Are you a patient person? Do you find it easy to wait when you are anticipating something? If you are like me anticipation often causes my patience to be in short supply. Maybe it is human nature or a product of living in an instant gratification culture. Whatever the reason, we would prefer to have it now rather than having to wait for it. For each of us the “it” is different but the preference to have “it” now is the same. In this final verse of Psalm twenty-three David looks at the result of continuously following the Shepherd. Some of the results are immediate but others we will have to wait for. David makes the transition from what the Shepherd has done to what the Shepherd will do. This entire psalm has painted a picture of what a privileged position it is to be in the care of a loving and caring Shepherd. I know that this series has challenged many of the traditional views of Psalm 23. However, regardless of how we look at this beautiful work the final verse gives the same message. “It is all worth it.” Regardless of how difficult the journey is the hand of the Lord’s blessing remains on His sheep. We take hope from the promise that we will dwell in His house forever. So let’s prepare to tie everything together as we make our way through this final verse.
I. A picture of sheep under the care of a conscientious shepherd.
A. Remember that David is writing this entire psalm from the standpoint of a sheep.
1. He is reflecting on the entire year’s activities of the flock.
2. The winter and spring months spent in the pen on the ranch and the summer and fall months spent enjoying the tablelands.
3. As the Shepherd cares for their sheep they develop great affection and devotion for their sheep. The bond between the shepherd and his sheep is strong.
4. The care that the sheep received throughout the year has resulted in them completely trusting their shepherd.
5. Sheep that are well taken care of will follow their shepherd wherever he leads them.
B. The sheep are a picture of health and contentment.
1. In the very beginning we established that you could determine how good the shepherd was by looking at the sheep.
2. The sheep thrive because they are under responsible and loving care.
3. The sheep are well fed and are free from disease and parasites.
4. Having such complete care causes the sheep to be content. They have no desire to have their situation change.
5. They have no reason to fear because the shepherd has proven himself time and time again. Sheep under a bad shepherd will seek opportunities to change their situations.
C. The management of the shepherd determines how beneficial the sheep will be for the Land.
1. A flock of sheep that is mismanaged can literally turn lush pasture into a vast wasteland.
2. A flock of well managed sheep will prove to be of great benefit to the land.
a. Their manure is the most beneficial and balanced of any type of domestic livestock.
b. No other livestock will eat such a variety of different plants and weeds.
c. The sheep’s habit of always seeking the highest spots causes the fertility of the lower pastures to be spread to the higher less productive spots.
3. In ancient writing sheep were referred to as “those of the golden hooves” because of the way they could benefit the land.
4. A well managed flock of sheep can clean and restore a piece of ravaged land as no other livestock can.
II. Understanding what David is trying to communicate about God.
A. Reminding ourselves of what David has already said about God.
1. He provides spiritual refreshment and strength. (verses 2-3)
2. He provides us with guidance. (verse 3)
3. He assures us that He is always with us. (verse 4)
4. He provides us with protection. (verse 4)
5. He has gone ahead of us and has mapped out a plan for our lives. (verse 5)
6. He always has His hand of blessing on His sheep. (verse 5)
B. The blessings that God promises in this life.
1. We have the assurance that whatever we face in this life God’s goodness and mercy will always be with us.
a. Goodness is God’s blessing.
b. Mercy is God’s forgiveness and grace.
2. We need to understand the significance of this statement. This is promise of God’s provision and His willingness to take away our sins.
3. God’s nature dictates that He always treats His sheep with goodness. God’s character dictates that He is always merciful.
4. The bottom line is that we will never experience anything different than whom and what God is.
5. This is not simply the way God acts but the way He is. Actions can change but one’s nature cannot. So God cannot act in a way that is contrary to the way He is.
6. Since goodness and mercy is what God is, the only way God can stop extending goodness and mercy is to stop being God.
7. When we are satisfied with the care we receive as sheep the Shepherd finds deep satisfaction as well.
C. The blessings that God promises in eternity.
1. God is making a huge promise here in saying that we will dwell together with Him forever.
2. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3—NIV 2011)
3. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28—NIV 2011)
4. The Good Shepherd says that we are a member of His flock and no one has the power to change that. This is something that can be taken to the bank.
5. Because of God’s track record we know that these promises that are in the future can be trusted.
III. What having a caring and loving Shepherd means to me.
A. We know we can trust Him because of all He has done.
1. The song “Count Your Blessings” is quite applicable to our lives. By reflecting on what God has already done for us we begin to trust that He will continue to bless us into the future.
2. David reflecting on God’s track record literally says that God’s goodness and mercy will continue to pursue Him.
3. Regardless of what the circumstances are that we face nothing can separate God’s goodness and mercy from our lives.
4. Instead of reflecting on the enemies that seem to be bent on our destruction, the psalmist encourages the reader to reflect on the character of the God who is our Shepherd.
5. The God who has expressed goodness and mercy to His people in the past will continue to do so in the future.
B. The trust that we develop for God should cause us to become more and more content about being a part of His flock.
1. Because of our experience with the Shepherd up to this point, we should not have the desire for our situation to change.
2. Remember well cared for sheep have no desire to leave the flock as do poorly cared for sheep.
3. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11—NIV 2011)
4. All the care, all the work, all the alert watchfulness, all the skill, all the concern and all the self sacrifice is rooted in His love. He loves His work and His role as the Shepherd.
C. Just as God’s goodness and mercy follows us, our goodness and mercy should extend to the lives of others.
1. Just as properly managed sheep are very beneficial, if our lives are under the management of the Good Shepherd they should be beneficial to others.
2. We need to ask ourselves these questions.
a. Do I leave behind peace or turmoil?
b. Do I leave behind forgiveness or bitterness?
c. Do I leave behind contentment or conflict?
d. Do I leave behind joy or frustration?
e. Do I leave behind love or hatred?
3. Blessing must be a two-way proposition. As God blesses our lives we are to bless the lives of others.
4. If we remain following our Shepherd we have the promise of being able to dwell with Him forever.
5. After going through this series, one question remains. When people look at us do they think we are under the care of a good or bad shepherd?
Dwight L. Moody the great preacher of the nineteenth century wrote these words. “Someday you will read in the papers that D.L. Moody of East Northfield is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it! At that moment I shall be more alive than I am now; I shall have gone up higher, that is all, out of this old clay tenement into a house that is immortal---a body fashioned like unto His glorious body. I was born of the flesh in 1837. I was born of the Spirit in 1856. That which is born of the Spirit will live forever.”
