SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

5TH SUNDAY IN LENT

MARCH 29, 2020.

Title: “Let Us Encourage One Another!”

Text: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24 NIV). 

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 10:19-25; 12:1-2.

One of the main challenges of life is turning things that seem to be bad for us into good.  Sometimes it is difficult to see the hand of God when things go against us, for example, plans that do not materialize, schemes that fail, dreams that burst, opportunities that never come, sickness, transfer in jobs, or death.  Although these things present problems for us, they also present a tremendous opportunity. One of those opportunities is the opportunity to encourage one another in the face of life’s challenges.

In a sermon titled “The Need for Encouragement,” Dr. W. Truett declared that no one is exempt from the need to be encouraged by others.  This is particularly true in family circles. Husbands need encouragement from their wives and vice versa. Mothers need encouragement from their children. Children need constant encouragement from both parents.  You and I need encouragement in this time of uncertainty. Our text this morning exhorts us how we can spur one another toward love and good deeds.

It is interesting to note how our text is translated by various versions.  The King James version puts it, “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works” (Hebrew 10:24).  Provoke means “to arouse to action, to excite, to stir up the feelings.” The word is often used with reference to arousing one to anger, but in our text it is a strong word used to encourage love and good works.

The Revised Standard Version translates the verse, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” “Stir up” means “to move, to excite, to agitate.”

The Good News translation translates the text, “Let us be concerned for one another, to help one another to show love and to do good.” To be concerned is to show interest or care.  To help is to provide assistance.

The New International Version puts it, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” To spur is to prompt or motivate.

Whatever the version used, the verse urges us to help one another practice self-giving love and perform good works for God and others. Why is the anonymous writer of Hebrews asking us to encourage one another? Why is continuous encouragement needed in this day and time?    

To begin with, it is important to let you know that encouragement is a gift from God that we are to pass on to others.  Romans 12:8 let us know that “if it is to encourage, then give encouragement.” All the translation we considered in the reading of our text, we glean the central idea of showing concern for another and helping one another.  So encouragement means “to exhort, to comfort, to counsel, or to help someone.” As a gift of ministry, it means to support someone, to offer a steady hand, to come alongside someone who is in need, or put your hand around someone who is about to fall.

One of the greatest duties we can perform is the duty of encouragement. In the world of today, it is easy to discourage others.  It is easy to pour cold water on the enthusiasm of others.   

The user of this gift excludes all selfish motives and concentrates on helping others.  This gift of the Holy Spirit provides the believers with the same gift that Jesus and the Holy Spirit  possess.  

Having explained what encouragement is, let us know that encouragement is a necessity.  Everyone of us will need encouragement during this coming week as we attempt to achieve various goals.  Achievement is always the result of overcoming obstacles. In giving encouragement, let us remember that God’s will is for each of us to be a cheerleader for others.   Husbands and wives should encourage each other as they work toward a happy and successful marriage. Parents should encourage their children, especially through words of appreciation.  Too often parents are overly generous with criticism and stingy with encouragement. Children can greatly encourage their parents by their choices and their conduct. Let us as Christians be a part of God’s cheering squad to encourage other Christians.

Jesus certainly knew how to encourage others! Think about the time the disciples were caught in the middle of the Sea of Galilee during a fierce storm. Just when they were ready to give up, Jesus came alongside their boat and said, “Take courage, it is I!” Just before His death, Jesus spent a great deal of time encouraging His disciples.

What are the marks of people with the gift of encouragement? They are people who are willing to get involved with other people’s problems and heartaches. They are good listeners. Encouragers are sensitive to other people’s needs. Those who encourage others will offer forgiveness to those who need to make a new start.

If you have the gift of encouragement, use it. Write someone a letter, visit the sick, pat someone on the back, sit with the bereaved, share your money, be a good listener, and be available to others.

The author of Hebrews marshals the spiritual leaders of the past in chapter 11, which has been called faith’s Hall of Fame, so that they may cheer us on as we run the race that has been set before us (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Let us encourage one another to have greater faith in God.  Let us share with others our relationship with Jesus Christ so that we might impart to them the benefits of our faith.  Let us encourage one another to make a sacrifice for God and for others. The measure of our sacrifice is the measure of our love and our faith.  Until we are willing to sacrifice for our God and for others, our faith will not have much opportunity to develop. Let us encourage one another to dedicate ourselves to spiritual values.  We live in a world that emphasizes materialistic values. The great values are in the heavenly realm. It has been said that one’s interest will always follow one’s dollars. It is true, we can be sure that our heart remains in God’s work by investing in his church with our tithes and offerings.  Let us encourage one another to live with eternity in mind rather than living with no thoughts for tomorrow. 

