The Lord Who Leads
Most everyone has heard of Psalm 23. It’s a poem with no peer and has been called the sweetest song ever sung. Abraham Lincoln read it to cure his blues, and President Bush proclaimed it publicly to calm our nation’s fears after 9-11.
I read these words out loud a week ago when I met with someone who just found out that a family member had drowned. I’ve read Psalm 23 to people in the hospital, though on occasion when I’ve turned to it, a patient has gotten frightened because they think I know something they don’t know! Since the psalm is often quoted at funerals, they might have wondered if I was getting ready for theirs!
Since this psalm is so familiar, we’re in danger of missing the depth of its meaning. And, because it’s setting is in the world of sheep and shepherds, many of us city slickers can slide right past its richness. Did you know that the Bible refers to us as sheep nearly two hundred times?
In order to help us better understand this powerful poetry and unlock the psalm’s secrets, I want to ask Harold Davis to come up and give us a lesson on lambs. Harold is the co-chairman of our deacon board but his first love is sheep (after Bonnie, of course). Check out his tie as he comes up here! I’m told that when he was younger he even skipped school in order to shear sheep. He estimates that during his 53 years of sheep shearing, he has given haircuts to over 850,000 sheep! Harold is the President of the Illinois Lamb and Wool Board, gives demonstrations at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, and is heavily involved in the 4-H Fair and Thresherman’s Reunion.
[Harold’s Presentation]
Harold, thanks for “shearing” with us today! With that as background, let’s take a close look at this prayer. There are two main characters in this psalm The Shepherd and his sheep. And there are three main ideas:
The Shepherd’s Provision is Personal (1-3)
The Shepherd’s Protection is Pervasive (4-5)
The Shepherd’s Pleasure is Paramount (6)
The Shepherd’s Provision is Personal
God provides for us personally because of who He is. Look at the first phrase of verse 1: “The Lord.” This is the name “Yahweh” and was the name first revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14: “I am who I am.” Ordinary Israelites considered this name too holy to be spoken by human lips. In fact, it was so revered that it was only pronounced once a year on the Day of Atonement, and then only by the high priest in the most holy place of the Temple.
If the name needed to be written, the scribes would take a bath before writing it and then destroy the pen afterward. While “Yahweh” is difficult to define, this name refers to the fact that God is who He is; He’s the one who causes everything else. He is unchanging, the one who inhabits eternity.
And yet, this is the name David chooses in the opening verse of Psalm 23. The great “I AM” is “my” shepherd. This is very similar in thought to Psalm 8 where we read, “O Lord [“Yahweh”], our Lord.” He is other than us and yet He is ours. He is powerful and He is personal. He is majestic and He is mine. He is a consuming fire and yet He is my sensitive shepherd. I love the image of Yahweh as shepherd in Isaiah 40:11: “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
Because the Lord is my shepherd, He cares for me personally. We see four ways that His provision is personal in verses 1-3.
1. God’s provision makes us content (1b). The last part of verse 1 tells us that since the Lord is my shepherd I will not lack anything that is really necessary and good for me: “I shall not be in want.” A substitute Sunday School teacher asked his class one day, “How many of you can quote Psalm 23?” Several of the children raised their hands, including a little girl who was only four years old. The teacher was surprised that someone so young would know Psalm 23 so he asked her to recite it for the class. She stood up and said, “The Lord is my shepherd. That’s all I want.” She had the words mixed up but understood the message perfectly.
Friend, if Jesus is your shepherd, everything else is secondary. We could say it this way: “If the Lord is my shepherd, then I shall not want. If I am in want, then the Lord is not my shepherd.” Psalm 34:9: “Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.” This is really the main idea of the psalm. Since God is our shepherd all of our needs are taken care of. One of the best definitions of contentment I’ve ever heard is this: Contentment is not having everything you want. Contentment is wanting everything you have.
When someone says, “I shall not want,” we need to sit up and take notice because we live in an age of discontentment. Listen to these words by Jason Lehman:
It was spring. But it was summer I wanted - The warm days, and the great outdoors.
It was summer. But it was fall I wanted - The colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.
It was fall. But it was winter I wanted - The beautiful snow, and the holiday season.
