Filed under: 2007 Sermons
“David Had a Shepherd”
Psalm 23
April 29, 2007 – Easter 1 (c)
This is a familiar passage, one that has brought comfort to many people. But it probably brought the most comfort to David, who wrote it. David wrote from his experience of God, from his own experience of life. And this is the image that he came up with for God.
Of course, no image for God is perfect – they always fall short. But David’s image endures because it is perhaps the best illustration of God that human beings have yet developed. I tried to come up with a better illustration that matched it, but of course, you can’t beat David!
And here’s the important thing about our view of God: how we see God determines how we TREAT God. David’s image is usually used for comfort, but there are things in here that are not always comforting. Since this is the best image, let’s compare David’s image of God to OURS, and see what we find.
David had a shepherd. What kind of God do we have?
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Shepherds made sure their sheep had all their NEEDS met… not their wants.
Sometimes, we want to say, “The Lord is my doting grandfather, who gives me everything I desire.”
Sometimes we want to say, “the Lord is my waiter, who is there at my beck and call.”
But that’s not David’s God. David had a shepherd.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Sheep are generally unintelligent creatures, and shepherds had to lead the sheep toward the grass. But he could not make them eat, and he could not make them drink.
Sometimes we want to say, “the Lord is my mother, who sits me at the table like an infant and spoon-feeds me.”
But that’s not David’s God. David had a shepherd.
He restoreth my soul.
Sheep often relied completely on the shepherd for nourishment, comfort, and guidance. When a sheep was sick, the shepherd cared for it. But then he’d put the sheep back out and let it heal on its own – you can only care for someone so much, you know.
Sometimes we want to say, “The Lord is my mechanic – he fixes me up and sends me off to run myself down again.”
Or maybe, “the Lord is my doctor – I only go to him when I’m sick.”
But that’s not David’s God. David had a shepherd.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
The word righteousness here means “right paths.” Horses and other smart animals can find their own way through difficult places. Sheep are not that way. Shepherds had to find a path for their sheep that was safe and kept them from harm. But ultimately, the shepherd could only lead – the sheep had to follow. He led them – he didn’t push.
Sometimes we want to say, “The Lord is my pilot. I’ll let him do all the work.”
But that’s not David’s God. David had a shepherd.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
The shepherd did his best to keep the sheep from harm, but sometimes things happened. Sometimes, they had to go through rough places. Even then the shepherd didn’t just whisk them away to another place! He didn’t take them out of the “valley of the shadow of death.” Instead, he reassured them and guided them with his staff.
Sometimes we want to say, ‘”The Lord is my hedge and my protector. He won’t let evil come near me.”
Or maybe, “The Lord is my bubble. If I’m really doing the right things, nothing bad will happen to me.”
But that’s not David’s God. David had a shepherd.
The way we see God will ultimately determine how we treat God, how we live our lives.
David had a shepherd. What kind of God do WE have?
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