How many of you have ever played “Simon Says?” As you know, “Simon Says” is a more detailed version of the game “Follow the Leader.” The object of the game is to listen closely to the instructions given by the leader to make sure that you can stay in the game. Most of us can remember playing this game in some form or another as children. In fact, as we look at our lives as adults we may believe that we no longer play these games. We have grown up, we are capable of thinking for ourselves and we are capable of determining what we should do. Think about it for a second, “Is this really true?” Look carefully, as the culture goes so goes popular opinion. As popular opinion goes so often go we. If the truth be known we are engaged in a very sophisticated game of “Follow the Leader” that has a direct bearing on our thoughts and values. Isaiah was definitely right when he described people as “sheep who have gone astray.” The fact is that we need to be led because by nature we tend to be followers. With this being true then logic should tell us that we need to be careful when choosing what shepherd to follow. In our text, David describes the direction that the Lord leads us as our Shepherd. So let’s take some time today to discover what paths the Shepherd has called us to travel.
I. God as the Good Shepherd leads us.
A. By nature sheep our creatures of habit and need to be constantly led to thrive.
1. Sheep are very much creatures of habit and if they are not moved they were continue to graze an area down to the bare dirt.
2. Not only is this damaging to the land it is bad for the sheep because the nutrients are stripped from the pasture.
3. To counteract this, the shepherd must play close attention to the pasture and keep his sheep on the move so that no particular area is over grazed.
4. Poorly managed flocks of sheep can turn lush green pastures into desolate wastelands.
5. A good shepherd has a predetermined plan that he follows to protect both the land and his sheep.
B. Ancient shepherds committed themselves to the task of leading and guiding their sheep.
1. As we have learned throughout this series, being a shepherd is not a 9-5 job. In fact, it requires a 24-7 commitment.
2. Sheep have poor eyesight, do not have the ability to think strategically, have no situational awareness and lack the ability to look out for themselves.
3. Ancient shepherds understood that they needed to be out in front of the sheep leading and guiding them.
a. Where the shepherd led the sheep would follow.
b. When the shepherd stopped the sheep would stop.
c. If the shepherd would jump off a cliff the sheep would as well.
4. David knew well that if he had not been there for his sheep they would not have survived out in the wilderness.
5. A good shepherd must be totally committed to providing his sheep with daily guidance and care.
C. God knows that if we are to be safe and healthy we must be led.
1. Jesus illustrated this truth many times in His teachings.
2. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. (John 10:2-4—NIV 2011)
3. We lack the ability to make all the proper choices and chart our own course through this life.
4. As the Good Shepherd the Lord goes before us showing us the paths to successfully navigate through life.
5. We are sheep and we need the Shepherd. Just has a shepherd knows the land well; the Lord knows life and how to properly lead us.
II. God leads His sheep along particular paths.
A. A good shepherd will constantly keep his sheep on the move.
1. Like sheep, if left in the same place we will become complacent. If this happens we will develop habits that will stunt our spiritual growth.
2. This translates to us getting to the point where we begin to freely exercise our own wills instead of seeking and following God’s.
3. God realizes that our spiritual well being requires us to be constantly led down the path that leads to holiness.
4. To travel any other paths but the ones that God has mapped out is to settle for less than the best. God desires the best for each of us.
B. God understands what paths are the right ones for His sheep to travel.
1. How many times have we been confused about how to navigate through a specific situation?
2. There have been times when we thought we had the right answer to a particular situation and it ended up in an even bigger mess.
3. There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12—NIV 2011)
4. The problem is that we often refuse to follow, and stubbornly follow our own paths even when they lead us straight into trouble.
5. The Good Shepherd will come and gently try to lead us back on the correct path once again.
C. God will never lead us down a path that is not consistent with His Word.
1. God will always lead us down a path that is obedient to His Word. He will never lead us in a way that violates His Word.
2. David makes this clear, by saying that the Lord only leads us down the paths of righteousness.
3. The truth is that we often make choices that lead us down the wrong path and into trouble and then we blame God for doing it.
4. There are a couple of questions we need to ask in determining if it is God that is leading us.
a. Will the outcome of this choice bring God the glory?
b. Does this choice line up with the clear teachings of God’s Word?
III. Why has God chosen to be a Shepherd and lead us?
A. The primary reason He leads us is for the sake of His reputation.
1. In the world of shepherding people will make judgments about the shepherd by examining the sheep.
2. God leads us down the right paths to bring Him glory to allow the world to see how He desires that we live.
3. Since as Christians we wear the name of Christ, our behavior, attitudes and character are directly tied to the reputation of Christ in the eyes of the world.
4. When we live in a way that is contrary to God’s will it damages His reputation in the eyes of the world.
5. There is a lot riding on how exactly we choose to allow God to lead us.
B. God also leads us for our own well being.
1. Shepherds know the right paths to lead their sheep down to protect them from any harm.
2. If we truly desire to follow the Good Shepherd we will find that He is gentle and patient providing us with the strength that we need to follow.
3. When we stray off the path and fall, God is always willing to forgive us and to gently place us back on the correct path.
4. We will find compassion and mercy when we fail because of the character of the Good Shepherd who has adopted us as one of His sheep.
C. What does it look like when we allow the Good Shepherd to lead us?
1. We will choose to love the Lord and others rather than loving ourselves most.
2. We will choose to follow where the Lord is leading even if that means going against the crowd.
3. Instead of demanding my own way and rights I will give them up for the purpose of forwarding the Kingdom.
4. Instead of always insisting on being the sheep at the top of the butting order I will accept the role of bottom sheep if necessary.
5. Instead of complaining about my life and circumstances I will choose to glorify God with a grateful heart.
6. Instead of insisting on my right to choose and exercising my will I will choose to fully comply with God’s will.
7. Instead of always choosing my own paths I will strive to only follow the paths that God has chosen.
8. For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13—NIV 2011)
9. The Good Shepherd will faithfully make it possible for us to follow Him where He leads.
Andrew Wyeth painted picture of General Lafayette’s quarters near Chadds Ford, Pa., with a sycamore tree behind the building. When his brother first saw the painting, Andrew wasn’t finished with it. Andrew showed his brother a lot of extra drawings of the trunk and the sycamore’s gnarled roots, and his brother asked, "Where’s all that in the picture?" "It’s not in the picture," he said. "For me to get what I want in the part of the tree that’s showing, I’ve got to know thoroughly how it is anchored in back of the house." I find that remarkable. He could draw the tree above the house with such authenticity because he knew exactly how the thing was in the ground.
