FROM EARTH TO GLORY
Comforting thoughts from Psalm 23
By Denis Lyle
THE SUFFICIENCY
OF THE LORD
The Lord is my
shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me
to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the
path of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and they staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth
over. Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for
ever.
Heaven is our final destination. But it is the journey, described in the first
5 verses of this Psalm, that we often struggle with. Getting there is settled and sure but it is
the going there that is rough. It is the
journey that gives us trouble. Yet Psalm
3 tells us how to face the days ahead.
There is the day ahead when we get home, but until then there are
the days ahead. How do we face
the days ahead? Psalm 23 tells us how. The Psalm consists of 118 words – only 55 in
the original Hebrew – yet it sums up all our needs in life and all the
abundance of God’s grace. It beings with
“the Lord” and ends with “forever”. 116
out of the 118 words are devoted to explaining the first two words “The
Lord”. Here is how David faced life and
in so doing he gives us the secret to facing the days ahead. David’s secret? His secret was the Lord. David was captivated with the Lord. He was able to face life and all that life
threw at him because of the Lord.
(1)
The
Majesty of the sovereign
Note it is “the Lord” not “a Lord”! The Egyptians had 365 primary gods – one for
every day of the year. The Canaanites
had many gods. But David knew there was
but one true God – the great, sovereign, eternal God.
“The Lord is” – eternality and immutability
of God. The Lord always has been is and
the Lord always will be is.
“The Lord is my” – not “the” or “a” but
“my” shepherd, the one who is responsible for every care the sheep might have.
(a)
The
majesty of his name
“The Lord” = Yahweh = English rendering
“Jehovah” It is in capitals! The most sacred name for deity the Jews
had. The name Jehovah combines the 3
tenses of the Hebrew verb “to be” - “He will be” (the future), “being” (the
present) and “He was” (the past), the eternal God.
“Jehovah is my Shepherd”. That name was sacred to the Jewish
people. The great awesome covenant
keeping God, the great “I am”. Remember
God’s appearing to Moses in Exodus. “I
am that I am” – “I am self-existing, self-existent, the Creator not the
created, I was and I am, and I will be, from everlasting to everlasting, First
and Last, Beginning and End, Alpha and Omega.”
Contemplating God balances our thoughts,
humbles our hearts, clarifies our perspectives, reassures our spirits and
strengthens our souls. As we think
rightly about God, everything else assumes proper perspective.
(b)
The majesty
of his nature
“The Lord is” that word “is” denotes
existence. The Holy Spirit simply deems
certain truths to be self-evident. The
first and foremost of these – that the Lord is.
(c)
The
majesty of his nearness
“is” also indicates immediacy. It is in the present tense. He is my shepherd presently. The Lord Jesus though timeless and eternal,
is now and he is accessible, a God of the moment and a god of every moment. The opening verse of this Psalm is written in
the present tense. It does not away
fulfilment. It is not a prediction. It is a fact.
This is not a promise to claim – this is a reality to experience. Our Lord is a shepherd whose presence is
instant, immediate and accessible every day, every hour and every moment.
The omnipotent God is your Lord.
The omnipresent God is your Lord.
The omniscient God is your Lord.
(2)
The
Ministry of the Shepherd
“The Lord is my shepherd” The Jehovah of
the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament. When we speak of “Jehovah” we speak of his
deity but when we say “Shepherd” we speak of his humanity. In the Lord Jesus, we have sovereignty and
sympathy, a King and a Shepherd, a God who is able and a Shepherd who is
available, a God in the heavens and a Shepherd in our hearts.
(a)
Our
shepherd care
The word word “shepherd” means “to tend the
flock”. It speaks of the role of the
shepherd and his care for the flock. A
shepherd would live with hi sheep, 24 hours a day with unwavering devotion, day
and night, both in fair weather and foul, to nurture, guide and protect his
sheep. The shepherd would assume full
responsibility for the needs and safety of his flock even risking his own life fro
their protection.
God watches over us.
God walks with us.
God works for us.
God witnesses to us.
His care for us is unchanging. It is unbroken. It is unlimited. It is unstinted. It is unending.
(b)
Our
shepherd Christ
3 times in the NT Jesus is described as a
shepherd
The Good Shepherd – John 10 verse 1. There has only ever been 1 person who has
chosen to die – Jesus Christ. He did no
have to die. He laid down his life.
It was not nails that kept Jesus on the
tree but the silver cords of love. Now
we have often heard of sheep dying for the shepherd who wants the sheep for
food but we are less likely to hear of any shepherd dying for the sheep.
He dealt with the penalty of sin – Romans 6
verse 23
The Great Shepherd – Hebrews 13 verse
20. In John 10 the Good Shepherd died but
in Hebrews 13 the Great Shepherd rose for the sheep. Christ carried our sin to the cross and there
he took care of the penalty of our sin but when he rose from the dead he nowd
eals with the power of sin.
The Chief Shepherd – 1 Peter 5 verse
4.
John speaks of death
Hebrews 13 speaks of resurrection
1 Peter 5 speaks of glory
As the Good Shepherd he had to be good to
do it, he died for us
As the Great Shepherd he had to be great to
do it, he rose for us
As the Chief Shepherd he is coming to take
us from the presence of sin
Psalm 23 comes after Psalm 22 and before
Psalm 24
Psalm 22 = crucifixion of Christ, as if man
standing at the foot of the cross. He is
the Good Shepherd dying for the sheep.
Takes us to Mount Calvary.
Psalm 23 = Great Shepherd is leading the
sheep. He is risen from the dead. Now we are living in the valley where the
Shepherd ministers to us.
Psalm 24 = Chief Shepherd is coming for the
sheep. Centres around Mount Zion.
All the verbs in this Psalm are in the
present tense:
He makes me
He leads me
He restores
He guides
He is with me
He comforts me
He prepares a table for me
He anoints me
My cup overflows
His shepherding ministries are for me today.