It was winter. But it was spring I wanted - The warmth, and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child. But it was adulthood I wanted - The freedom, and the respect.
I was 20. But it was 30 I wanted - To be mature, and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged. But it was 20 I wanted - The youth, and the free spirit.
I was retired. But it was middle age I wanted - The presence of mind, without limitations.
Then my life was over, and I never got what I wanted.
In a cemetery in England there’s a gravestone with this inscription: “She died for want of things.” Alongside that stone is another, which reads, “He died trying to give them to her.”
Max Lucado refers to our discontment as the “prison of want.” Its prisoners want something bigger. Nicer. Faster. Thinner. If your happiness comes from something you deposit, drive, drink, or digest, then you’re in the prison of want. Are you hoping that a change in circumstance will bring a change in your attitude? If so, you’re locked up. You’re in a cell of discontentment. Allow the powerful simplicity of verse 1 to permeate your personhood: what you have in your shepherd is greater than what you don’t have in life. Do you believe that?
2. God’s provision nourishes us (2). “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters.” Notice that the shepherd “makes” me lie down. Josephus, a first century scholar, has written that sometimes the shepherd would institute forced rest periods for his sheep, especially for the pregnant ewes and frolicking lambs. The shepherd would take the sheep and fold their legs in such a way that they would become paralyzed for a while and therefore had to lie down and get their much-needed rest. Some of you have been made to lie down as a result of a broken bone, some other health problem, heartbreak, or even the loss of your job. The shepherd has slowed you down for a reason.
While the shepherd would force his sheep to rest sometimes, the best way to get his flock to chill out was to make sure four conditions were met.
Freedom from fear. By nature, sheep are nervous and fearful. When they know the shepherd is with them, they can relax. Isaiah 43:5: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”
Freedom from friction. If there is friction in the flock, a sheep can’t sleep. Instead of lying down, they stand up and keep themselves on high alert. The shepherd tries to minimize the tension on his team by separating those who cause trouble.
Freedom from frustrations. Things like gnats and flies and parasites can distract sheep and keep them from lying down. A good shepherd keeps an eye out for those small things that can frustrate a flock.
Freedom from famine. A hungry sheep is forever on its feet, foraging for food. The shepherd makes sure that they are in “green pastures,” where they can feed among the rich, sweet grass and then chew their cud while lying down on the carpeted pasture.
Some of us never slow down enough to chew on the green pastures of God’s Word. We’re filled with fear or we’re in friction with others in the flock. We’re good at allowing the small frustrations of life to knock us off center and we don’t ruminate on the richness and sweetness of Scripture like we should. God wants us to lie down in the midst of abundance.
A sheep that is lying down in the meadows of the Master has no worries. So many of us are filled with anxiety today. This week’s issue of Newsweek reports that as many as 70 million Americans don’t get enough sleep. Many insomniacs report that its because of stress and anxiety. I recently read about a guy who was so whacked out with worry that He decided to hire someone to do his worrying for him. He found a man who agreed to be his hired worrier for a salary of $200,000 per year. After he accepted the job, his first question to his boss was, “Where are you going to get $200,000 to pay me?” To which the boss responded, “That’s your worry, not mine.”
After being fully fed, the sheep are then led to still waters. Sheep by nature are afraid of running water and will refuse to drink unless everything is still and quiet. Shepherds would often divert water from a rushing river to make a private pool of refreshment. Even with the sweet waters the shepherd has to lead the sheep to the good water because otherwise they will stop and drink from polluted puddles where they can pick up parasites. We’re a lot like that, aren’t we? God has provided so much for us and yet we often drink from places that will only harm us. Lucado puts it this way: “With His own pierced hands, Jesus created a pasture for the soul. He tore out the thorny underbrush of condemnation. He pried loose the boulders of sin. In their place He planted seeds of grace and dug ponds of mercy” (Lucado, “Traveling Light,” page 43).
3. God’s provision restores us (3a). Because sheep are careless, curious, and cantankerous creatures, they often need to be restored. Look at the first part of verse 3: “He restores my soul.” The word, “restore” means to “bring back to a former or normal state, to make new.” Sheep can get lost faster than any other animal. This can be serious for many reasons. They may fall and get hurt. A predator may pounce on them. Or they may simply tip over, and become “cast down.” This is a term for a sheep that is lying flat on its back, with its feet flailing in the air. Often sheep that are too fat, or have too much wool, will lie down in a little depression in the ground and then, when their center of gravity changes, they’ll actually tip over and are unable to get back up.
When a sheep is missing, often the first thought to flash through the shepherd’s mind is that one of his sheep may be cast. Buzzards and coyotes know that a cast sheep is easy pickings and death is not far off. When the shepherd finds the sheep, he rolls it over and lifts it to its feet. He then straddles the sheep, holding it erect, rubbing the limbs to restore circulation, while talking to it gently. What a picture of what God does for straying saints! He looks for us when we have wandered and restores us when we are cast down. God is the God of the second chance. I’m so thankful that Christianity is a series of new beginnings. If you’re cast down today, or have strayed from the flock, allow the shepherd to restore your soul. He’ll bring you back and He’ll put you back together.
4. God’s provision guides us (3b). “He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” The word used for “paths” refers to a “well-defined and well-worn trail.” This is one more bit of evidence about how stupid sheep really are. Even when the path is perfectly clear, sheep will still stray. Since the shepherd knows the trails, he can guide them in the best way.
God longs to lead us in paths of righteousness. Most of us know the right road we should take but our selfishness and sinfulness often lead us astray. We need the shepherd to guide us in the right way because like sheep, we often have no sense of direction. As we submit to the shepherd He will lead us in paths of righteousness. And He does this for the sake of His name. God guides us for His sake, not for ours. His reputation is at stake. His character is on display. His name is Yahweh and He will accomplish His purposes and lead us on proper paths.
God’s Protection is Pervasive
God’s provision is personal and can be seen in the fact that He gives us contentment, nourishment, restoration and guidance. When we come to verse 4, we notice a couple changes in this prayer. In verses 1-3, the sheep are in the sunshine. In verse 4, the sheep are in the shadows. God not only takes care of us through the delightful times, He guides us through those dark seasons of life.
Notice also that the pronouns change. In the first half, David is extolling the virtues of the Shepherd, using “He” and “His” to refer to God. Now, when we come to the second half, he speaks to the Shepherd directly: “You are with me, your rod and your staff…you prepare…you anoint.” When times are tough, God becomes more real to David. Have you experienced that? The promise-keeping God guides us through times of deep gloom and despair.
We see that God’s protection is pervasive, covering every aspect of life, from green pastures to the shadows of death. Because God will protect us…
1. There is no need to fear death. Look at the first part of verse 4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil…” The picture here is of the shepherd leading his sheep back home in the evening. As they go through the rocky ravine and narrow gorges, long shadows dance across the trail, frightening the flock. The shepherd knows from experience that predators like bears and wolves can take cover in these cliffs as they wait in ambush for some fresh lamb chops. David could also be referring to the approach of autumn when the sheep are forced to find other fields and get ready for the coming winter. During this time the flock is entirely alone with the shepherd and must follow closely to avoid danger.
Notice it says that we walk “through” the valley. We don’t have to stay there. We’re passing through. Through the blackness there is brightness. Through the gloom there is glory. Notice also the word “shadow.” In one sense the shadow of something is more ominous than what it represents. On the other hand, the shadow of a dog cannot bite and the shadow of death cannot harm us if we stay close to the shepherd. When there is a shadow there must be light somewhere. As 1 Corinthians 15:55 reminds us, the Redeemer has removed the sting of death; only the shadow of it remains.
David continues, “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The rod was like a club that often hung from the shepherd’s belt. It was used to protect the sheep. Shepherds were very adept in their aim and would throw this club at attacking animals. The staff was a slender pole, with a little crook on the end. It could be hooked around the leg of a sheep to pull him from harm. It was also used to direct the flock, and occasionally to discipline the sheep. Not once do we read of sheep carrying rods and staffs. They must rely completely on the shepherd for safety and direction. Likewise, we must lean on the Lord for all that we need and find comfort in his power and corrective discipline.
