The Good Shepherd - Part 2

0:00Welcome to the In-Touch Podcast with Charles Stanley for Thursday, September 10. Psalm 23 has encouraged generations of believers with its picture of the Lord as our shepherd. Today we'll look at this beloved Psalm and be reminded of the good shepherd's promise to care for all who belong to him. Listen to what he says, The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet or still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me or leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for bow art with me thy rod and by staff they comfort me. They'll prepare us the table before me in the presence of my enemies. They'll notice my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and loving kindness or mercy will follow me

1:01all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Now how many times have you read that passage of Scripture? Where did you usually stop when it says even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I'll fear no evil? Well, what about this table and what about the anointing of my head and what about what about goodness and mercy following me all the days of my life? This passage of Scripture is God's Psalm to us showing us and demonstrating to us how much He cares for us. It's very difficult for us to feel the sense to be aware and to experience and to walk in the verse spirit of realizing that God has said, I'm your shepherd and I'm going to treat you like a shepherd, treat sheep. Now what you turn if you will to John the temp chapter because in John the temp chapter, you and I will see very clearly who the good shepherd is. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Who is the good shepherd? Look at this if you will.

2:02The temp chapter, John, is Jesus, is talking and sharing this particular discourse about his love for his children, those of us who are his followers. Here's what he said. He said in verse 11, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. And then if you'll notice again in verse 14, I am the good shepherd and I know my own and my own know me. Who is the good shepherd? The good shepherd is the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now the lots of folks in there thinking they said, well, you know, I don't believe in Jesus, but I believe in God. Yes, indeed, I believe that 23rd Psalm. That's one of my favorite pastors and they're quote, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. You know what? He's not their shepherd and they are in want. What they don't realize oftentimes is that they're in want of the most important thing in their life. They don't realize that's what it is. They try to keep filling up their lives with other things and relationships and so forth. And what they really want, what they really desires, the hung and thirst that God has placed in the heart of every person for himself. And so when they say, I quote, I believe, I believe that 23rd

3:06Psalm, my favorite pastor is the Lord is my shepherd. They would probably take great, great offense if you said to them until you received the great shepherd who is the Lord Jesus Christ as you save you. You cannot claim the good shepherd in the Old Testament. But my friend, that is the gospel truth. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Why? Because he's my shepherd. What's he doing? He's carrying out his responsibility. His responsibility is to see too that we have our needs met. And so he says he leads the sheep as David would certain leaders sheep to the green pastures. Those that are ripe for food. Leads them to green pastures. Notice what he says. He says he leads them beside quiet water, still waters. And so when the sheep are being led by their shepherd and they are being led into green pastures where they can feed and beside quiet waters, not rushing waters, quiet waters, that's the best they can have it. There's the shepherd in sight for their protection here, green pastures and here are still waters.

4:08What was David saying to us? Simply this, that the good shepherd has committed himself to supplying our material and physical needs and he is also committing himself to supplying our emotional and spiritual needs, quiet waters, still waters, peace. Not only those physical material things that we need, but peace for our life. Now the good shepherd knows exactly where the sheep ought to be feeding. But once in a while those sheep get their eyes off the shepherd and what happens, they look at something that looks like greener fields. You know how we get out of God's will? We get out of God's will by taking our eyes off the good shepherd and looking at something that looks like it's greener and fresher and mooring, biting and better than God has provided at the present moment. And sometimes all of us flounder and wander and think we know better than God does. What does he do? He's always there to forgive us. God's never there with His rod to beat us. He does not condemn us. You know what?

5:09Listen. He knows that we in our frailties and our weaknesses and in our naturalness that we are naturally going at times. We are going to flounder and we're going to wander and we're going to think it's greener there than it is here. And what happens? We get out of God's will. Does God get upset? Does He get angry? No, He doesn't. What does He do? He chases us in order to teach us what? That if you go over there, you're going to get in trouble. You're going to end up in one. That's not what you want. You think that's what you want, but I do know better where the green pastures and the cool waters are. He genuinely loves every single one of his sheep. He is there to do what to restore that soul, to lift that soul, to cheer them up and to encourage them and not some platitudes, but when he says he restores our soul. He has the capacity to enable me to step above the circumstance, no matter what it is, and keep going regardless of what's happening around me.

