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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (25-6-2002 Framsden Baptist Church)
Going to begin with some very obvious remarks. This
is the most well known of 150 Psalms. Everyone knows – or used to know it.
Many could recite it. This psalm or hymns based on it – constantly heard at
weddings, deathbeds and funerals. Throughout Christian history, the twenty-third
Psalm has brought comfort to the poor, courage to the disappointed, it has been
a companion to travellers, consolation to the sick, it has reassured the
prisoner and strengthened the dying, it has been recited in the heat of conflict
or battle field, and dried the tears of mourners. Will be beloved of God’s
people till time is ended, and the last pilgrim has arrived safely home.
Some weary of theological debate
have taken these words as their creed and repeated them every day of life. It
has meant more to many believers than any other single Scriptural passage. No
doubt it was taught to Jesus when He was young by Mary or at Synagogue school.
It has rightly been named “The pearl of the Psalms”.
There is no hope of a preacher
doing it justice. It reflects the work of a mature mind, like an old man who
looks back over life’s experiences in serenity and peace. He views the ups and
downs of life – tells us simply and movingly what God means to him. Expresses
personal trust and his perfect peace that has nothing more to ask.
Three sections: (1) The shepherd and the sheep (23:1,2) – the gift of provision; (2) The guide and the traveller (23:3,4) – the gift of direction; (3) The host and the guest (23:5,6) – The gift of communion. Read through Christian eyes in the light of Christ, this psalm speaks of the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, the gift of the Holy Spirit who leads children of God, and the richness of Christian experience. This Psalm has fuller meaning than it had even to David.
The Lord is my shepherd. In
the Old Testament, especially the prophets, the shepherd and sheep image is used
for the relationship of God and people. So in the New Testament, it illustrates
the relationship of Christ and His people. We are well described as sheep –
stupid, defenceless, given to wandering, going astray, totally dependent on God
for everything. God as a “shepherd” is a most comprehensive and intimate
picture. “King” is more distant, “Rock” and “Shield” are impersonal,
but “Shepherd” means everything to us – it involves guide, physician,
protector, provider, and governor or ruler.
Some translations, “The Lord
ruleth me”, or “The Lord governeth me”. The Hebrew means to feed, guide
and rule. It is a word of personal possession, my shepherd. He is the God of His people and of individual
believers. He belongs to me, and I belong to Him.
I shall not be in want. As
a shepherd, He provides all that is needed – temporal and spiritual. He is a
God of love and providence. He knows our needs; He is willing to meet them and
is able to meet them. If my needs are not met, it is not because of a lack in
Him, but my own fault. He feeds the birds of the air and clothes the grass of
the field, so He will certainly care for His children (Matthew 6:26). Also our
spiritual needs – My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9). Your
strength will equal your days (Deuteronomy 32:25).
Some Christians often speak and
act as though He can provide the temporal but not the spiritual. Their emphasis,
like the world’s, is on “I try.” God is able to make all grace abound
towards you (2 Corinthians 9:8). All I need, though not all I want. To
this end I labour, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in
me (Colossians 1:29).
He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside quiet waters. In the hot noonday sun, when the desert is baking, or burn foot when it touches stone – He finds green glen with quiet brook, lush grass. Then we drink and feed and rest. The Hebrew means “waters of rests”. God’s method is rest and refreshment first. Then we are led out to work and warfare. We wait on God before we work for God. Jesus called His twelve disciples to be with Him and then He sent them forth (Mark 3:14). Created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). We need to be equipped by rest and refreshment before we walk in the paths of righteousness.
He restores my soul. He
renews, sustains and keeps alive my spiritual life. When we fail and decline and
want, through unconfessed sin, disobedience, the company we keep, when our
spiritual life flags, joy and peace grow less as God becomes distant. When we
reach a point when we can stand the misery no longer, He restores us. Puts us on
the rails again. This may be through the word of a friend, verse of a hymn,
message from the pulpit, Bible reading. We are caused to humble ourselves,
return to the Lord, go His way again.
He guides me in paths of
righteousness for His name’s sake. He leads us into His purposes for our
lives. He leads us more and more to behave, live, act, speak and react as
believers. He does this through His Word, our circumstances, the advice of
others, and through inner conviction. He does this “for His name’s sake”,
not that we can feel happy or comfortable or just so that we have the “feel
good” factor, but He does it for His name’s sake, for His purposes and
glory. If we are willing to be led and to wait for Him, He will certainly lead
us. If the Lord delight’s in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm (Psalm
37:23).
Even though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death (or “through the darkest valley”),
I will fear no evil for you are with me. Your rod and your staff they comfort
me. This promise includes all the dark and bitter experiences and crises of
life, and the most terrible of all, death. Death is the most frightening and
mysterious experience waiting all. It is something we have to face alone. But we
need not fear it. He is with us and He will take us through it to something
wonderful on the other side.
Death is not the end, or a cul de sac, but a passage through a dark tunnel into the blaze of light at the other end. We can affirm this more triumphantly as Christians because Christ Jesus has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel (2 Timothy 1:10). We only go through the valley, we do not finish in it. These words have brought comfort to millions and will stand us in good stead when our time comes. We have nothing to be afraid of. His rod is there to protect, and His staff controls, guides and supports.
The picture is of God as the
host, and we are His guests. You prepare a table before me in the presence of
my enemies. The table is spread with abundance. As guests, our heads are
anointed with oil, something that was done at feasts to honour the guests. My
cup overflows. All this is done in the face of the enemy. Despite danger,
pressure and hostility, here is a picture of assurance and leisureliness and
calmness, together with perfect safety. This could be a picture of a victory
celebration where the enemies are present as captives. There is no haste or
panic, but perfect peace and serenity in the face of pressure and trial. (C.f.
Sir Francis Drake famously carrying on his game of bowls while the Spanish fleet
was coming up the English Channel.)
Finally we come to the
triumphant assertion, Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days
of my life. To be God’s guest is not just to visit Him for a day, but to
live with Him. Goodness and mercy follow men of God – goodness to supply every
need, and mercy to forgive every sin. Goodness provides, mercy pardons.
F.B.Meyer wrote, “The Good
Shepherd goes before us, and His two sheepdogs bring up the rear. Whatever else
tomorrow brings, it will bring God. His care and compassion will always be on
hand.” [unclear where the quotation ends].
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. While still on earth, our chief delight is to dwell in God’s house with the people of God. Also at the end of the journey we shall arrive at the house of the Lord in His nearer presence, adoring Him and serving Him day and night. One day the whole family will gather at the Father’s house, never to part and never to go out again. The Father’s house, which contains many mansions.
The Lord is my shepherd. This
is an intensely personal psalm. 17 times the writer refers to himself, and 13
times to the Lord. It is all about the relationship between “He” and
“me”. Not everyone who reads this psalm and sings the hymn is entitled to
the blessings of which it speaks. This is easily forgotten when something is so
well known and so frequently used.
Once an actor recited the 23rd
psalm, and he greatly impressed the audience with his eloquence and diction.
Then an old preacher spoke on the psalm, and moved the audience to the very
depths of their beings. Afterwards the actor questioned why the old preacher had
made a bigger impression than he had done, and was told, “You know the psalm,
he knows the shepherd.”
But if the Lord is truly our
shepherd, as we trust ourselves to Him, we will receive these enormous
blessings. They are within our grasp, ours to enjoy, every day. Over-familiarity
can blind us to this. The more we distrust self and live in dependence on the
Lord, the more real this psalm becomes. It brings enormous wealth and security.
A day never comes without His goodness and mercy being there for us.