Let us encourage one another to involve ourselves in loving service so that we will truly be worth something to God and others.  May the Lord enable us to cheer one another onward as he seeks to encourage us. And may he always put his SPirit within us and on us.  God bless you all.

 

SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

16TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SEPTEMBER 30, 2019

Title: “Moral Courage: A Virtue of the Soul”

Text: “Have not I commanded you?Be strong and courageous;  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go,” (Joshua 1:9 NIV).

Scripture Reading: Joshua 1:1-9.

One of the most gifted speakers in church history was John Chrysostom.  The name comes from a Greek word meaning “golden tongued.” John was sent from Antioch to what was then Constantinople where he preached fearlessly in the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. His denunciation of the lavish extravagance of the rich and ruling class and his condemnation of excess infuriated many, including Empress Eudoxia who arranged for him to be exiled.

When he was told of his fate, Chrysostom responded: “What can I fear? Will it be death? But you know that Christ is my life, and that I shall gain by death. Will it be exile? But the earth and all its fullness is the Lord’s. Will it be the loss of wealth? But we brought nothing into the world, and can carry nothing out. Thus all the terrors of the world are contemptible in my eyes, and I smile at all its good things. Poverty I do not fear. Riches I do not sigh for. Death I do not shrink from.” 

Far too many today are more worried about what people think than about what God thinks. The desire not to offend others (which is not a bad thing in itself) is often elevated to be the most important thing. As a result, many shrink from taking the steps needed to get involved with others.  The second major premise of our sermon last week focused on getting involved with people as a major step in good neighboring. Getting involved with people has been a difficult decision for many of us. What do we need to motivate us to get involved with others? What do we need to live out our faith? Courage is what we need. Learn with me this morning as we look at moral courage as a virtue of the soul.

To begin with, let us understand what courage is.  Courage is one of the cardinal virtues. A virtue is a quality that adorns the soul through the practice of a good habit. Courage is one of the four cardinal virtues (wisdom, courage, temperance, justice), so called because they are foundational – they were identified by the Greeks through philosophical reflection and they are all found throughout the Bible, (Shaffer, 20).  Courage is another word for fortitude or strength or bravery. How does courage relate to us?

Our text this morning narrates the story of the genesis of Joshua’s leadership of Israel after the prophet Moses died.  Joshua the son of Nun took over. God’s plan for Joshua and Israel was to be prosperous as a nation. In this process, decisions had to be made and bonds had to be forged.  These needed courage to accomplished.Daniel 3 tells us how Daniel displayed this virtue in the face of imminent death.  It was the aspect of his soul that made him cried out, “Our God is able.” Courage is the virtue which adorns the irascible aspect of our souls.  It is that fight or flight impulse in us when danger is upon us or when we see a good that is not easy to obtain.  That impulse is given to us by God naturally to avoid pain and to preserve ourselves.  When fear arises in us because of some perceived danger, we react to it. But because of the confusion of our souls, we do not always react well.  We might cower and withdraw when we should fight or draw near, we might fight when we really should withdraw.

Courage is that virtue enabling us to act despite our fear and to do the right thing, to be ready even to fall in the battle.  Courage does not make us suffer pointlessly, but for a great good we perceive through hope to be attainable.

We all know courage, we have exercised it. If you are a student, making the move to a new life on your own, to a new city, the blank page when you must write an essay, the facing of exams for the first time!; if you have launched yourself on a new career.  If you have travelled and if you have moved to distant places, it takes courage.

The Bible is full of passages of God telling us to have courage.  One is the quote we heard this morning from Joshua: “Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened nor dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua had recently taken over the leadership of Israel when Moses died. He hesitates before going across the Jordan and into the promised Land. He is afraid on different levels.  We know he was afraid because God does not speak without purpose, and tells him to have courage not once but three times! Joshua probably wondered can I be a leader? what sort of dangers will we face? so many uncertainties? He is afraid.  I remember before going to seminary in Ghana, I needed the courage. I didn’t have the money to leave. I was afraid of leaving behind my young daughter. God minister to my heart to read the passage we read this morning and when I did, I felt immediately physically and spiritually strengthened.  There was a recovery of joy, the release of energy and excitement about the coming adventure – yes, of course! God will be with me, all things are possible with Him!

