Introduction: All my life I have heard that Jesus is the Good
Shepherd and I am one of the dumb sheep. I accept that. I know I
need protection. I know that I can make some really dumb decisions.
What occurred to me for the first time last week is that the sheep
also get sheared and eaten! Their lives are preserved by the shepherd
so that they can in turn give up their lives for others. Why don’t
we discuss that part of the sheep analogy? Is it because we don’t
want to, or because the focus of the illustration is elsewhere?
Let’s dive into our study today and find out what Psalms 23 has to
say about the sheep story!
- My Shepherd
- Read Psalms 23:1-3. Who wrote these verses? (King David –
who grew up as a shepherd.) - When you think of King David, do you think of him as
a “sheep?” (No. I think of him as a great warrior-king.) - Why do you think he thought of himself as God’s
sheep? What characteristics of the shepherd/sheep
arrangement does he mention in these verses? (The
shepherd takes care of the sheep’s needs.) - The mention of water and grass make it seem that God
takes care of our essentials. Why does David refer to
“paths of righteousness?” (Read John 21:15-17. It is
likely that David is only referring to spiritual food
and water.) - When David refers to spiritual nourishment, is
he telling us God will make us great theologians
if we stick with Him? - What does he mean when he refers to having his
“soul” restored? (Notice the terms used: “green”
pastures, “quiet” waters and “he restores my
soul.” David is writing about that aspect of
spirituality which gives us peace, confidence,
rest and joy.) - Why does Psalms 23:3 say that God does this? (For His
name’s sake. A calm, confidence, peaceful demeanor on
our part in the storms of life brings glory to our
God.) - What stake does a shepherd have in his sheep? (A
shepherd who let his sheep get injured and go
hungry would develop a poor reputation. God is
concerned about His reputation.) - Notice that the sheep must be “made” to lie down in
green pastures and be “led” by quiet waters. What
does that suggest about our attitudes in life? (That
peace, confidence, rest and joy are not natural.) - What does this suggest about following the
natural desires of our heart? - Do you sometimes feel that you are the only one who
has gone through the kind of emotional and spiritual
problems that you face? That no one else can really
understand your situation? What does this analogy to
“paths of righteousness” suggest about you being a
pioneer in unhappiness? (If you are “off the path”
that God has in mind for you, then you may be
treading new ground. But, a “path,” is a place where
many others have walked before. In problems, God has
a spiritual “green place” for you that has worked for
many others.) - Read Psalms 23:4. What does the phrase “valley of the
shadow of death” bring to mind? (A valley is a low spot. A
shadow is dark. It lacks light. On the other hand, a
shadow is not the real thing. My shadow is simply a dark
representation of me. This seems to be a situation in
which I am very low, I have trouble seeing the light, and
my dark outlook makes me think that my death is at hand,
even though it is not.) - We just painted a terrible picture. Why would the
sheep in that situation not fear? (God is with us.) - As far as I can tell, King David suggests that two
sticks give us comfort. How do you understand this
“two stick” theory? - Read Leviticus 27:32. What was one use of the
shepherd’s rod? (To count the sheep. God knows
about you. He counts you as one of His. That
gives you confidence in the face of apparent
death.) - Read 1 Samuel 17:40. With what did David face
Goliath? (His staff and five stones. A staff was
a weapon the shepherd could use against
intruders. Thus, the two stick theory is that
God counts us as His, and He stands ready to
protect us against intruders.) - Let’s stop a minute and revisit my introduction. The
sheep (at least some of them) are ultimately headed
for the cooking pot. Why should we take confidence in
a shepherd who oversees that process? (Read Hebrews
13:5-6. The Good Shepherd knows us, He protects us,
and nothing happens to us without His consent. If we
love and trust Him, that gives us confidence about
the future. Note also that King David, when he
compares God to a shepherd, does not spend any time
on the cooking pot side of things. Instead, he
focuses on the care and protection given by the
shepherd.) - My Cook
- Read Psalms 23:5. Have you ever seen a dog who eats in
the presence of another dog? How does the eater act?
(This is not always true, but often the dog who is eating
eats quickly and defensively so that the other dog will
not steal his food.) - What is David saying to us in this verse? Are we
eating quickly and defensively? (No. This is not a
quick meal. God prepares a “table” – a big spread of
food – right in front of my enemies. Normally, this
would make you nervous. The picture is that God
laughs at our enemies. He puts us in a place in which
we can ignore them to such a degree that it is
comfortable to eat.) - Read Luke 7:46. To what custom is David referring
when he says God “anoints my head with oil?” (This is
a sign of blessing and favor.) - Just as you might expect, a sheep is not good at
holding his cup steady. Is that the meaning of “my
cup overflows?” (No. God gives more blessings than we
can comfortably handle.) - My Future
- Read Psalms 23:6. There are several references in Psalms
23 to negative circumstances. You have a soul that needs
restoration (v.3), you walk through “the valley of the
shadow of death” (v.4), there is “evil” around(v.4), you
have need for comfort (v.4), and there are nearby enemies
(v.5). What kind of life does that suggest the sheep would
be living without the shepherd? - What kind of life does the sheep who confidently
follows the Good Shepherd live? (A life filled with
goodness and love.) - What, ultimately, is the fate of the sheep who are
with the Good Shepherd – the cooking pot? (No! We are
God’s house guests for eternity!) - Friend, we are on the journey of life. Problems are all
around us. Would you like to take that journey in the
presence of the Good Shepherd? Would you like the peace of
mind that His presence brings? Would you like to know that
at the end of this journey you will live in His presence
forever? Give up your sins and give your heart to Him
today. Sign up to be one of His sheep – one who avoids
the cooking pot! - Next week: The Crucibles That Come.
