Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
September 2, 2007 - W0735

King David sees God as the Shepherd in Psalm 23 and in John 10 Jesus is called the good shepherd so it is important to know what and why a shepherd does what he does. There are a number of psalms and some of them are called psalms of ascent recited by those making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Psalm 23 is a psalm of ascent and crescendos in the end into the apex of psalms. As the 23^rd Psalm says, “Surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6).

There was a Christian celebratory gathering in which various members would display their talents to the congregation. Mr. Jones who had a very good Shakespearean voice recited Psalm 23 for the audience in its entirety.  It was so good everyone applauded. Then Smitty, an old farmer, was asked to do something for the audience. He initially refused saying that he had no talent and that the only thing he knew how to do was to recite Psalm 23 also but declined to do so because Mr. Jones had done such a great job before him. But he was pressed into doing it by the pastor. He began Psalm 23 and also related how it had comforted him when his wife had died. As he continued with, “He leads me beside quiet waters” he told the story of how a drought almost ruined him but God saw him through those dark times.  Smitty related how he had wanted to give up his farm in desperation but Psalm 23 made him instead “lie down in green pastures.” He unfolded his long life before the audience and interwove it with the comfort he received from the Psalm. At the end of his recitation not a sound could be heard.  Everyone was awed into silence. Finally, Mr. Jones said, “I may know the 23^rd Psalm but Smitty here knows the Shepherd of the 23^rd Psalm and that makes all the difference in the world.”

So know God your shepherd deeply, not simply know more knowledge of Him.

Sheep are not the smartest animals. They are prey animals – in other words predatory animals hunt them for food. So sheep are skittish and afraid. Too bad people are not referred to as German shepherds rather than sheep in the Bible! Sheep do no even walk right.  They kind of “boing” along. Because of all this, Sheep need a shepherd because they tend to go astray – like humans do at times.

Psalm 23 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters” (Ps. 23:1-2). Sheep also tend to eat too much which can be fatal to them. They need to chew their cud similar to cows and they have to go through a multi stage digestive process that takes time. But sheep tend to think they never have enough to eat so they keep eating and sometimes gas can build up in their system, which can lead to bloating.  And the bloating can lead to suffocation and death. So as the Psalm 23 says, the shepherd makes them “lie down in green pastures” to prevent them from eating too much.

After Hurricane Iniki I was visiting some of the afflicted areas and was in someone’s house that had stocked up full of food.  But each time the government truck with free food would arrive she would run out and get some more.  This happened several times before I stopped her. Aren’t we all like sheep?  If it is free, even if we have enough we still try to take more? Well, the good shepherd says when you have had enough. But if you have no relationship with the shepherd then you will always think you need more. When the Devil sees that you are never satisfied you are vulnerable to him.

Dr. James Dobson told a story about how his father would take him into the woods and they would hide near a place where deer came to feed.  When the deer came to feed they would be able to take pictures without the deer knowing. His father pointed out that because the deer is thinking it is safe eating that free food he is also vulnerable to hunters who could have brought guns instead of cameras. It is a lot like life – if it is free it could also be a trap set by the devil.

So draw near the Shepherd instead.

Sheep have such poor eyesight that they can die of thirst because they can be too frightened by the sound of rushing water to drink the water nearby. In order to quiet the waters for his sheep, the shepherd will sometimes build a dam so that some of the water becomes still and then he can lead them “beside still waters” for drinking. Similarly, the Lord asks us to trust Him even when we cannot see clearly His intent.

1. HE ASKS US TO TRUST HIM ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE WEAK.

As the Bible says, “The Lord … knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust” (Ps. 103:14). In other words, He already knows our weaknesses so “… let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

Sometimes when we are in trouble or when we are weak we seem to hear voices or see messages that seem like are telling us to not go to church perhaps because our troubles are too embarrassing for anyone to know about. But I tell you go anyway.  Be still and near God no matter what the trouble is.

Sometimes a sheep will fall into a wadi or dried out streambed that forms a deep impression in the ground. When this happens the sheep will at times be stuck and be “cast down” or upside down and be unable to right itself. The shepherd typically scans the skies looking for circling vultures.  If he sees them, he immediately runs to the site below the vultures because that is where his sheep is likely to be found. Time is of the essence because if the sheep is “cast down,” bloating and then death could come in minutes.

