The Shepherd Comforts His Sheep

I suppose during this past week you probably have experienced both hills and valleys, both some sunshine and some storms. Both come to us, usually in mixtures. I want you to take your Bible and turn to Psalm 23, and we’re going to pick up the text today in verse 4. This is part of a series of messages on Psalm 23. I’ve preached two messages; this is the third.

I want you to notice in Psalm 23:4, that there is a difference now in the way in which the sheep are talking. You’ll notice up until now the sheep have been bragging about the Shepherd. Psalm 23:1-2 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures.” But when you get to Psalm 23:4 you’ll notice now the sheep begins to talk to the Shepherd. “Even 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.”

What I want you to notice in the text there are three promises that comfort the sheep. Three promises that we can hang on to in our own lives, three promises that will carry us all the way to dwelling in the house of the Lord forever.

First of all, I want you to notice that the Shepherd protects His sheep. He protects them. When I memorized Psalm 23 many years ago as a child, I didn’t realize when it speaks about the valley of the shadow of death it is talking about an actual valley in Israel. And even though I was in Israel a number of times, not until the last time did we actually see the valley of the shadow of death. Close to the city of Jericho, a deep valley, hundreds of feet down to the bottom, and a very rough valley, a rocky valley. I don’t understand how anyone could get through the valley.

Here’s what David may be referring to. In the spring when the snow begins to melt on the hilltop, it’s necessary for the shepherd to take those sheep and to lead them through the valley, and then up the other side, so that they might be able to get to the pastureland that is developing on top of the hill. You can imagine the steep path, the narrow paths, the rocks, the serpents, the vultures by day, and the hyenas at night. The shepherd has to take his sheep all the way to the plateau, to the higher ground. There’s only one way to do it, and that is go through the valley.

But I want you to know that this Psalm has blessed many people, and many believers have died quietly, and successfully, and serenely because of this verse because we interpret it in terms of actual death, and certainly it has that application.

Notice Psalm 23 does not say, “Yea, though I go through the valley of death,” but “the shadow of death.” All that is left of death really is the shadow. When there is a shadow, you always know that there is some light shining or there would be no shadow, and there is the light of Christ, the light of immortality that shines, even when we walk through that fearsome valley. But a shadow cannot hurt you. The shadow of a wolf never bites. The shadow of a sword never draws blood. It cannot do that. I want you to notice Jesus Christ has taken out the sting of death. He has taken out its substance, and He has left only its shadow, and that’s why it cannot hurt us. Just like a bee whose stinger has been taken out, in the very same way Christ has taken away the fear of death. The shadow alone is left.

The question is, how does the shepherd get the sheep to follow him through this precipitous path all the way up to the other side when they don’t want to go, and when they are afraid of the rocks and the streams and the narrow paths? Sometimes a shepherd will actually take a lamb and carry it in his bosom and begin to walk. Then the mother begins to walk. And when she begins to walk, others begin to follow her, and soon everybody goes. And that’s the way God sometimes prepares us for heaven. Sometimes the Lord reaches down and takes a lamb. And I’m speaking to some of you today who have experienced the death of a child, and you have stood at that grave, and your precious little lamb is already on the other side. That makes you more anxious to follow, and it reminds all of us how close heaven really is. Sometimes also though by letting us know that there is an adult lamb that has been taken.

I was at the Cove recently where someday Billy Graham is going to be buried, in North Carolina. There’s a cemetery already made out, and there is one grave in the cemetery, and it says Billie on it. But it’s not Billy Graham, it’s Billie Barrows—Cliff Barrows’ wife. Her nickname was Billie, and she died some time ago. I saw her tomb there. Last week, Rebecca and I spoke to some friends who know Cliff Barrows, and this woman told us, “Cliff says that even though Billie has been gone now for quite some time, the hurt and the loneliness is just as deep, and he’s not getting over it.” Well, God never really wants us to get over it because it is a reminder of the fact that heaven is coming, and the assurance is there that some lambs have already made it to the other side. All we need to do is to have confidence that the Shepherd knows the way.

