Psalm 23
This morning we will have a look at one of the Psalms that has been a fantastic source of strength to many Christians. It is known as the “Shepherd’s Psalm”. Psalm 23. Perhaps the best-known passage of the Bible after the Lord’s Prayer.
Some years ago a famous actor was giving an after dinner speech. He asked his audience if there was any famous poem that they would like him to recite. There was a silence. Eventually an old vicar raised his hand and said: "Psalm 23 please." The actor agreed, on one condition: that the clergyman should also recite the Psalm. The clergyman reluctantly agreed. The actor recited the 23rd Psalm and received a tumultuous applause. The clergyman then recited Psalm 23 and there was not a dry eye in the place.
At the end, the actor stood up and said: "Do you know the difference between my version of the 23rd Psalm and his? I know the psalm but this man know the Shepherd".
There is so much in the 23rd Psalm, that I couldn’t do justice to it even if I spoke for an hour on it. So I would just like to draw your attention to three aspects this morning, which I hope will spur you to meditate further on the Psalm later on today. I would like to refer to these aspects as the three "H" ’s of Psalm 23. These three H’s are:
1. Haven of God. Ps 23:1-3a
2. Highway to God Ps. 23:3b-4
3. Happiness with God Ps. 23:5-6
My first H is Haven of God - Ps 23:1-3a Psalm 23 opens with the familiar words: 1.1 "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want" So who is our Shepherd? Jesus said (in John 10:11) "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep." The cross reminds us how Jesus died for us - his sheep - to reconcile us with God. He gave his life of his sheep. The Psalm reminds us that when we come to Jesus as our Shepherd, we can trust him totally. 1.2 He makes us to lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside the still waters He restores my soul Now sheep feed best in green pastures.
The better the grass, the better the fleece of the sheep - and the better the quality of lamb meat.
Sheep are also notoriously finicky animals. They will not drink from running water. The Shepherd has to bring them to still waters to drink. Jesus our Good Shepherd provides for all our needs - the quiet waters for us to draw strength from.
There was a minister who used to work for a firm of patent agents in the Strand, in London. He used to enjoy going down over lunchtime to a Church in Kingsway to get away from the pressures of his job.
For him that church was the still waters where he could get his soul refreshed during the bustle of the working day. Do we have that place - where we can pull away from the bustle of the day - to have our soul restored?
My 2nd H is the Highway to God Ps. 23:3b-4 2.1 He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. When we come to Jesus as our Shepherd, He shows us the right way to go in life. He directs us on our way to God the Father. Jesus said in Mt. 7:13 -14 "Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many that go in it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life and there are few who find it".
He doesn’t make us go in the right direction but he will call us to go in the right direction – if we will listen to his voice. 2.2 Yea though I walk through the Valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil. For you are with me thy rod and staff comfort me. God’s way is not ALWAYS going to be an easy way. At times it will feel as if you are going through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. There are times of Sorrow but Jesus is there with you as you go through it.
We have a famous poem in our house. Let me read it to you: One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. he noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that at the worst times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. How could you leave me when I needed you the most?" The Lord replied " My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of suffering and when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." However hard things seem in life, Jesus is with you all the time. As a Christian you can turn to him for strength.
My final H is Happiness with God- Ps. 23:5-6 3.1 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil: my cup runs over: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. Jesus the Good Shepherd is interested in the well being of his sheep. What is astounding is that God really wants to bless us richly.
In the 19th Century George Muller decided to build an orphanage in Bristol based on faith, with the resolve never to ask for money. One particular morning in 1834, Muller had run out of food. He was sitting at a table with all 24 of the children in his orphanage with nothing to eat. Muller prayed and thanked God for always providing for their needs and for the food they were about to receive, when all of sudden, there was a knock at the door. It was the local milkman. His cart had broken down in front of Muller’s orphanage. He asked Muller if the children needed any milk. It was going to take all day for him to repair his cart and the milk would go to waste otherwise.
Just after the milkman left there was an other knock on the door. This time it was the local baker. He told Mr. Muller that God had woken him very early that morning and told him that Mr. Muller and his children would need some bread that morning. So here he was with freshly baked bread. Our God is a good Shepherd who provides for his sheep.
Prayer : Grant us, O God our Father, the love that is always ready to forgive; the love that is always ready to help; and the love that delights to give rather than to get. And so grant that, living in love, we may live like Jesus. Amen.