Acts 2:42-47; Psalm 23; 1 Peter 2:19-25; John 10:1-10
Today is the fourth Sunday in Eastertide, what’s known as Shepherd Sunday because of today’s readings. I have to admit my bias and say that today’s Psalm, what we know as the 23rd Psalm, has always been my favorite piece of scripture, and probably always will be. And so I will always take the opportunity to preach at least partially on my favorite Psalm, which only shows up twice a year in the Revised Common Lectionary Year A.
We usually hear the 23rd Psalm being read at funerals. I think it’s because there’s something in the words of the Psalm that feel eternal and comforting. I think it’s because the images those words offer that speak of a life centered on God; life centered on God in both the good times and the bad ones; in times of joy and times of sorrow; in times of clamor and times of quiet; in times of great change and in times of smooth sailing; in times of struggle and times of grace; in times like we are experiencing right now. This Psalm has no beginning and no end, just life that’s a journey with and towards God. And God is always present in the journey.
My language doesn’t have the beauty of the original, but here is my interpretation of my favorite psalm in modern day language: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Jesus Christ is our Shepherd; with Him we will always have what we need to live.
“He maketh me to lie down in in green pastures; He leadeth me beside still waters.” God created the first humans, Adam and Eve, and placed them in a garden. He created us to enjoy the beauty of creation, whether laying down in the cool grass and gazing up at the blue sky, or looking out across the calm, still water of a frozen lake.
“He restoreth my soul; He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” He gives us rest that heals our souls. He teaches us what it means to live a just life, a life of faith, and through his life, death, and resurrection, He has written a map upon our hearts to show us the way; He is the way.
“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” In Him death has no power over us, and the shadow that death casts over us cannot shield us from the light of His salvation. Even though life can be dangerous and can bring great suffering, we will not fear suffering or death, because especially in suffering and in death He is right beside us, even and especially when we don’t notice Him there. He is a mighty God, Jesus Christ, and His weapon is love; when we follow Him His love absorbs the sting of evil in my body and my mind and my soul, and when we follow Him His love rescues us in every way possible.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” He has put us at this table we call life to eat and to drink, not only with those who love and care for us, but also with those who would do us evil, so that we may learn to choose to give love freely and to receive love freely; love that is costly, love that is undeserved, love that is sacrificial, and love that brings life even in the midst of death’s shadow.
“Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” He pours blessings over us like a cool waterfall, and there are times when He fills us with such joy it’s hard to bear being loved so deeply when we did nothing to deserve it.
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” We know that in His amazing generosity, Jesus Christ, God’s Salvation will fill us with good things and will be merciful with us when we fail, every day of our lives. Because of what He has done for us, because He dwells in our hearts, we know that He will walk with us throughout all of this life, and in the next we will walk with Him and live with Him and in Him for evermore.”
Even though the 23rd Psalm has always been the most constantly life-giving piece of scripture for me, this psalm is about change, which I’m rarely crazy about. Psalm 23 is about a journey, and everyone’s journey with God is not always in the same place and the same time together in this psalm.
We are all in different places in our walk with God. Think for a minute about where you are in your travels through the words of the 23rd Psalm.
Now think about the kind of shepherd that David is speaking of when he wrote this psalm. Shepherds in David’s and Jesus’ day were not usually “good” shepherds. Most shepherds were hired hands, paid to pasture others’ sheep. They stole other shepherds’ sheep when they had the chance. They bullied other shepherds to water their sheep first. They ran away when danger to the flock included danger to them.
A Good Shepherd, on the other hand, leads the flock, not by driving the flock from behind, not by coercing or intimidating the flock. The flock follows the sound of the shepherd’s voice because the flock trusts the shepherd, the flock knows from experience that the shepherd won’t lead them into danger or take chances with their lives. The shepherd has spent time letting the flock get to know them, the Good Shepherd has invested themself in the life of the flock, and the good shepherd risks their life to keep their flock safe, gives their life to protect the flock.
And the flock needs a good shepherd, because this “pasture” we live in is filled with rich fields and with fallow fields. There is breathtaking beauty and there is merciless danger. There is life that brings meaning, and there are paths that lead to destruction.
And as Jesus Himself says, the true shepherd comes into the sheepfold through the gate. Anyone who comes in by any other way is a thief and a bandit. Jesus is the gate, by the way.
All shepherds who came before or after Jesus wanting to lead the sheep in another direction other than that of putting God first are thieves and bandits. We don’t have to look very far into the past or the present to see examples of countless thieves and bandits trying to enter the sheepfold through a way other than the gate, and to scatter the sheep for their own gain.
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Sometimes following that Good Shepherd is easy, and sometimes it’s hard. Sometimes even though we hear His voice and follow the Good Shepherd, our own motives and aspirations derail us. The temptation to take the lead, to leave the flock behind and to take control over every aspect of our lives is strong. We live in a society that encourages and rewards success as an individual. We also live in a society that has many shepherds who are not good shepherds, and who lead us into pastures that are toxic for their own gain. Listen for the gentle voice of the good shepherds in your life – you will know them because they give love without asking for anything in return.
The Good News of the 23rd Psalm is that no matter where we are in our journey, God is with us on our road. And so I invite you today and this week ahead to think deeply about where you are in your walk with our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, God’s Salvation. Are you feeling blessed, lying in the grass and walking near that beautiful still water? Are you feeling threatened, sitting at a table and dining with your enemies? Are you feeling stressed, living with a crisis that has you walking through the valley of the shadow of death? Or are you feeling exhilarated as your cup runs over? I invite you to share with others where you are in your journey with God. Then I invite you to give thanks to the Lord who journeys with us in this life and in the life to come. Amen.