OUR SHEPHERD IS WITH US

 

  1. Introduction: We are working on how to deal with the fears we all face as we live our lives in this very difficult, challenging, and dangerous world.
  2. God’s message to His people is always: Fear not, for I am with you.  Nothing can come against you that is bigger than me, and I will get you through until I get you out. Isa 41:10; Isa 43:1-2
  3. To live without fear, you must see God as He truly is and yourself as you truly are in relation to Him. In the Bible, God gives us a number of word pictures that help us understand who He is and who we are in relation to Him.  One of those pictures is that of a shepherd with sheep.
  4. God is the shepherd and we are his sheep. God is called the Good Shepherd and His people are called the sheep of His pasture.  This word picture illustrates both the value that we have to Almighty God and the care that He provides for us.
  5. The image of a good shepherd who cares for His sheep had great meaning for the people group to whom the books of the Bible were originally written—the Jewish people, the people of Israel.
  6. The events recorded in the Bible unfolded primarily the land of Israel, in a culture that highly valued sheep and understood the kind of care that a good shepherd must provide for their sheep.
  7. Sheep were among Israel’s most valuable possessions. But, because they are dependent creatures, they require more attention and care than any other class of livestock.
  8. They cannot live without provision, protection, and guidance from a good shepherd. The shepherd must provide his sheep with good pasture and water, safety from predators, and guide them in a way that ensures these needs are met.
  9. For the past three weeks we have been focusing on a psalm (song or poem) written by one of Israel’s most famous kings—King David. He wrote Psalm 23, possibly the most famous psalm in the Bible.
  10. In Psalm 23 David called the Lord his shepherd and described what it meant to have God provide, protect, and guide him.
  11. David spent his youth as a shepherd before he became king of Israel. He knew from personal experience how much care sheep need and what it takes to be a good shepherd, or a shepherd who is good at his job.
  12. Probably the best-known line in the psalm is: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me (Ps 23:4, ESV).
  13. The valley of the shadow of death is this life. David knew that the Lord his shepherd was with him as he walked through life.  Therefore, he did not fear.  We have more to say tonight about what it means to have God our Shepherd with us.

 

  1. The analogy of shepherd and sheep illustrates numerous aspects our relationship with Almighty God. These word pictures help us understand God’s attitude toward us, which then helps us live without fear.
  2. God created men and women to be His sons and daughters who live in loving relationship with Him, and bring glory and honor to their Heavenly Father by the way that they live. Eph 1:4-5
  3. We belong to God by virtue of creation—He created us. But we’ve all chosen independence from God through sin (Rom 3:23).  The Bible calls us sheep who have gone astray.
  4. Isa 53:6—All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way (KJV); We have left God’s paths to follow our own (NLT).
  5. Human beings, like sheep, are dependent creatures. We were created to live in dependence on our Creator.  Without Him, not only are we lost to our created purpose as His sons and daughters, we have nothing, know nothing, are nothing, and can do nothing.
  6. All the hell and heartache in this world is due to the fact that men and women have gone astray from our Creator and owner, and we live and act contrary to our created purpose.

b,  We’ve made the point in previous lessons that David knew from his own experience that sheep can stray.  And because sheep are valuable, when they do stray, a good shepherd goes to look for the strays to rescue and recover them—not punish or berate them.

1,  Israel understood that because sheep have value, good shepherds go after those that are lost.  It was part of their culture.  They knew it from their own experience.