(3)
The
Mentality of the Sheep
“I shall not want” A sheep utterly satisfied with its owner,
perfectly content with its lot in life.
(a)
A
personal satisfaction
Does not mean that if the Lord is our
Shepherd we will have everything we want.
It means we will not want for anything we
need.
(b)
A
spiritual realisation
It is not so much what God gives but what
God is that will satisfy. He himself is
my satisfaction. David takes the name
“Shepherd” and links it with the name “Jehovah my shepherd”. The Hebrew says “Jehovah-raah”. One of the names of God.
Psalm 23 verse 1 – Jehovah-raah – The Lord
is my shepherd
Genesis 22 verse 13 – Jehovah-jireh – the
Lord will provide.
Exodus 15 verse 26 – Jehovah-rapha – The
Lord that healeth
Judges 6 verse 24 – Jehovah-shalom – The
Lord our peace
Jeremiah 23 verse 6 – Jehovah-tsidkenu –
The Lord our righteousness
Ezekiel 48 verse 35 – Jehovah-shammah – The
Lord ever Present
Exodus 17 verse 15 – Jehovah-nissi – The
Lord our Banner
The Lord ... my shepherd – Jehovah-raah
I shall not want – Jehovah-jireh – the Lord
will provide
He maketh to lie ... waters –
Jehovah-Shalom – the Lord our peace
He restoreth my soul” – Jehovah-rapha – the
Lord who heals
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
– Jehovah-tsidkenu – the Lord our righteousness
Thou preparest a table before me in the
presence of mine enemies – Jehovah-nissi – the Lord our Banner
Yea, thou I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me – Jehovah-shammah – the
Lord ever present
In Him and in Him alone is the secret of
satisfaction and contentment.
SUCCESS OVER STRESS
Every shepherd knows how important it is
for his sheep to have a quiet time. “He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”
God wants his sheep to learn how to get
quiet, to lie down in the green pastures and to drink at the still waters. The sheep will drink when the water gets into
a quiet pool. So “he leadeth me beside
the still waters.”
When you think about a sheep, you realise
that a sheep is not one of the smartest animals around. In fact, it is overloaded with dumbness. We are like sheep, we are dumb – “there is
none that understandeth” Romans 3 verse 11.
A sheep is also defenceless. They are helpless, timid creatures, whose
only recourse is torun. Isaiah 53 verse
7 pictures the Lord Jesus as a lamb being brought to the slaughter. “and as a sheep before her shearers is
dumb”. You think of sheep needing
someone to protect them. And that is the
way we are. That is why Paul says in 2
Corinthians 3 verse 5 “our sufficiency is of God.” We do not have it in and of ourselves.
A sheep does not have a good sense of direction. It is easily lost. “All we like sheep have gone astray” Isaiah
53 verse 6. Sheep nibble and browse here
and there. They can then get further
from the flock and the shepherd. Then
they are lost. That is bad enough but
what is worse – the sheep cannot find their way home. Sheep need to be sought and brought. Hosea 11 verse 7 “My people are bent to
backsliding from me.” We have a tendency
to get away from God.
The sheep is also dependent on the
shepherd. A sheep can become cast – when
it rolls over on its back and cannot get up.
We get into a cast position and the shepherd needs to come and pick us
up and put us on our feet again. When
you were down and you could not get up?
How thankful we should be to God for the shepherd. Yes we are like sheep and because of this we
have a tendency to be stressed. How do
you handle stress? We can be stress-free
when we allow ....
(1)
The shepherd’s presence to console us
Sheep will refuse to lie down unless they
are free of all fear. The prowl of a
lion, the bark of a dog, the presence of a little child will be sufficient to
spoil the rest of a flock of sheep and cause a stampede. As long as there is the slightest suspicion
of danger from dogs, cougars, and bears, the sheep will stand up and get ready
to flee for their lives. It is only the
presence of the shepherd that quietens and reassures them and puts them at
ease.
How do you handle stress? “He maketh me ...
He leadeth me ...” It’s impossible for
sheep to “lie down” unless certain requirements are met.
(a)
The
fears of the sheep must be dealt with
Sheep are nervous animals. They are easily frightened. Their fears are not relieved by the absence
of danger, their fears are relieved by the Presence of the Shepherd. There is nothing that so reassures the sheep
as to see the presence of the shepherd in the field. Our Lord Jesus Christ came from heaven to
earth to defeat death, hell and grave and to conquer every fear. He is the victor over all.
In his earthly ministry he proved his power
over disease – he healed the sick.
He proved his power over demons – he cast
them out
He proved his power over death – he raised
the dead
He proved his power over the devil – he
defeated them
(b)
The
friction of the sheep must be dealt with
Sheep establish an order among themselves. Sheep have a “butting order”. They will drive others away from the best
grazing or favourite bedding grounds.
This causes uneasiness amongst the whole flock. The sheep become edgy, tense, discontented
and restless. But whenever the shepherd
appears, rivalries are forgotten and quarrels are ended. We always seem to be butting one
another. There is always friction. But then the shepherd steps on the scene. When we consciously abide in the presence of
the shepherd, the friction ceases.
(c)
The
flies of the sheep must be dealt with
The sheep will never lie down if they are
tormented by flies or parasites. Only
when free of these pests can they relax.
A good shepherd will apply various types of insect-repellents to his
sheep. He will see that they are dipped
to clear to clear their fleeces of ticks.
The shepherd will see that there is enough shelter in the trees and bush
where the sheep can find refuge and release from their tormentors. In the Christian life, there are many
irritations. But is there an antidote
for them? Can we get to the place of
quiet contentment despite them?
Yes! Is this not one of the
functions of the Holy Spirit? The Holy
Spirit is often symbolised in scripture by oil.
