Our Shepherd
We are going to kick off a summer long series today called, “Summer in the Psalms”. A little bit of a pun there, not quite palms but they are close. Sort of like palm trees, Psalms can provide us with rich provision and life in a dry and weary land. Palms can provide fruit and shelter and the Psalms have been a place of provision and shelter for many in dry seasons.
The psalms also can provide wisdom. There is a great deal of that throughout the 150 Psalms in our Bible. We also see the very real and raw emotions of people like David in them. It brings to life the idea that we are not alone in how this journey with Jesus goes sometimes.
Another powerful thing about the Psalms is the fact that Jesus quoted the Psalms more than any other book, that really says a lot! So this morning, I want to start with my favorite Psalm and a pretty famous one, Psalm 23 where we will focus on Our Shepherd, Jesus.
Jesus, our good shepherd, provides for us and is all we truly need. Whether we are in the valley that is described here, or on the mountain tops that other Psalms describe, our need for Jesus is still the same. However, when we are in a dark valley, that need becomes very apparent.
Jesus is the restorer of our soul
Kenneth Barker writes in his commentary: “The first word of the psalm, “The LORD,” evokes rich images of the provision and protection of the covenant-God. The emphasis of the psalmist is on “my.” The temptation in ancient Israel was to speak only about “our” God (cf. Dt 6:4), forgetting that the God of Israel is also the God of individuals. The metaphor of the shepherd is not only a designation or name of the Lord, but it points toward the relation between God and his covenant-children.”
“The image of “shepherd” arouses emotions of care, provision, and protection. A good shepherd is personally concerned with the welfare of his sheep. Because of this the designation “my shepherd” is further described by various aspects of God’s care: “he makes me lie down … he leads … he restores … he guides”; and by the resulting tranquility, “I will fear no evil.””
Did you know that God is your good shepherd? We cannot miss the power of the words: “my shepherd.” We have a plethora of options for how we handle the dark valleys that inevitably appear in our lives. From Christians to non-Christians, children and adults, male or female, if you are a person that walks around on this green and blue spinning ball, you will walk through a valley at some point in your life. And I would venture to say, probably through quite a few.
Let me ask you a hard question today: when things get dark in your life, where do you turn? What actions do you take to make your way through the dark seasons that you are going through? Don’t miss the power in this first verse: “I shall not want.” We need to believe that if we have Jesus, we have everything. We lack nothing. There is nothing in your life, no matter how bad or ugly and depressing it may seem, that you are lacking if you have Christ as the head of your life and your heart.
When Jesus is Lord, peace and tranquility only come when we understand that there is nothing left to gain. Can you imagine how potent your faith and your life would be if you stopped trying to gain and earn things? If you were able to rest in knowing that you had Jesus and that you had it all.
Get this today: Jesus is the green pasture and the still waters, not getting out of your dark valley. Notice this, David is still in the dark valley when he describes the still water and green pastures. He isn’t out of it now and in a better season, he is still in the dark valley! But he has who? God. His, see this now, HIS, good shepherd.
Nobody, no thing, no outcome, can restore your soul like Jesus can. No house, 401K, health diagnosis, economic state, relationship, anything, can restore your soul. In your valley, look to Jesus, and be restored.
Jesus will lead us through the valley
The darkest valley here gives us an incredible image to think about. Remember, David is writing this Psalm, he knows all about shepherding. In the ANE and in the region David is from, it was often that he would have to lead his sheep through ravines and wadis where it would be so narrow and steep that it would keep out the light, even during the day.
I know what valleys have looked like, and sometimes I have wondered: what did I do to get here Lord? Some valleys are directly tied to my actions, and some are just because I am a human living in a fallen world. The important thing to note here is David having no fear and experiencing comfort. Comfort in the valley? How?
Kenneth Barker again: “The shepherd’s care is symbolized by the “rod” and the “staff.” A shepherd carried a rod to club wild animals and a staff to keep the sheep in control. These two represent God’s constant vigilance over his own and bring “comfort” (GK 5714) because of his personal presence and involvement with his sheep.”
St. John of the Cross wrote in his famous book the dark night of the soul: “in the dark night of the soul, bright flows the river of God.”
