HELLO, I LOVE YOU; LET ME TELL YOU MY NAME
I can remember when the *snap, *crackle, and *pop I hear now when I try to get out of bed was just the cereal and not me!!
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3
Intro: Psalm 23 is quite possibly the most beloved passage in the Bible. Spurgeon called it, “the pearl of the Psalms.” Millions have memorized these words penned by the shepherd king, David. Ministers have recited them at weddings, baptisms, and funerals to offer words of comfort, hope, peace, and protection. Quote: “The world could spare many a large book better than this sunny little Psalm. It has dried many tears and supplied the mould into which many hearts have poured their peaceful faith.” (Alexander Maclaren)
Psalm 23, the most quoted passage in all the Bible. Six verses, 118 words, untold amounts of comfort. Even its position is strategic for comfort; sandwiched between Psalm 22: the Psalm of the Cross, and Psalm 24: the Psalm of the coming Kingdom. Standing between Mt. Calvary and Mt. Zion are the tranquil waters and green pastures of David the shepherd boy turned king. In the annals of this ancient homily we find ongoing comfort and encouragement. Observe with me today how…
I) GOOD SHEPHERD’S KNOW… OUR CHARACTERISTICS
Let’s talk for a minute about problems associated with charactistics. There are three problems (at a minimum) that exist with sheep, that shepherd’s deal with constantly:
A) Cast Down sheep (technical term) Frustrated/self serving sheep
1. It’s amazing how similar we are to sheep. This is why Scripture relates with sheep metaphorically. We tend to naturally want the comfortable position where there is little hardship, minor need for endurance, or demand for discipline. We tend to look for the path of least resistance. Cast Down Sheep: a heavy, long-fleeced sheep will lie down and as it stretches out to relax, it can lose its balance and then roll to its side. Because it has lost its center of gravity, sheep will panic, struggle and often find itself upside down, completely discombobulated. When a sheep is in this position, gases begin to build up in the body, cutting off circulation to the legs, and if not corrected the sheep will die in hours. The only one who can restore the cast down sheep is the shepherd (Phillip Keller: A Layman’s Look at the 23rd Psalm).
2. Sometimes we are like cast down sheep. Spiritually we find ourselves on our backs, helpless and pleading, with excessive gasses and toxins accumulating in us that threaten our existence. Then He comes along and restores us through grace, setting us right side up before we explode!
B) Sheep with excessive wool
1. A sheep’s wool can easily get matted with thistles, muck, and other garbage. As these materials accumulate, the sheep becomes weighed down by its own wool.
2. As God’s sheep, we can become weighed down with self and our carnal nature. When we are weighed down with selfishness, pride, or arrogance, we are easily cast down. So what’s the answer? The answer is for the sheep to get sheared!
C) Rotund sheep
1. When sheep get too fat, they become unhealthy. We have to be careful, that we don’t become overweight with success, influence, or affluence, or worse yet, with an inactive faith that fills us without seeing a reciprocal export of action.
II) GOOD SHEPHERD’S MARSHAL… TOWARD WHOLENESS
“The Lord is my shepherd . . .” (Ps. 23:1)
A) A statement of ownership
l. The image of a shepherd implies ownership and care. In biblical times, each sheep received the mark of its owner cut into its ear. This symbolism of ownership carried over with the trusted servants of a household, who were marked with an awl in the ear, which would then be plugged with an earring of value.
2. This first statement is important because it means that you are acknowledging that you are no longer your own shepherd. Isaiah said, “All we like sheep have gone astray” (Isaiah 53:6), and rebellion and independence are a natural part of our sin nature.
B) A statement of oversight
“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’”
(John 21:15)
1. Christ told Peter to feed His sheep. The Lord has placed under-shepherds into place in the church to feed, protect, and direct the flock. Satan hates the office of pastor because a pastor stands between the sheep and him. This protective position prevents Satan from having total access to the sheep to devour them.
2. Paul told the elders (episcopos) at Ephesus to “take heed to yourselves and to all the flock.” (Acts 20:28 NKJV) Peter told the elders to “shepherd the flock of God which is among you.”