We need courage to live out our faith, to witness about our faith to others, and to seek out God. When we confess our faith, in a group of people who are non-believers, it is not physical harm that we fear, but there can be fear that we will be rejected by the crowd, or simply thought to be foolish.  And yet as we exercise that courage, we find ourselves emboldened. Sometimes people react differently than we expected, it can draw out a latent, hidden faith in others. I know it was important to me, in the years when I was outside the Church, for people in my midst to admit they were Christians, it helped awaken my hidden faith. To speak to that person, whom I respect, believes?Moral courage is also tested in our speaking out when other voices are silent to an unjust oppression.  The courage to be a voice in the face of corruption or abuse in a work environment, even when it can cost us our job. The courage to put to an end an abusive relationship or to call another person to account regardless of the consequences. Moral courage is needed to speak against something society thinks is acceptable morally, but when we understand it to be contrary to Scripture.

The virtue of courage is not given to Christians so that we can avoid being harmed, it is not given to us to preserve our lives at all cost, but it is to enable us to be vulnerable in acts of love, to pour out our lives as a living sacrifice, to be steadfast in the face of persecution, to be able to walk in the way of love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:2)  God bless you all!! 

SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SEPTEMBER 22, 2019

Title: “Knowing your Neighbor”

Text: “And he answering said, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself. But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:27-29 KJV).

Scripture lesson: Luke 10:25-27.

Jesus Christ during his earthly ministry use parables very often.  There are over forty parables and related sayings recorded in the gospel.  Jesus Christ used these parables as teaching moments. Jesus used these teaching moments to convey truths.  Jesus use of parables was to convey a message to change his audience’s perception about reality. So Jesus use of these parables was to create meaning for the people of his time and for us today..  

In our Scripture reading this morning, we read a well known passage in the Bible, the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We all are familiar with this parable.  Society is familiar with this parable that even a half dozen hospitals in the US are named after this the Good Samaritan. This story is so familiar, we may ask the question, “Why another sermon on the parable of the Good Samaritan?

It is important to preach another sermon on the parable of the Good Samaritan because a lot of people think it is a story about helping someone.  It is not. Jesus Christ spoke this parable to convey a truth. It is a parable about the perspective of eternity. It is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. It is a story in which Jesus tells us the importance of loving God and those who are created in the image of God. With that in mind, we can look at three things here this morning: Who is our neighbor?  How do we know our neighbor? What are the things that hinder us from knowing our neighbors?

Who is our neighbor? Jesus told this parable as a result of the interaction between Jesus and the Lawyer.  The Lawyer asked Jesus a question, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  The motive behind the lawyer’s question is not clear.  The question itself contradicts the core of Jesus’ teachings because the inheritance of any form is the result of a relationship.  Eternal life is a gift we inherit from God through our relationship with him. It is not something we earn through works of righteousness.

Jesus answered with a counter question. He asked, “What is written in the law? How do you understand it?” The Lawyer answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself,” (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18) The Lawyer was right but got trapped. He sought to prove that eternal life required the fulfillment of the Law. But his answer proved otherwise.

The lawyer pulled out a wild card, in an attempt to justify himself. “Who is my neighbor?” In Jewish culture, only a fellow Jew was considered to be a neighbor. Gentiles weren’t considered as neighbors. The Lawyer was implying he has fulfilled the Law by treating his fellow Jew with respect in keeping with the Law. Therefore he has earned eternal life by complying with the Law, not through a personal relationship with God. Our friend thought he finally had Jesus. But Jesus is smarter and wiser. He told him the parable of the Good Samaritan in an attempt to answer the lawyer. In this parable, Jesus Christ introduced four individuals.  Two of those individuals were the Jew and the Good Samaritan. The interaction between two of these individuals, the Jews and the Good Samaritan answers the question who is my neighbor?

