MELVIN M. NEWLAND, MINISTER
RIDGE CHAPEL, KANSAS, OK
(Revised: 2011)
Turn with me this morning to the 23rd Psalm, perhaps one of the best loved passages in the Bible. We often read it in times of stress or sorrow.
But I would like you to see it in a slightly different way this morning. Now that we’re in the fall season & Thanksgiving Day is approaching, I’d like you to see in this Psalm three great reasons for us to be thankful unto God.
A. The 23rd Psalm begins with these familiar words, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want."
When someone says, "I shall not be in want," we need to sit up & take notice because this is an age of discontent. Listen to these words by Jason Lehman:
It was spring. But it was summer I wanted
The warm days, & the great outdoors.
It was summer. But it was fall I wanted
The colorful leaves, & the cool, dry air.
It was fall. But it was winter I wanted
The beautiful snow, & the joy of the holiday season.
It was winter. But it was spring I wanted
The warmth, & the blossoming of nature.
I was a child. But it was adulthood I wanted
The freedom, & the respect.
I was 20. But it was 30 I wanted
To be mature, & sophisticated.
I was middle aged. But it was 20 I wanted
The youth, & the free spirit.
I was retired. But it was middle age I wanted
The presence of mind, without limitations.
Then my life was over, & I never got what I wanted.
SUM. Many people never seem satisfied, & almost everybody wants more. A little child wants more toys & more television time. A teenager wants more freedom & more popularity. Most adults want more possessions & more leisure time. And as we age, we want more health, more friends, & more loyalty from our children.
Yet, listen again to these words of the Apostle Paul that we looked at last Sunday, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, & I know what it is to have plenty.
“I have learned the secret of being content in any & every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:11 12).
Obviously, God wants us to be a happy, satisfied people. We shouldn’t be restless & jealous, always chafing about what we don’t have. There should be a spirit of thankfulness in us that brands us as belonging to Him.
PROP. So with the 23rd Psalm in mind, notice 3 great reasons to be thankful.
I. IN THIS LIFE THE GOOD SHEPHERD GIVES US ALL WE NEED
The first one is this: "We can be thankful because in this life the Good Shepherd gives us all we need."
A. Frequently in the Bible human beings are compared to sheep. Now that sounds nice, but surely you realize that is not necessarily a compliment, because sheep are among the dumbest & dirtiest animals in the world.
So when Isaiah says, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray" (Isaiah 53:6), he is not saying "That’s good." He’s saying, "That’s bad, because we’re just about on a level with sheep."
When Jesus looked out on the people with compassion, the Gospel writers say that He saw them "like sheep without a shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). That’s not a compliment, either, but a concern, because sheep are so helpless when they’re all alone.
ILL. Philip Keller was a sheep rancher & in his book, "A Shepherd Looks at the Twenty third Psalm," he says that they require more attention than any other livestock. They just can’t take care of themselves.
Unless their shepherd makes them move on, sheep will actually ruin a pasture, eating every blade of grass, until finally a fertile pasture is nothing but barren soil.
Sheep are near sighted & very stubborn, but easily frightened. An entire flock can be stampeded by a jack rabbit.
They have little means of defense. They’re timid, feeble creatures. Their only recourse is to run if no shepherd is there to protect them.
Sheep have no homing instincts. A dog, horse, cat, or a bird can find its way home, but when a sheep gets lost, it’s a goner unless someone rescues it.
SUM. So one over riding principle of the 23rd Psalm is that sheep can’t make it without a shepherd. And the only reason that David could say, "I shall not be in want," is because David could first say, "The Lord is my Shepherd."
B. Now let’s look at what David says the Good Shepherd does for his sheep.
Vs. 2 tells us that "He makes me lie down in green pastures." The good shepherd leads his sheep to a lush pasture where they have plenty to eat & their stomachs are soon full.
Here, then, is a picture of a sheep so completely satisfied that there isn’t the least desire for anything more. He’s so content he lies down in green pastures.
The Lord has provided us with plenty, too. There are few of us who ever go hungry. In fact, we have so much to eat that dieting is a constant discipline or, maybe more accurately, a constant discussion.
