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Shepherds
Introduction: I’m going to make a bold statement to begin our lesson, and I hope you understand it in the spirit it is given: we need to quit appointing “elders” and start appointing elders who have the ability and experience to shepherd the church. The reason I’m saying it that way is because of how we think. Mentally we know that they are the same person in scripture, but our minds often react differently to the word “elder” (because of our culture) than to “shepherd,” and shepherd is the term in biblical history that broadly describes the kind of person God is looking for. When Peter addresses elders (1 Pet. 5:1-4), he asked them to follow the pattern of the “Chief Shepherd.”
Shepherding from Psalm 23
The Lord Is My Shepherd Therefore, the first thing we should notice is that there is a difference between being able to boast about one’s shepherd and being nervous about one’s shepherd. I have been in both situations. In the first case, there is joy, contentment, and comfort. In the second case, there is fear and restlessness. The second type of shepherd simply keeps the flock on edge because he is unpredictable, more concerned about his desires than the welfare of each lamb.
This leads us to the second conclusion: when we can boast about our shepherds, we love to hear their voice and follow them. Verse 4 expresses it well – even when we are in the darkest place, “we fear no evil.” We are confident that this shepherd will take care of us.
I shall not want. “Want” means “not lacking; not deficient in the proper care, management, or husbandry.” Thus a shepherd in a church knows the needs of the flock. He is especially aware of any individual spiritual need. But there are times when shepherd’s only show concern for the “majority” members and consider others (especially those not well connected) expendable. Of course, usually an elder would not consciously think that way, but it would be seen in his lack of responsiveness.
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures” If you do not know about sheep, you would wonder what this statement means. Obviously, a shepherd does not go around pushing his sheep to the ground, forcing them to lie down. The picture is that sheep need to lie down or they will die. And if you see them lying down, it is a sign of complete contentment. But it is impossible for sheep to lie down unless four requirements are met:
They must be free from fear
They must be free from friction in the flock
They must be free from parasites and disease
They must be free from hunger & thirst
“He leads me beside quiet waters” Quiet waters are in opposition to raging rivers which would be treacherous and would scare sheep. But quiet waters gives the idea of water that is peaceful, safe and refreshing. Again we see the emphasis on keeping the flock healthy and safe. A church needs to be taught and ensured of the refreshing waters of salvation.
“He restores my soul”
“Soul” here refers to life; in the physical, the life of the sheep. David expresses it differently in Ps. 42:11 “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God…” “Cast down” is again a shepherd’s term for when a lamb, for a variety of reasons, ends up on its back and cannot right itself. Without the shepherd, death could come in a matter of hours.
Shepherds must be on high alert for members who need restoring, who have been cast down. Shepherds must also have the character, personality, and knowledge to restore. This is not about reprimanding; it’s about restoring!
“He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake”
Sheep left on their own are self-destructive. If not managed properly, they will eat a pasture until wasted and ruined. They will walk over the same path repeatedly until it turns into ruts and gullies. Good shepherds are constantly moving their flocks to new pastures.
Here is where the wisdom of shepherds is necessary. Where are you taking the flock? This will depend on your own personal growth in the knowledge of God: Note Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians (Eph. 3:14-21). Is this where you are taking the flock? “Filled with all the fullness of God”
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me”
Now David speaks to the Lord directly with pronouns of “I” and “You.” In other words, there is an intimacy that we did not see before.
Why is that intimacy so important? Because when the trials come, we need a true shepherd, someone we can trust, who knows us well, and knows how to guide us through the most difficult challenges of our life.
Here is where a large percentage of shepherds fail in churches. Being closely connected to the sheep prior to their trial is what gives a the shepherd the “pocket change” necessary for a member to turn to the shepherd and lean on the shepherd’s guidance.
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me”
The rod was a root shaped into a heavy head or ball which could be used as a weapon against snakes and other predators. It also could be thrown to one side or the other of a lamb going astray.
The rod was also used to carefully examine the animal for parasites or disease.
The staff is what we know as a shepherd’s crook; a long staff with a hook on the end. The staff was specifically used for the sheep alone. The hook could be used to lift newborn lambs to their feet and set them next to their mother. It was also used to guide the sheep or pull a lamb near to the shepherd. The shepherd used the staff to maintain a close touch with his sheep and provide them a sense of care and security. It would be common to see a shepherd walking with his sheep and all the while gently touching them with his staff giving them assurance and bonding them to him. We can see from this the obvious application to how a shepherd in the church should see his connection with the members. The staff shows God’s constant connection and care over us, as it should with present day shepherds.
“You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; you have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.”
The key here is the phrase, “in the presence of my enemies.” At the most stressful and dangerous time, God is preparing a table, anointing with refreshing oil, and providing abundantly! Truly, we will fear no evil.
Again, we see another picture of the work of present day shepherds. They provide a table of rich spiritual food, knowing that such teaching and preaching is vital to the growth and health of the flock. A shepherd wants the Christians under his care always refreshed in being aware of the blessings of the Lord and the abundance of the Lord.
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever”
If goodness & mercy follow us as benefits we receive from the Lord, then this same goodness and mercy must be evident in our lives in how we treat one another and how shepherds treat the flock and the culture they nourish within the church.
The blessings of good shepherding as we see throughout this psalm will cause Christians to never want to look elsewhere. It is as Peter said when many were turning away from the Lord and the Lord asked if the apostles were going to go away too. Peter replied, “To whom shall we go, You have the words of eternal life.”
Eze. 34:11-17 gives another detailed picture of good shepherds:
Berry Kercheville