We learned already in this Psalm that the Good Shepherd never expects us to go where He Himself has not gone, and that’s why the Bible says with such certainty that when we die, we also shall live. Because He lives, He has gone through that thing called death and He has come out triumphantly. He says to you and to me, “Come, let us walk together because I want you to know I know every single step of the pathway all the way.”

And how does He get us there? Well, notice what the Psalmist said in Psalm 23:4, “your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The rod was a thick club that was used at close hand, fighting off animals. It could also be thrown by the shepherd who practiced throwing it with very great accuracy to ward off all of those beasts that would devour the flock. That was the rod. The staff was more tender. The staff had that hook and it was used by the shepherd to keep the sheep in line. It was used sometimes also if serpents were going to strike at the sheep. David says, “your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” They may be fearsome to the enemy, but to me they are the means of comfort. “You guide me with your counsel, afterward you will receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24). I will make it home. “Even 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” (Psalm 23:4). The Shepherd protects His sheep.

The second promise we can hang onto is the Shepherd provides for the sheep. They’ve made it to the other side now, getting back to the valley in Israel. They’ve made it to the pastureland where the snow has dissipated. Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” There in the presence of hyenas, and vultures, and snakes the Shepherd has made this meadow, He is protecting the meadow. Right there in the midst of enemies the sheep are enjoying themselves. If a soldier eats with the enemies, he does so quickly. But the sheep are able to graze there contentedly because the shepherd provided a place for them. “You anoint my head with oil.” Oil is a repellent against all the insects that are there. “My cup overflows.” Sheep do not like to get their wool wet. They don’t like to drink from running streams. They would prefer to drink from a quiet place. Sometimes the shepherd would take a bowl and would give the sheep water, and fill it to overflowing so he could drink contentedly. Those are the special things that God does for us. It’s the extras that He throws in.

One day I stayed in a Helmsley Hotel, and it has some kind of an expression that I can’t remember, but I do remember it had to do with their attention to detail. God sometimes pays attention to detail. There are things in my life God has done that I look back and I just smile because I can see in it the finger of God over and abundantly what I could ever possibly expect, and God did this.

Jonathan Edwards was one of America’s premiere theologians. I will say, he is America’s premiere greatest theologian that this nation ever produced. Also, the great revivalist of the 1740’s in Massachusetts, preaching to large crowds, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” You know his sermon. Many of us would like to just go to his grave and say, “I was there where Jonathan Edwards is buried.”

I have used this to comfort many a pastor going through difficulty. Not the least of which just recently a young pastor being edged out of his church, not because of immorality, not because of doctrinal deviation, but because he released a staff member who had been a problem in the church. It’s a complicated story but here this young couple is going through all these trials, and I shared this with them.

Jonathan Edwards was actually voted out of his church because he believed only those who gave evidence of being born again should be members, and that disagreed with his famous grandfather, and so forth. There was a person in the church who stirred up opposition to Edwards and had him kicked out. I think the vote was something like 230 to 30 against him.

Well, how do you take it? You’re the great revivalist, you are a great theologian. Here’s this congregation that says, “You know, we don’t need this guy.” I mean we would give anything to have Jonathan Edwards here, and they kick him out. How did he handle it? Listen to the words of his biographer. His biographer said of Jonathan Edwards, “His happiness in God was beyond the reach of his enemies.” Did you get it? “His happiness in God was beyond the reach of his enemies.” Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Oh God, you are so good to me.

Well, notice that the Lord protects His sheep. He provides for them, and He even plans for them. Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Jesus said in John 14:3, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Now, get the imagery. Here is the sheep that are following the Shepherd, and behind Him there are two watchdogs, goodness and mercy. Goodness is going to take care of all my needs. Mercy is going to blot out my sins. And then I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. What does it say in Psalm 27:4? “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 23:6, “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

There are two very important observations. Number one: sheep are never asked to fight their enemies. Did you know that? Sheep are never asked to fight their enemies. They are asked to stay close to the shepherd. Jesus said in Matthew 10:16, “I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.” What could be more defenseless than a sheep in the midst of wolves? What if the sheep all got together and said, “Well, you know, we’ve got a problem here?” We’re going to take care of it by getting together, and we’re going to fight these wolves.” Not a chance.

I frequently have met Christians, and it comes to me all the time, I think we fight battles God never intended us to fight, and the reason is we’re taking responsibility that really rests with God. Our responsibility is to stay close to the Shepherd and say, “Oh my beloved Shepherd, the wolves are encompassing around me. They are circling the wagons. Lord, you are mine. You are my shield. You are my defender. Take up my cause.”

We live in a very litigious age. I don’t get a chance to use that word often, so I’ll say it again. It is litigious. Everybody’s suing everybody else. Everybody is going to an attorney. Well, there may be a place for that. We’ve got some attorneys here today and so I need to tread very, very kindly as I walk through this valley of the shadow of death [laughter]. But I want you to know something today, that there are some things that would be better just left with God to sort out. Sheep are not required to fight their enemies.

Number two: there will be no path on which the Shepherd will ever take us but that He Himself goes with us. You are never separated from the Shepherd. There was a young woman who was giving birth to a child, and she gave birth to the child, and it became very clear to everyone that she was going to die. And she was weeping and she knew she was going to die, and she kept saying, “I want to take my baby with me. I want to take my baby with me.” The doctor said to her, “You know, you really can’t because the gate through which you are passing, you’re going alone. Your child, we promise you, will be well-looked after.” “But I won’t want to go alone. I want to take my baby with me.” G. Campbell Morgan, a pastor overhearing this, goes to this precious woman and says, “I want you to know you don’t have to go through the gate alone. The Good Shepherd goes with you.”

We have some friends who found their mother dead in an apartment, and they felt so badly—because she had been there for a day or two—that she died alone. But when you stop to think of it, if you’re a member of God’s sheep, nobody ever dies alone. The Shepherd says for every step you take, “Yea, though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death you will fear no evil for I am with you.” Step for step, moment for moment, the Good Shepherd walks with us through the fearsome valley, and we come out on the other side in the light of immortality.

I found it difficult to preach on Psalm 23. I’ll just share with you very honestly and say that the first two messages I preached were some of the most difficult I preached here. You wouldn’t have known it. Some of you maybe even were blessed. God is gracious. But this week I was meditating and saying, “Why is Psalm 23 so difficult to preach on? We just came off of a series on the book of Job, and now Psalm 23—you’re struggling. Why are you struggling so much?” It dawned on me that the reason I was struggling was because it seemed so unrealistic. That was the reason.

It seemed so idealistic. You know, the Lord is my Shepherd. He takes care of everything. He fills the bowls with water. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He takes care of all of my need and I just go through life sticking close to the Shepherd and everything is sweetness and light. I know that life isn’t that way, and that’s why I was struggling so much. Then it dawned on me this week that what we ought to really do is go back to the author of the Psalm and ask him some questions, and dialogue with David who wrote it, whose life was anything but sweet and serene. We ought to ask David, “David, how did you take Psalm 23 and relate it to the nitty gritty of your experience and your life? How did you pull that off, David?”