When he finds his sheep the shepherd has to right the sheep onto its legs but often the legs have lost circulation so the sheep cannot walk.  The Shepherd then has to guide the sheep – sometimes between his own legs – until the sheep can walk on its own. Sometimes, we humans are “cast down” and cannot right or fix ourselves and we need our Lord to guide and shepherd us. The Lord, our shepherd is always searching for His sheep that are cast down or need help so that he can restore and guide us.

2. HE SEARCHES FOR US IN ORDER TO RESTORE US.

“He restores my soul; and He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Ps. 23:3). Often we do not want God to bother us. But God we need to remember that God searches for us to restore us. If we remain unrestored we are then vulnerable to the Devil.  So let Him find you.

There was a little girl lost and they took two days to find her finally in a hollowed out log. When they asked her why she was hiding when they were calling her name she answered that she thought they were going to hurt her. I think that is how many of us feel - that God will punish us if we go to Him.  But that is not the case. As the Bible says, “And you will be called, ‘Sought out, a city not forsaken’” (Is. 62:12).

The Shepherd will use his staff and rod to herd his sheep from pasture to pasture to feed them fresh grass.  The staff has a hook so that he can guide the sheep into the right path and bring them close if needed. The rod is a like a short club and can be used as a weapon against predators. When a lamb has a tendency to stray from the herd it can be dangerous for that lamb because predators are always watching.  So the shepherd will break that lamb’s leg so that it cannot stray.  However, the shepherd will then carry and care for that lamb until it is fully healed and then it will have learned not to stray from the shepherd. I think that is how it is between God and His people.  We are afraid of His discipline and it can be painful but it is for our own good. So …

3. NEVER BE AFRAID OF HIS DISCIPLINE.

God reproves those He loves. He disciplines in love not anger. If you stay close you will not lose your way. There are long shadows in the valley and so it is easy for the sheep to get lost and fall. So stay close to the shepherd.  It is the sheep’s responsibility to stay close to the shepherd. As it is written, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies …” (Ps. 23:4-5).

A sheep will sometimes try to eat poison plants and so the shepherd will throw his rod at the sheep to prevent it from eating the poison. So discipline can be painful but it is ultimately good for you. I think that if it will prevent me from straying I want the Lord to nail me with a two by four!

The Lord lets us know He is there in a variety of ways, sometimes in a sunset or natures beautiful flowers. Other times He uses His rod to discipline us.

In the evening, the shepherd will gather his sheep close and he will have a bucket of water and oil handy. You see, during the day, flies will lay their eggs in the sheep’s wool. When the eggs hatch, sometimes the flies will be trapped within and begin to buzz.  The sheep will beat its head to against a tree to rid itself of the buzzing. So the shepherd will look for blood to see if the sheep has been doing that and he will apply the oil to kill the flies and heal the sheep. Then the shepherd will lead the sheep to a safe place and sleep at the gate or entrance to protect his sheep. Likewise, our Lord does the same …

4. HE DRAWS US CLOSE SO HE CAN HEAL US.

As it is written, “You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows’ (Ps. 23:5). Always remember, “Jesus said … ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep … If anyone enters through Me, he will be saved …’” (John 10:7,9). Jesus is the shepherd of Psalm 23.

If you follow and let Jesus shepherd you, you will know goodness and loving kindness all your life and will live forever in Heaven. But the Lord asks us to trust Him especially when we are weak and even though we cannot see His purpose. We must remember that He searches for us in order to restore us not to hurt us. We should never be afraid of His discipline because though it may hurt, ultimately it is good for us. It is our responsibility to stay close to Him and He draws us close so that He can heal us.

Study Questions.

1.      “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want …”  what is it that you should not want?

2.      When has it been difficult for you to trust the Lord? Why?

3.      When have you hidden from the Lord and why?

4.      What has God disciplined you for? Why?

5.      What did you do to help God heal you?

6.      What did God heal in you?

7.      How did you get closer to God?