The Good Shepherd
Sermon for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost, year B
Bible reading: Psalm 23
A young pastor went to visit one of his members at the local nursing home. The elderly man had recently developed Alzheimer’s. His mind had deteriorated to such a point that any communication had become difficult. On this particular visit the pastor asked the man if he could pray with him. The elderly man did not respond. However when the pastor began to pray the man groaned loudly, as if distressed.
The pastor stopped and looked at the man but could not make out what he was saying. It sounded like a mixture of random words. Then a few words became clear. ‘23’
muttered the elderly man, ’23, 23’
Before too long the pastor realized that he was asking to hear Psalm 23. Although the old man’s mind was weary and his thoughts were scattered he still recalled this psalm.
Throughout history people have been drawn to the 23rd Psalm. It has been memorized in Sunday schools, quoted in movies and song lyrics, sung by church choirs, and prayed by many faithful Christians.
But why? What is so special about this psalm?
Well, this short but significant song voices the experience of the Christian life. It is simple but profound. It uses pictures to describe the interaction between God and human beings. Psalm 23 is full of rich imagery. As we meditate on it let’s not only ‘hear’ but also ‘see’ what it is saying to us. And hopefully we will also ‘see’ where we fit into the picture.
Psalm 23 takes us on a walk. And on this walk, the Lord is our guide. He is our shepherd and we are his sheep. We are members of his flock, because of our baptism. That means that we are not self-sufficient sheep or stand-alone Christians. We are part of a community called the church. So, we are on a common walk. This is important for us to remember in an age of individualism; an age where people seek autonomy rather than community. God designed us for life in community and if we cut ourselves off from the flock then we forfeit much blessing and joy.
While we remain on the common walk, with the Lord as shepherd, we shall not be in want
. In other words, we have everything we need for the journey. We are well prepared. Not because we are great planners, but because we have the Lord as our shepherd.
So we are prepared for our walk. But where are we going? Well the first stop is green pastures and still waters. The picture here is one of peace and plenty, somewhere that the sheep can settle down, somewhere free from danger. This first stop could well represent the blessings of God in the Christian life. Of course these come in all shapes and sizes. The experience of green pastures and still waters may be different for each person. Consider your own blessings – what do you have to thank God? Is it family, work, leisure or maybe something else? Our shepherd provides these things for us. In so doing he restores our souls. He gives us the strength and energy to keep walking.
In the Gospel reading Jesus says to his weary disciples, Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.
The Lord as shepherd does not drive his sheep to exhaustion, but gives them a chance to rest. In the same way he gives us night-time in preparation for the day and Sabbath-rest in preparation for the week. Without these we grow physically, emotionally or spiritually weary. Rest is the prerequisite if the flock is to have a successful day’s walk.
But just as there is a time to lie down so there is a time to get up. We call it daytime. And here God works through us in our stations and vocations. By day, the Lord leads his flock in paths of righteousness
. That means he shows us the right paths – having no other gods, not misusing his name, keeping his Holy Day and so on. He does so for his name’s sake. In other words, he entrusts us, the church, the flock, with his reputation. When we keep his word, when forgive one another, when we give to the needy, when we pray for others then we build up his good name. But when we disobey his word, or hate one another, or exploit the poor and vulnerable then we do great damage to his name. So let us guard how we walk.
At this point the journey of Psalm 23 takes an unexpected turn. From green pastures, still water and right paths we somehow end up in a dark and desolate valley. This is the valley of the shadow of death.
A scary sounding place! It is no Barossa Valley with rolling hills and open highways, but rather a deep ravine; a narrow way with cliffs reaching up on either side so that no sunlight can get in. In fact, light does not even cast the shadow. Death casts the shadow. This valley is a foretaste of death. It is the place where death reaches into life.
God does not spare us the journey through this dark valley. This could be the dark valley of sin or guilt or anger or even death; or the particular dark valleys of each person: loneliness, despair, poverty, illness, unemployment. I am sure you can think of others. How, in this dire situation can the psalmist say I fear no evil?
How can we, as vulnerable sheep, not be afraid as we walk through the dark valley?
Only because we are not deserted by our shepherd: I will fear no evil because you are with me, your rod and staff comfort me.
While the Lord does not spare us the walk through these dark valleys, he does travel with us and protect us and steer us. He is our faithful shepherd even in the midst of darkness. His presence makes all the difference. It is light in the dark places. That is why we pray for his presence at our dinner tables and in our church services. And he promises us that where we gather in his name, there he is present.
Thankfully, the journey does not end at this point. God does not leave us in the depths. In fact, God enters the depths with us and for us. He comes to us in a brother or sister or friend who helps us bear our burdens. He comes to us in a parent or doctor who guides us through a tough time. He comes to us in his word, giving a peace which the world cannot give. He comes to us in Christ who endures the cross for us, the ultimate dark valley. Jesus says I am the Good Shepherd and the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
And because he is willing to die for his sheep, then the dark valley of sin or suffering or death is not the final destination on this walk.
There is one final, unexpected, stage. Did you notice the sharp shift of imagery in verse 5? The walk comes to an abrupt end and we find ourselves seated at a royal banquet. The Lord is no longer our shepherd but our host who prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, who anoints our heads with oil, who overflows our cups.
This is the language of abundance. We are privileged guests enjoying the generosity of our host.
This is the best dinner party we have ever attended where the food and drink never run out. And strangely, it takes place in the presence of our enemies. You see, we come under the protection of our host and so our enemies cannot harm us. So it is with our three great enemies – sin, death and the devil.
Although they may surround us, they do not and will not have the final say in our lives because they have been overcome by our shepherd and host.
And because we eat and drink and live in the presence of our host then surely goodness and love will follow us all the days of our life.
The picture here is of goodness and love not merely following along behind us, but actively pursuing us. Yes, God chases after us with his goodness. He wants to give us grace upon grace.
The final picture in Psalm 23 is one of eternal enjoyment. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
In other words I am no longer a foreigner or a sojourner but I have a permanent place in the king’s household.
Psalm 23 takes us on a walk. It is the walk of every Christian: from the still waters of baptism, through the green pastures and dark valleys of life, to our heavenly home. But it is also the walk of Christ: Christ who is both Lord and God; Christ who is both shepherd and host; Christ who has compassion on us when we are like sheep without a shepherd; Christ who searches for the lost sheep; Christ who gives us a foretaste of the heavenly banquet in Holy Communion; Christ who goes with us into the valley of death and leads us through death into eternal life; Christ who drinks the cup of suffering so that we may drink from the cup of salvation; Christ who pursues us with goodness and love and mercy all our days; Christ our Good Shepherd whose presence makes all the difference.
Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.