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers: not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock… Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (1 Pet. 5:2,3 NKJV; Heb. 13:17)
C) A statement of relationship
l. In Psalm 23, there are descriptions of the seven divine, covenant names of God. One of them is Yahovah-Ra’ah (Rohi), “the Lord my Shepherd.” The word ra’ah (Rohi) means a “friend,” “companion,” or “covenant partner.”
2. Jesus knows His disciples, your names, your personalities, your characters, and your gifts. “He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”
“The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.” (John 10:3 NKJV)
“. . . I shall not want” (v. 1).
D) A statement of contentment
1. Another translation says, “I don’t need a thing” (The Message). When the Lord is your owner and manager, He takes responsibility to provide well for you, as a good parent, husband, or father would do. This is where faith kicks in.
2. Faith is rest, a trusting contentment and knowledge that “my God shall supply all (my) need” (Phil. 4:19 NKJV). Paul said that he had learned to be content in whatever state he found himself : “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Phil. 4:11 NLT).
3. Jesus is Yahovah-Shalom, “the Lord our peace.” In order for sheep to “lie down in green pastures” (v. 2), sheep must be free from apprehension, tension, vermin, and lack. Note: Phillip Keller says that sheep do not lie down easily. It’s almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless 4 requirements are met:
1) Free of FEAR; They must feel safe
2) Free of FRICTION; They must feel accepted
3) Free of FLIES; They must be free of pestilence
4) Free of FAMINE; They must be filled with food
E) A statement of abundance
l. Insufficiency is part of the curse. David said that “they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
“O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.” (Ps. 34:9-10 KJV)
- When Israel came out of Egypt, they came out with silver and gold: He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered.
(Ps. 105:37)
III) GOOD SHEPHERD’S PROPEL… TOWARD RESTORATION “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?” (Matt. 18:12 NKJV)
He Is Your Restorer
1) The Shepherd meets us where we are
“When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.” (Mark 5:2-5)
2) satan loves to detour the process of re-establishment by displaying himself, in order to foster fear, or too create attraction through temptation.
“When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!’ For Jesus had said to him, ‘Come out of this man, you evil spirit!’” (vv. 6-8)
A) Jesus loves to ransack our problems
1. Fetters and chains try to bind us. Can’t happen. It will never work.
2. Attempts to tame the outer man are fruitless. Binding the outer man will never change the inner man. Psalm 23’s power is found here in the Gaderene demoniac, as forgiveness follows his deliverance. He restores my soul… How cool is that?
B) Jesus wants to be involved in our well-being
“Then Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘My name is Legion,’ he replied, ‘for we are many.’ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, ‘Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.’ He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.” (vv. 9-13)
D) Jesus looks out for what’s best for us
1. A shepherd is not distracted from the care of the sheep.
2. There is nothing more important than restoring a sheep to its rightful place.
3. Jesus left the multitudes to go all the way to Gadara (14 miles), because there was a man there in need.
E) Jesus completely restores us
“Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.” (vv. 14-15)
1. This man was completely restored in body, soul, and spirit.
2. His desire to live, follow Jesus, and serve was restored.
F) Jesus appoints those He restores
“Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, ‘Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.’ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.” (vv. 17-20)
1. Restoration should always lead to productivity. He who is forgiven much, loves much. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little” (Luke 7:46). History demonstrates that Christians who did the most for the current world were specifically those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. C. S. Lewis
2. Jesus “fixed our wagons” so we could haul something, and that something is the “gospel load!”
Conclusion: Jesus is the Good Shepherd who propels us, marshals us, knows us. He is the good shepherd who died for us: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11), He is the Great Shepherd who rose for us: “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant” (Hebrews 13:20), He is the Chief Shepherd who is coming for us: “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away” (I Peter 5:4). Jesus has called us to dwell in His house forever. Faithfulness bears rewards: both for now and in our future! Are you believing and embracing this truth for yourselves? Let MY Great Shepherd come and meet you today. He is here to minister to your ever need!