Oil is that which brings healing and comfort from the harsh and abrasive
aspects of life. Is there something
disturbing you? Do you need to go to the
Lord and say “Lord this is beyond me, I can’t cope with it, I can’t rest –
please take over.”
(d)
The
famine of the sheep must be dealt with
A sheep that is hungry will never lie
down. A hungry, ill fed sheep is ever on
its feet, always on the move, seeking to satisfy its gnawing hunger. “Green pastures” did not just happen by
chance. Green pastures were the product
of hard labour, time and skill in land-use.
But it was the shepherd’s responsibility to provide food for his sheep. Our fears are dealt with by our
shepherd. Our friction is dealt with by
the shepherd. The flies, the irritations
of life, dealt with by the shepherd. The
inner longings of our soul met by the ministry of the shepherd. Allow the shepherd’s presence to console us.
(2)
The
shepherd’s provision to content us
It is “green pastures and still
waters”. All I need and more I find in
the Lord Jesus. Why do we get
stressed? Because we think our needs are
not going to be met. Yet our shepherd
provides for us:
(a)
Materially
When David says “He maketh ... to lie down
in green pastures”, he means that the sheep have already grazed to their
fill”. They are full; they are satisfied;
their needs have all been met, and they are resting in the blessing. If the Lord is our shepherd, he will see to
it that in one way or another all our needs are met.
In Matthew’s gospel – Matthew 6 verses 25,
31 and 34 we are told to “take no thought”
People worry today about food, finance, family, fashion and fitness. Jesus said “After all these things do the
Gentiles (the unsaved) seek.” Christ is
not saying these things are not important but what he is saying is “Seek ye
first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be
added unto you.” Get your priorities
right and all the rest will fall into place.
These things do not even take on significance until your deepest needs
are met.
(b)
Spiritually
“green pastures” = God’s word
“still waters” = God’s Spirit
We find satisfaction in the Lord. “Man shall not live by bread alone but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4 verse 4. The bread is to you what bread is to the
natural man.
When Israel were passing through the
wilderness they fed on the manna and concerning it we read “they gathered it
every morning”. Exodus 34 verse 2 “be
ready in the morning.”
“If any man thirst let him come to me and
drink. He that believeth on me, as the
scriptures hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” “But this spake he of the Spirit which they
that believe on him should receive.” John 7 verses 37 to 39
The bible teaches that we are born again
through the power of the Holy Spirit – John 3 verses 5 to 8 and that he
indwells every believer – Romans 8 verse 9.
The Spirit empowers us to live holy lives
as we depend on him – Galatians 5 verses 16 to 23.
He gives us hope in the trials of life -
Romans 5 verses 3 to 5 and Romans 15 verse 13.
He guides us – Acts 13 verses 2 to 4 and
Acts 16 verses 6 and 7.
He teaches us – 1 John 2 verse 27.
He prays for us – Romans 8 verse 26
. He
gives us help and comfort – John 14 verse 16 and John 15 verse 26.
He gives us spiritual gifts – 1 Corinthians
12 verses 7 to 11 and empowers us to bear witness of Jesus Christ throughout
the world – Acts 1 verse 8.
Philip Keller tells us sometimes stubborn
sheep will not wait for the clear pure water that the shepherd is leading them
to. They stop to drink from the polluted
potholes along the trial, contaminated with the manure and urine of previous
flocks. It satisfies their thirst for
the moment but it will eventually riddle them with parasites and disease. It is the price they pay for instant gratification
rather than allowing the shepherd to clear water. Do I want a quick fix? Instant happiness – the polluted potholes of
the world. Seeds sown to the flesh can
take a while to sprout. Do not be
deceived. Whatever you sow you
reap. Learn to walk in the Spirit. God’s gracious provision for you.
“He maketh ... to lie down in green
pastures” = His word
“He leadeth me beside the still waters2 =
His Spirit
How can I handle stress? I need the shepherd’s presence to console me
and the shepherd’s provision to content me.
(3)
The Shepherd’s peace to control us
No sight so satisfies the shepherd as to
see his flock well, quietly fed, able to lie down to rest and to ruminate. They will not lie down until they are
content. Sheep only lie down when they feel secure, content and at peace. “He maketh me to lie down”. That is a picture of peace, contentment and
serenity.
(a)
The
lack of contentment in the world
“contentment” comes from 2 Latin words –
“con” and “tenio” meaning “to hold together” which is the opposite of falling
to pieces. Contentment is saying “the
world may be coming apart at the seams but I am holding together because of
Christ.” The bible says that God has
provided us with everything pertaining to life and godliness – 2 Peter 1 verse
3. We are to content with his provision.
(b)
The
lack of contentment in the Lord
Psalm 23 is the Psalm of a contented
heart. “He maketh me to lie down”. What a sheep is doing when it is lying
down? It is chewing the cud. A sheep has a second stomach and it puts that
sweet, green grass down there in that second stomach. It is loading up and then the shepherd says
“lie down ... digest what you have got.”
So the sheep bring it back up to taste it. That is when the sheep is growing. That is the most productive time for the
sheep – that serenity, that quiet time.
What is the sheep doing when it is chewing
the cud. It is meditating. “In his law
doth he meditate day and night” Psalm 1 verse 2. What is wrong with most of us – we do not lie
down in the green pastures and meditate.
God sometimes makes us lie down.
David said “before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept
thy word” Psalm 119 verse 67.
“He maketh me” but why do you not do it
yourself? Why do you not say “I want to
be still. I want to know that he is God.” How do you deal with stress? Remember a distressed sheep is not
producing. It is not producing wool or
fat. It is not reproducing. “He maketh me to lie down”. Why does the shepherd do that? Because he wants healthy sheep.
With the shepherd’s presence with you; the
shepherd’s provision before you and the shepherd’s peace within you – all will
be well.
THE MINISTRY OF RESTORATION
Even the very best of God’s servants are
prone to wander. It is the nature of the
sheep to get out of fellowship with the shepherd. Many of us become what the bible calls
“backsliders”. Now, backsliders are not
lost. A backslider is a saved person who
is out of fellowship with God, but he is not lost. Indeed God says that he is married to the
backslider – Jeremiah 3 verses 11 to 15.
There is a bond there that cannot be broken
but while that relationship cannot be broken, the fellowship can. The joy can be lost. David himself had become a cast sheep. He had tasted defeat in his life and that is
why he prayed in Psalm 51 “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation”. David did not lose his salvation, but he lost
the joy of it. He lost the joy of it and
he wanted to be restored. God did
restore him and David could say “He restoreth my soul.” Verse 3
It is beneficial to see how the Lord
restores us.
(1)
The process of restoration
“He restoreth my soul” The word “restore” means “to bring again” or
“to bring home”. The hebrew word here
means “to bring back”.
There are 3 kinds of sheep that need to be
restored. There is the stubborn sheep – the
just want their own way. They want to go
their own way – Isaiah 53 verse 6 “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have
turned every one to his own way.”
Turning “to my own way” means “doing what I want.”
It implies that I feel free to assert my
own wishes and carry out my own ideas.
This I do in spite of every warning!
Stubborn – and we need to be restored.
Then there is the straying sheep. They do not wilfully go away – they just
weakly go away. They carelessly get away
and fall into pits and crevices or get entangled in thorns. They need to be brought back.
Then again there is the sick sheep. There are many dangers out there! Diseases an poison. Sheep can get very sick – and they need to be
restored.
It is the shepherd who restores these
sheep. See how he does it. Well he has got 3 instruments. They are all spoken of in the Psalm. He has got a rod, a staff and oil. He uses these 3 things to restore the sheep.
He restores the stubborn sheep with the
rod.
This is the ministry of chastisement. The rod was made by the shepherd
himself. He would practise throwing the
rod. He would throw it and throw it
until it became a deadly missile. He
also learned to wield it and use it as a club.
It was used to protect himself from the robbers. It was used to protect the sheep from lions
and wolves but sometimes he had to use the rod on the sheep himself and the rod
would be a form of chastisement to the sheep.
If there was a stubborn sheep the shepherd
would take the rod and break one of the legs of that sheep and after he had
done that he would immediately bind it and put it in a splint. He would wrap it up and try to heal the
sheep. He would carry that sheep on his
shoulders until that leg was mended. He
would nurture that sheep and pour in the oil and when the leg was healed, he
would restore the sheep to its feet again.
The sheep that had been broken and healed would stay very close to the
shepherd by his side. That sheep would be the file-leader who would lead the
other sheep.
The one who had been broken and then the
one who had been restored. “Come and let
us return to the Lord; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten
and he will bind us up.” Hosea 6 verse 1.
The same God breaks us is the God who binds us in order that we might
return to him. Broken that we might be
blessed. Sometimes when you are a
stubborn sheep, God applies the rod of chastisement. This kind of chastening does 3 things:
1. It
reveals our sonship – Hebrews 12 verse 6
The shepherd loved the sheep. That is why he applied the rod. “Scourging” is not a “spanking” but something
very severe. Hebrews 12 verse 8 God says
“You are not my child, if you were my child I would have chastened you ... you
are illegitimate, you are claiming to be mine when you are not, ‘for whom the
Lord loveth he chasteneth.’”
2. It
renews your worship – Hebrews 12 verses 9 and 10
God is not primarily in the business of
making you happy or healthy but of making you holy. God saved you to make you holy, like him.
3. It
restores your fellowship – Hebrews 12 verse 11
The shepherd deals with the stubborn sheep
with the rod of chastisement. But how
does the shepherd deal with the straying sheep?
He restores the straying sheep with the
staff.
This is the ministry of correction. The shepherd had not only a rod but a staff –
verse 4. He made this staff himself and
shaped it with a crook just big enough to go around the chest of a little lamb
or the neck of a sheep. He would use it
to pull the sheep in that was strayinng.
When they were walking along a narrow path and the sheep might fall
over, he would use the staff just to guide the sheep. And when the sheep would get down in the
briars and mud he would put the staff there and lift that sheep out.
Yes he would use the staff to guard, guide,
lift and retrieve the sheep to him.
But what about the sick sheep?
He restores the sick sheep with the oil.
This is the ministry of comfort. Each night the shepherd would bring the sheep
into the sheepfold an as they would come in each night he would count them and
call them by name and then he would caress them. He would put his hands all over the sheep and
rub his fingers down into the wool and he would be looking for a scar, bruise,
scab, laceration. If he found a cut, he
not ony had a rod and staff but a bottle of oil. He would anoint the head of that sheep with
oil. The oil was there to soothe, heal,
medicate, lubricate and give comfort to that wounded sheep. The oil would be mixed with sulphur and
tar. It was used to repel insects. Sheep have a pest – “nose flies”. They get into wounds. This oil would be smeared on the nose to give
comfort and protection from these pests.
The oil of the Holy Spirit protects us from the devil’s flies. There is comfort when we have been bruised,
hurt and wounded. Our shepherd calls his
own sheep by name. He knows us. He cares for us. He feels with us. He comforts us when we have been hurt and
wounded. He binds us up and brings us
back to himself.
David had been stubborn and broken. David had strayed and had been
retrieved. David had been hurt and
wounded. David had been healed by the
Lord.
(2)
The purpose of restoration
“He restoreth my soul” why? In order that he might “lead me in the paths
of righteousness”.
The shepherd is not only to feed the flock
but to lead the flock. He restores us
that he might master, lead and guide us.
The problem with so many of us is all we are interested in is getting
restored. But if you do not go on from
restoration to righteousness you are going to be back in the same old problem.
Many of us only want to get back right but
we do not want to get on the track of following God. That is the reason why we go back to where we
were. But a restored sheep ought to
follow closer than ever before. We ought
to be like the sheep with the broken leg that stays close to the shepherd, that
he might master us and lead us so that we may never go astray again.
