“The LORD is MY Shepherd”....the Wayfarer 5/6/14

“The LORD is MY Shepherd”
 5/6/14

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

(Psalm 23:1-6)

Today, we examine a piece of scripture that is thoroughly recognizable and familiar to most throughout the world who have been exposed to the writings of the Old Testament, and in part at least, by many more exposed only to pieces and variations and even bastardizations of it.

Heard often in funeral dissertations, and meetings of various churches, it is and will remain a particular favorite of mine, and many others.

A close look at this Psalm gives light to the fact that is intended as far more than a comfort to those who have recited and sung it over the many years since its writing, but is a deep and abiding promise as well made by its author, David, to the Lord God of Hosts, the God of Abraham Isaac, and Jacob, as well.

It begins with the words; “The LORD is my shepherd.”  This statement is one of contrite and complete recognition of that God, that singular Omnipotent power over mankind in a world that was then and is now in denial of that same abiding and eternal God.

A shepherd is followed willingly by the sheep he has been given custody and care over, willing to protect that flock at all costs from the dangers it must face.

Recognition of the helplessness of being a portion of that flock in the face of danger is the beginning theme of what is given us through this Psalm.

The following statement; “I shall not want”, gives a depth of perception to the fact that all needs are considered and cared for by that shepherd that is being referenced.

The next verse continues in the same vein acknowledging the perfection of the life intended for the members of that flock, to include even one who was king of his people!

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber,

But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him for they know his voice,

And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him, for they know not his voice.”

(John 10: 1-5)

These words come from Christ Jesus himself, and serve as a reminder that the flock faces a constant danger from without, manageable only by that shepherd that David referenced.

“This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them.

 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.

 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they may have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

 But he that is a hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”

(John 10:6-18)

The very shepherd chosen to be glorified in this Psalm was, and often still is disdained and denied by far too many who choose to be separated from the flock chosen by God, seeking only to be sheep led by another shepherd whose lies and promises only lead to failure and disappointment.

Knowing the voice of the true shepherd is an easy thing to do. Following that voice is also quite easy to accomplish once that recognition is acquired.

That recognition is only possible if that voice is heard, and heeded. Too often at a young age other voices are allowed to drown out the voice of that shepherd and the voice and pattern followed deviates from the intent of the true shepherd. When the teachings of men take precedence over the influence of God’s own, that voice is ignored, and the voice of damnation and despair is inevitably its replacement.

The 3^rd verse of this familiar Psalm continues: “He restoreth my soul.” In order for a soul to be restored, it must first be accepted as having existence, and again the lies and deceptions of other “shepherds” create denial and even disdain in the belief of the existence of that soul that transcends the mortal body inhabited by it, so susceptible to the dangers faced by the most helpless creatures ever to exist. Those creatures are not the ones commonly thought to be helpless, but the ones who rely on their own abilities and connivances to get through a life in a physical world without ever giving pause to the world that awaits the soul when it has been departed.

David continues, “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

When followed, the voice of that ONE TRUE SHEPHERD leads continually to the promised peace and fulfillment of the ones following. Those paths do not deviate, nor are they generally followed because they are hard to navigate without the assistance of that Shepherd!

It is far easier to listen to the voices of those offering platitudes, offering false promises of blessing, false promises of wealth and plenty that ring so loudly in the attempt to drown out the voice of that Shepherd chosen by David.

The 4^th verse speaks of the dangers that are faced along that path, and the threats and actions of those following that other voice in all its guises, whether the politicians that choose to ignore and deny that shepherd, or those promoting the various versions of perversity that cannot accept that when the voice of that Shepherd has spoken, the decisions for the safety and care of the eternal soul is a permanent decision, unalterable by philosophy, philanthropy, liberalism, socialism or any other “ism” with which they attempt to replace it.

Those who have heard the voice of that shepherd and choose to acknowledge Him as that shepherd have no need of fear. They may rest secure in the total knowledge that promises made by that Shepherd will be kept in the face of any trial or temptation that may ever beset them.

“For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, EVEN FOR THIS SAME PURPOSE HAVE I RAISED THEE UP, THAT I MIGHT SHOW MY POWER IN THEE, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE DECLARED THROUGHOUT ALL THE EARTH.

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 

And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, 

Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

As he saith also in Hosea, I WILL CALL THEM MY PEOPLE, WHICH WERE NOT MY PEOPLE; AND HER BELOVED, WHICH WAS NOT BELOVED.

AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID UNTO THEM, YE ARE NOT MY PEOPLE; THERE SHALL THEY BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF THE LIVING GOD.”

(Romans 9:17-26)

 Jesus spoke of having other flocks as well, He spoke to the Jews in full knowledge that that one flock mentioned would be derived from all believers to include those of us given the means to become a part of that flock only through the sacrifice offered for us by Him.

Not only are we not to fear evil, but we are to have assurance that that evil cannot displace us from the care of that Shepherd, so long as we are willing to listen to the voice of the one meant to lead us to the destination intended by God.

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day”. 

(2^nd Timothy Ch. 1 vs. 12)

The 5^th and 6^th verses continue to speak of the blessings intended for us by God, the ineffectualness of any enemy to compromise that blessing so long as the Shepherd is followed, and most importantly closes with the words “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Forever is the space of a paltry lifetime as seen through the eyes of those seeing only the physical, but must be seen through the eyes of that soul spoken of in the 3^rd verse that is eternal as well.

The shepherd spoke clearly giving a message to all who would hear, heed and follow of a simple means to achieve the promise given in this familiar Psalm. That promise describes the beauty, peace, tranquility of a soul who heard and heeded those words.

“Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

Once those words were heard and heeded, the Shepherd took charge. That same shepherd is just as willing to take charge and deliver on that same promise now as well as when it was recognized and accepted by David so long ago.

Today, I leave you with a question instead of just a prayer;

Who is your shepherd?

Whether acknowledged or not, you like all people follow the voice of a shepherd, if it is not the one followed by David, it is the wrong shepherd, and the time has come to listen to the voice calling  to the promise of a kingdom and eternity provided only by that one true shepherd.

I pray that you, as may I, may state without equivocation:

“The LORD is MY Shepherd”

I remain as always, that same simple sinner saved by grace through faith in that One true Shepherd, and his ability to deliver on the promise made at the end of this 23d Psalm, in prayer that others too may hear that same voice, follow that same Shepherd to the intended destination at the end of this paltry existence.

I remain also the steadfast soldier relying on the same promise of that rod and staff, fearing no evil, not because I am the biggest or baddest in that valley, but with confidence in the one in whose shadow I am unworthy to stand, whose own power cannot be breeched or overcome by any, either in that valley or on the other side of it!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer