Sermon by Daniel L. Sonnenberg | September 6, 2015

The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing.  ² He lets me rest in grassy meadows; he leads me to restful waters;  ³ he keeps me alive. He guides me in proper paths for the sake of his good name.  ⁴ Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger because you are with me. Your rod and your staff– they protect me.  ⁵ You set a table for me right in front of my enemies. You bathe my head in oil; my cup is so full it spills over!  ⁶ Yes, goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the LORD’s house as long as I live.  (Ps. 23:1-6 ^CEB)

Here’s another way to read it.

The Lord is my shepherd

– he provides all the necessities of my life

– he actively seeks for me an environment in which I may thrive

– he actively protects me from my enemies and the threat of divine punishment

– he enables me to return to him in repentance for the purpose of being restored to spiritual life

– the journey on which he leads me in obedience to his written will is safe

– he is completely committed to maintain the relationship that he has established with me

– when I’m in crisis (and there will be crises), I can trust in you, I can speak with you, I can rely on you

– your power, which is effective to save me, gives me courage

You are a most hospitable host

– you provide the nourishment I need

– you honor me

– even when my enemies surround me

– God’s goodness and faithfulness actively pursues me and provide safe harbor for me when I’m in danger from my enemies

–  the destination to which we are shepherded is God himself.

We don’t know the particular social or liturgical setting of this beloved Psalm.

• But scholars call it a Psalm of Trust, one of several different kinds of Psalms. I encourage you to memorize these 6 short verses.
• It witnesses to the two dueling presences in the life of every believer: the the presence of the valley of deep darkness, and presence of the Lord himself.
• This psalm reminds us that when we come face to face with terrifying enemies, those are the very times when the comforting presence of the Lord can also be found.

Do you know what I’m afraid of right now?

• I’m a pastor without a church.
• So I’m afraid of being put out to pasture, so to speak,
• afraid that there won’t be a call,
• afraid that I’m going to have to spend the remaining years of what I thought would be fruitful ministry,
• doing something totally different, just to make a living.
• I’m sort of like a child on the playground waiting to be picked for a team by the team captains.
• Wondering will I be picked last, or picked at all?

Also, right now I’m afraid I won’t get all the work done on the house we’re trying to sell before it goes on the market.

• So we’ve been reading as our devotional Best Loved Stories from Guideposts – sections titled “Help in Desperate Circumstances” and “Don’t Ever Give Up.”

And I’m afraid my sermon won’t be edifying, or meet the very real and deep needs of you who are here today.

What is it in your life – what are you afraid of right now?

• You may or may not be aware of it, but if you think about it a little, it may come to you.
• It’s a normal part of this life.
• We’re like sheep with enemies in the natural world – ravines where they can fall down, hollows or brambles where they can get stuck, wolves and dogs that would attack them, extreme cold or heat or lack of food or water.

We have enemies too – the world, the flesh, and the devil.

• The devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
• Enemies in the world who would cheat you or steal from you or put you out of business.
• Classmates in school who would make fun of you or embarrass you.
• The threat of losing your income, your home or your family through some calamity or a calamity of your own making.
• Anger also is sign of fear. What are you angry about? That’s what you’re afraid of…

But we who know the Lord also have a good shepherd who is present with us in that same terrifying space, protecting, guiding, and providing for us,

• just like a faithful shepherd does for his sheep.

Let’s see who this good shepherd is and what he’s actively doing on our behalf.

• And in the process, let’s remember to be thankful for his abiding presence, guidance, protection and provision.

The psalm begins with a statement of trust in Israel’s God, the Lord or Yahweh which means “I am who I am.”

• But it’s not the typical communal statement like Psalm 80: O Shepherd of Israel, hear us!”
• It’s a very personal statement: the Lord is MY shepherd.
• The God who created from one man, Abraham, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for himself… also cares for and shepherds the individual man or woman or child in his flock.