But did you notice the wording? David said, "He makes me lie down." Sheep sometimes have to be forced to lie down.
Keller says that in order for sheep to lie down 4 things are required:
1. First of all, they have to be full. Hungry sheep stay on their feet searching for another mouthful of food.
2. Secondly, they must be unafraid. They will not lie down if they’re fearful. The least suspicion of wolves or bears & they stand ready to flee.
3. Thirdly, they must be content. If flies or fleas are bothering them they’ll not lie down. They must be comfortable before they’ll lie down.
4. Finally, sheep will not lie down unless there is harmony in the flock. If there is friction over the butting order among them, then they simply cannot relax & lie down.
APPL. But God makes us lie down once in a while, doesn’t he? We rush about, trying to meet this engagement & fulfill that obligation. And in our hurry & scurry we tend to miss the things that are most important.
So once in a while God has to say, "You need to lie down," by allowing an illness, or heartbreak, to make us stop & reevaluate our priorities.
C. David then says, "He leads me beside quiet waters." (vs. 2) Sheep are frightened of swiftly moving water. They’re poor swimmers, & get bogged down with their heavy wool just as we would if we tried to swim wearing wool overcoats.
So when the shepherd comes to a flowing stream, he doesn’t try to force the sheep to drink. Instead, a good shepherd builds a dam & makes a quiet little pool where his sheep can drink from still waters.
APPL. God knows our weaknesses. He leads us by quiet waters. He promises to protect us from the temptations that we can’t handle. He never forces us into situations with which we cannot cope.
Isn’t that what Paul is saying in 1 Corinthians 10:13? “God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
David said the same thing in the 32nd Psalm, "Surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach me. You are my hiding place, you will protect me from trouble & surround me with songs of deliverance" (Psalms 32:6 7).
D. Back in the 23rd Psalm David goes on to say, "He restores my soul." (vs. 3) A lost sheep cannot find its way home, so the shepherd has to restore the stray or it is lost forever.
ILL. A Christian drama depicts a little boy working in his parent’s carpentry shop in Jerusalem. He protests his chore, which is to assist in building a cross. The parents insist that he help because Rome has given them a contract for construction of crosses.
In Scene 2 the boy is weeping. "What is wrong?" his parents ask. He responds, "I went to the market place & I saw Jesus of Nazareth, the Man we love to hear speak, & He was carrying OUR cross! They took Him to Golgotha & nailed Him to MY cross."
The parents insist, "Oh no, son, that wasn’t our cross. Other people in Jerusalem build crosses. That wasn’t our cross."
"Oh yes, it was! When you weren’t looking, I carved my name on the cross that we were making. When Jesus was carrying His cross, He stumbled right beside me, & I looked, & my name was on His cross!"
APPL. My name was on His cross, too. So was yours. He died in our place. He went to the cross to restore our souls.
That is why the Apostle Peter wrote, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins & live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.
“For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd & Overseer of your souls" (1 Peter 2:24 25).
E. David continues on in Psalm 23:3, "He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake." A careless shepherd might lead his sheep over steep & dangerous paths where they could fall. But a caring shepherd leads his sheep over paths that are safe.
The Bible clearly teaches that there are 2 paths we can take. One leads to destruction, & Satan tries to lead us along that path. It is such a broad & smooth road. It often seems like the logical way to go.
The other is the path of righteousness that leads to the glory that God is preparing for us. Sometimes this way is narrow & difficult & filled with obstacles. But the good Shepherd knows which way His sheep are to go, & He leads them on that path of righteousness.
SUM. So here is something for us to be thankful for. Thank God that in this life He provides us with everything we really need.
II. IN THE FACE OF DEATH THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS US FROM EVIL
Secondly, David says, "Be thankful, because in the face of death the Good Shepherd protects us from evil."
A. Listen to David as he says, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." (Psalm 23:4) The fear of death can really disturb us.
Hebrews 2:15 speaks of people who "all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death."
The Bible clearly states that death is Satan’s weapon, the last enemy to be defeated. But David said, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil." Why? Because "you are with me."