When the sheep could see the rod and the staff, they knew that they were protected. They could walk through dark valleys as long as the shepherd was with them. The word “comfort” comes from the Latin. “Com” means “with” and speaks of company. “Fortis” is the word for “strong.” Putting these two thoughts together we get the idea of “strength through companionship.” We can be strong in the face of death because we have a companion who has championed over the grave.
2. There is no need to fear enemies. In verse 5, David writes, “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.” Some commentators suggest that David is switching metaphors here to that of a gracious dinner host. There might be something to be said for that but I think he’s using a common expression to describe what a shepherd does to “prepare a pasture.” Ideally, the best place for the sheep to graze is on a flat mesa, or tableland. Before letting the lambs romp around, the shepherd inspects it for poisonous plants and makes sure there are not any predators prowling around. The sheep can eat and rest even though there are enemies nearby because the shepherd is doing His job.
3. There is no need to fear any problem. The middle section of verse 5 is rich in meaning: “You anoint my head with oil.” If David is referring to a dinner party, he has in mind the generous host who goes around the table putting expensive and fragrant oil on the guests’ foreheads. This would help neutralize body odor and the smells of the field that could spoil a fine dining experience. I bet those who went to Cornerstone wished they had some of that stuff! In our culture, it would be like giving each guest a stick of deodorant when they came to your house. In that day, oil was also a sign of rejoicing so to be anointed with it was to be splashed with joy.
While that may shed some light on the meaning of this text, I think David is still submerged in the sheep and shepherd relationship. In ancient Israel shepherds used oil for three purposes: to repel insects, to prevent conflicts, and to heal wounds. Sheep are really bugged by bugs. Flies like to deposit their eggs into the tender membrane of the sheep’s nose. When the eggs would hatch, larvae would drive the sheep insane, causing them to beat their heads against rocks and trees. When sheep see flies they freak out. They shake their heads up and down for hours. The shepherd knows what flies can do so he covers their heads with an oil-like repellant.
This oil is also used to prevent injury to the rams as they butt heads in their battle to win the affection of the ewes. Whenever the shepherd would hear two guys say to the same lady, “I want ewe, babe,” he knew there was going to be a rumble. He’d quickly smear this slippery substance over their noses and heads so the gladiators would glance off each other rather than splitting their craniums open. The third reason for the oil is because the flock gets a lot of wounds and cuts simply from living in a pasture. They get pricked by thorns and receive abrasions from the rocks. This oil serves as an ointment to protect their sores from getting infected.
What a beautiful picture of what the shepherd does for us. He deals with our problems by protecting us from those things that can wipe us out. He helps us have harmony with others. And, He comforts us and heals us when we’re beat up. We’re wounded sheep in need of a healing shepherd. Do you have any wounds today?
God’s Pleasure is Paramount
Because God’s protection is pervasive, we don’t have to dread death, we don’t have to be anxious about what enemies may do to us, and we don’t have to be paralyzed by our problems. We come now to the final truth of the psalm: God’s pleasure is paramount. We’ve already seen that God guides in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. God’s pleasure is demonstrated in two ways.
1. God gives us more than we need right now (5c). Look at the last part of verse 5 and the first part of verse 6: “…My cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…” This picture has two meanings as well. The shepherd would often carry something to drink and would share it with his sheep when they needed it. He would be generous because he knew they had to have some liquid or they would perish.
The other meaning may be that of dinner hosts who would serve drinks in cups and would pour until the cup literally overflowed. This was a common way to tell your guests that they could stay as long as they wanted. But when a cup sat empty, the host was hinting that it was time to leave. When the host really enjoyed the company of the person, he filled the cup to overflowing. He kept pouring until the liquid ran over the edge of the cup and onto the floor.
God’s goodness and love will follow us. The word “follow” literally means, “pursue.” The Message translates it this way: “Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.” What a picture! For those who have put their faith in Jesus, we have been given much more than we deserve and we have more than we need. That’s his goodness.