The history of the feud between Jews and Samaritans is as old as 722 B.C. The year the Assyrians conquered Israel and took most of its people into captivity. Shortly afterward the invaders brought in Gentile Colonists to resettle the land. These foreigners brought with them their pagan idols, which the remaining Jews began to worship alongside the God of Israel. Intermarriages also took place. The Samaritans were descendants of these Jews who mingled with the Gentiles. Therefore the other Jews despised the Samaritans.It was such a man that became the neighbor to the fallen Jew. Did he know the Law of Moses? Jesus didn’t tell. But he said this, “But a Samaritan who was traveling came to where the injured man was, and when he saw him, he felt compassion for him.” Then Jesus closed the story with another question. “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The Lawyer knows the answer but he cannot even bring himself to mention the man’s race. He is picky about his neighbors. He answered, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus said, “Go and do likewise.” By telling this parable Jesus wanted us to understand that our neighbor can be anyone in need. Our neighbor can be anyone who lives far and near.  Our neighbor is anyone who is not in right standing with God. Don’t divide people as neighbors and non-neighbors based on their race or behavior because God created everyone in his own image.

How do I know my neighbor? To answer this important question is to have the heart of love and getting to involved with people.  It is important that we get involved with people to know them. The heart of love which Jesus had made him involved with people. This is found in the story of Jesus and the woman at the well.  This example is found in John The end result of this example is found in verse 39, “Many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him.” (NKJV) Jesus influenced a city by influencing one person. As we endeavor to experiment with the good neighbor project, we must learn one great truth: Get involved with people.. Notice the introduction of the story.

“A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” (John 4:7-12; NKJV). 

  Jesus was involved with people. At the time recorded in this text Jesus was traveling. He was traveling from Judea to the region of Galilee. He did not have to pass through Samaria but He did. In fact, the Bible indicates “He needed to go through Samaria.” Samaria consisted of a group of people who were a mix of two nationalities. The Jewish people frowned on such crossovers. They looked down on the Samaritans. They believed in a purebred pedigree. Jesus did not avoid the Samaritans. He walked among them. As Jesus traveled through Samaria he stopped at a water well about noon, for a drink of water. This well was named after the Old Testament character, Jacob.  It is still there today.

Notice something; Jesus did not stay among the religious people, the Jews. He did not stay in the religious realm, in Jerusalem. He was involved with people. The longer we attend church and participate in religious functions the fewer contacts we have in the community. Jesus was not some religious Holy Man who stayed in a religious bubble. He was actively involved with people.

As a church you have been given a wonderful gift. Our church does not bog you down with endless meetings and activities. Some churches I have served will require 8-10 hours of our time each week. We try to limit time requirements. I hope you will use some of that time to be involved with other people. If we take a retrospective look at the ministry of Jesus, we will see in Luke chapter 4 beginning with verse 31 that Jesus was involved with people. Jesus was involved with Peter’s sick mother in law (Luke 4:38); Jesus was involved with the demon possessed (Luke 4:41); He was involved with the crowd (Luke 4:42) What are the hindrances to us getting involved with people?

In our passage, two individuals shows some of the hindrances in being a good neighbor.  The priest and the Levites were two people who could not get involved with the victim. It was common for the travelers of ancient times on this path to come under the attack of the bandits and thieves who occupied the mountains.

A Priest passed by him but did nothing to help. In the Jewish culture a Priest was a very important person and a symbol of hope. It still is in any other culture also. He passed by on the other side deliberately putting a safe distance between himself and the dying man. Maybe he feared ceremonial uncleanliness or was afraid the bandits were still around. The Bible doesn’t say? The point is the Priest failed to be a neighbor. 

We also see that the Levite also passed by the Jew. I assume hierarchy wise Levites was lower than the Priests. Nevertheless, they were a well-respected group in Jewish society. The Levite also passed by the other side of the road. Maybe he too feared ceremonial uncleanliness or was afraid the bandits were still around.

We will all agree that fear, prejudice, lack of love and the list goes on are all things that hinder us from being good neighbors.  We can put our fears away and work towards being good neighbors to people. We need to have a heart of love to be able to perform the art of good neighboring.

Jesus showed one cannot hate another human being and still claim to love God. Our love for God and man is best expressed in showing mercy to people in need. Let us show mercy wholeheartedly and God will reward us with eternal life.

SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SEPTEMBER 15, 2019

Title:  “Our Responsibility in Obedience

Text: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).

Scripture Reading: Philippians 2:12-18.