(a)
The
shepherd has a plan for us.
The shepherd is conscious at all times of
the needs of the sheep. Where they need
to go. What they need to eat. What they need to drink. His life is given to the sheep. They must have a shepherd to leave them. How does he lead? Through the word of God, through the works of
providence, through the witness of the Spirit, through the wisdom of fellows
beievers.
Are we following? “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and
they follow me” John 10 verse 27
(b)
The
shepherd has a path for us
Where does he lead us? “In the paths of righteousness”
1. Right paths – if sheep are to be moved from
field to field without falling into deep crevices or off ragged cliffs then the
shepherd must continually guide them to “the right path”. “Right paths” are the paths which are right
for you and me. They represent those
decisions and directions that will fulfil God’s will for me. The Lord leads us specifically, personally,
intimately, even down to the details of every day.
2. Righteous paths – they represent a daily walk
that is pleasing to God. God’s plan for
us revolves around holy living. We can
be guilty of doing things that are wrong, but we can also be guilty of not
doing things that are right. One is as
bad as the other. The problem with so
many of us is we have a restoration mentality.
Yes “he restoreth my soul” but “he does that in order to lead me in
paths of righteousness.”
(3)
The
proof of restoration
“For his name’s sake”
One commonly held misconception about sheep
is that they can just “get along anywhere”.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
They need the most careful handling of all animals. The shepherd has to keep the sheep on the
move constantly. They must not be left
on the same pasture too long. They must
be shifted from pasture to pasture. The
shepherd’s name, honour, reputation – all based on the health and obedience of
the sheep.
(a)
Not
for our name’s sake
(b)
But
for his name’s sake
It means for God to be glorified in the way
we live. God has bound up his name with
the health of his sheep. God’s name,
God’s character is at stake by the way you we live. If I am his sheep and he is my shepherd, I do
not want to disgrace that name. The
bible says “a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches” Proverbs 22
verse 1.
VICTORY IN THE VALLEY
David spoke of a valley called “the valley
of the shadow of death”. Now there is
such a valley in Israel. There is a
valley called “the valley of the shadow of death”. It is called Wadi Kelt – near Bethlehem. David probably led his sheep through the Wadi
Kelt many times, taking them don to the pasture lands of the Jordan Valley
during the winter and early spring months.
The city of Jericho at the eastern end of the Wadi Kelt is a desert
oasis and the area around it is well-watered in winter and spring. The word “Wadi” is a Middle Eastern term
meaning “deep valley or ravine”. The
valley parallels the old Roman road to Jericho – the backdrop of the parable of
the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.
In David’s day there was this “valley of
the shadow of death.” David would use
this valley as he would take his sheep down to Jericho in the winter time and
then when spring would come David would lead his sheep through that valley
again to the greener pastures in the highlands of Judah.
(1)
The
fact of death is declared
“It is appointed unto men once to die, but
after this the judgment.” Hebrew 9 verse 27
(a)
Death
is actual
It is a reality. One out of one die.
(b)
Death
is individual
“Yeah though I walk” not “they walk”
(c)
Death
is problematical
We do not know when we are going to
die. David the shepherd is walking
through that valley with his sheep but he does not know from one moment to the
next what is going to happen. That
valley was not only “useful” because it led to great feeding grounds, but it
was “dangerous”. For David and for us,
we live a step at a time. God tells us
to number our days – Psalm 90 verse 12.
Life is a gift from God.
(2)
The figure of death is described
He likens death to walking through a valley
– where there are shadows – but where he will fear no evil for the divine
shepherd is with him.
(a)
No valley
without mountains
It is impossible. There can be no valley without mountains. This is the “valley Psalm.” It lies between 2 mountain peaks. David was thinking not only of death but of
the valley experiences through which we pass during this life, the dark ours
that are often experienced as we move “from earth to glory”. Real life problems – disease and disability,
protracted legal problems, prolonged financial pressures, loved ones in crisis,
war, children in trouble, marriage on the ropes, loneliness, addiction, depression,
terminal illness, old age, dementia, death.
There is also ...
(b)
No
shadow without light
The only way to travel from Jericho to
Jerusalem was the Wadi Kelt, the way of blood, the valley of the shadow of
death. Christ has travelled it before us
– and then, on the cross, he met the substance.
“through death he destroyed him that had
the power of death” Hebrews 2 verse 14
Christ “abolished death and hath brought
life and immortality to light through the gospel” – 2 Timothy 1 verse 10.
There can be no valley without mountain and
no shadow without light – and:
(c)
No
evil without good
“I will fear no evil” The Hebrew word for
“evil” includes more than moral evil. It
can be translated “distress, misery, injury, calamity and trouble”. “I will fear no evil” why? “for thou art with
me”. David is comparing the evil with
the great shepherd of the sheep. Who is
the “Thou”? Who does David mean? “The Lord”.
Jehovah. The most sacred name the
Jews had for God. When God charged Moses to bring his people out of bondage,
Moses began to make excuses. “Who am I
that I should go?” Exodus 3 verse 11.
“They shall say to me, What is his name? What shall I say unto them? And
God said unto Moses, ‘I AM THAT I AM.’”
God did not say “I was” or “I will
be”. He said 2I am that I am”. God said “I am” not “used to be” or “going to
be”. He said “I am”. The great eternal
God. Tell them “I am” sent you.
“Jehovah is my name” That name is not mentioned in the New
Testament. Why not? Because Jesus Christ is our Jehovah. Jehovah ... Jesus. “There may be evil but Jehovah is with me,
Jesus is with me.
(3)
The
fear of death is defeated
The word “fear” is found approximately 330
times throughout the OT. It is most
often used to speak of reverential awe produced when a person is in God’s
presence. The Hebrew is used to describe
fear produced by the anticipation of evil.