We’re also recipients of his love and mercy, by not receiving what we deserve. If God gave us justice, we’d be punished for our disobedient wandering. But because of Jesus we can have confidence in His mercy. His goodness and love led Jesus to the Cross, where the shepherd gave his life for his sheep. Why does the Lord do all this for us? His motive is to display the honor of His name. It brings Him great pleasure to overflow in goodness and love toward needy sheep-like people. He’s pursuing you right now in order to give you more that you need and certainly more than you deserve.
2. God is preparing us for everything we’ll need later (6b). We have more than we need right now and we’ll have everything we need for eternity. Look at the last phrase of verse 6: “…And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” The psalm begins with the joyous statement, “The Lord is my shepherd” and closes with an equally positive affirmation of faith: “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” The sheep have been following the shepherd to green pastures and through shadowy valleys. The seasons have changed and now they’re coming home. The flock is now ready to winter in the safe harbor of the Good Shepherd’s home. They are so satisfied with the flock to which they belong and with the ownership of the Shepherd that they have no desire to change a thing. They want everything to just go on forever.
Because we enjoy the presence of the shepherd and have more than we even need in this life, we can’t wait to spend eternity with the Lord in His house. Forever we’ll praise Him, giving glory to His name as we recognize that His pleasure is paramount. Psalm 84:4: “Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.”
Lamb Lessons
I see three lamb lessons as we wrap up this morning.
1. Join the shepherd’s flock. The Lord is looking for lost sheep right now. If you have never asked Jesus save you from your sins and shepherd your life, you are not yet in His flock. A famous actor with a wonderful voice was once asked by an old preacher to recite Psalm 23. The actor agreed on the condition that the preacher would also recite it. The actor stood up and gave a dramatic presentation of the psalm with wonderful intonation and modulation. Everyone applauded wildly. The preacher then stood up and in a very rough voice, broken from many years of preaching, quoted the 23rd Psalm from memory. When he finished, everyone was crying, with some people kneeling on the floor. A couple minutes later someone asked the actor what made the difference. This is what he said: “I know the Psalm, but he knows the shepherd.”
Do you know the shepherd? If not, join His flock right now.
2. Stay close to the shepherd. Many sheep will come to the shepherd daily and rub against his legs and wait for a pat on the head. They want the assurance that the shepherd is there for them. Sheep that stay close to the shepherd reach the water first. Those next to the shepherd get to the sweetest grass first. But most of all they get to enjoy it all with the shepherd by their side. When we stay close to the shepherd, He will make sure all of our needs are met.
Unfortunately, many of us like to stray. Sometimes as a last resort, a shepherd will discipline a straying sheep by putting a leg across his staff and with one quick motion, pull down on the leg to break it. Because the sheep cannot walk, the shepherd then carries the sheep from field to field, sometimes even putting him on his shoulders.
Do you know what happens as a result of this discipline? That sheep never strays again. He becomes so used to being right next to the shepherd that he can’t imagine going his own way ever again. He had to be broken in order to be healed.
Does that sound like you today? Perhaps the Lord is disciplining you right now. Remember, its not to punish you but to bring you back to His side. Stay close to the shepherd.
3. Follow wherever He leads. When you know the Shepherd through salvation, and stay close to Him as part of you discipleship, you will want to follow Him wherever He leads you. Sometimes it’s through the valley. Other times you experience green pastures. The shepherd has a plan for you and wants to lead you in paths of righteousness. Are you willing to follow Him, regardless of the direction He takes you? Some of you need to follow the Lord in baptism. I encourage you to be willing to do so. We’re having a special service on August 18th for those ready to take this important step of discipleship.
Marti Sullan, one of our teachers in the children’s ministry here at PBC, has been helping the children understand the names of God. Her class has been working on my shirts with the phrased, “Your way, Yahweh” on them. That’s a good question for us today. Can you say, “My way is Yahweh?” Are you actively following Him?
Praying the Psalm
One of the things we learn from the structure of this psalm is that we can’t speak too long about God with our minds before we must turn and speak to God from our heart. The theology of “He leads me” must become personal: “You are with me.” And, it’s often in those tough times when we turn to Psalm 23 and are drawn closer to the Shepherd. It’s there that our doctrine becomes dynamic as we cry out to Him for help.
Please join me as I pray this song of the sheep back to the Shepherd.
