AtomThe Lord is MY Shepherd
Pastor Dave Peterson
First Lutheran Church
April 25, 2010
Psalm 23
22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30 The Father and I are one.” John 10:22-30
Grace to you and peace…that comes from God our Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who comes to us through His Holy Spirit. Amen.
And so…when was the first time that you remember hearing Psalm 23? …one of the most popular and powerful pieces of writing in existence.
For many, if not most of us, it’s been at a funeral, as Psalm 23 is chosen to be read at, I would say, over 75% of the funerals that I’ve been part of.
It’s a powerful Psalm…filled with Spiritual insight, a Psalm of Faith that breathes confidence and trust in the Lord…at times of death AND in all of life. When combined with the words of Jesus, it’s been the inspirations of dozens of artists, whose works are being displayed on the screen…giving us images of:
Images of green pastures, quiet waters, of God caring for his people.
Today, on Good Shepherd Sunday, we’re going to look even deeper into this Psalm…deeper because, when we look closely at this Psalm…there are some things that simply need us to look a little deeper in order for them to make sense. Consider:
What do we do with that verse that has the sheep celebrating being “led in paths of righteousness”. Now, really…can you imagine a sheep concerned with “righteousness?”
Or, for that matter, can you envision a sheep mulling over his walking in “the valley of the shadow of death?” The words are indeed beautiful, but there’s no rhyme or reason to it.
And then, when we hear of that banquet table, the anointing oil, and an overflowing cup…without question, the scene has changed – and the author is no longer a helpless sheep but now is a human being, sitting down at table, enjoying a feast. God is no longer shepherd, but host.
These thoughts have actually nudged Biblical scholars into asking…Is this two psalms in one?
Today…let’s take a look at how this Psalm MIGHT have come to written, and in doing so discover even a deeper depth of this Psalm…a depth for LIVING!!
I’m told this interpretation originated at Princeton Seminary via Old Testament professor, Bernhard Anderson. And it relies on a more accurate translation of the Hebrew than the poetic King James Version. Two short examples…the Hebrew more accurately reads:
• “He leads me in right paths” rather than “he leadeth me in paths of righteousness.” And
• Instead of “the valley of the shadow of death” it reads “the darkest valley.”
Imagine, if you will, a real life occurrence where the author of the Psalm (perhaps David) is picturing himself NOT as a sheep, but rather, (again…in real life) the author finds himself as a lost and terrified traveler.
The blazing heat of the desert noonday is long gone, and the bitter cold of desert night is coming fast. The road has disappeared into the twilight. Provisions of food and water ran out hours ago, and the traveler is parched and hungry. In the distance, a jackal howls. Fears of wild animals and bands of robbers take over his mind. He regrets having begun his journey, and wonders if it will be his last.
But then, the traveler sees a figure on a hillside, outlined against the darkening sky: a shepherd - a common, ordinary man, but one who knows the hillsides and valleys.
The shepherd goes down to the relieved traveler, and leads him up out of the dark valley to a place where the last beams of sun still light the way ahead.
He leads the wayfarer to a grassy meadow, and invites him to lie down and rest awhile. The shepherd draws water from the oasis spring in his hands, and offers it. The traveler drinks and drinks and drinks.
He cannot help but notice the shepherd’s rod, the dangerous-looking club with which he protects the sheep, and his staff, or walking-stick. And actually he takes comfort to see these symbols of a man who not only knows his way through the desert, but can protect him as well.
When the traveler has rested a bit, the two walk on, following “the right paths” this time, to a black goatskin tent set among a number of other Bedouin tents.
It is lit inside with oil lamps, and decorated with carpets that are as intricate and beautiful as the goatskin tent is plain. There is no fear now; because the laws of Middle Eastern hospitality are in effect. As long as the traveler is in the shepherd’s tent, the shepherd is absolutely pledged to protect him from all enemies.
The two sit cross-legged at a low table, and the shepherd spreads out a meal - a simple meal that somehow tastes better than any our traveler has ever had: steaming lamb stew, soft pita bread, succulent dates. In a timeless gesture of honor, the host pours a flask of fragrant oil over the guest’s head, and pours wine into his cup until it overflows.
And…what has happened?
• Through the presence of the shepherd, the fears of the darkness and night have been transformed;
• Where there once was fear and terror, there is now serenity and trust.
• Where there once was darkness…now there is light!!
And…it’s possible that this real life experience of David (of whoever wrote this Psalm)…this unforgettable rescue from the very jaws of death…THIS EXPERIENCE was what led the author to write this powerful Psalm…seeing the Bedouin shepherd as an angel of the Lord Himself…
The LORD is my Shepherd…
This means…understood in this way…means that, while Psalm 23 is a good psalm for funerals…it’s NOT a Psalm to be kept just for funerals…
Seen in its setting…it’s a Psalm for living in the here and now…
Like that early traveler lost in the desert, lost in life, this is a Psalm for times when you and I are feeling lost, helpless, alone. Perhaps it was a time of sickness or hospitalization. Or a time when you parted from a loved one or a loved one parted from you, and you felt pain so deep it seemed your life was being wrenched asunder. This is a Psalm for those dark, sleepless nights of doubt, or a spells of uncontrolled anxiety or fear. We have all been there.
One artist captured it like this!!!! (image of kitten in front of the dogs)…
Notice the Irony…what type of dogs are these? (Shepherds…right?)
Let’s be honest…we all can identify with that kitten..can’t we?? We’ve all been there when those things we too often rely on as shepherds end up failing us; our health, friendships, savings, self-sufficiency…and…in such experiences, it is common to feel utterly alone and cast off, to think that we’re all alone in our fear, anxiety, situations
The message of the Psalm is that the shepherd IS near at hand, even when we fail to sense it. And it might even be in the person of a shepherd (or dog handler!!)...or through a cab driver or a banker or a teacher or a nurse or a deputy sheriff, a mom or a dad, or even the occasional preacher. Who knows? Keep your eyes open.
You see…this is the image of The Good Shepherd that carries from the Old Testament into the New.
It is THIS IMAGE to hear when we read that Jesus Christ is
• “the Great Shepherd of the Sheep”: that He is
• the Caring Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine and sets out after the one who is lost: that He is
• the “Good Shepherd,” who knows his sheep and even lays down his life for the sheep.
This image tells us there is something powerful to know that the one exalted to rule the universe as king is also our shepherd:
who encounters us in our private, dark desert nights, who offers cool water and a banquet of simple camp food, who watches over us in every circumstance.
“The Lord is my shepherd...”
There was a gathering in London years ago. The gathering included a noted actor and an old gospel preacher. When someone suggested that the gifted actor recite the 23rd Psalm, the actor with a beautiful voice, perfect articulation and great drama recited the psalm. When he finished the crowd exploded with applause.
Someone then asked that the old preacher also recite the Psalm. Well, the pastor was very embarrassed to try to follow what this actor had done. But he finally yielded to the pressure knowing he had very little of the actor’s charisma; certainly none of his dramatic flair. But as he began to recite that psalm it was obvious he wasn’t talking from his head, he was talking from his heart. And, when he finished no one clapped, because there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
At that point, the actor stepped back up to say:
“My friends, I appreciate your applause, but there was one big difference between me and this dear man. I know the psalm, he knows the Shepherd.”
Psalm 23 invites us to Know the shepherd:
• To Know the one who walks with us in the here and now.
• To Know that he is nearby.
• To Know that he loves you.
• To Know that he will come when you call to him in prayer, when you are lost, frightened, anxious, or in pain.
• To Know him as the one who says: My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.
Bottom Line?—There is only one way to know that the Lord is your shepherd, and that is to make sure that the Shepherd is your Lord.
You see, the more the Shepherd is your Lord…the more you are able to affirm, with the psalmist,
“The Lord is MY shepherd...Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” AMEN!!
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