6:10He restores our soul. You know what? There's not anybody else in the world who can. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Makes me to lie down in green pastures, leads me beside quiet, still waters. He says he does what? He restores our soul. The good shepherd restores our soul. Why? Because he cares because he loves. Listen, because he's interested in your sleepless nights. He's interested in your worries about your finances. He's interested in listening to your cries about your children. He's interested. He is personally interested in every circumstance. I cannot say that enough that you are not unimportant in the eyes of God. That's not a single one of us who is unimportant. He cares. The problem is that when a person does not realize what it takes to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, they're going to go through life and here's what's going to happen. They're going to be suffering from worries and

7:10frettings and cares and insecurities and difficulties and hardships that they would not have to feel the weight of it if they understood that there's one who walks beside them who said, follow me, you'll not be in want. I'll restore your soul. I'll lead you in green pastures. I'll put you beside those waters of peace. I will transform you even in the midst of the difficulty of hardship in the pain. It's a kind of shepherd he is. Loving, tender, caring, meticulous, specific, definite, nothing too big, nothing too small for the good shepherd. Well, listen to what he says. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness. That is the good shepherd is only going to do what? In restoring us, he's only going to take us and do what? Set us back on the right path and lead us in paths of righteousness. That's right living, right doing, right conduct, right behavior. Why? Here's the reason because he knows what is best for us.

8:12I can tell you one thing is best for everybody. That's making them is who you are. Knowing one thing is best for everybody. Obeying God. That's always the best way. He says he leads us in paths of righteousness for his namesake. Now, what does he mean by that? Simply this. That you and I who are followers of Jesus Christ, we bear the name of Christian. We bear the name of Saint. So when we live a God in life, what happens? God is glorified. We live disobedient. Get out of God's will. Make a mess of our life. What happens? It is to some degree a slam upon God and what he offers mankind and what he says in his Bible. He can do that is he can transform our life and sanctify us unto himself and teach us how and enable us to live a holy life. And we get out there living and sin what he says leads us in the paths of righteousness for his namesake. His name is to be honored. The light that we live either on us, the name of Jesus or it dishonors him.

9:13His purpose, his plan, his will, his goal is the leaders in paths of righteousness. Now, listen to what he says in this next part. He says he is a protecting shepherd. Look at this. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod in thy staff, they comfort me. Now the rod in the staff, for example, the shepherd would count his sheep by putting the rod out and the sheep would go under the rod. That's how they counted them. The rod, the staff, for example, the crook on it when they got in trouble, grabbing by the neck and gently pull them back in. Likewise, used rod in the staff to defend the sheep against wild beast or wild animals. Rod in staff, that rod in staff was a symbol of those sheep. It was a similar protection. He says, Thou rod in the staff, they comfort me. Where is we walk through the valley?

10:14Look at this of the shadow of death. Even though I walk, not run through the valley, not in it, on my way somewhere. What was the shepherd doing? Leading the sheep through the valley from one mountain side to the other where the best grazing is. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Now, when we think in terms of the shadow of death, first of all, if you've got a shadow, it means you've got to have light. When he says the shadow of death, you can have a shadow unless you've got light to shine on something to cast a shadow. He says that's the shadow of death. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Okay, first of all, let's just make it as if we're talking about death. Even though we draw through very, very difficult times in our life and a person faces death, says, I will fear no evil for thou art with me, thou rod in my staff, they comfort me. Here's what he's saying. He says, this is the reason you don't have to fear evil no matter what's going on. Thou art with me, the fact that the good shepherd never, what does

11:18he say? He says, I'll never leave you, no forsake you. The good shepherd never leaves us, no forsake us. He's right there with us every moment of every day. And I've been through some of those valleys just like you have. And they were dark and they were fearful. And I didn't see any light at the end of the tunnel. And you know what? But I knew that beside me walked the living son of God. And as long as he's there, there is not anything that can touch us other than what he allows the touch us. And whether he allows it or not is according to his will and whatever touches us, he will turn for our good no matter what. Now the shepherd so committed to keeping and protecting his sheep, you know where he slept? In the sheepfold, he slept at the door so that no one, no animal could cross into the sheepfold to get the sheep unless they first crossed them. You know what? Thank Almighty God. Nobody, the devil, no one can get to you and get to me unless

12:20the good shepherd allows it for some reason. Now, I want you to notice something else about it. Not only is he a personal shepherd and a providing shepherd and he's a protecting shepherd. I want you to notice something else about him here. That is he is a preparing shepherd. Listen to what he says now. He is the part that oftentimes we stumble with. He says, thou does prepare table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou has known as my head with oil. My cup overflows, surely goodness and loving kindness will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Now, I want you to go back if you will just for a moment and look at that word when he says, thou rodent, thou staph comfort me. The word comforts two Latin words, which means strength through companionship. What is it that comforts me? Relationship, intimacy with him in those difficult times. Now, he is a preparing shepherd. What is he preparing? Now, watch this. What in the world does he mean with this?

13:20He says, thou does prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Well, when he talks about preparing a table, he's talking about preparing our needs. He never comes up short. God has never laid. Then no surprises with him. So what? No matter what we are doing and where we are in life, he has already prepared every single thing we need. Now, he says in the presence of our enemies. Well, we think, well, listen, who are my enemies? No. You see, in those days when he was talking about this, he was talking about natural enemies. I mean, he had lots of not just wild beasts around his sheep, but you recall that David also had many enemies in his lifetime, King Saul being probably one of the most vicious ones of all. He said, you set a table for me, right in the presence of my enemies. Now, how would we apply that today? Well, more than likely, we don't have a lot of enemies. Maybe most of you don't in a way. So what are my enemies? What are your enemies? Poor self-esteem, feelings of rejection, feelings of

14:23loneliness, feelings of despair, feelings of discouragement, and we could just go on down the list, feelings of insecurity. Feelings of being unloved, feelings of being shut out, feelings of being isolated, fear of the future, there are many, many enemies that you and I have to deal with. And so he says, he's prepared a table for us. That is, he says, I am prepared to meet every single need you have right in the midst of all of these things that you see, trouble you and try you. And they're like enemies to your peace and enemies to your rest and enemies to your soul. He says, I'm there. They're prepared to table before me in the presence of my enemies. Now, look at this next phrase. He says, Now, notice my head with oil. What in the world does that have to do with a good shepherd? Here's what he's saying. For example, in those days when people came to see you, you would have their feet washed by a slave and refreshing their feet because they walked through dry, dusty roads

15:24and then they'd pull oil on your head. And all that was refreshing kind of thing. And so he says, now, notice my head with oil. What does he mean? Here's what he's saying. He says, I'm preparing a table before you. I have everything you need right in the midst of all of these things that are in the midst of your peace and the quietness of your soul. He says, I want to invite you to them. And I want to invite you to the table. Now, notice my head with oil. You're inviting me to come to the table and cleansing me and refreshing me. Now, notice my head with oil. That's his way of saying that the good shepherd always invites us. We're always welcome in his presence. He's always providing for us. I shall not want. Always that are prepared for us. Always prepared beforehand. We're willing to refresh us. Now, notice my head with oil. Then he says, my cup runs over. What is he saying? What's he prepared for us? Whatever his preparation is, it's an abundance.

16:25He's a God who talks about the abundant life. He is a God who talks about plenty, about taking great pleasure and prospering his children. So, when he says, my cup's running over. What is he saying? He said, God is providing so abundantly for us. In the midst of all of my needs, no matter what they are, he's providing and he's providing abundantly. My cup runs over. And then he says, surely. That is, for absolute certainty. He says, God's goodness, which he has says he has stood up for those who love him. And his mercy, his loving kindness will do what? He says, follow me. That word of the means, pursue me. That is, God wants to be merciful to us. God wants to be good to us. He desires to be good to us. He wants the best for us. We're his sheep. He, listen, I'll tell you how badly he wants to. He died for us. He says, I'm the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.

17:27And if you'll think about it, you cannot think of anything that mercy and goodness does not involve. Every good thing that God could possibly do in your life and mind falls in the category of goodness and mercy. Follow you all the days of your life and he says, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. What does he say in John chapter 14? This is what the good shepherd said. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many matchions, many dwelling places. If it were not saw, would have told you. I go to prepare place for you. And if I go and prepare place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there you may be also. You know what happens? Good shepherd. When he was resurrected from the grave and ascended to the father, preparation for what? The place you and I are going to spend eternity. The good shepherd,

18:28following us all the days of our life, goodness and mercy, and then when he chooses to take us home, he says what? He who has always prepared everything in time, time down here. He's already preparing a place where you are not going to spend eternity. Now let me ask you a question. If you've never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, what assurance do you have? You don't have the good shepherd. You can't say, I shall not want. You can't say I'm always led in green pastures and still waters. Does that mean he never leads us into difficulties? No, because you see, going through the valleys, the dark valleys for the shout of death, those things that appear to be dangerous to us, he's the one who's leading us through the valley. And sometimes you make your own valley, you've got a God's will. But what assurance do you have without Jesus? The truth is, if I want God's best in my life, I begin by accepting His Son, Jesus Christ, His My personal Savior,

19:29who becomes My personal shepherd, who will provide for me, who will protect me in every circumstance of life, who will prepare everything I need, and who will see to it to the last breath in my life that what He promised, He will provide. Thank you for listening to Part 2 of The Good Shepherd. If you'd like to know more about Charles, Danley, or In Touch Ministries, stop by Intouch.org. This podcast is a presentation of In Touch Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia.