A Shepherd's Prayer In Song

Terry Siverd
07/12/15 - Sun AM

Series: A Constant Sense

A SHEPHERD’S PRAYER IN SONG

Pt.#3 – A Constant Sense

Sermon Outline By Terry Siverd

Cortland Church of Christ / July 12, 2015

Our thanks to Burdette Stewart for reading this morning’s Scripture & leading us in singing this psalm.

He is not only a “master gardener” as most of us know from eating his tasty produce,

but having owned sheep, Burdette is probably the most sheep-savvy among us.

And, of course, in years past he has served as a church shepherd for 35+ years.

Tonight is our 19^th Annual Songs Of Light with our focus on the theme, “Songs Of Discipleship”.

We are hoping for a number of visitors, but we’re also hoping to fill the building with our own flock.

This morning, with our current and ongoing sermon series on PRAYER, I thought it would be both timely

and beneficial for us to consider a prayer that comes to in the form of an ancient song.

As you know, the Old Testament book of PSALMS is a collection of prayers and songs.

So let’s think and meditate together on the Word of God as we re-visit the 23^rd Psalm.

This psalm was likely written by David in his older years.

It’s a reflection of David’s keen awareness of a constant sense of God’s abiding presence.

As David looks back over his life, he is mindful of God’s steady hand & faithful presence throughout his life.

David’s time as a shepherd belongs to his teen years and perhaps even earlier when he cared for his father’s sheep.

This psalm is precious to us all.  It is a song that we love to sing, but it is also a very special prayer.

Interwoven within its lines are expressions of 4  Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving & Supplication.

Actually the first verse both summarizes and defines the prayer 4 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Or, as one lady saint of day’s gone by rendered it:  “The Lord is my shepherd; He’s all I want.”

The rest of the psalm expands & elaborates upon this very first line.

Collectively, the people of Israel viewed themselves as “the sheep of God’s fold”.

  Isa.40:11 / like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arms He will gather the lambs…

  Another psalmist, Asaph (Ps.80:1), speaks of God as the “Shepherd of Israel”.

  While Ps.95 doesn’t have a name attached to it, Heb.4:7 identifies David as it’s author.

This psalm (Ps.95:6-7), which we sang earlier, declares:  Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneelbefore

 the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.

There are times when this accentuation on - - “me”, “my” and “I” - - might be rightly viewed as being self-absorbed.

But there are often times in our life (perhaps daily so) when we need to view God’s care for us in a very personal way.

“If you are numbered among His sheep, you can place your finger on this verse and claim the Lord as your Shepherd.”

(Herbert Lockyer in God’s Book Of Poetry, p.72).

Following David’s opening declaration to his prayer/song:  The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,

he delineates specific ways in which God shepherds him.

Vss.2-3 / In the first section, David notes:

He makes me lie down in green pastures;  He leads me beside still(quiet) waters.

He restores my soul;  He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

¯ Sing vs.1 of Song #410 / He Leadeth Me ¯

He leadeth me: O blessed tho’t!  O words with heav’nly comfort fraught!

What-e’er I do, wher-e’er I be,  Still ‘tis God’s hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me;

His faithful fol-low’r I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me.

Vs.2 speaks of REST & REFRESHMENT - - green pastures and quiet waters.

As a young shepherd boy David had been taught the importance of both of these elements.

F.B. Meyer writes: “to work without rest is like over-winding a watch…the mainspring snaps & the machinery stands still.”

In Mt.6:31 we read of Jesus directing His disciples, “come away by yourselves to a place of solitude and rest a while”.

If our goal is to be a healthy sheep we must acquiesce to the leading of our good shepherd, who intentionally

seeks out the green and the quiet - - otherwise we will grow up to be “mutton who are good for nuttin”.

Vs.3 speaks of GRACE & GUIDANCE

David knew first hand (as a shepherd and as a sheep) the importance of seeking out and restoring the wayward.

God’s grace as a tender loving shepherd can be seen in the words and actions of Jesus among His disciples.

Peter must surely be reflecting on Isa.53:6 (All we, like sheep have gone astray) and his own life 

when he writes (1Pet.2:25), “for you were continually straying like sheep…”.

The paths we choose in life are sometimes so critical (even the smaller choices - - the daily steps).

This is why its so vital to know the Scriptures - - they provide “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Ps.119:105).

Throughout this psalm the present tense verb is used, He makes…leads…restores…prepares…etc..

Such indicates that this quest for rest & refreshment is an ongoing process.

That was at the very heart of God’s design & intent when he instituted THE SABBATH DAY REST (cf. Gen.2:2).

Vss.4-5 / In this section David speaks of the dangers in the life of a sheep.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil;

For Thou art with me; Thy rod and staff, they comfort me.

Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

Thou has anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

¯ Sing vs.2 of Song #778 / Be With Me, Lord ¯

Be with me, Lord, and then if dangers threaten, If storms of trial burst above my head,

If lashing seas leap ev’ry about me,  They cannot harm, or make my heart afraid.

Vs. 4 teaches us that God provides for us both COURAGE & COMFORT.

Life is filled with disturbances & dangers.

We have a coyote in the backs woods and I’m continually vigilante to safeguard our dear canine, Siggy.

Sometimes our dangers are real, but sometimes they prove to be just empty shadows, figments of our imagination.

Vs.5 speaks of BANQUET, BALM & BLESSINGS.

Through all of the challenges of life, God will be with us.

If and when real difficulties confront us, He will be there to comfort.

His rod fights for us.  His staff rescues us from rocky precipices and thick & thorny bushes.

Even when enemies surround us, and lashing seas leap every about us, we can celebrate in the midst of the storms:

He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

In the event that we become injured or maimed, He anoints us to bring healing and restoration:  our cup overflows.

Finally, this grand ole psalm concludes with a crescendo of sorts in Vs.6:

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

¯ Sing Vs.3 of Song #139 / In Heavenly Love Abiding ¯

Green pastures are before me,  which yet I have not seen;

Bright skies will soon be o’er me, where the dark clouds have been.

My hope I cannot measure,  My path to life is free;

My Savior has my treasure, and He will walk with me.

Vs.6 speaks of GOODNESS & GLORY - - Goodness on behalf of God that results in glory for us.

“Goodness & Mercy” are like two guardian angels that escort us throughout this life and into the hereafter.

Or, as Herbert Lockyer, imagines - - “Goodness & Mercy” are like two beloved & faithful SHEEPDOGS.

What a joy to know that we are never out of the sight and reach of our gracious God.