“The Shepherd’s Path”
Sermon Title: The Shepherd’s Path
Scripture: Psalm 23 ESV
Introduction
Last week, we looked at how Christ invites us to choose between the wide gate and the narrow gate (Christ Himself) and he invites us to walk the narrow path that leads to life. Today, Psalm 23 shows us what that path really looks like.
Many Christians stay with the first three verses because of the comforting images and promises. But David is illustrating a path. The path begins at green pastures and still waters, descends into the valley of the shadow of death, passes through the presence of enemies, and finally ends in the house of the Lord.
Psalm 23 was never meant to be read as a stand alone psalm. It forms a trilogy with Psalm 22 and Psalm 24, creating a path through the themes of each psalm. Psalm 22 begins, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” words Jesus Himself quoted on the cross. It describes what life may often feels like as you walk the narrow and difficult path: feeling abandoned by God; God has turned His back on your prayers, doubting His love - and what the Bible says is love, doesn’t feel like love, when you’re hurting.
But something changes between Psalm 22 and Psalm 23. It went from “My God why have you forsaken me” to “The Lord is my Shepherd” That something is worship. Then Psalm 24 reveals the fully glory of who the Shepherd is and the victory that God’s people receive through their Shepherd when they walk down the narrow path.
Psalm 23
The language of Psalm 23 conveys a sense of a person looking back on the path he has walked, which suggests that this was written by David near the end of his life. This means that this isn’t just a psalm but David’s personal testimony of his walk with the Lord. David’s life was “eventful” to say the least: he was hunted, chased, betrayed, exiled, surrounded by much bloodshed, grieving over the loss of family and his own children, guilty of great sin, and covered in bloodshed. This is was David’s life, so let’s take a closer look at his testimony.
V1 – “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.”
For us, this sounds poetic. However, for David to call the Lord “my Shepherd” it spoke of a greater intimacy with the Lord that only another shepherd (David) could understand.
A shepherd lives with his sheep 24/7, day and night, guiding, feeding, and protecting them, even at the risk of his own life. God was David’s Shepherd who nurtured, guided, and protected him. Considering the kind of life he lived, David must’ve had earthly wants, but his confession “I shall not want” because his satisfaction is in the Lord who provided him with all that he needed for him to walk the narrow path.
V2 – “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
The Shepherd and sheep motif is important to understanding this verse. "Green pastures” and “still waters” is not the pleasant imagery that you may be thinking of - this is a reference to the behavioral pattern of sheep. Sheep are a handful. Sheep are easily spooked, anxious, and panicky animals, whose brain functions halts when frightened. Even if there is no danger and there is lush green pastures before the sheep, they refuse to lie down unless they feel completely safe. Even rushing water scares them, so the shepherd must slow the stream to create still pools so that they feel safe to drink.
And we are no different. Only when we trust the Lord do we find true rest.
V3 – “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
“Restore” means to turn back, to return, to repent - and it is best read as “He brings me to repentance.” However, the Hebrew is written intentionally this way to point out that restoration and healing only comes through repentance. The Lord restores us by leading us back onto the right path, a path of repentance and righteousness.
Sheep lack a sense of direction even in familiar areas, prone to wander and go astray and become lost. When sheep are not quickly found they can die very easily. What this means is that even though these sheep are a handful, the Lord is committed to you and is committed to making sure you’re on the right path. You will go to any lengths as He sees best to take care of you.
He does this for His name sake, for His glory, for His joy, because of His love. God does not abandon His sheep. It is on this path of righteousness, though narrow and difficult, that God’s people find restoration and healing.
V4 – “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.”
This is the turning point in the life of the believer. Every believer must walk through this valley, but David has come to understand something about the life of God’s people who place their trust in Him. It is not death that we face but shadows - shadows have no power, they cannot hurt us, only scare us through fear if we allow it.
It is because of Jesus Christ who defeated death on the cross that death has lost its power. This is why we can say, “I will fear no evil for you are with me!” The Shepherd’s rod protects us from harm, while the Shepherd’s staff disciplines and keeps His sheep from going astray.
Fear is just another opponent to be conquered through the power of the Holy Spirit, and death is just a shadow that we leave behind as we walk the narrow path towards eternal life.
V5 – “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.”
From verses 1-4, David used the Shepherd and sheep motif, but here he stops using it. This is to show the spiritual growth of the believer. You began as sheep, easily scared, prone to wander and go astray, insecure, and doubting your faith. However, having walked through the valley of the shadow of death, you have come to experience life with the Lord and you have grown to trust in Him. No longer are you the scared, wandering sheep that goes astray from the flock and your Shepherd. You now know the voice of your Shepherd.
Now, David shows a new level of intimacy with the Lord where the Lord seats us at His table. He honors us, refreshes us, and gives peace even while enemies remain. The oil is the welcome given to honored guests. It is the picture of perfect peace and abundant provision from the Lord who has given you all that you need so that you lack nothing on this narrow path of righteousness.
The cup represents the sum of all the experiences of a person life both good and evil; David’s life was probably more bitter than sweet, just as our cup may be more bitter than sweet. Yet David’s confession is that his cup overflows with grace.
Why? Because Christ drank the bitterest cup of all, which wasn’t even his own cup. It was the cup of wrath that was meant for us, but Christ drank it for us. Usually we ask God to take away our cup, but Christ asked for God’s will to be done. When it is our time to drink the cup, may we not despise it but receive it with thanksgiving, trusting that God can transform you lives in powerful ways where your confession with be: “Lord, my cup overflows with your grace and power.”
V6 – “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
This is the whole point of Psalm 23. Psalm 22 asked, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from me? Why do you not hear my prayers?”
The Lord responds in Psalm 23: “I have been with you from the very beginning. I have never left you alone for a single moment. I have been with you in your most joyous moments and in your darkest hour. My goodness and mercy and love have been with you all the days of you life and they will continue to be with you forever!”
Sometimes, we don’t realize how near the Lord is to us. We’re like fearful sheep, we become so fixated on the things that we see in front of us that we lose sight of the Lord who has always been with us.
Brothers and sisters, this path is not comfortable. It will break your heart. There will be suffering. But as you walk this narrow path, there will be the downpour of God’s grace and power. You will be filled with joy, peace, and the power of the Holy Spirit. The perfection of God’s power will be revealed through your brokenness, your weakness, and the Lord will show you what He can do on this narrow and difficult and righteous path. For God’s people, this is not the end, for our goal is the house of the Lord, the presence of God, where we will dwell forever. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, how wonderful it would be if we could just simply believe with childlike faith without doubting when the Lord tells us His goodness, mercy, and love has always been with us and will continue to be with us for all of our days?
Reflection
Brothers and sisters, has the Lord been your Shepherd?
Have you been walking with your Shepherd, or have you been so fearful of the things in your life that it has frozen you in place like scared sheep?
Have you been prone to wander and go astray as you look at the wider path that seems so comfortable and as you see the world that seems to have everything you want?
Brothers and sisters, the Lord gives you everything you need for your spirit to life and thrive, everything you need to walk this harrow path, everything you need to experience the Lord’s power. Remember that Christ first walked down this path alone, but the Lord has given us the church so that we may walk this narrow and difficult path together. This path that you walk was made for you because you were chosen to reveal His glory.
