The Lord Is My Shepherd Part II.

 

In my last post, we learned how the LORD is our shepherd. He takes care of all our needs, as well as our wants that are aligned with His will. He takes care of our anxieties, and He ensures we are well-fed and watered spiritually. He restores our souls, and guides us through the Scriptures to teach us how to live. He is with us in the valley of the shadow of death, and He never leaves or forsakes us. He comforts us with His rod and staff. He is good to us and provides for us in the midst of trouble. He anoints us with His Holy Spirit, filling us to overflowing. His goodness and mercy follow us all our days, and we will live with Him for eternity.

I would almost feel remiss writing about the Lord being our shepherd without taking a look at John 10. Here He will use a few different analogies that are similar to one another to illustrate who He is. He says, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.”  So, the shepherds had walled enclosures in which they would drive their sheep into at night to keep them safe.  There was only one entrance, so the sheep could not get out, nor could any predators get in.  If someone else tried to climb over the walls, they were a thief or a robber.  Jesus continued that he who goes through the door is the shepherd, and the doorkeeper (probably the Holy Spirit) opens the door for him.  He said that the sheep know the voice of the shepherd, so that when he comes in the door to call them out, they follow him.  They will not follow strangers, but flee from them because they do not recognize their voice. 

Second, Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” Out in the pasture lands, the shepherds had pens for the sheep with only one entrance. The shepherd would then lay in the entrance to keep the sheep in and predators out. The sheep pen is the kingdom of God, and Jesus is the door. All who enter in by Him will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Anyone who came before Him are again thieves and robbers. There have been many before and after Jesus claiming to be the way to God, but Jesus is the only true shepherd, the true entrance into the Kingdom. He is the only one who can protect and take care of the sheep.

Third, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.” This is an interesting statement: David says that the LORD is his shepherd, and Jesus states He is the good shepherd. Remember, the word David used for LORD was Jehovah, so Jesus is plainly stating He is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament. So, the next time you encounter someone like the Jehovah’s witnesses who deny the deity of Jesus Christ, this is one of the passages you can take them to. He connects His goodness with the giving up of His life for the sheep. You can know a true shepherd by who he is in it for. If he is willing to risk it all for the sheep, he is a true shepherd. If he flees at the sight of danger or hardship, he is a hireling. David took on a lion and a bear to save one measly sheep, and Jesus gave His life for every sinner on the planet who will receive His goodness and mercy. He is the only one who could and who did lay down His life for you and me. Jesus said to His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (Jn 15:13-14) So then, the good Shepherd loves His sheep, and proved it by laying down His life for them.

Lastly, Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Real sheep have heard the voice of Jesus calling them to repentance and salvation, they entered into a relationship with Him by faith, and they follow Him by obeying the Scriptures. He has given them eternal life that cannot be taken away from them. They are safe in His hand.

Is the Lord your Shepherd today? Like any good shepherd, His number one care is the sheep. This means He will take vengeance on anyone or anything that seeks to harm the sheep. Jesus is coming back one day soon in vengeance on this wicked world that is against God and against His people. He will then rule the nations with a rod of iron. The good news is, you don’t have to remain a thief, robber, or wolf. You can be born again. Jesus told Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The good Shepherd has demonstrated His love for you by laying down His life for you. Put your trust in Him today, be born again, and receive everlasting life. Repent from your sins, and follow Him.

If you are born again, Jesus is your shepherd, and you will not want. Trust Him to provide all your needs according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus. Let His Spirit cause you to rest in the green pastures and lead you beside the still waters of the word of God. Let Him guide you in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Repent from any sins, and let Him refresh your soul. Remember that He is with you in the valley of the shadow of death. Do not be afraid, for He is with you. Let Him comfort you with His rod and staff. Receive his bounty and richness in the midst of your trouble, let Him anoint you with His Holy Spirit, and fill you to overflowing. Listen to His voice, and follow Him. Let His grace and mercy follow you all your life, and dwell with Him for eternity.

