiet trust and rest.
Nothing calms the sheep better than to know the Shepherd is with them.
Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee.”
Psalm 3:5 “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.”
Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for you alone make me dwell in safety.”
In these days of uncertainty, we need a shepherd. We need a caring, present help in time of trouble. We need to sense His presence with us—to know that He is not a God sitting up there on a throne just watching, but that He is right here with us. We need a shepherd who can make us dwell in safety; who can sustain us when our knees are trembling and our shoulders are sagging.
Our study of Psalm 23 reminds us of this helpful shepherd. The Good Shepherd not only gave His life FOR me, He gives His life TO me—he is presently active in my life. He cares about my distress and discouragement. Look at these two verses and see how God cares for us.
I. He makes me lie down in green pastures. This is more than just providing for my nourishment. He gives me REST: I’m tired – and so are most of you. Depending on which survey you read, between 40 and 70 million Americans each year suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders each year, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems. These disorders and the resulting sleep deprivation interfere with work, driving, and social activities. Doctors have described more than 70 sleep disorders. Researchers have shown that not only does depression cause sleep problems, but lack of sleep causes depression!
Jesus says, Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Rest. Doesn’t that sound good?
Philip Keller wrote A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23. In that book he says that in order for sheep to lie down and sleep, four things must happen:
1. free of fear – from predators
2. free of friction – bullies in the flock
3. free of pests – ticks and parasites, flies that irritate.
4. free of hunger – they won’t lie down until they have eaten enough.
It’s just like us. As long as there is uncertainty and fear, we just can’t rest. As long as there are irritations or friction, we are nervous. We try to rest, but we just can’t shut our minds off. There are so many details to take care of. There are so many things on our TO DO list. And he tells us to REST?
That’s the Mary/Martha syndrome! Martha…slow down, take a break. REST! And God says, Let me deal with the parasites and the predators…let me deal with the bullies and you just sit here and eat and enjoy the lush pastures and let me handle the fears. REST! And let me be your shepherd.
A verse that has been very close to me has been Isaiah 30:15 “The Lord God of Israel had said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved; In quietness and trust is your strength…””
II. He leads me beside still waters. God wants to REFRESH -- because I’m afraid
Sheep are afraid of moving water. They are not good swimmers, they want everything calm and peaceful. They are afraid. So the shepherd knows how to lead them to places where they will not be afraid. I know the verse says “still waters.” The point is not that they are quiet, but that they are safe waters. God does not offer the absence of turbulence, but the absence of fear. Sheep sense what they perceive to be danger. The shepherd knows how to calm that fear.
Corrie TenBoom said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of sorrows; it emptied today of strength.”
Like an oasis in a parched desert wilderness…in the midst of dryness and heat (of trouble) He makes us to taste of that which would restore or recreate life to us. A cool glass of water.
Psalm 63:1-5 My soul thirsts for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Isaiah 44:1-5 I will pour out water on the thirsty land…my Spirit and my blessing.
God knows what you need. God knows how to satisfy your thirst.
III. My shepherd also knows how to RESTORE me when I’m feeling downcast.
This phrase has been a great source of strength to me: "He restores my soul." This word is used in Scripture two ways. It could mean either he returns my soul from sin or he refreshes my soul when I am dry and lifeless. The same phrase occurs in Lamentations 1:16, which says, "My eye, my eye runs down with water because far from me is a comforter, one who restores my soul." The idea of comfort also occurs here in Psalm 23:4, "Your rod and staff comfort me." So I think in Psalm 23:3, we should probably think of soul refreshment here instead of moral correction.
Proverbs 18:14 says, "A man’s spirit will endure sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear?" If our hearts are strong in the Lord, if our soul is refreshed, we can endure the pain of the body. But if the spirit is broken, if our hearts are downcast, if our soul is flat like a deflated beach ball, what can you do? . Every believer has known these times. I sure have.
Once again, I have to refer to people who know about sheep. They tell me that this word “DOWNCAST” is actually a danger that sheep face. The can be “cast down.” Because of their shape and because of their physical make up, if they lay down and gravity rolls them over, or they lay down and roll over into a hole, or they are just too fat to be able to get themselves upright again, they could die in that position—or they are very vulnerable to predators. Just picture a sheep flailing its legs trying to roll over—a whole lot like a junebug out on your driveway. They are incapable of getting upright on their own. When a shepherd finds a sheep like that, he rolls them over and massages their legs to get the blood moving again and eventually the sheep gets up and runs back to the flock. The shepherd has restored the sheep.
So what should we do when we are downcast? What should we do when we are deflated, discouraged, or downhearted?
Four things to keep in mind:
1. Psalm 19:7 the instruction of God’s Word restores my soul. God’s Word can do what Valium cannot, what an awesome sunset cannot, what quiet music cannot. Those things can calm us down, but the promises of God build us up.
2. Psalm 42:5,11 Psalm 42 is the “as the deer” psalm. It asks the question “Why are you cast down? Why are you disquieted? Hope in God”
Vs. 6,7 says that he is in trouble. But vs. 8,9 says God will get Him through it.
Hope in God. Place your total trust in God. He not only knows what you are going through, He knows how to get through it and He knows what you need to see the sunlight again. Hope in God.
3. II Corinthians 7:6 God comforted Paul who was cast down by the coming of Titus.
ILL: The Mean Joe Green Coca Cola commercial.
Sometimes we need to be encouraged by someone else—by the way. That’s your assignment for this week. Encourage someone.
4. II Corinthians 4:9 Paul—that spiritual giant—was downcast! Verse 7 says that we have this fragile emotional nature so that God’s power can become our strength—so that when people see us get through these troubled times, they see that it is Jesus who is getting us through them, not our own strength. In other words, when you are downcast, run to the rock, hide behind the big dog, let your big brother protect you.
Restoration is not merely comfort. It is the power to move ahead. Christ is the strengthener in pain, not the remover of pain.
Have you ever ridden a bicycle built for two? My parents used to have one. It isn’t easy to ride…especially if you are in the back. See, if you are in the front, you are in control, you can see what’s ahead, you know where you are going. Most of us treat our Christian life the same way. We want to be in control and we want Christ to be on the back helping us by pedaling. But just like last week when I said eventually we need to get to the point of saying I NEED a shepherd, eventually, we need to get to the point of saying I’ll just ride in the back and let Christ sit up front. I’ll pedal, but I’ll let Christ take me where He wants me to go. Instead of me telling Christ where I think we should go, I’ll let Him take me to green pastures and still waters. Instead of Christ directing my path…eventually I need to get to the point of not worrying about the bumps in the road, but just concentrating on hanging on. People, even being in the back—you have to learn how to trust. You wonder about what you cannot see. You are scared and yet, He’s been down this road before—just be quiet and pedal. That’s trusting Jesus with all your heart and allowing Him to take you to exciting places.
