"Being Shepherded" - thoughts on Psalm 23

What do we first think of when we read “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want”? For me, it is this: all of the things I could gain or achieve in life pale into insignificance compared to having the Lord as my Shepherd. This is because the Lord will still be my Shepherd if and when I have nothing else. In times when the challenges of life are great, the most important thing I will need is not money, or assets, or status, but rather my shepherd … a shepherd who will look after me, see me through danger, and guide me in the decisions I need to make. On the football field, a player carrying the ball will often need a team-mate to block the path of the opposing players to stop them tackling the ball-carrier, keeping the path open towards the goals; this in highly technical football language is called … a “shepherd”!

Australian Rules football was not known in Israel 3,000 years ago, so this psalm must of course be drawing on the image of another type of “shepherd”. This was the role of caring for the sheep out in the pasture. The shepherd would live among the sheep, protecting them from all possible adversaries, especially through the darkness and danger of the night. The shepherd would use all his strength and stamina to provide for all of the flock’s needs. The shepherd would know his sheep intimately and individually. This psalm is traditionally attributed to David who would’ve had personal experience to draw upon here – of the concern and compassion required in a shepherd; but any worshipping community in Israel would have been able to easily relate to this intimate connection between the “shepherd” and the one being shepherded.

Without a shepherd, the sheep of the pasture would wander aimlessly and get lost and eventually perish – sense of direction is not a strong point with sheep. Or such sheep, without an effective shepherd, may just become a follower of the most dominant sheep, following them unthinkingly into all sorts of danger. Without the right shepherd figure in our lives, we can find ourselves latching onto the most inappropriate people (just ask Alan Didak), and involve ourselves in the most unhelpful of activities.

I might be a ‘stick in the mud’, but why would you go to nightclubs, when there are so many other positive activities and places to be involved in. Is it perhaps to escape something, perhaps something you don’t like about yourself or your life? Or is it because of the cry within you for companionship and acceptance?? In either case, King Street does not hold the answers, the “good shepherd” does!

Whereas this psalm brings a general analogy of God as “shepherd”, we know who has fulfilled this role most evidently in human history. Jesus described himself saying: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep”. Jesus loves us, accepts us, and when sin becomes a barrier, through his death on the cross, brings forgiveness to us. Jesus wants also to companion us on our journey of life, and guide us toward change, so that we can feel better about ourselves. We can come to that point where we can say: ‘The Lord Jesus is my Shepherd – there is nothing else I can possibly want that comes anywhere close to this!!’

Even when tempted off the “narrow path”, the good shepherd will not abandon his beloved sheep. Didn’t Jesus tell a story about a shepherd leaving ninety-nine sheep in search of the one of his flock that had strayed! So God’s interest in us began with our conception – God knew us in our mother’s womb – we were fearfully and wonderfully created, and this has been fully enacted into a shepherding relationship upon receiving Jesus into our life.

We might feel that life is just too complicated with all the decisions we have to make and all the responsibilities we acquire; and verse 4 mentions the “darkest valley” depicting the danger and evil we can encounter; yet available to us is the shepherd’s guiding touch – his rod and his staff to comfort me (verse 4). Sheep can be an easy prey for any adversary, so the shepherd will have to pay close attention; and because the shepherd is faithful, the sheep can overcome their fear (and show courage).

The implement translated “rod” was a short oaken club used for the defence and protection of the sheep. Are we able to sense the invisible walls of protection that God is able to put around us? The “staff” was a longer pole used for climbing or leaning on to walk (the forerunner of the modern walking stick); which could also be used for restraining or guiding the sheep. Do we also sense sometimes a supernatural feeling of restraint or special wisdom or understanding come over us (when we need it the most)? We are thus comforted by the knowledge that we don’t have to muddle on alone – that there is a presence much greater than just our own, walking the same paths we are travelling.