The NT reminds us that Jesus is our good shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine safely in the pasture and searches for the lost one until he finds it.

• Who lays down his life for the sheep in order to save us. Who also protects us from the thief who comes to steal and kill and destroy, who promises never to leave us or forsake us.

So we can say with the psalmist, Because God is my shepherd…

¹ I LACK NOTHING (I SHALL NOT WANT)

– he provides all the necessities of my life

• Food, shelter, clothing
• Work in homeless shelter – immediate needs are 3 meals, a bed at night, clothing to wear

Because God is my shepherd…

² He lets me rest in grassy meadows (GREEN PASTURES)

– he actively seeks for me an environment in which I may thrive

• Places us in families, schools, work envmts in which we can grow and flourish

Because God is my shepherd…

² he leads me to restful (PEACEFUL) waters

– he actively protects me from my enemies and the threat of divine punishment

• God gave King Solomon rest on every side by protecting him from his enemies. He gave peace to Israel during S’s reign.
• God gives those who belong to him rest by protecting us from our enemies; our enemies are God’s enemies
• God also gives us rest through the substitutionary death of his Son; rest from divine punishment; we don’t have to fear the second death of hell

Because God is my shepherd…

³ he keeps me alive (he restores my soul).

– he enables me to return to him in repentance for the purpose of being restored to spiritual life

• Not only brought us to spiritual life through the new birth, also keeps us spiritually alive day to day by the working of the Holy Spirit
• Dbl meaning: return in repentance; restoration of spiritual life
• That’s why we practice confession of sin and assurance of pardon

Because God is my shepherd…

³ He guides me in proper paths (PATHS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS)…

– the journey on which he leads me in obedience to his written will is safe

• His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path
• Dbl meaning: The basic sense is “safe pathways.”
• Also the way is safe if we follow according to his will, according to the guidance of his written word in the Scriptures

³ FOR THE SAKE OF HIS GOOD NAME (FOR HIS NAME’S SAKE)

– he is completely committed to maintain the relationship that he has established with me.

• About G’s character. God’s very nature is to be faithful. God has promised – to guide and protect those to whom he has given his name.  
• Eph. 1: ^5-6 “God destined us to be his adopted children through Jesus Christ because of his love…according to his goodwill and plan and to honor his glorious grace that he has given to us freely through the Son whom he loves.” – He will fulfill every promise to me because he is faithful.  

Because God is my shepherd…

⁴ Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger (evIL) because you are with me.

– when I’m in crisis (and there will be crises), I can trust in you, I can speak with you, I can rely on you

• Notice that in the middle of the crisis (“the darkest valley”) the ps shifts from statements of faith ABOUT God to trusting prayer TO God.
• “There are no atheists in foxholes.”
• In moments of crisis God changes moves from a doctrinal statement to a living God with whom we have a relship  – from a He to a “you” in whom we trust, to whom we speak, on whom we can rely.
• The most basic of God’s promises is the assurance “I am with you” because of the common human experience of crisis (“the darkest valley”).
• God said “I am with you” to Abraham, to Jacob, to Jeremiah, the people of Judah, and the exiles, and to the early church
• God says “I am with you” to you and me so that we can say in response,  “you are with me.”

 GOD’S PRESENCE IN CRISIS is A PROMISE and a WARNING

• As a PROMISE it’s the good news that there is no place that the L’s presence can’t go in order take away our fear or to deliver those who suffer: “where can I go from your presence?.” “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
• AS A WARNING, it’s the reminder that G’s presence does not guarantee immediate victory –
• Luke wrote of Paul’s in Acts, the words of the risen Christ about him, “he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;  for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.”  (Acts 9:15-16 ^NAS)
• Its’ a warning about false theologies such as the currently popular theology of glory, or health wealth and self, which can only understand G’s presence in the good moments.
• The psist says, yes, the Lord is present in the green pastures, peaceful waters and paths of righteousness.
• But is also present in the opposite – in the darkest valley.
• There will be dark valleys in your life, but God will be with you in them to provide, protect and guide.