The Lord is My Shepherd Part I.

 

The 23rd Psalm appears to have been written later in David’s life. This is evidenced by the fact that he had enemies (v. 5), he was facing the danger of death (v. 4), he was experiencing rest (v. 3), and he was experiencing prosperity (v. 5). Some believe he wrote this during the rebellion of his son Absolom who sought to take over his throne. This would have been one of the darkest times in David’s life, a time when he was not sure if he would make it out alive. Having said this, he most certainly was reflecting on those days as a young boy tending the sheep. Let’s go ahead and take a look at Psalm 23. It reads:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; he leads 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 You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

David begins by stating that the Lord is his shepherd. This Lord again, is Jehovah, the covenant name for God for the Jewish people. In Psalm 8, he says that Jehovah is his lord or master, but here the Lord is his shepherd, highlighting some different aspects of God’s nature. It was the shepherd’s job to love and care for the sheep. He would feed and water them, protect them from predators, guide them, and discipline them. Sheep have poor survival skills due to being in captivity, and have a propensity to wander from the safety of the flock and protection of the shepherd. It is not a whole lot unlike people: although we may know what is right and good, we still have a tendency to go astray from the protection of the Shepherd and the safety of other believers. The idea of the Lord being our shepherd is a consistent theme throughout the Bible.

He says that because the Lord was his shepherd, he would not want. God is the supplier of all our needs. There is nothing that we need that the Lord cannot or will not give us. Paul wrote to the Philippians, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:19) Jesus said, “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Mat 6:31-33) The Lord is also the fulfillment of all our desires. David wrote in another Psalm, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” (Psa 37:4) As we delight in Him, He will either give us our desires, or He will change our hearts so our desires align with His will.

Next, David explains why he will not want. He says that the Lord makes him to lie down in green pastures. This phrase means to make or to cause to lie down. Apparently, sheep do not lie down easily, and will not do so if they are afraid, if there is friction among the sheep, if there are pests, or if they are anxious about their food. The shepherd takes care of all these so that the sheep will lie down and rest. So too, the Lord takes care of our anxieties, our strife and division, the Enemy who seeks to hinder us, and our physical and spiritual food. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30) Peter also writes, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Pe 5:7)

The Lord leads him beside the still waters. Sheep are leery of running water. They can easily be swept away in fast moving water, they have difficulty keeping their balance when walking on rocks, and when their wool gets soaked it gets heavy quickly, making drowning a real risk. The shepherd will lead them to calm waters so that they can safely drink. Sometimes, fresh water is difficult to find, so the shepherd must get creative to find water for his sheep, even making ramps for them to walk down into caverns to drink. This may make them apprehensive, but the shepherd is there leading them and soothing them with his voice.

David said the Lord restores his soul. The primary meaning of this word has to do with turning back, and in a positive sense is what we would call repentance. The same word is translated as convert, which in context of coming to faith, repentance should be present. It is the same word that appears in Psalm 19 where David says that the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. It also can mean to refresh or restore, which is often the case when a person repents and is converted. Sin wearies you and me, and it is repentance that brings the refreshing. Peter preached to the crowd after the healing of the lame man, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:19) Even if a person is right with the Lord, we all need refreshing from time to time, and this refreshing comes as we spend time waiting on the Lord through prayer, reading the Scriptures, and spending time with other believers.

He says the Lord leads him in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. There are well-worn paths on the Judean hill sides where shepherds lead their sheep, and the Lord leads us on paths of righteousness. Jesus said of the Holy Spirit, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (Jn 14:26) And, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (Jn 16:13-14) So then, the Holy Spirit teaches us the word of God, those paths of righteousness we are to walk down. He does this not because we are somehow good enough, but for His own name’s sake. He is a good shepherd who wants to see His sheep thrive and be successful.