(a)
The
presence of the shepherd
He is with you. Up to now David has been speaking of “he”,
but now as he passes through the dark valley he gets closer to the Lord and he
says “thou”. David is no longer talking
about him. He is talking to him. To whom?
Jehovah. The ultimate is my
intimate. We will not have to cross
Jordan alone. I will not have to die
alone. I will know what he meant when he
said “I will never leave thee.” Hebrews 13 verse 5.
(b)
The
power of the shepherd
He is for you. “Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me” The rod was to guard the sheep. The staff was to guide the sheep. When you come to die, the Lord will be with you. There will be his presence but there will
also be his power. His rod will be there
to protect you from all the powers of evil and his staff will be there to draw
you up close to him as you walk “through the valley” and as your feet touch the
chilly waters of the river of death.
(c)
The
purpose of the shepherd
He will bring you through. What is the purpose of the shepherd? It is through the valley. In Israel, the shepherd would lead his flock
through that valley to greener pastures.
It was always better ahead. David
did not use the phrase “Yea though I walk in the valley.” No the emphasis is on “through”. This indicates a temporary state, a
transition, a brighter path ahead, a hopeful future. For non-Christians blessings are temporal and
problems are eternal. For Christians
problems are always temporal and blessings always eternal.
It is not a cul-de-sac. It is through. Christ has “kicked the end” out of the
grave. Our shepherd will bring us
through. David knew enough about a
shepherd to know that a shepherd would never lead the sheep through “the valley
of the shadow” unless he was leading them to a better place.
HOW GOOD IS THE GOD WE ADORE
David is looking back over the days of his
life. He says “How good is the God we
adore”. David thought of God positively.
Do you know what the devil wants you to do
in relation to your life? He wants to
think negatively about God. He wants you
not to have good feelings. The devil
knows that if he can get you thinking negatively about God, he can do almost
anything with you. Think of the Garden
of Eden. “Hath God said, Ye shall not
eat of every tree of the garden?” God
had not said that. God had said “Of
every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat”. With the exception of one tree, God had said,
in effect “Help yourself”. But do you
see what the devil did? He tried to get Eve to think negatively about god – and
he is still doing that job today. People
today think of God as some kind of cosmic killjoy. People just think negatively about God. When they think of serving God, they think of
it as something they have to do in order to get to heaven – not as something
they want to do.
When we consider verse 3 we see “how good
is the God we adore!”
Verses 1 to 4 – “the shepherd and the
sheep”
Verses 5 and 6 “the host and the guests”
1. A
prepared table
“Thou preparest a table”. The word “table2 could mean flat table areas
where the sheep could graze easily. A
perfect place for summer grazing. “Thou
preparest”. That means God himself sets
the table! To “set a table” is to honour
the person who is coming. David is
saying “God has put on an apron. Jehovah
has prepared a table for me. He loves
me. He welcomes me. I am special to him."
2. An
anointed head
In the Middle East there would be a cruise
of oil by the door. Very expensive and
perfumed. It would be there for special
occasions. When a very important guest
would come for special occasions – maybe a family member who had been gone for
a long time or someone dearly loved – the host would come and greet his
friend. There would be a kiss on either
cheek and then he would reach into the bowl of ointment and he would put that
ointment on the face, hair and head of his guest. It would perfume that person and refresh him.
They called that “the anointing of the head.”
Throughout the rest of the feast that person would smell the sweet
perfume that was on his head. It would
make him feel good. It was a way of
saying “you are welcome. You are
special.”
The woman in Luke 7 who was a sinner, took
and broke the alabaster box of ointment.
She anointed the feet of Christ.
Simon complained and the Lord said “my head with oil thou didst not
anoint.” That is “Simon you did not show
me that reverence and respect. This
woman has not only anointed my head but my feet with this perfume.” This anointing was to refresh. It was saying “you are special!”
3. The overflowing cup
“My cup runneth over” In bible times they did not have the hotels they
have today. There was a law in the land
– “the law of hospitality”. If you were
travelling and you came to a man’s house in the middle of the day and you asked
for food, it would be unthinkable that he would let you go without first
feeding you. It was just the law of the
land that a stranger would be taken i n and given a meal. Now suppose you had done your duty. You have fed him, been respectful towards
him. It is time for him to go. But maybe you have come to like him and you
want him to stay. The host would take
the guest’s empty cup at the end of the meal and the host would take the
pitcher and if it was time for this man to go, he would fill that cup
half-full. In other words “when you have
finished our desert, hit the road.” He
would not have to say a word! But if the
host would come with that pitcher and begin to pour into that cup and fill it
up to the brim and then just let it overflow – “you are special. I love you and you are invited to stay in my
home overnight. You are my special
guest.”
David is saying “Jehovah has prepared a
table for me. I am special. He has anointed my head. He loves me. My cup runs over. He is showing hospitality to me. He is saying to me that I am his friend.”
What a friend we have in Jesus. He prepares a table. H anoints my head. My cup runs over.
Do not ever let the devil get you to think
negatively about God. For “How good is
the God we adore”. Indeed, God’s
goodness is seen in 3 expressions.
(1)
What the shepherd prepares for us
That is his work – “thou preparest” 4 perils the sheep face.
The peril of exhaustion – the danger of
losing their strength and becoming exhausted
The peril of environment – extreme
temperatures such as heat during the day and cold at night
The peril of entanglement – a sheep could
get caught by its heavy wool in a thorn bush
The
peril of enemies – the dangerous weeds, the wild beasts and the poisonous
snakes.
The shepherd would prepare “a table in the
presence of their enemies.” It requires
a lot of hard work to convert plateaus into pastures. These tablelands do not just appear on the
horizon fully developed. They must be
prepared and this groundwork takes years, even generations.
The Lord meets the deepest hungers of our
heart and satisfies the deepest longings of our soul. “thou preparest”. The shepherd prepares ...
(a)
The
table of replenishment
The Lord fed the 5000 – Luke 9 verse
12. He performed a miracle to do it with
5 loaves and 2 fishes. He prepared a table
of replenishment when there was the enemy of inadequacy. We can run out of resources. Then the Lord
prepares a table before us. We need it,
but we do not deserve it. Was there any
way that could explain the feeding of the 5000?
Not any way except God. If your
neighbour can explain you, then you are just like him, only religious – and
that is not going to convince him. But
when he sees a God who is supernaturally meeting your needs and preparing for
you a table of replenishment then you are going to be believable.
(b)
The
need of restoration
Luke 22 Simon Peter denying Jesus. The Saviour was crucified and then raised
from the dead. The disciples were
discouraged, half-believing and half-doubting and Peter said “I go a fishing”, they fished all night and caught
nothing. Then the master said “Children
have ye any meat?” He directed them to a
multitude of fish and when they came to land – what had the Saviour done? He had a table prepared. There was fish on the hot coals and fresh
bread.
Now we can understand the fish being
there. This was beside the Sea of
Galilee – but from where did Christ get that bread? Had he turned stones into bread? Had he said to Satan “I will do it when i
want to – not when you want me to?”
Imagine fishing all night and catching
nothing? 7 big hungry disillusioned
fishermen and the risen Lord said “come and dine”. Have you failed the Saviour? Have you, like Peter, denied Christ, even
with oaths and curses? There is a table
of restoration for you and he says to you “come and dine.”
(c)
The
table of remembrance
Before he was crucified, the Lord Jesus
kept the Passover feast. Luke 22 verse
14 declares “when the hour was come, he sat down and the 12 apostles with
him.” He was the host at the table and
he said “this do in remembrance of me.”
Do we fully appreciate what it has cost him to prepare this table for
us? Are you obedient to that command?
Then there is a wonderful table yet to come
...
(d)
The
table of rejoicing
Christ said “I will not drink henceforth of
this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in My
Father’s kingdom.” Matthew 26 verse 29
Our Lord who is preparing a place is also preparing a feast and one of
these days we are going to sit down with him in the marriage supper of the Lamb
– Revelation 19 verse 9. One of these
days we are going to sit down at that table.
When the bible describes our salvation it does not describe it as a
funeral but as a feast!
(2)
What
the shepherd purposes for us
That is his watchfulness: “Thou anointest”. The sheep may be on the high ridges where
there are clear springs, where the grass is fresh and tender, where there is
intimate contact with the shepherd.
Sheep are especially troubled by the nose fly. They work their way up the nasal passages
into the sheep’s head. They burrow into
the flesh and there set up an intense irritation accompanied by severe
inflammation. When the sheep are
deliberately beating their heads against trees, rocks and posts it usually is
their way of seeking relief from the nose fly.
(a)
The
hurts the shepherd attends
When the sheep entered the fold one by one,
the shepherd would count them, then he would call them and then he would caress
them. He would be looking not only for
the flies but for the cuts, the wounds, the sores, the bruises, the eyes that
are inflamed by dust or sunshine. The
shepherd is aware. He is alert. He is awake to all that is happening.
In our journey of life there are many ways
in which we can get hurt, and there are many folks who will hurt us.
Life has many ways of bruising and wounding
us.
(b)
The
healing the shepherd applies
“Thou anointest my head with oil”. The shepherd always carried with him a bottle
of oil. At the first sign of flies, he
would apply an antidote to their heads.
The oil had medicinal qualities that would speed healing and prevent
infection. Thank God for the oil of the
Holy Spirit who in hi varied ministries brings restoration, comfort, joy and
peace – Isaiah 61 verse 3.
(3)
What
the shepherd provides for us
That is his wealth – “my cup runneth
over”. Providing for the sheep required
a lot of hard work, especially on the tablelands away from natural rivers and
ponds. A mature sheep needs between 1
and 3 gallons of water each day.
Shepherds had to dig wells. Those
wells had to be maintained and a stone fitted for the covering. The sheep did not really appreciate all the
work that went into it but they were satisfied when their water troughs
overflowed. Here David was thinking of
how good God had been to him and all the blessings he had experienced in his
life.
There was ...
(a)
The
overflow of God’s blessings
“My cup runneth over” Why? Because Christ drained his cup – Matthew 26
verse 39, ours can overflow. All our
blessings in this life an the next were purchased by the Good Shepherd when he
laid down hi life for his sheep. Christ
said “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more
abundantly” John 10 verse 10. He speaks
of life but not just of life: “life more abundant”. He speaks of joy, but not just of joy but
“joy unspeakable and full of glory” 1 Peter 1 verse 8. He speaks of grace but not just of grace but
“grace sufficient” 2 Corinthians 12 verse 9.
The Lord is not talking about necessities but luxuries.
(b)
The
outflow of God’s blessings
“My cup runneth over” – it flows over – the
question is, does it flow out? Does it
flow out to others? The bible says
“freely ye have received, freely give” Matthew 10 verse 8. When God gives and when their cup overflows,
they do not let it run over to others.
Instead they get a bigger cup.
Luke 12 verse 13 the rich farmer said “I
will pull down my barns and build greater.”
“I don’t want it to run over, I don’t want it to bless anyone else, I
want it all for me.” Freely he had
received, freely he needed to give. Let
the cup run over and be a channel of blessing to someone else.
IT IS GOOD NOW, BUT IT IS BETTER UP AHEAD
As David comes to the end of this Psalm, he
is thinking about the days behind him, the days before him and the days beyond
him.
For David’s actual flocks in biblical times
the trail spiralled back to Bethlehem as they returned to the family farm at
the end of their seasonal migrations.
For believers our trail spirals upwards as we arrive at our Father’s
House at the end of our earthly road.