  1. When Israel was removed from their homeland and scattered among foreign nations due to repeated, persistent idol worship, God revealed Himself to them as a Good Shepherd who goes after sheep gone astray to bring them back to Himself.
  2. Ezek 34:12-16—I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I myself will tend my sheep and cause them to lie down in peace says the Sovereign Lord. I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again.  I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak (NLT).
  3. When Jesus was on earth and the religious leaders of His day questioned why He associated with sinners, Jesus told several parables about shepherds going after lost sheep. In other words, Jesus’ answer to their criticism was, just as lost sheep have value to their owner, even so lost men and women have value to their Creator and Owner. Luke 15:4-7; Matt 12:10-13
  4. Jesus took the title Good Shepherd for Himself. He said:  I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11, NLT).
  5. Two thousand years ago God, the Good Shepherd, came to earth to seek and save His lost sheep. At that time, the Second Person of the Godhead, God the Son, incarnated (took on a human nature) and was born into this world. John 1:14; Phil 2:6-8; etc.
  6. Jesus incarnated, or took on flesh, so that He could die as a sacrifice for sin and break the power of death over His flock, to save His flock from sin. At His birth, He was given the name Jesus, which means Savior. Heb 2:14-15; Matt 1:21
  7. Because of His death and resurrection all who come back to the Shepherd through faith in Jesus can be restored to God’s flock as His sons and daughters. John 1:12-13
  8. The Good Shepherd is our Creator. Our Creator incarnated and came to seek and save us.  As a Good Shepherd, He will “bind up the injured and strengthen the weak” (Ezek 34:16, NLT).
  9. When Jesus said:  I am the Good Shepherd, in the original language, the Greek word that is translated I am is ego emi, or I AM.  This is the same name that Almighty God used for Himself when He called Moses to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt centuries earlier. Ex 3:14
  10. By taking the name I AM Jesus was stating that He, the Good Shepherd, is God. Everyone who heard Jesus utter those words that day in Jerusalem knew what He was claiming.  We know this because of the way that the religious leaders (the Pharisees) responded.
  11. John 8:58-59—In (this) direct confrontation with the leaders who rejected Him, Jesus said: Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, “I Am”.  So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple (ESV).
  12. The leaders tried to stone Him to death because they realized that He was claiming to be God, and they believed that claim to be blasphemy—a sin punishable by death.
  13. The first Christians understood that the Lord is our Shepherd even more fully than King David did, because they saw Him come to earth to seek lost sheep and then lay down His life for His sheep.
  14. Peter the apostle (one of Jesus’ first followers) wrote in one of his epistles that: (Jesus) died for sinners that he might bring us safely home to God” (I Pet 3:18, NLT).
  15. The Good Shepherd died to open the way for us to be restored to our created purpose—to be His holy, righteous sons and daughters who live in loving relationship with God our Father.
  16. Note the Good Shepherd’s attitude toward lost sheep. He did not berate them for their straying. 1.  Matt 9:35-36—Wherever he went, he healed people of every sort of disease and illness.  He felt great pity for the crowds that came, because their problems were so great and they didn’t know where to go for help.  They were like sheep without a shepherd (NLT).
  17. Matt 9:35-36—When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matt 9:35-36, ESV).
  18. The Greek word that is translated pity and compassion means to have bowels yearn, or to feel sympathy for. This word is used for Jesus’ attitude toward both the multitudes and individual sufferers He encountered.
  19. This same word is used to describe the response of the prodigal son’s father when the wayward son came back home. Luke 15:20—His father saw him coming.  Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him (NLT).
  20. God sees us, knows us, cares for us, and came to seek and save us. His help does not come because we deserve it.  His help comes to us because of who He is (our Creator) and who we are in relation to Him (His creation).  He is a good shepherd even to sheep who are bad.
  21. Let’s briefly review what we’ve covered in Psalm 23—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 the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.  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 (Psalm 23:1-4, ESV).
  22. Sheep will not lie down in rest if they are hungry, thirsty, or fearful. It was the shepherd’s job to help his sheep be at ease and at rest.  This is what God the Shepherd did for David.  He restored David inwardly and outwardly:
  23. Ps 23:3—He gives me new strength (NIRV); renewed life (Harrison); he revives my soul (Jerusalem); he restores my failing health (TLB).
  24. David knew that the Shepherd helped him because of who He is—a Good Shepherd: You are true to your name, and you lead me on the right paths (CEV); He guides me in the right paths for the honor of his name (NIRV).
  25. Every shepherd carried a rod and a staff. The rod was his main defensive weapon, and the staff was used to guide and to rescue sheep.  David was comforted by the fact that his Shepherd cared for him watchfully and affectionately.  David could count on the Lord to guide, protect, and rescue him.