This is of even greater comfort and help, if we constantly remind ourselves of Jesus’ nearness. Today I’m walking through life with such and such challenges, but that’s okay because Jesus will be travelling with me, his rod and his staff to protect and guide me. Of course this also means responding to such guidance. What trouble we get ourselves in by continuing to try to escape the path being defined by Jesus’ rod and staff, to dance to the beat of our own drum instead, and toy with other options. If you know the decisions you need to make in line with the Good Shepherd’s guidance – then please make those decisions. Christians who ignore the guidance of their Shepherd are often sadder people than those who have no shepherd at all. So while this psalm offers many sentiments of gratitude to a personal and loving God, there is also here a real pattern here for Jesus-centred living.

And so when I get up in the morning, and travel through the day, and go to bed at night, I want to have that experience of the “green pastures” (back to verse 2). The “shepherds” would try to plan the movements of their flocks so that the sheep could rest in the best possible locations, eat well, and thereby flourish. This for me means living entirely in the will of God – in each and every facet of life … family, career, neighbourhood, recreation, learning, ministry to others, physical well-being > all part of our experience of spiritual growth. And it is only God who can with full knowledge identify those “grassy meadows”, which emphasises our need to be willing to be led.

When I get frustrated, or even angry, and especially when I feel too tired to really cope with my responsibilities, I want to experience those “still waters”. This would be the ideal spot for sheep to drink – easy access with no ripples. Please lead me here my Shepherd so that I can truly experience spiritual refreshment & renewal.

I surely want to experience God’s goodness and mercy to all its full potential every day of my life (verse 6). When I’m in conversation, or when I’m busy at a task, or when I’m taking it easy hoping Carlton might be in front at the final siren, I want to feel God’s goodness – God’s goodness to me, and God’s goodness to everyone. When I’ve stuffed up, been impatient or unkind, I want to immediately be able to experience God’s mercy, so I don’t have to dwell on this for too long, just be forgiven, renewed and able to move on. I want to be able to say sorry without it damaging my self-esteem.

In such a way, I can taste what it is to live in the “house of the Lord” … as a valued family member, as one who belongs in God’s house just as much as Jesus Himself does. This is truly my inheritance … this is truly your inheritance … the problem is that we often don’t feel this way > we can feel alienated from the “house of the Lord” – the place where God abides. So this takes us back to accepting the Good Shepherd Jesus as the leader in our lives (and then we should not want for those things that in the end can’t satisfy us). Can we be like the psalmist, who here in verse 6 expresses the serene joy of a soul that has found peace of mind and heart in their union with God?

Just as the shepherd has a deep connection with the welfare of his sheep, God has a deep investment in our decision-making, and thus would never lead us astray. But this psalm is not only about our particular relationship to God, but also about our relationship with the world around us (back to verse 3). We are given the gift of the Good Shepherd, to enable us to walk along the right paths, the ones that take us in the best directions … for the sake of God’s name; in other’s words so that God’s name will be honoured by others as it is by us!

God’s Name is the essence of who God is in character & personality – the God who wants to lovingly connect with all humankind. Therefore, our following of the shepherd relates to how God wishes to communicate His love to those around us. We are to be good examples of how sheep actively respond to their shepherd, so that other sheep might want to do the same. God not only wants me to be redeemed, but also look redeemed and act redeemed! In this way, we affect God’s reputation, either for the good or the ill. Just as well we have God’s Spirit available to us!

Thus we are not removed from our trials – our table full of good things (verse 5) has been prepared in the presence of those who might tend to naturally scare us. Yet we can utilise some Divine resources and exhibit cool assurance under pressure. Then the hope we experience (in the midst of our trials) just might crossover to our opponents. Trouble and heartache are never far away, but we can know and prove that God is closer!

I conclude with thoughts about my head being anointed with oil and my cup overflowing (verse 5). Shepherds would use some form of oil to help heal any wounds the sheep suffered along their journeys. Also, anointing with oil was the customary treatment of an honoured guest in an Ancient Eastern home. So this ‘anointing with oil’ is symbolic for God being able to provide for the healing of wounds, and the offering of Divine hospitality to welcome guests. My ‘cup overflowing’ represents the overflowing blessings of God recognised in and around my life > there will be no half-full or half-empty debates here, because this ‘cup’ is certainly full to the brim and indeed overflowing.

"Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21).