So, we’re going to end this message on Psalm 23 with dialoging with David. David is writing in Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” So, I interrupt him and I say, “David, come on. It’s fine for you to say that. Today the sun is shining. Everything seems to be right with the world, but David, what do you do when Saul pursues you for ten years? And you go from cave to cave, and from stream to stream, and you live that way for ten long years. And David, what do you do when your family rejects you. You were considered the runt of the family. When Samuel was supposed to find a king among the sons of Jesse, you weren’t even allowed to attend. How did that hurt you, David?” And David was hurt by that, you can see it in the Psalms. “What have you got to say David?” Psalm 23:2, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”

“Oh David, David, what do you do when you commit adultery with Bathsheba and then kill her husband to cover your sin? And despite the fact that you’ve tried to cover it so well, the whole kingdom knows about it. In fact, even God says that He even knew about it, and everybody is whispering behind your back, and it is recorded every day in the gossip column of the Jerusalem Post. And David, everybody knows it, and how do you go on from there?” Psalm 23:3, “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

“Oh David, what do you do when the child Bathsheba bore to you, who you love, dies? And Nathan, the prophet, says that the reason it died is because of your sin and your crime. David, how do you handle your grief? How do you bounce back from an experience like that?” Psalm 23:4, “Even 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.”

“But David, you have a son by the name of Absalom, and Absalom rebelled against you, and Absalom turned his face away, and he caused an insurrection and because of that he undermined your authority. He told lies about you. He committed immorality with your wives, and then you had to go through the Kidron Valley and over the Mount of Olives in great humiliation as you were running away from the civil war that was there. David, how do you manage when, in embarrassment, your own child wants to kill you?” Psalm 23:5a, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”

“But David, how do you handle it when the whole nation is angry at you for grieving over Absalom who was killed against your wishes, and you are grieving so much, and you’re supposed to run the country, and Joab has to come and talk some sense into your head? And everybody is saying, ‘What’s wrong with King David? Did he lose his marbles?’ David, how do you bounce back from such humiliation?” Psalm 23:5b, “you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

“Oh David, be real. You’re dying now. Here you are. You are on your death bed. Your kingdom is in disarray. Everything that you worked for is crumbling. There is civil war within your kingdom. Your other three sons are in rebellion. You have been a terrible father. A pretty good king but a terrible father. Everything is collapsing around you now. Your wives, all of them, are laughing and whispering behind your back. And now it’s over. What have you got to say now, David?” Psalm 23:6 “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

“Oh David, write that down. Write that down for the people of Chicago, and the people of New York, and L.A., and Atlanta who have messed up their lives, who have committed adultery, whose reputations have been ruined because of sin. Write it down for those who had rebellious children who have turned against them, who have been humiliated because of their children. Write it down for those who have accepted injustice, and for those who at the end of their days find everything for which they worked crumbling before them. Write it down, David, so that they might have hope.”

And at the end of the day there is nothing left. The curtain closes on David’s life just as it opened. All that there is is David and his God. A wounded sheep and his Shepherd. And that’s the end of the story.

Would you join me in prayer?

Our Father, we thank you today for the life of somebody whose life was flawed from beginning to end but who, at the end of the day, loved you, and said, “I have nothing to offer. I have nothing to commend myself to God except my great need. I am the sheep, and He is the Shepherd, and all that I can do, as best I can, is to follow Him.” Grant, oh Father, hope, we pray to all who have listened. And we ask, Lord, that you shall take this wonderful Psalm and brand it into our hearts and minds that we might never, never forget.

And now before I close this prayer I want you to pray. What is it that you need to give to the Shepherd? What is it that you need to submit to God? What pathway are you following, and you find His rod and His staff is bringing you back? Whatever God has asked you to do today, I want you to do. Whatever He says to you, respond to Him. Would you please right now?

How many of you say today, “Pastor Lutzer, today I’m one of God’s sheep but I’m coming back home?” Would you raise your hands please? You say, “I’m coming back home.” I see hands over here in the center, in the back right up here. I see about six or seven or more in the center section. What about to my left over here on the organ side? There are those of you who are raising your hands. I see three or four hands. And on the right, on the piano side. Many of you say, “Yes, today I come home.”

Father, seal the decision of those who have listened. Transform hearts forever because we have listened to your Word, we pray in Jesus’ blessed name, Amen.