The Lord is 'My' Shepherd :: Psalm 23:1

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 Brothers and sisters in Christ, especially you Cooper Gillis, before I really get going, let me ask you: What is your favorite verse of scripture? Do you have one in memory?

If you are like me, I’m sure you’d highlight more than one. I’m super fond of Isaiah 52:7, John 12:21, and 1 Peter 1:8-9. In a similar way, a Pew Research poll a few years ago revealed that one verse from the Old Testament, Gospels and Epistles were America’s top choices. In third place was Romans 8:28, And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. In second place was John 3:16, For God so loved the world ... (or better yet ... God loved the world in this way:) ... he gave the only begotten Son, in order that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. And last but not least, because it’s first, is Psalm 23, the beloved Shepherd’s Psalm. 

The 23rd Psalm is a favorite of many because it preaches comfort and peace, hope and encouragement, resurrection and life, that is, it’s enriched with beautiful Gospel. We often turn to it as we face life’s greatest challenges. So not surprisingly, men and women, Christian or otherwise, have memorized it. It rings and sings with joy in our hearts. It eternally reminds us that God cares for us, nourishes us, protects us, feeds us, anoints us, pursues us, and makes us one of his own. Listen to David as he paints a masterpiece of God. As I read this to you, I would like you to listen carefully to who is doing what. With all due respect to the King James and English Standard versions, which are both fine translations, here is mine.

Yahweh is My Shepherd, I will not be lacking.
In green meadows, He [gives me reason] to stretch out; 

Upon the water of resting, he guides me.
My being, he brings to repentance. 

He leads me in tracks of righteousness for the sake of his name. 

Even as I walk in the valley of deathly shadows, I will not fear evil,
because you are with me. Your rod and your staff: they console me. 

You set before me a table in front of my enemies. You anoint with oil my head;
My cup is saturated. 

Surely, goodness and covenantal love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever.

1. 

Cooper, the first verse of this Psalm ... Yahweh is My Shepherd, I will not be lacking  ... is your confirmation verse. The first two words in Hebrew and five words in English clearly identify your shepherd ... Yahweh. He is the One True God. He is the God who creates. He is the God who redeems and sanctifies. He is our shepherd.

The author of this psalm, David, who himself was a shepherd king, conveys the image of God as his personal Shepherd ... one who is concerned about you and considers your every need. The Lord is your shepherd. He is the one who cares for you.

In this psalm, David devotes 55 words in Hebrew to explaining the first two, “The LORD.” This title, the Lord, when written in all capital letters, is just another way of saying God’s name, Yahweh. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is the God who made himself known to Moses, another shepherd, in the burning bush. He is the God who designated that Christ would come from the family of the shepherd king, David. 

David grew to know the Lord intimately and desired to spend every moment with his Shepherd. I pray you will, too. That’s why you hear David say in other psalms, I was glad when they said to me, Let us go to the house of the Lord (Ps 122:1). That’s why he teaches us about his shepherd God who brings and offers peace, saying, But with you there is forgiveness; therefore, you are feared (Ps 130:4). David emphatically declares the power of his shepherd God, who heals, declaring, Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice (Ps 51:8).

This is who Yahweh, the Lord, was for David ... and for me and you, too! 

THE LORD IS YOUR SHEPHERD, MY SHEPHERD, OUR SHEPHERD!

This is our theme today. And what a great day it is to recognize this! 

2.

Cooper, this is a day for which you have studied, waited, and prayed. It’s a day of celebration for your parents ... Brian and Hailey, who vowed to bring you to this point in your life. This is also a great day for your pastor, which is a fancy word for shepherd. And this is a great day for Zion Lutheran Church, which gets to welcome yet another young man into fuller participation and responsibilities with the flock. The Lord, our shepherd, has called, gathered, and enlightened you and this whole Christian church on earth, and is keeping us in the one true faith. He is our shepherd. 

You have come to know him as shepherd solely through the work of the Holy Spirit, who revealed the character of God to you through the Ten Commandments. Don’t stop growing in understanding them. You then learned to identify your Lord as maker, redeemer, and sanctifier, as revealed in our Creeds. You have grown to know God hears your prayers as he taught us. 

3.

Not everyone can say that. David’s pen had barely touched the papyrus this was written on when he urged us to see this God, our God, Yahweh, differently than most people do. It seems today that most people see God as an angry God, or a god who abandons us to fend for ourselves. It’s true God gets angry about our sin. 

But let’s acknowledge the real truth: Sheep are obstinate. They love to wander. They think they can find better grass, greener grass. For some reason, they think other religions offer better ways. They think Jesus is nothing more than a shepherd with little more than a good word about good living. 

Alas, they forget who the true shepherd is. My shepherd. Your shepherd. The Lord. 

We all want to do things our way, the traditional way, nevermind where that tradition came from. But as Isaiah said it ... All sheep have gone astray. We have turned ... everyone [of us] to [our] own way (Ps 53:6). Oh, how often we wander from the fold. As the shepherd David says ... God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one (Ps 53:2-3).

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, repent. Then believe the Gospel. 

4.

The Lord is my shepherd. He is the only shepherd who can save us. 

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, has done what no other shepherd could or would do, become one with us. God in the flesh has laid down his life for the sheep, to protect the sheep, to protect you from sin, death, and the devil.

Jesus became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The Good Shepherd took our place on the cross. He who knew no sin became sin for us to save us. The Lamb of God shed his blood for you, was sacrificed on the cross for you, died for you. And by his blood we are healed. Jesus shed his living giving blood for you and me and all ... to wash away our sin and cover us in his righteousness.

On account of his life, death, and resurrection, we can now be sure who the true shepherd is. The world’s shepherds will flee when the wolves come (Jn 10:12). But the Lord, our shepherd, didn’t and won’t. He gives us reason to follow him always, to rest in him. We know now he will constantly guide, refresh, lead us ... that he is always with us (Mt 28:20), consoling us with his Word of absolution, feeding us with his Supper, and anointing us in his baptism. He becomes one with us, just as the Father is one with him.

This is the clear and concrete picture of who God is that David is painting for us. He truly gives us reason to rest in him.

5.

The Lord is my shepherd, David proclaims. And now Cooper, you proclaim it too. This is your Psalm just as much as David’s and Zion’s. So come every chance you can. [He] will give you rest when you are weary and heavy laden (Mt 11:28). 

David learned the art of being content. When he announced to the world that the Lord is my shepherd, I will not be lacking, he meant it. When Jesus is the anchor of your being, you too will be content, supplying every need and more. When Jesus is the hope of your life, there is a certainty of salvation. When Jesus is your savior, you have a God in whom you can trust ... a God who listens to every plea for mercy ... a God who answers every prayer with his grace. You have a God who opens the gates of heaven for you. 

May the God of grace, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, bless you and keep you in his fold forever. In the name of your shepherd ... our Lord Jesus, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

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