Shepherds Needed! (Psalm 23; John 10:11-16)

A sermon preached at Hebron Baptist Church on Sunday, May 3, 2009 by Joe Alain, Pastor.

Scripture Readings: Psalm 23; John 10:11-16 (Pew Bible, pp. 376, 723)

I’m dealing with two primary texts today that have as their theme, God as our shepherd, Psalm 23 and John 10:11-16. Psalm 23 expresses confidence in God’s goodness – in this life and in the life to come. The universal appeal of this psalm lies in the comfort it gives to those who have confronted the most difficult periods of life. It is a psalm of God’s strength and grace for all ages.

In John 10:11-16 Jesus identifies Himself as the “good shepherd.” Israel had long understood that the good shepherd or the shepherd king spoken of in Scripture was a reference to the coming Messiah (see Is. 40:11; Ez. 37:24). As the good shepherd, Jesus is committed to the well being of the sheep, even unto death.

I want to develop this picture of God as a Shepherd using these two primary texts as well as others. Big Idea: God is a good and faithful shepherd to us. As His followers, we too are called to shepherd His flock. What does that look like? There are three key areas that help us define what it means to be a good shepherd.

I. The Compassion of the Shepherd
Shepherds need compassion. The compassion of the shepherd is especially evident in the text in John. In John 10:16, Jesus said that He had “other sheep” and that He “must bring them also.” Speaking mainly to the Jewish disciples, presumably Jesus was making a reference to the larger community of Gentiles who would also respond to His voice (His Message) and follow Him. The point here is that God is not content to only show compassion on a few, He will not rest until His “one flock” is completed.

God’s compassion for the lost sheep drives Him to seek out the lost sheep. God will not rest until His flock is complete. The heart of a shepherd is illustrated in the familiar story Jesus told as recorded in Luke 15: 3-7. You probably remember it. Jesus told of a shepherd who had a 100 sheep. So great was his love and care for the sheep that he left the 99 in search of the one lost sheep. Read Luke 15:3-7.

The shepherd does not rest until he finds his one lost sheep. Nothing deters the shepherd from his mission. This story powerfully illustrates how far God will go to reach the lost. There is nothing more important to Him than seeing the lost found. Theologically, we do not pursue God, He pursues us! And when He finds us (salvation) there is rejoicing in heaven. This too is to be our heart – to see the lost sheep found, to see the lost introduced to the great and good shepherd – Jesus. Shepherds are needed in the church, shepherds who have the same compassion for the lost that God has. Shepherds who will not be content with the 99. Shepherds who will not rest until the lost are found.

II. The Character of the Shepherd
Compassion is God’s character. Further though, we see the character of the shepherd and how he relates to his sheep in Psalm 23. If we were to seek to find one word that would describe the character of God as our shepherd, it would have to faithful or trustworthy. In every aspect of life, we can have complete confidence and trust in the Lord. This confidence is available to all who are able to call the Lord “my shepherd” (v.1). This language highlights the truth that knowing God, the Great Shepherd is a personal relationship.

There are three things specifically that the shepherd does that makes him a good and faithful shepherd. Notice how our great shepherd takes care of us – His sheep! What inspires our confidence in God as our shepherd?
1. He Guides
The good shepherd leads the sheep to the “green pastures” and “beside quiet waters” (v.2). The good shepherd guides the sheep in the right paths, the “paths of righteousness” (v.3). If we will follow His word, listen to His voice, His presence within us, we will stay on the paths that lead to righteousness.

2. He Provides
God our shepherd guides and He provides. As His sheep we “lack nothing” (v.1). How did the shepherd provide for his sheep? By leading into the “green pastures” and “besides the quiet waters.” The context when this Psalm was penned is not know with certainty, although it has traditionally been ascribed to David when he was fleeing Absalom in the wilderness. What do you need in a barren wilderness most of all? You need food and water. In the barren places of life, God provides for us and “He restores [refreshes] my soul” (v.3).

The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence, it’s greener or more abundant when you follow the Lord our shepherd! Together these two blessings point to an oasis in the desert. All of this is the equivalent of experiencing God’s abundant life (See Jn. 10:9-10).

3. He Protects
God our shepherd guides, provides, and protects His sheep. His presence comforts and encourages us even when we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (v.4). This valley would be a dark place in the uninhabited desert. There is even an area in Israel near the Dead Sea that is termed the area the David might have been referring to.

There is an important truth in this Psalm about difficulties in the Christian life and that is, we all will go through some. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when.” All of us will face some dark valleys. David knew what valleys were like.
* King Saul was out to kill him and he lived for years as a fugitive (1 Sam. 18; 19). * David’s sin of adultery and the trouble it brought his family was a valley (1 Sam. 11). * David’s marriage crumbled (1 Sam. 12:11). * Several of his children died (1 Sam. 12:14), one of them Absalom was murdered (2 Sam. 18:14). And yet David could say, “I will fear no evil for you are with me” (v. 4).

We too face valleys in life – low points, griefs, disappointments.
* We face family troubles. * Prolonged illness. * Difficult and stressful circumstances – caring for a sick child, an aging parent or relative. * The search for significance in life and dealing with disappointments. * Worries over financial needs – home, job. * Life sequence changes and growing older, facing death.

We will face many valleys in life but through them all, God’s presence will be with us. Walter Brueggeman in his book “The Message of the Psalms” begins his commentary of Psalm 23 with these words: “It is God’s companionship that transforms every situation. It does not mean that there are no deathly valleys, no enemies, but they are not capable of hurt! Psalm 23 knows that evil is present in the world, but it is not feared. Confidence in God is the source of a life of peace and joy.”

In the wilderness the shepherd protects the sheep with his “rod” and “staff.”The rod would be used to ward off intruders – the wolves and other beasts that would seek to destroy the sheep. The staff would be used to guide the sheep and it was a sign of comfort. When afraid, the shepherd would gather his sheep and stand in the midst of the sheep with his staff held high. The sheep would know that the shepherd was near – they were safe!

Even in your darkest valley you need not fear because God is there and is capable of meeting any challenge from your enemies. God not only protects and defends us, but also shows us favor in the presence of our enemies (vv.5-6). You would not expect to find or receive hospitality in a barren and hostile environment such as a valley, but that’s exactly what God does for us. In the valleys, surrounded by enemies God anoints our heads and prepares a great feast for us. Even in tribulation our cup runs over! God is more than sufficient – He exceeds our needs!

God’s blessings are not just for this life, His blessings are also future tense: “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v.6). His goodness will never end! If we could only grasp that truth in the midst of trials! What a declaration of trust to say that goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives.

We have seen the compassion of the shepherd – His heart is for the lost sheep, and his character – He guides, provides, and protects, now I want us to see . . .
III. The Commitment of the Shepherd
This is especially brought out in John 10:11-16. In this passage, there is a contrast made between the false shepherd and the good shepherd. The “good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (v.11). The hired hand “when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away” (v.12). As a result of his abandonment of the flock, the flock is destroyed by the wolves. Why does the hired hand act this way? Because “he cares nothing for the sheep” (v.13). It’s just a job. But shepherding is more than a job – it’s a calling, it’s a commitment.

How this all relates to Home Coming
Home Coming is a time to praise God for our past – God has been and is the faithful Good Shepherd to us. For the past 172 years, He has been faithful to guide us, to provide for us, and to protect us. He has shown compassion on us. The other side of Home Coming is that it is also a time for us to renew our commitment to being good and faithful shepherds of God’s flock. The best way to honor our past is to insure that the godly seed continues to prosper. To honor your past, honor God in the present and you do that by living to glorify Him.

Symbolically, spiritually, you are a shepherd, you have a mission. God calls you to show compassion to reach the lost. He calls you to help guide, to help provide and meet needs, to protect the flock. This is the responsibility of every member of the body. God is looking for some faithful shepherds and the question for us today is, “Am I like the hired hand, just in it for what I can get from it? Like the hired hand who abandons the sheep in time of trouble?” Or “Am I like the good shepherd who cares for his sheep, who guides, provides, and protects them?”

Because the hired hand abandons his post, the sheep are decimated – they suffer greatly. Think about this: You as a shepherd have a responsibility, a commitment and if you abandon your post as a shepherd, what’s going to happen to the sheep? When believers abandon their post, by ceasing to seek after the lost, by not guiding, providing, and protecting the flock, the flock suffers greatly. It’s time to be a shepherd, a shepherd who is willing to lay one’s life down for the sheep. That means sacrifice, service. Are you willing to do that? That’s what good shepherds do. Like our country, Hebron is in a spiritual recession, but there are many needs and “Shepherds Are Needed!” Take God’s word to heart this day, this Home Coming and apply it to your life.

This is how you become a part of the solution. This is how you insure Hebron’s greatness will prosper and many people will be reached with the Gospel. You make a commitment to be what God wants you to be. God is faithful, He is trustworthy. The question is, “Can God trust us?” “Will we shepherd God’s flock?” “Will we sacrifice for the flock’s well-being?” If we will be good shepherds, God’s flock will remain healthy and God will expand our flock.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe Alain