ILL. A 1st grader stood in front of his classroom to tell about "What I want to be when I grow up." He said, "I’m going to be a lion tamer & have lots of fierce lions. I’ll walk into the cage & they will roar."
He paused for a moment thinking through what he had just said & then added, "But of course, I’ll have my mommy with me."
I’m convinced that when death roars its worst at us, we need not fear, for our Savior is with us. Whether we brush the edge of the valley of death or actually walk through it, He promises, "I’ll be there with you."
B. In fact, David goes on to say, "Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." (Psalm 23:5)
Not only is that a promise of peace & protection while we are alive, it is also a promise that at the moment Satan is doing his worst to you in death, God is preparing a welcoming feast for you in Heaven! What a picture of victory & joy!
SUM. So when you pause to think about what to be thankful for, thank God that in the face of death the Good Shepherd promises protection from evil.
III. AT THE JUDGMENT, THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROMISES ETERNAL LIFE
A. Finally, listen to this, "You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness & love will follow me all the days of my life, & I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23:5-6)
What a picture! When we stand before God on Judgment Day, His mercy will be there. If God gave us justice, we’d be punished for our disobedience. But because of Jesus we have confidence in His mercy.
ILL. Jeff Wahling compares our need for God’s mercy to a thoughtless husband.
Imagine, husbands, that you are at a mall with a friend & become so engrossed in looking at sporting goods or whatever interests you that you forget all about the time.
Suddenly you remember that you were supposed to pick up your wife at 2:30 from the beauty parlor, & it is already 4:00. With a cry of "Oh, no!" you you pull out your cell phone & call the beauty parlor & ask if she’s still there. They say, "No, she left quite some time ago." You think, "Man, I’m dead."
Your friend asks, "Is something wrong?" You answer, "I was supposed to pick up my wife an hour & 1/2 ago! My in laws are coming over tonight & this was going to be a special evening. But I forgot to pick her up."
Then you call home, & your son answers. You ask, "Son, is your mom there?"
Your son answers, "Dad! Whatever you do, don’t come home. Yeah, she’s here, but Dad, she had to walk part of the way home! Have you looked outside, Dad? It’s raining! It started raining about 5 minutes after she started walking."
"What does she look like?" "Well, Dad, you’ve seen the dog when it comes in from the rain? She looks something like that. Goodbye, Dad I love you!"
Well, you know that you’re in a world of trouble! But you head for home anyway. And as you pull in the drive, you see your in laws coming down the street. You think, "I’ve got to beat them inside to make this thing right!"
You open the door & try to assume your most humble expression. You droop your shoulders, but there stands your wife a soup spoon in one hand & a knife in the other. She has homicide in her eyes & snarls, "You promised 2:30! I walked over a mile in these high heels to get home, & it rained the whole way! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?"
You think, "What can I say? ‘I hit my head at the mall & got amnesia’? ‘A terrorist grabbed me & I’ve been held hostage for the last few hours’? No, that won’t do. I’ve got to tell her the truth. ‘Honey, I’m sorry. I’m an idiot & I just forgot. I have no excuse. I just forgot.’"
Finally she responds, "I know you forgot, but it’s okay. Just give me a kiss & let’s forget it."
Gentlemen, what kind of kiss would you give your wife? Would you just give her a little peck on the cheek?
No. Even if your in laws were coming through the door, I’m sure you would grab her & kiss her like you’ve never kissed her before. And you would say, "Honey, you’re the greatest wife in the world! I love you! Thank you for being so forgiving & so understanding."
B. Now let me ask you, "When you come to church on Sunday morning, & hear about the goodness & mercy of God are you just going to give Him a peck on the cheek?" Or are you going to embrace Him & love Him & thank Him for being so understanding & so forgiving?
CONCL. This morning, if the Lord is not your Shepherd, then I want you to know that He has come looking for lost sheep today.
And if you can’t find your way home, He’ll lead you back & He’ll redeem you from all your sins. He’ll put you on the path of righteousness. He’ll cause your cup to overflow, & goodness & mercy will follow you all the days of your life.
And one day, & not too far away I think, we will "dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Are you ready for that? If you’re not ready, then we urge you to respond to the invitation of the Lord as we stand & as we sing.