We need to lift our eyes off the valley and our enemy and point them solely on Jesus. I can’t shake Hebrews 12:2, I have quoted it in every sermon the last 3 times I spoke and God continually brings it to remembrance to me in devotion and prayer time: 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.
We experience comfort when we look to our protector and our guide. Do you know who your Jesus is? Do you believe what the Bible says about him? Duet. 31:6, Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
John 10:27-28, 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.
Know his voice, hone in on what your good shepherd says, and allow the world and the enemy and this valley to fall to the wayside. You have nothing to fear when your good shepherd is near. But the temptation in the valley is an easy one to give in to: if I am in this dark valley, my shepherd isn’t good.
John 10:10-15, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Your shepherd is good, we know this because he died for us. We know this became he came for us, expecting nothing in return! He allows us to choose if we make him shepherd or not. Jesus is the only shepherd worth leading your life. You as a sheep cannot take care of yourself! Sheep have nothing to protect themselves naturally. They have no speed, no horns, no instincts. They can bite (and boy do some of you bite…) but they are hopeless without their shepherd!
Jesus is your good and perfect shepherd. I, as your Pastor try, and I fail in my imperfections at times to lead. But Jesus will never fail you. If you want a new Pastor pray for the one you have! He needs it.
Jesus provides what no other can (23:5-6)
One of my favorite titles for Jesus is: “prince of peace”. I have met a lot of people in this life, who have it all, and it still isn’t enough. Peace and true goodness, love and joy and fulfillment to the full is only found in Jesus Christ and him alone.
I say this a lot, at Parkway sometimes we have parties. Good food, fellowship around the table, laughing and kids running around. Joy and fulfillment, community that brings life and fullness. Why do we do that? Because we are practicing for heaven. At the end of all days there will be a great banquet, a great feast with our king. And we are practicing for that here. God wants to love and cherish you, to have a meal with you and hospitably bless you, but we need to choose to dine with him.
Let’s get some historical context to help us here. It was customary for someone to anoint the head of those that attended their house for a meal or for hospitality. These perfumes would sooth and bless the person that comes into the house. In the shepherd’s context, this oil was used to be poured on the wounds of the sheep to tend them in care and to stave off infection to wounds.
Are you wounded? Come to the table with Jesus, he wants to heal and restore you. Do you reek of the world and the pleasures it falsely offered you for fulfillment? Come experience the fragrance of love and restoration at Christ’s table. He’s not mad at you, you are his and he loves you. Are you empty? He wants your cup to overflow with his goodness and fulfillment.
Life and life to the full looks like a cup of really good coffee, with all the fixin’s and all the goodness pouring all over your lap. Jesus is a good shepherd that doesn’t hold back on his blessings and love. He is abundant in his care and in his promises, and he proves time and time again in scripture and in the lives of his people still today.
But you are the one who needs to take a seat. I fear we have seen other tables that feel more lavish to us. Tables in this world that offer all sorts of false peace, false fulfillment, and false joy. The enemy is behind this. He wants you to dine at his table when the dark valley comes. He wants you to put your trust on what you can see and feel and touch now instead of trusting in your good shepherd who has better plans. Do not dine with him. Get up from that table and run to Christ’s table.
I feel I need to end with an invitation this morning. An invitation to you to make Jesus the true shepherd of your life. You have had a different shepherd for far too long and you need to repent and allow Jesus to heal you and restore you to the flock you truly belong to: God’s flock.
I feel I also need to invite those that claim Christ as their shepherd but they’ve gotten frustrated at the process a little bit. I call this Jesus plus. Jesus plus this. Jesus plus drunkenness, Jesus plus pornography, Jesus plus anger and rage, Jesus plus still living in the world to supplement where Jesus comes up short. You are slowly drifting towards a different shepherd, and you need to come and declare Jesus as your sole shepherd.
Jesus doesn’t need any help. He doesn’t need any additions to his lordship in your life, he is doing just fine. He loves you, he cares for you, and you need to choose him. You need to trust him, you need to make him Lord, and you need to walk away from any other options of Lord.
He is the only true restorer of your soul, he WILL lead you through this valley (but not around it and you need to be ok with that and trust), and he provides what nobody or no other thing can. We need to walk in these truths and allow them to transform us.