Because God is my shepherd…

⁴ Your rod and your staff– they protect me (comfort me, give me courage).

– your power, which is effective to save me, gives me courage

• Metaphor of “rod and staff” is image of the shepherds’ effective power to save the sheep from threat.
• Vb is normally transed “comfort me,” but comfort not strong enough.
• The concept of ‘protection’ or ‘courage’ expresses the emotion believers are able to feel because of G’s presence.
• God’s protecting power gives us the courage to go on in spite of fear.

⁵ You set a table for me

– you are a hospitable host

• In the last half of the poem, basic metaphor is God as BANQUET HOST.
• The L is a hospitable host…
• Remember how God provided food and water for Israel in the desert?
• Remember how Jesus washed the disciples’ feet at the Last Supper?
• God condescends to serve his people not only as a lowly shepherd but also as a servant table-host.

You set a table for me…

⁵ right in front of (IN THE PRESENCE OF) my enemies.

– even when my enemies surround me

• Remember how Judas was among the disciples when Jesus’ washed their feet?
• He would betray not only Jesus, but all of them, he placed their lives in jeopardy.
• But the result of that betrayal was salvation to all who trusted in Christ.
• God can work on our behalf in spite of the presence of his and our enemies.

Because you are a hospitable host…

⁵ You bathe my head in oil (ANOINT MY HEAD WITH OIL);  

– you honor me

• Oil a symbol of honor, as when anointing an ancient king
• God honors his people, perhaps not immediately, but ultimately turns things around for their favor
• Remember how in one felled swoop God honored Mordecai’s faithful service and dishonored Haman’s deceit to king Ahasuerus
• The same will happen on the last day when Christ separates the sheep and the goats, the wheat and the tares. One will go to honor with Christ, the other to dishonor without Christ.

Because you are a hospitable host…

⁵ my cup is so full it spills over (overflows)! 

– you provide the spiritual nourishment I need

• God provided manna in the wilderness, which pointed forward to
• Jesus who is the bread of life and the source of living water. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. (Jn. 6:35 ^CEB)

Because he is a hospitable host…

⁶ goodness and faithful love will pursue (FOLLOW) me all the days of my life,

– God’s goodness and faithfulness actively pursue me and provide safe harbor for me when I’m in danger from my enemies

• Normally in the psalms it’s the enemies who pursue the psalmist to cause him harm
• Here God’s attributes of “goodness” and “faithful love” are pictured as living forces that won’t rest until they have tracked down the believer and provided a safe place for him
• Paul wrote to Philippians, “I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6 ^CEB)

fINALLY –

Because he is a hospitable host…

⁶ I will live in the LORD’s house as long as I live (i WILL DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD FOREVER).

–  the destination to which we are shepherded is God himself.

• Grandpa S. taking the sheep to pasture in the woods, providing them water, bringing them finally into the safety of the sheep-shed. A picture of God shepherding us to himself, bringing us home.
• Song “Through it all” – …I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God. Shepherding us to himself, teaching us to trust in him.

(CONCLUSION):

• At the heart of the poem is the statement of faith: “you are with me.”
• This is the faithful response to G’s most basic promise: “I am with you.”
• Like the tide of the ocean that constantly goes in and out, the currents of the life of faith ebb and flow between the divine promise, “I am with you,” and the response of trust/faith “you are with me”
• Upon the death of a pastor’s oldest daughter, he explained,
• “You never get over it. And you don’t want to. And through it all, one promise was most important: “God is with us.”
• And many others through years have been strengthened and encouraged by the promise of God’s presence in the darkest moments of life.
• Ps 23 gives us the words to speak that faith out loud. “Even if I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil. For you are with me.”

Categories: 2015, Articles, Psalms, Sermons, Sermons by Scripture, Sermons by Series