Satan has no happy old people. Satan has some happy young people – the kids
who are living high. They have a certain
amount of fun that might be called happiness, but Satan has no happy old
folk. Satan always gives the best first
and the worst last. Proverbs 20 verse 17
“Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled
with gravel.”
With Satan, it always seems to start sweet,
but it does not end that way. Satan is a
deceiver. He is guilty of false
advertising. Satan always gives the best
first and the worst last. But the Lord
gives the best last. With Christ it
keeps getting better and better. Now
that does not mean that it is good now, but it does mean that it gets
better.
(1)
Behind
us: A help that is sure
As David looks behind him, he sees that
there have been a couple of very special companions that have accompanied him
all the days of his life. Throughout the
Psalm, he has portrayed the shepherd as always being in front of his
flock. He has always been leading the
sheep, never driving them, thus always in front. But now, his reflection makes him aware that
“goodness and mercy” have been behind him every day of all his days.
“Surely” = “only goodness and mercy”. But the best rendering seems to be
Surely”. It has the basic meaning of it
“No doubt, this is absolutely true; this can never be doubted; it can never
fail.”
“Follow” = translated “pursued, chased or
hunted”.
Behind us there is a help that is
sure. This help:
(a)
Is providential
“Goodness” is almost too big a biblical
terms to describe “The Hebrew wod David
used refers to goodness in its broadest sense, covering physical, moral,
practical, economic, spiritual, emotional and eternal grace toward us in all
its dimensions.” The word “good” is a
characteristic of God and it refers to the essential nature of his perfections
and benevolence. Our God is a good God
and he continually fills our lives with goodness and good things. The Lord Jesus referred to himself as the
“Good Shepherd” who gives his life for the sheep.
When David looks back and sees that
“goodness” has followed him all the days of his life, he is saying what the NT
promises “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love
God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8 verse 28
When David looks back, he sees black days
as well as bright. He sees days that
were delightful but also days that were distressful. There have been many things that were
disappointing, discouraging and difficult.
There had been many of those “valley” experiences. Yet, as David reflects on these days, he
realises that everything that had happened had been for his good. Life had been a mixture of events and
happenings yet they all had worked together for his good.
Nothing, absolutely nothing has happened in
our life that first was not filtered through God’s love and plan for our
life. He is in control of all
things. Goodness has followed us all the
days of our life. It may take several
days, even years, to see it, but we all can look back and see how all things have
worked together for our good. Then, this
help:
(b)
Is
vital
Now if “goodness” represents all the Lord
bestows on us that we do not deserve, then “mercy” represents all that he withholds
that we do deserve. The Hebrew word here
is difficult to translate but terms such as “Steadfast love, mercy, grace,
loving kindness, faithfulness, unfailing love” are aimed in the right
direction.
Behind you is a Help that is Sure and this
help is providential and vital. This
help also:
(c)
Is
continual
How long will “goodness and mercy” follow
us? “all the days of our life”. No exclusions, no exceptions, no
exemptions God’s sheepdogs never take a
day off and they remain awake every night.
“Goodness and mercy” shall follow us all the days of our life. Every day of all our days, they will be
following us.
(2)
Before
us: A home that is safe
The phrase “the house of our Lord” occurs
many times in the Old Testament. It
referred to the Tabernacle and later to the Temple. It is the place where God’s presence is
centred. But when David says “I will
dwell in the house of the Lord for ever” he was thinking of heaven, where “the
tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be
his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God.
In John 14 Jesus talked about “my Father’s
house”. The Greek word for “place” is
2topos” from which we get the term topography”, the study of a particular
locality. Heaven is a real place. It is a place on God’s map.
The Heaven of the Birds: The aerial
heaven. The bible speaks of the “fowls
of heaven” Job 35 verse 11. They fly in
the air – so that is the first heaven.
The envelope of the air that surrounds the earth.
The Heaven of the Stars: The stellar
heaven. God’s word to Abram “Look now
toward heaven, and tell the number of the stars, if thou be able to number
them.” Genesis 15 verse 5. Yes there is
“the starry heaven”.
The Heaven of the Angels: The eternal
heaven. The very abode of God. Solomon prayed “Hear thou in heaven, thy
dwelling place” 1 Kings 8 verse 30. “We
see the first heaven by day, the second heaven by night and the third heaven by
faith.”
This place called Heaven is:
(a)
A
precious home
David called it “the house of the
Lord”. Christ called it “my Father’s
house”. The thoughts of a house or home
bring to mind several things. Home is a
place of retirement after a hard day’s work.
Home is the place where we seek escape from the strife and turmoil of
the world in which we live. It is the
place where we find rest and enjoy time with our loved ones. Home is home because the one we love best is
there and heaven is home because Christ is there.
The greatest attraction in glory will not
be its pearly gates, its golden streets or its chorus of angels. It will be Christ. One moment after you die, will you will wake
up in heaven? In the Father’s
house? At home with the Lord?
(b)
A
perfect home
Think of the “no mores” there will be in
heaven. No more sea, death, sorrow,
crying, pain or sin – Revelation 21 verse 4.
Heaven is going to mean the presence of all that is good and the absence
of all that is evil. It is going to be
all that the loving heart of God can conceive and the omnipotent hand of God
can prepare.
(3)
Beyond
us: a hope that is sweet
David commences this Psalm with the Lord
and he concludes it with the Lord. He is
our hope. We are assured of future glory
and blessing because of Christ.
“The house of the Lord” does not only mean
“a building of God” (2 Corinthians 5 verse 1).
This word “house” refers to the family, or flock of the Good Shepherd.
What makes our hope so sweet?
(a)
The
sheep will be there
Heaven is a real place. Real people are going to be there and we will
know our loved ones when we get there.
(b)
The
shepherd will be there
What is it that makes heaven, heaven? “I
will dwell int he house of the Lord for ever” or “I will dwell in the presence
of the Lord for ever.” It is the idea of
an ever present Shepherd on the scene.
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