Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction - All We Like Sheep
Has it ever crossed your mind why you are compared to sheep in the Bible?
Why not something more graceful or powerful?
Here’s a hint it isnt because we are necessarily cute and cuddly, yet Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep.
After some digging around I found some interesting reasons we might be most like sheep.
Sheep cannot care for themselves and they NEED a shepherd.
They must be led to good food, they must be led to clean refreshing water, and they remain dirty unless someone cleans them.
Sheep have no sense of direction.
They will follow who ever is leading them even if they lead them off a cliff.
If everyone else jumped off a cliff would you - sheep answer yes!
In Eastern Turkey 1500 unattended sheep fell off a cliff while the shepherds were eating breakfast far away from the flock.
The first 400 fell to their death in a ravine, but the remaining 1100 were saved because the first 400 broke their fall.
The sheep in the back couldn’t see past the sheep in front, so they were unaware of what lay ahead.
The sheep in the front couldn’t stop because the sheep the back were pushing them forward.
One farmer has shared that if you have a bunch of sheep in a barn, stretch rope across the door before you let them out.
When the sheep come out of the barn they will jump the rope, after the first few jump it you can cut the rope, the remaining sheep will still jump over the “invisible rope” now, because the rest of the flock did it.
Sheep are also defenseless animals that have been known to be beaten back by squirrels.
Sheep are a defenseless animal prone to wander off, and they need constant care.
Sheep without a shepherd are lost and without hope of survival let alone of flourishing.
Isaiah 53:6 (CSB)
6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way...
Jesus notably had compassion comparing a situation happening to that of sheep.
Psalm 23 is a Psalm from David in which he is acknowledging not only being a sheep, but that as sheep he has a shepherd and that is the best for him.
We too as sheep can have a shepherd - the Good Shepherd.
Lets read this Psalm together and lets learn to call Him “My Shepherd”.
Follow the Lord as our Shepherd and trust Him and He will meet our every need in every circumstance.
As Shepherd, Look To God For Provision
David calls the Lord his shepherd - Jehova Raha.
A natural and a rather easy comparison for David who was a shepherd made king.
It is remarkable to consider that the Lord would call Himself our Shepherd.
In ancient Israel as well as other societies, a shepherd’s work was the lowliest of work and a shepherd the lowliest of people.
If a family needed a shepherd it was always the youngest son - such as David was.
Our great God has stooped low and chosen the title of shepherd for Himself, chosen to care for you and me intimately.
David doesnt recognize the Lord as A shepherd but he calls the LORD HIS SHEPHERD.
His personal shepherd caring for Him.
David declares because the Lord is His Shepherd he has what he needs.
In essence David is saying his only need was needing a shepherd.
This Psalm is not for those who think they are self-sufficient and in need of no one, but rather this Psalm is for the one who is keenly aware of their desperate need for a shepherd.
Because the Lord is His shepherd David says I lack nothing and in fact have an adequate supply.
My needs are met!
The fact of God’s shepherd care was the end of unsatisfied need.
All my needs are supplied and I do not need more than what the Lord - who is my shepherd gives.
David acknowledges the Lord lets me lie down in green pastures.
It sounds as though we should be happy he allows us to rest.
Interesting though the jist of the original language is that He actually makes us lie down.
The Good Shepherd knows we need rest and will make us lie down if needed.
Sheep dont always know what they need and what is best for itself, and so the Shepherd must help.
Look though where He makes us lie down - in green pastures or lush fields.
Rest does not come easy for sheep.
Sheep do not lie down unless four conditions are met.
They will not lie down if they are afraid.
They will not lie down if there is friction among the sheep.
If there flies or parasites troubling them.
If sheep are anxious about food or are hungry they will not lie down
Rest comes when the shepherd has dealt with fear, friction, flies and food.
Food for sheep is grass - but food for David and for the sheep of God is the word of God.
A shepherd leads sheep to fresh grass and the Lord leads His people to the same.
They do not lack food because they are made to lie down in green pastures.
Resting in the word of God meditating on the food it bears.
God prepares green pastures every time His word is preached by those who He calls to preach.
Refreshment is provided because the Lord as our Shepherd leads us beside quiet waters.
These are still waters, peaceful and calm waters.
A shepherd must provide calm waters for rest, refreshment and cleansing.
The shepherds have been known to temporarily dam a stream that was flowing to fast in order to let the sheep drink from it.
So the Lord restores and refreshes our souls.
As sheep we find ourselves in need of refreshment from time to time, and it is because we walk in a wearying and exhausting world.
Even our fellow sheep can wear us out and dry us up.
The Lord provides spiritual refreshment and washing - forgiveness and peace for those who follow Him.
The Lord as our shepherd provides us with rest, food, and refreshment.
As Shepherd, Look To God For Direction
Psalm 23:3–4 (CSB)
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,
He renews my life declares the psalmist.
He restores my life.
Sheep again are not the brightest animal, they can turn over on their back much like a turtle or a cockroach with their legs pointed upwards and flailing.
An old English shepherds term for this predicament is “cast down”.
A cast sheep is a most pitiful thing.
In this position without any outside help the sheep will ultimately die from predators or from being left behind as the flock moves on.
It needs a shepherd to put it back on its feet to renew its life.
How many times have we been “cast down” flailing on our backs?
We like sheep are prone to stray and wander and to find ourselves on our backs.
A straying sheep is still a sheep, and the Lord ever cares for His sheep.
He leads me along the right paths.
The shepherd was a guide a navigational help for the sheep.
The sheep cannot find the green pastures on their own.
They will settle for less also.
They will stop at a muddy puddle and be content to drink the dirty water when the fresh waters are just ahead 20 yards.
A good shepherd knows the paths for nourishment as well as safety.
The shepherd will guide or lead the sheep to what is needed.
You cannot drive sheep as you would cattle, they must be led - they must have a shepherd.
The sheep dont need to know where the grass or water was all they needed to know was where their shepherd was.
We dont need to know the path, we just need to follow our Shepherd to what we need.
The Lord guides His sheep along the right path - the right way.
This relates to how we live we live according to the path the Lord guides us on and that is the pathway of righteousness.
We do not lack direction and guidance because we are led on paths of righteousness.
Many times the Lord’s sheep worry themselves with the question of finding the Lord’s will.
The Lord as our shepherd will lead us.
We dont need to worry about finding the Lord’s will.
Let us be concerned with following the Lord closely, our problem is not in His guidance but it is in our closeness.
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