Apollo in Greek mythology is the national divinity of the Greeks.  He is the Greek god of archery, dance and music, truth and prophecy, the sun and light, poetry and more. In one of the many art galleries of Europe there is an Old Greek statue of Apollo that is a beautiful figure of physical perfection.  Someone visiting the gallery said he did not know which impressed him more, to look at the statue or to watch the crowd as they looked. Invariably, he said, everyone who stood before it, even for a casual glance, began to straighten up, put back his or her shoulders, and stand tall.  The statue has the lifting power of loftiness.

This is something of the sensation we have as we read the lofty description of the journey of Christ from glory to the cross and back to glory by way of the cross.  Paul gave us this marvelous description of the grace and glory of Christ as an appeal to unity. He wanted us to have the mind of Christ, an attitude of humility and service.  For his obedience he received the exaltation of God.

Paul returned to exhortation and appeal in Philippians 2:12, picking up from verse 8 as a point of reference.  Christ was obedient even to the cross. We are to be obedient also.

Arabian horses are trained rigorously in the  middle eastern deserts. The horses must learn to fully obey their master. This obedience is tested by depriving the horses of water for many days and then turning them loose near water. As the horses get to the edge of the water, and just before they drink of the much needed water. The trainer blows his whistle. If the horses have learned to obey they turn around and come back to the trainer who then gives them as much water as they need. The trainer knows what his horses need and will not allow them to die of thirst, but they must trust him. God knows what His children need and wants to supply it, but we must trust and obey Him.

The first thing I want to run by you is that verse 12 and 13 reminds us that our responsibility for obedience shows in the certainty of salvation.  Obedience to God is manifested in salvation. Paul’s exhortation to “work out your own salvation,” sounds strange to our ears, for Paul was the one who insisted that salvation is wholly by grace.  Two things must be kept in mind: (1) He said, “work out” not “work for.” Salvation is by grace. (2) Paul was referring to the final result of salvation we enjoyed in Christ.

Salvation is wholly accomplished in the work of Jesus Christ.  In verse 13 Paul asserted that it is God who works within us. Although salvation is entirely a gift from God, we must cooperate with God in obedience and faith in order to receive it.

How are we to go about working out the salvation that God has given us, bringing to a final conclusion the results of God’s grace?  A constructive fear of God keeps us from a dangerous self confidence. Spurgeon told of a servant girl who gave as the proof of her conversion that now she swept all her bad ways under the mats and behind the door.  This is a proper combination of awe and responsibility, fear and trembling.

Secondly, verse 14 and 15 tels of our responsibility for obedience shows up in the splendor of salvation.  Paul’s exhortation in verse 14 is, “Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” His reason is in verse 15: “that… in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation…ye shine as lights in the world.” That is the splendor of salvation.  The splendor of salvation is that the Chistian shines in a world of darkness and perversity.

Pierre Barlot was a gunner in the fort of Mont Valerin during the Prussian siege of Paris. One day he was standing by his gun when General Noel, the commander, came up and leveled his glass at the Sevres bridge. “Gunner,” he said, “do you see the Sevres bridge over there?” “Yes, sir.”“And that little shanty in a thicket of shrubs to the left?” “I see it, sir,” said Pierre, turning pale. “It’s a nest of Prussians; try it with a shell, my man.” Pierre turned paler still. He sighted his piece deliberately, carefully, then fired it. “Well hit, my man, well hit!” exclaimed the general. But as he looked at Pierre he was surprised to see a great tear running down the gunner’s cheek. “What’s the matter, man?” “Pardon me, General,” said Pierre, “it was my house—everything I had in the world.”

Paul gave us three ways in verse 15 to shine as lights in the world.  We are to be “blameless,” “harmless,” and “without rebuke.” When used of people, it implies absolute sincerity.  In the sight of God, Christians are without rebuke. They should be able to withstand even the scrutiny of God.

Paul in verses 16-18 reminds us that our responsibility for obedience shows up in the service of salvation.  What is our service? We are to hold forth the word of life by proclaiming God’s message of salvation and by demonstrating Christian living.  If we do this, our lives will have purpose and will not have been in vain. Paul uses two very vivid pictures to show this.

One has to do with athletics and the other with religion.  He does not mind sacrificing his life to serve God.