David said that though he walked through the valley of the shadow of death, he would fear no evil. For believers, there are the green pastures and still waters of life, as well as the valley of the shadow of death. These are those near-death experiences in which we are not sure if we will make it through. David had these experiences, and we have them at times as well. Truthfully, they can be quite frightening. I have not had a near-death experience thus far, but I have been in situations where I wondered if I was. This passage is one of the ones the Lord brought me to as a source of comfort. I’ve said that I’m not afraid of where I’m going when I die, but I am afraid of the process at times. Unless you die in your sleep, there just isn’t a real good way to go. However, we needn’t fear death or its shadow, for Jesus has beaten death by rising from the dead, and if He has risen, then we will too. I’m reminded of the lines from an Easter hymn that say, “Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!” This was taken from the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1 Co 15:55-57) Praise God, Jesus is our victory over death!

The Bible is full of passages telling us not to fear. Although it does not appear 365 times as some have said, this phrase “fear not” or similar phrases appear over 70 times in the Scriptures. I think the Lord is telling us this for a reason. The Lord told Joshua, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Jos 1:9) Paul told Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7) I do not take this as a stern command not to fear, but an encouragement or admonishment from a loving Father who is reassuring us.

David said he did not have to fear, for the Lord was with him. He wrote in another Psalm, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psa 118:6) The threats on David’s life were a very real thing, and they were pretty consistent throughout much of his life. In this David learned to trust the Lord. The author of Hebrews also writes, ‘“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”’ (Heb 13:5) If we truly believe the Lord is with us no matter what we’re going through, we would be afraid a lot less often.

Not only is the Lord with us, He comforts us with His rod and staff. The shepherd’s rod was a club, and was primarily used for defending the sheep against predators. When David recounted to Saul how he had rescued a sheep from a lion and a bear, he stated he struck them and killed them. It was common practice for the shepherd to strike the animal over the head with the club to stun it, and then to slit its throat. The staff was a long slender stick, often hooked at the tip, and was primarily used to guide, correct, and discipline the sheep. It was used to poke or prod them in order to get them where they needed to be. If a sheep was in a precarious situation, the shepherd could use the curved end of the staff to hook the sheep by the neck and lift it to safety. As I stated before, it is through the word and the Holy Spirit that the Lord guides and corrects us. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16-17) He also will use trials at times to discipline us. The Psalmist wrote, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.” “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.” And, “I know, O Lord, that Your judgments are right, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.” (Psa 119:67, 71, and 75) Sometimes, we suffer due to no fault of our own, for it is just a part of life in this fallen world.  God comforts us here so that we can comfort others in similar trials. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Co 1:3-4) In summary, God’s protection, guidance, and discipline were a source of comfort to David, and should be for us as well.

He said that God prepared a table before him in the presence of his enemies. He uses figurative language to describe the Lord’s bounty and blessing for him even in the midst of trouble. Guzek writes, “The goodness and care suggested by the prepared table is set right in the midst of the presence of my enemies. The host’s care and concern doesn’t eliminate the presence of my enemies but enables the experience of God’s goodness and bounty even in their midst.”

The Lord anointed David’s head with oil. Apparently, shepherds would anoint the sheep with oil for a few reasons. The first was because of fighting rams. During the breeding seasons, rams will fight each other over the ewes by butting heads, using great force at times. This can cause serious injury or even death. Here in North Central Washington, we have big-horned sheep, and every once in a while, you will catch the rams fighting each other. It is amazing how loud the clashing of their horns is. For this reason, shepherds would heavily grease the horns and heads of their rams in hopes they would slip on impact. The second reason shepherds would anoint their sheep with oil was because of nose flies. The flies hover around the sheep’s head, and lay eggs in their nose. The larva then burrow into the soft tissue of the sheep’s nasal passages, causing irritation, inflammation, and infection. So, the shepherds would apply olive oil and essential oils to repel the flies. The third reason they would anoint the head of sheep is because of scab, a parasitic condition caused by the Psoroptes ovis mite. The medicinal oil was believed to kill the parasite. In the Bible, oil is a picture of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit working through believers that brings unity rather than fighting, deals with the Enemy who seeks to harass the people of God, and brings healing to our physical bodies.

