The Good Shepherd

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Introduction

How many of you have heard of or watched the Disney series, Toy Story? Toy Story has been around for a while and some of you all think of the more recent films whenever you hear this franchise name - but if you’re a true fan, your mind likely thinks to the first 2 films that came out nearly 20 years ago! Toy Story was a family favorite for me for years and I had a cousin who seemed to know all of the famous lines and characters. Now, as a young boy who loved to play with my toys and re-enact famous battles with knights, dragons, and plastic army soldiers, the idea that my toys played with one another whenever I was gone or asleep was fascinating. In the films you know that the toys have a “play” mode whenever humans are around and they have a “real” mode whenever they are by themselves. Isn’t this a true picture into how we often act as humans? We can be tempted to act differently around people than we do at home or around our friends at school or work?
One thing from Toy Story that has always stood out is the sense of belonging that the toys have with their owner. If you’ve watched the second film you know that Woody - the cowboy - is about to be sold for several thousand dollars to a collector and one of the things that happens is he is “cleaned up” a bit. The inspector looks at Woody carefully and gets him looking his best for this sale and notices something on the bottom of his boot. There’s a name written down there and it’s the name of his owner: Andy. Andy put his name on his toys so that people would know who they belonged to if they ever got lost.
Did you know that as a Christian, you belong to a forever family? The Bible shares with us that before Jesus, we were dead in our sins and walking as children of wrath… That’s our past, whether we admit it or not, but the Bible doesn’t stop there. We read in Ephesians 2:4-5 one of the greatest truths in Scripture. We were lost, but now we are found.
Colossians 1:13 CSB
13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
We have come under new ownership. We are no longer slaves to fear or sin, we are children of God. We are adopted into God’s family and we have a role to play in His Kingdom! Before we can fulfill this role, though, we must ask: Do I belong to God? Now all humans are made by God. All humans are made in God’s image. But the Bible is clear that not all humans follow God. My question for us this evening is this: Are you following God? Is He your shepherd? Are you a part of His flock? If you’re not, you can change that tonight! If you are, I pray that you would rejoice at what the Good Shepherd has done for you and I. He has saved you. He has bought you. He has adopted you into His family. He has filled you with His Spirit. When you look down at your “boot” so to speak, do you see that you belong to God? I pray that you do. Let’s study a famous text this evening, Psalm 23
Psalm 23 CSB
A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

The Good Shepherd Leads (1-4)

Psalm 23 is one of the most well known passages of Scripture in the Bible. If you look up the most popular memory verses in Scripture, many of the top results are from this chapter! This text gives us practical instruction left and right and encourages us to trust in our Lord every step of the way. Some have said that what Romans 8 is for the New Testament (a chapter we’ll study sometime soon), Psalm 23 is for the Old Testament. In a discouraging and confusing time, Psalm 23 is an oasis for our soul as we are reminded that our shepherd leads us and has a plan for our lives as we studied this morning.
David begins this Psalm by saying that the Lord is “my” shepherd. David was a shepherd to his sheep as a young boy. He knew what it meant to look out for his flock. He knew how to care for his sheep. David, the young shepherd, notes that the Lord is His shepherd… The Lord cares for him and some translations say “I shall not want” to close the opening verse. I love how the CSB words verse 1 and says, “I have what I need.” Friends, we’re living in a world driven by the desire to attain more and more. A culture with a longing that will never be satisfied. If the Lord is your shepherd, you might not have everything you want, but you have everything you could ever need. Do you believe this? We see in Scripture a reminder to be content in Christ
Philippians 4:11–13 CSB
11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.
Now, next summer we’ll study the book of Philippians verse by verse and we’ll eventually study this text in depth because it’s one of the misquoted and misunderstood places in the Bible. How many of you know Philippians 4:13 by heart? Good! It’s a good verse! But it’s a misunderstood verse by many in our world because we miss out on the context. Philippians 4:13 has nothing specifically to do with winning a game, race, or succeeding on an exam. It has everything to do with finding true joy and contentment in Christ alone! It’s about knowing in your soul that God provides, sustains, leads, and comforts His children in each and every circumstance. It’s about knowing what David knew… that the Lord the Shepherd who provides. Think of how the Lord has provided for you in recent months.
Lindsey and I have reflected on God’s provision often lately. God is so good and faithful, friends! He goes above and beyond in leading us and bestowing upon us blessings that we never could earn or deserve. Why does He do this? Because of the intimacy in our relationship. David notes that the Lord is “my shepherd.” The shepherd of old would know his sheep well. He would know which sheep are ornery and which ones need extra attention. He would guide them. He would protect them. He would lead them. This is the same for our Lord. He knows us. He guides us. He disciplines us. He lives inside of us. Because of this, we don’t have to want. The Lord provides what we need.
How could David have this type of confidence and assurance in the Lord? The last 2 years have been an incredibly difficult time for many people in our world and in our state. People have lost jobs, loved ones, traditions, security, and so much more. You could say that this year has felt like the Valley of the Shadow of Death in many respects. In this time, how can David have hope? David had hope because of God’s proven track record of faithfulness. Consider what David would have known about God’s power and plan thus far. Go to the Exodus. God led the nation of Israel out of Egyptian bondage with the plagues. He directed them through the wilderness with a cloud of smoke and a pillar of fire. He defended them from enemies. He parted the Red Sea. God was a faithful shepherd to his sheep in the past, and David had confidence that God would continue to be a faithful shepherd to His sheep in his day. Do you trust that your Good Shepherd will provide and lead you today? Do you believe that He has a plan and purpose for your life?
If you do, even if you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you can take heart because you’re not walking alone. You know that sorrow only lasts for the night and that joy comes in the morning. You know that the Lord has sustained you another day to be a witness for Him the next. If you trust in the Lord with all of your heart, you have no reason to fear the things of this world because you know that the One in you is greater than the one in the world. Think of what we’re getting ready to celebrate in a few weeks: Christmas! What do we celebrate at Christmas? The coming of Jesus - Immanuel - God with us! Just as the shepherd would use his staff and rod to attack predators and defend the sheep, we have a shepherd who leads us, attacks the enemy and defends His flock. Wherever you’re at tonight, friend, know that the Lord is for you. He is your defender. He has a plan for your life and He is working all things together for your good and His glory. Let Him lead!

The Good Shepherd Loves (5-6)

David continues to share that the Lord prepares a place for us. With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, your family likely has some sort of gathering during these holidays. Does your family have someone who is chronically late? My family has several such culprits. They’re always late and one person said that the reason that he is always late is because he doesn’t like to wait on other people… This makes other people wait on him! We all know people like this. People who have something prepared for them but they show up late. People who are a little bit different. People who make crazy decisions. Did you know that whether you care to admit it or not, you and I used to be that person? The Bible shares with us that we were not only confused, lazy, bad, or wrong. The Bible shares that we were lost. We were dead. But God… What did He do? He showed up. He pursued you and I. He has a seat at the table for us and He stands with His arms open wide and invites us to come and join Him! Why does He do this? Why prepare a table for us? Why anoint our head? Why die on the cross for us? Because He loves us.
We’re entering a season where people talk a whole lot about happiness. People are happy because of family, gifts, because they get a couple days off from work. There are many reasons that people are happy during the Christmas season… But do you know what eventually happens? Happiness drifts. Happiness comes and goes. It’s here one moment and gone the next, especially if we base our happiness level on our circumstances. Is joy the same as happiness? No, it’s different. Joy has been defined as this, “an attitude of well-being.” Your circumstances have probably changed the last 2 years. Whenever circumstances are different, there’s likely a lack of happiness in some respect. I’ve felt that! But what I’m still discovering, and what I hope we all are discovering this evening is that if Christ is our shepherd that we have something even better than mere happiness… We have something better than toys, family time, hot chocolate, peanut butter fudge, or anything else. You and I have joy. The only thing that can give you true, unending joy is knowing that you belong to God! This gives you so much joy that it flows out of your life and onto everything else around you.
What happens whenever a cup is completely full with water and you pour more water into it? Don’t overthink this: The excess water spills out and the floor gets nice and soaked and the custodian gets upset, right? This is what Christian joy should do in our lives! It should infect us and spill over from our heart and into others around us.
David shares that he will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as he lives. David wasn’t a perfect person and he made many mistakes and had many flaws/shortcomings. Yet, if we can learn something from his life and apply it to our walk with the Lord today it would be this: Trust in the Lord. Trust in His plan for you, His child. David was known as the man after God’s own heart! He trusted in the Lord even when it didn’t make perfect sense. Friend, trust in the Lord. Trust in His love for you! Abide in Him as John 15 shares. Dwell in his house because we know the truth of Romans 8:39 as Paul writes
Romans 8:39 CSB
39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Our eternal destination is secured. We will dwell with the Lord forever because of the love of the Good Shepherd for us.

The Good Shepherd Lays Down His Life (11-18)

If you look to the next Psalm, David entitles is “The King of Glory” and asks in verse 8: Who is this King of Glory? We could ask of Psalm 23, Who is this Good Shepherd. Aren’t you thankful that we have the benefit of the New Testament as the Gospels tell us the answer to this question? It’s impossible to preach Psalm 23 as a Christian without touching on John 10 as these texts are connected because of what Jesus, the eternal Son of God, says about Himself and His heart for His sheep. Aren’t you thankful that your Savior isn’t some far off king as we studied this morning? Aren’t you thankful that 2000 years ago, Jesus, fully-God, added humanity to His deity and became the God-man? Aren’t you thankful that He came to save us by laying down His life? Let’s read John 10 and see what Jesus says about what the Good Shepherd truly does
John 10:11–18 CSB
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand, since he is not the shepherd and doesn’t own the sheep, leaves them and runs away when he sees a wolf coming. The wolf then snatches and scatters them. 13 This happens because he is a hired hand and doesn’t care about the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
There is so much to look at in this text and we don’t have time to go through it and dig as much as I’d like. One thing that we see about the Good Shepherd in John 10 is that He lays down His life for His sheep. I love what verse 18 says, though, as it reminds us that no one took Jesus’ life from Him. There are some people in our world today who want to say things like Jesus was murdered and it was done due to this reason or that reason. Was Jesus murdered in the cross? Absolutely. Acts 2 shares this reality with us. The Jews are guilty of crucifying the Son of God - but this was a part of the predetermined plan of God. Jesus laid His life down willingly. He laid down His life for His sheep.
2 Corinthians 5:21 CSB
21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Aren’t you thankful that Jesus Christ, who never once sinned, laid down His life for you, a sinner - so that you could inherit the righteousness of God in Him? Friends, we don’t serve a cold, removed God… We serve a God who came. A Savior who didn’t sit on the sidelines… A Savior who took out place on the cross. A Savior who gave it all for His Sheep!
As we prepare to turn to a new year, let’s do it with our eyes fixed on Jesus - our Good Shepherd. He came, as we’ll celebrate at Christmas, but as John 10 reminds us, He didn’t just come and die, He rose from the dead because death could not hold Him.
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 CSB
55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus has won for us the victory - He is our living hope and we have that same resurrection hope as Romans 8 declares to us as adopted children of God
Romans 8:16–17 CSB
16 The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, 17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
We have all the confidence in the world because we are co-heirs with Christ. We inherit His righteousness. We are apart of His forever family… Therefore, we should expect to suffer because Christ suffered. Yet, we know that suffering doesn’t get the last laugh. We are His. We belong to Jesus. Therefore, the hope of glorification and spending an eternity in glory with our Father is what is awaiting us. This is good news but you must ask, are you His sheep?

Conclusion

This is the most important question for us as we close out 2021 and enter a new year. Our world has many questions right now. When will normal come back? When can I do what I used to do? When will this activity open back up? When will church look like it used to? These are fair and good questions and I’m sorry, but I don’t have the answer for you! But I do know the most important question and it’s not any of those… It’s this: Do you belong to Jesus? Have you repented of your sins and placed your faith in Christ as Lord? If so, you have everything that you need.
Do you feel like you’re walking through the valley of the shadow of death right now? If so, friend, take heart. He is with you. Praise Him in this storm. Praise Him in the midst of your uncertainty. You can choose to have joy even now. If you’re walking besides green pastures and still waters and times are good, guess what? You have all the more reason to praise the Lord. Don’t wait for seasons to change to praise Him. Praise Him today.
Remember His promises in Scripture. He promises to provide for His children and He promises to work all things for your good as a Christian! God won’t leave or forsake you - not even in your lowest of lows. Just as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego in the fiery furnace, you can trust that He’ll be with you through the fire as well.
Trust in God and praise Him every step of the way.
Follow your good shepherd and watch Him go above and beyond your wildest imagination. Let’s give thanks to our Father now.
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