Intro
What
is it like being a sheep in God's flock? What kind of care can we
expect?
Goal
Let
us understand Psalm 23.
Sermon Plan
We
will learn that we lack nothing, that we are filled and safe, will be
led on the right track, comforted by his care and correction, that in
the midst of terror we need not fear and that he will give us every
blessing when he is ready.
I shall not be lacking
When
we look at that most famous of David’s melodies, Psalm
23,
we begin to see healing in the midst of greed. The traditional
translation of verse 1 is now moving out of use in everyday
language. To not be “in want” is becoming strange terminology to
our ears, when every advertisement encourages us to want more
materialism in our lives. Yet that is not the original meaning. The
Hebrew words lo
ehser
simply mean I won’t be lacking, or I have all my needs. We could
call this a theology of sufficiency. In a world of lust for more, it
is rare to hear people say that they lack nothing, that they are
satisfied and need nothing more materially. Yet, that is the point
of the Psalm, to be satisfied with life, and that is a truly happy
life.
I lie down in green grass
When
sheep are hungry or frightened they will not lie down. This picture
from Psalm
23
is one of serenity and security. How can we experience peace and
safety in the midst of terrorism and other world problems?
Terrorists can kill the body but not the soul protected by God. This
is not a promise to everyone, but it is a picture relevant to those
who allow themselves to come under that rod and staff of the Great
Shepherd. When we go to funerals and this Psalm is read, many people
just assume that it applies to them, but it does not apply to those
who cannot be bothered with the things of God. It only applies to
the sheep of the one who is. The Lord’s sheep experience lush
pasture and quiet waters in the midst of dangerous predators.
The right track
For
most people the right track in life is one of the ways of the world.
It may be a meticulous kind of political correctness, a particular
gender bias, the quality of foods we eat or the way we teach our
children. However, the ways of the world often deceive us. They
cannot guarantee a full and happy life, but God can. The word
righteous
is not popular today, but it simply means the right track and there
is only one who can lead us there. In Psalm
23
that is often translated as the
paths of righteousness,
meaning the right tracks picturing the ways of justice and fairness.
Anyone who has experience with sheep knows that they create and
follow well-worn tracks. As God’s sheep, if we follow the Good
Shepherd, he will lead us down the right track.
His rod and staff
The
two tools of shepherding mentioned in Psalm
23
were a rod and staff. A sling was not mentioned. The rod was a often
a club used to protect the sheep from predators, but also to
discipline them for their own good. Jesus’ rod is also a vehicle
of comfort, even though momentarily perhaps a little painful.
Discipline is for our good. The staff was a bent piece of wood that
could be used to catch and rescue sheep. In our age of mass
manufacture we imagine that they were all of the same model as
pictured in our Sunday School books. But that is unrealistic. They
were homemade and just about anything that would do the job was
chosen. There are many times in life that we need Jesus to rescue us
and he sees that as his job.
In the midst of enemies
David’s
23rd
Psalm
pictures a table prepared right in front of our enemies. All his
life David faced antagonists, from those in his own family to Saul
the king of Israel and when he was king to enemies round about. In
the midst of our own enemies we seem strangely shocked by terrorism
and world troubles. It is as if we cannot accept that this has
always been and always will be until Jesus’ returns and brings
about world peace. From the first murder of a brother by a brother
to Viking terrorism to the most recent bombing God has made a
promise: that in the midst of all this, he would set a table for
those in his sheepfold. The choice is ours. Who is our Lord? Is it
this world or is our Lord the God of heaven?
You anoint my head
In
Psalm
23
is a metaphor of anointing our heads with oil. Understanding the
original language and culture helps us see the deeper meaning. When
a shepherd came in from the fields as did David when he was to be
chosen king, he would have been rather dusty and perhaps even have
dirt in his hair. Just as many moderns prefer to cleanse with
perfumed oils rather than soap today, so did the ancients. The
original language actually says you “remove ashes” from my head
with oil. As David was ill-treated by his brothers, and ashes on the
head symbolized mourning, this removal also symbolizes the Good
Shepherd healing our emotional pain. Also, the anointing was to make
David king, and symbolizes God lifting us up high after humiliation
by others. Most importantly, God anoints us with his Holy Spirit.
Outro/Take Home
Truly
as members of Jesus' flock we lack nothing, we are filled and safe,
we can be sure that Jesus leads us on the right track, comforted by
his care and correction. We can be sure that in the midst of terror
we need not fear and that he will give us every blessing.