David’s cup overflowed or ran over. The cup can refer to different things in the Scriptures, but it would seem that he was overwhelmed by the provision and goodness of God in his life. He was filled up to overflowing. I am reminded of the words of Jesus in John 7 where He says, “’He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (Jn 7:38-39) It’s that overflow of the work of the Spirit in our lives that makes the Scriptures alive and relevant to us, comforts and encourages us, and empowers us for the work of the ministry. He also convicts the hearts of nonbelievers and softens them to the Gospel message. It should be noted that this is the way the Lord shepherds His people, through the Word and through the Spirit. It’s just the way it works. Consequently, any church or ministry should seek to be in line with this by seeking to shepherd others through the Scriptures and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Lastly, David says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” The Lord’s goodness and mercy are attested to all throughout the Bible. Goodness speaks to His favor and grace toward us, while His mercy speaks to His steadfast love. God has truly given all this to us in Jesus Christ, and like David, we will live in the Lord’s house forever. In the following post I hope to write about what the New Testament has to say about the Lord being our shepherd.

2 Samuel 7 - A Dynasty for David

 

Last time in 2 Samuel, we saw David attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem in a manner different than what was prescribed in the Scriptures, and as a result, one of the men who was driving the cart, Uzzah, died from grabbing the ark to keep it from falling. This initially displeased David, but he went back to the Word to find out how the ark should be carried. As a result, David was successful in bringing the ark to Jerusalem the second time.

As we pick up in chapter 7, David is at rest from all his enemies, dwelling in his house. This sets him to thinking about the ark of God. He said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains.” A lot of kings would have set their hearts and minds to furthering their own kingdom, but David had it in his heart to find a way to bring more glory to God. This was another mark of David’s life: his aim was always to please the Lord. Nathan responded to David that he should do all that was in his heart, for the Lord was with him. However, Nathan was presuming the Lord’s will without taking the time to hear from the Lord first.

That night, the word of the Lord would come to Nathan, and He would have a different answer for David than Nathan did. We presumably get different pieces of this conversation from different places. The Lord told David it was a good thing that he had it in his heart to build a temple for Him; however, his son would be the one who would do so (2 chronicles 6:8-9).

The Lord said He did not want David to build Him a house, because David had been a man of war and shed much blood. The son that would build the house would be Solomon, a man of rest (1 Chronicles 22:8-10). The Lord asked David would he build a house for Him to dwell in? For He had not dwelt in a house since He brought up the children of Israel out of Egypt, but was with them in a tent and in a tabernacle. He had never asked them at any time why they had not built Him a house of cedar. Next, the Lord will make some amazing promises to David and to the nation of Israel.

He reminded David how He had taken him from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, and had made him ruler over His people. David’s time as a shepherd had, no doubt, been part of his preparation for becoming a king. He had to learn how to feed and water them, protect them from danger, and teach them to listen to his voice. This would have taken a lot of patience and compassion, just like dealing with people. I believe it is safe to say that without this training as a shepherd and his subsequent running from Saul, David would not have been the godly king that he was.

The Lord reminded him that He had been with him wherever he had gone, had cut off all his enemies, and had made for him a great name like the other great men on the earth. He gave him a promise that He would plant them in a place of their own that they would not be moved any longer, and that the sons of wickedness would not oppress them anymore. This promise had a partial fulfilment in the reign of Solomon, but will be fully realized in the millennial reign of Christ.