 

  1. Let’s complete the psalm. Psalm 23:5-6—You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever ((ESV).
  2. David spoke of his Shepherd preparing a table before him in the presence of his enemies. This image refers to many aspects of God’s care for David.  But in connection with being a good shepherd, and because David himself cared for sheep, he probably had the summer season in mind.
    1. The land of Israel experiences a winter season (mid-October to April) and a summer season (mid-June to mid-September), with transitional seasons between the ending of one season and the beginning of the next. The summer is the dry season and the winter is the wet season.
    2. Rainfall varies greatly, but generally decreases from north to south and from east to west, and it increases with elevation. Many shepherds moved their sheep as rainfall decreased in summer to what are known as tablelands in higher elevations, flatter regions within the hills and mountains.
    3. David grew up in Bethlehem, a dry brown region. Like other shepherds, he would have gone to higher elevations with his sheep in the summer.  That’s where he killed the lion and bear. I Sam 17
    4. A good shepherd scouted out the land before he moved his flock to make sure that it was prepared for them. He looked for poisonous plants to either avoid them or wiped them out.  He looked for potential predators and possible hiding places, as well as places of easy attack.  The shepherd cleared springs and water holes of leaves, stones, soil, and overgrown weeds.
    5. David paints a clear picture in Psalm 23 of someone who is at peace and content in the presence of his enemies because he knows his Shepherd is not only with him, but ahead of him The shepherd goes before his sheep and prepares a feast for them—a place of provision and safety.
    6. Even though wild animals may lurk in the rocks around the table, the shepherd is prepared.

David later wrote:  Ps 27:1-3—The Lord gives me light and saves me…the Lord is my place of safety.  Why should I be afraid (NIRV)…Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will know no fear.  Even if they attack me, I remain confident (NLT)

  1. Summer brought another danger to the sheep—insects and parasites. Sheep will not lie down (be at rest) with parasites.  The shepherd must be present and on alert, watching for any signs of infection.
  1. Nose or nasal flies buzz around the head of the sheep in an attempt to lay eggs in on their noses. When they hatch, the worm-like larvae work their way up the nasal cavity and burrow into flesh, resulting in intense irritation and inflammation.  The sheep rub their heads against trees, rocks, posts, and in some cases kill themselves in a frenzied effort to get relief.  In extreme cases, the infection can lead to blindness.
  2. All the excitement and distraction leads to panic, foot stomping, and racing around to get away from the flies. The sheep toss their heads up and down, lose weight, and ewes stop nursing their lambs.  When the flies hover, the sheep panic with fear to get away from them.
  3. Scab is a highly contagious disease caused by microscopic parasites. It is spread by direct contact between sheep.  They like to rub their heads together in an affectionate manner.
  4. In both cases (nasal flies and scab), the only effective remedy is applying an ointment. It could be made of linseed oil (which comes from flax) sulfur, and other chemicals.
  5. Sometimes sheep would be dipped. But, to make sure the head was treated, the ointment was applied to the head by hand.  This anointing returned the sheep to peace.  A good shepherd brings relief to his sheep by anointing their heads with oil. Ps 23:5
  6. Oil is used in Scripture as a symbol of the Holy Spirit (lessons for another day). The salvation God provides is the complete restoration of human beings to what we were intended to be before sin damaged the family, by the power of the Holy Spirit on the basis of Jesus’ sacrificial death.
  7. David concluded his psalm with statement: My cup overflows.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Ps 23:6, ESV).
  8. Cup is used figurately in Scripture to mean the condition of one’s life. David summed up his life with this statement.  Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I am content.
  9. Shepherds like David were with the sheep in storms, on alert for any in distress because cold and rain. Young lambs, especially, don’t yet have full coats of wool to protect them.
  10. First century shepherds used wine mixed with water to warm the sheep. Lambs rebound quickly when a cup was poured down their throats.  David knew that his Shepherd provided him with what he needed in the storm and out of the storm.  Therefore, David was content.
  11. David knew that the Shepherd’s goodness supplied his need and His mercy blotted out his sins. As a sheep, David was content with where he was—in the Lord’s house (His ever watchful and attentive care).  David wanted to live in the sight of, in the presence of, his Good Shepherd forever.  David knew that God’s presence is salvation. Ps 42:5

 

  1. Conclusion: The Good Shepherd is with us in the field.  We need to learn to live with our eyes on Him, and live with the awareness of our Shepherd’s presence with us.  If we do, we will be at content, at peace, and without fear.  Much more next week!!