Lessons From A Shepherd

Intro.: I like photography.

1.      I am not much of a photographer – though occasionally I get a good picture

2.      I am really just a dabbler.

3.      I really wish that there had been cameras during the times that the Bible had been written

4.      I mean, to have just one photograph of Jesus. We would have to be careful not to worship it, but one picture would be nice.

5.      I was reading this weeks Psalm this week and felt like I was looking a series of photographs.

6.      Turn with me to Psalm 23.

Read: Psalm 23

Pray

Trans:  Probably no better known Psalm

1.      One of those that we have grown up

2.      Many people's favorite Psalm

3.      Written by a shepherd who was also a King

4.      Written by a man who was know as a “man after God's own heart”

5.      Written by David – the greatest King that the Jews ever had.

T.S. Too often we hear Psalm 23 at funeral services.

1.      Yet the Psalm is not geared toward those dealing with the lose of a loved on

2.      Rather, the Psalm are the words of a man, a King, who had lived through much – who had learned to trust God during all kinds of events during this life. “All the days of my life” he writes.

3.      As we read through the Psalm, we get a series of snapshots of those timpases when David has been blessed by God.

4.      Let's spend the next few minutes looking at four snapshots provided by David into God's presence in his life.

       I.            A snapshot of life in the PASTURE (vv. 1-3)

                            A.  The very pieces of Psalm 23 that remind me of the traditional Easter that we celebrate here in America are the parts that bring us to the pasture.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 He makes me lie down in green pastures.

 He leads me beside still waters.

 He restores my soul.

 He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name's sake.

(Ill.) When our ancestors first came to America they found land aplenty – but that land had its problems. It was not the land we see today. It was full of rocks, stones, that made cultivating the land difficult. In fact those rocks, those stones, after being cleared from the land was used to build homes and fences. Though these cobblestones were a major construction material 150 years ago – today there are less than 600 cobblestone homes left in the Fingerlakes region.

                             B. Though the original settlers of our area would have appreciated having good solid material that could be used to build their homes. At the same time they would have understood having a pasture that did not need to be worked.

                             C.  The focus of the shepherd caring for his sheep in the pasture is one of caring – of the shepherd providing everything the sheep needs. The sheep need grass, water, rest, and a shepherd who knows how to care for them.

                            D.  When God’s people follow their Shepherd, they have all that they need and will not lack the necessities of life (Paul understood that. Listen to his words in Phil. 4:19 And my God will fulfill your every need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus).

                             E. Sheep will not lie down when they are hungry, nor will they drink from fast-flowing streams. Sometimes the shepherd will temporarily dam up a stream so the sheep can quench their thirst. You can read verse 2 “beside the stilled water.”

                              F.  In heaven, our Shepherd will lead us to fountains of living water (Rev. 7:17).

    II.            A snapshot of life in the VALLEY (v. 4)

                            A. The pasture was a place where the shepherd could give all that the sheep needed.  The valley was a place where all that threatened the sheep could attack.   Except that with the shepherd

                         Even though I walk through the valley

                                                        of the shadow of death,

                         I will fear no evil,

                                                        for you are with me;

                         your rod and your staff,

                                                        they comfort me.

                             B. Sheep, as you probably know, are vulnerable. They do not have many natural defenses – and as much as the shepherd is responsible for providing for their needs, he is also responsible for protecting the sheep under his care.

                             C. The shepherd is responsible for moving his sheep from one pasture to another – but as he does, he may need to lead them through ravines and dark valleys. The shepherd does not leave them in the valley -

                            D. The shepherd not only protects his sheep, he also guides them to where they can will be safe from the dangers they might face.

                             E.  Again, we remember, “The Lord is my shepherd.”

 III.            A snapshot of life in the FOLD (v. 5)

                            A. The sheep could find themselves in the pasture or in a valley.

                             B. But that is not where they are the most comfortable – the sheep fold is that place of comfort

                             C. It was here that the a trough would be filled with food for the night, it was here they could rest safely after spending the day wandering from pasture to pasture.

                            D. The fold would be defined by a wall – with an open gap where the sheep and shepherd could enter the safety of the fold for the night.

                             E. At night the shepherd would sleep in this gap – serving as the door to the sheep fold.

(Ill.) Do you remember Jesus' comment in John 10 – “So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly”

                             F. Jesus is the door – he is picturing the gap in the sheep fold.

                            G.  The sheep fold was a place of safety – but it was also a place of care.

                            H. A shepherd anoints the heads of his flock with oil for two reasons.

                         1.      First, it is to keep the bugs and ticks out of the ears and eyes of the sheep.

                         2.      Secondly, it is to deflect the blows of bigger sheep who butt heads.

(Appl.) What’s “bugging” you? Are you “ticked off?” Are you irritated? If so, does it manifest itself in you butting your head against other sisters and brothers? 

Whenever we feel bugged or irritated, what we need is a fresh outpouring of the Spirit upon our lives. Throughout Scripture, oil is a symbol, a type, a picture of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Ghost to them that ask?” (see Matthew 7:11). Ask the Lord to anoint your head in a fresh way.

 IV.            A snapshot of life at home (v. 6)

                            A. David gives us one more snapshot - Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

                             B. As the shepherd lay each night at the door of the sheepfold, he looked back over the day and gave thanks that the Lord had blessed them with goodness and mercy.

                             C. As an old man, David looked back over his long life and came to the same conclusion.

                            D.  In spite of his sins and failures, he had been followed by “goodness and mercy,” which is the Old Testament equivalent of Romans 8:28 - “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

                             E. As David looked ahead, he knew he would be in heaven—the Father’s house—forever.

                              F. The things that perplex and disturb us today will all be clear when we get to heaven. We will look back and see “only goodness and mercy.” In the Old Testament, the sheep died for the shepherd; but with Christ, we must remember that the Shepherd died for the sheep—and we shall meet our Shepherd in heaven! “For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev. 7:17).

Conclusion:

Pray