Next, the Lord said that He would make David a house. God did not accept David’s offer, although he was pleased with his intentions, but instead promised to build David a dynasty, something that would last much longer than a temple. After his death, the Lord would set up the kingdom through Solomon who would build the temple, and his kingdom would be established forever. This was obviously a messianic prophecy going far beyond the reign of Solomon. This will ultimately be fulfilled in the eternal reign of Jesus Christ. When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he said, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

God said He would be a father to Solomon, implying a close relationship with him. If he commits iniquity, the Lord would discipline him with the rod and blows of men, but that He would not take His mercy away from him as He did from Saul. This was a promise that the Lord would never do to David or his descendants what He did to Saul. Since this is a Messianic prophecy ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, this promise then applies to us as believers. The Lord will never take His mercy away from us. He ends by reiterating that David’s house and kingdom will be established forever, and to make it doubly sure, stated his throne would be established forever. This is added for emphasis by the Holy Spirit to help ensure we get the point. God’s reign is eternal. David’s descendants would turn away from the Lord, and would be punished for it, even to the point of going into captivity and seeing their temple destroyed. However, The Lord never took His mercy away from David’s descendants, and still will not. Jesus, who knew no sin, will reign on the throne of David forever. The seven-year tribulation will ultimately be the thing that wakes up the Jewish people to their true Messiah. Sadly, there will only be 1/3 of the Jewish people left, but that remnant will all be saved according to the apostle Paul (Rom 11:26-27). So, Nathan told David all these words.

After David heard this, he went into the tabernacle, sat before the Lord, and prayed. He said, “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house, that You have brought me this far? David was overwhelmed by the Lord’s goodness in His promises to him. He understood that he did not deserve any of what the Lord had already done for him, let alone the promises for his future, the future of his family, and that of the entire nation. If we truly take the time to consider what the Lord has already done for us and how we didn’t do anything to deserve it, we will have a similar response by saying, “Who am I, oh Lord God?” He told the Lord that what else could he say, since God knew him. God knew David with all his faults, just like He knows you and me with all our faults. It was because of the Lord’s promises concerning His people and His desires for them that He was doing these things. God doesn’t give us promises because we are somehow good enough for them, but because He is good.

David’s response to these promises was to praise the lord. When we reflect on the goodness and faithfulness of God, it should move us to praise and worship as well. He said that the Lord is great, there is none like Him, and there is none besides Him. There is none like the nation of Israel, the only nation that God redeemed for Himself, to bring glory to His name. He redeemed them out of Egypt, and made them His own people forever. This should lay to rest any arguments from the replacement theology camp. Israel are His people forever. They have not stopped being God’s people just because they are in rebellion and unbelief. If God doesn’t keep His promises to the Jewish people, then He doesn’t have to keep His promises to you and me. I’m glad we serve a God who delights in making and keeping His promises, for we do not deserve them any more than they do.

Having said this, there is no people like the Church (Jew and Gentile) whom the Lord has delivered out of the bondage of sin, and has made us His people forever. What God has done through the Jewish people is truly great, but what He has done for the Church through His death, burial, and resurrection is even greater. Paul gives us a thorough explanation of this in the first three chapters of Ephesians. We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, been chosen in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him In love, predestined, adopted, and accepted in the beloved. We have been redeemed, given an inheritance, and sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. We have been made alive again in Christ and raised up and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We have been saved by grace through faith, and not of our own works. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. We have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ, and been made into a new man. We are at peace with God, and are no longer under the sentence of the Law. We are now part of the nation of Israel and part of the family of God. We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets as living stones into the temple of the Lord, Jesus Christ being our chief cornerstone. We have boldness and access to God with confidence, and we are being rooted and grounded in love.

David closes his prayer by asking the Lord to do as He has said. It would have been unusual for David to argue with such a promise from the Lord, but sometimes we do argue with the Lord’s word concerning us. Whether we just think it is just too good to be true, we just want to wallow in self-pity, or whatever the motivation may be, it is important to agree with God’s promises for us, and to pray for their fulfilment. This is regardless of whether it seems true or possible. To resist or argue with them will only hurt ourselves in the end. This is not for our own glory, but the Lord’s. God is God, His words are true, and He has given us exceeding great and precious promises in His word. It is up to us to be like David in believing them and praying that the Lord will accomplish them in our lives.