A missions director once met with the mother of one of his agency’s missionaries and spent some time getting to know her. She prepared tea for the director in her parlor and as they drank the tea, she explained to him the difficulty of having a daughter on the mission field of China and a son as a missionary in Sudan. She loved and missed them dearly, but as she explained, her love for God allowed her to let them follow His will for their lives. The mother went on to describe the burden her son had for the Sudanese people. Her relay of his description of the people brought her to tears several times during the conversation. The missions director left her house with a deeper appreciation for the parents of missionaries and a greater burden for the country of Sudan.

A few months later the missions director got word that a missionary in Sudan had been killed—it was the Scottish lady’s son. Feeling he should be the one to break the news to her, he once again visited the mother in her home. After telling her the tragic news, the mother looked down, and in a few moments of composure she said, “Sir, I would rather have my son die in the middle of Sudan, alone, than to have him living here with me, disobeying God’s will.” What is the result of this kind of service? Joy and rejoicing in life.

We have a responsibility to be obedient to God.  And as we are obedient to him, we will have real joy in life.  God will give us the joy, the peace that passeth all understanding.  Our responsibility for obedience shows in the certainty of salvation.  Our responsibility for obedeince shows up in the splendor of salvation.  Our responsibility for obedience shows up in the service of salvation. God bless you all!!  

SERMON BY THE REVEREND AMOS MCCARTHY

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

SEPTEMBER 8, 2019

Title: “Follow the Shepherd”

Text: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want….Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalms 23:1,6).

Scripture Reading:  Psalm 23.

Probably the most familiar New Testament passage is the model prayer our Lord gave his disciples when they asked him, “Lord teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1-4).  The most familiar Old Testament passage is the beloved Twenty-Third Psalm. These words have lingered on the lips of more of God’s people than any other in all of Holy Scripture.

Who is the author of this psalm?  David, the great shepherd-king of Israel .  He probably wrote it in the winter years of his life out of long experience with the providential care of a loving God.  He remembered the tender care of a loving shepherd who watched over his wandering and disobedient sheep.

The psalm is exceedingly simple.  There are no hidden mysteries here; it is within the reach of every child of God, at whatever stage of spiritual growth and development he or she may be.  In verse one we find David’s proclamation, which is majestic, marvelous, and all inclusive. The provision the great Shepherd makes for his sheep is delineated in verses 2-5, and the thrilling promise concludes the psalm in verse 6.

The psalmist makes a proclamation in verse 1: :The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  In the King James Version the verb “is” appears in italics, which indicates that it was not found in the original manuscripts.  The translators supplied the verb for smoothness in reading. Leaving out the verb makes this opening statement an exclamation: “The Lord my shepherd!”

Notice also that David has the unmitigated presumption to say, “The Lord is my shepherd! Suggesting not only that he knows who his shepherd is but that his shepherd knows him!

Astronomers tell us that at least 250 million times 250 millions stars, each larger than our sun (which is one of the smallest of the stars), have been scattered across the vast universe by the Creator. Earth, our temporary home for the few short years of our existence, is so minute a speck of matter in space that if it were possible to transport our most powerful telescope to our nearest neighbor star, Alpha Centauri, and look back this way, earth could not be seen, even with the aid of that powerful instrument.

All of this is considerably humbling to proud and pompous humans.  Yet the staggering fact remains that the Creator of such a universe descends to call himself my shepherd, and invites me to consider myself his sheep.  Jesus said in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.” Thus, because of his great love, God made provision through the death of his Son for us to become his very own.

“I shall not want.”  Note the equation: The Lord of heaven as my Shepherd equals the fact that I shall not suffer want.  But this does not mean that, because of my privileged relationship as a sheep of the great Shepherd, every whim and fancy I have shall be provided.  It simply means that only my heavenly FAther truly understands my needs, and he will meet them accordingly.The second thing we glean from this passage of Scripture is the provision.  Because the Lord is my Shepherd, he has made certain basic provisions for my care.  First, “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.”  Phillip Keller, In his book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, says that a strange thing about sheep is that because of their makeup, it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless certain requirements are met.  First, owing to their timidity, they refuse to lie down unless they are free from all fear. Second, because of the social behavior within a flock of sheep, they will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others of their own kind.  Third, if tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free from these pests can they relax.  Fourth, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel in need of finding food.  They must be free from hunger. The unique thing about all of these needs is that only the Shepherd himself can provide them (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1970, 35).

An undefined fear dogs the steps of many in our world today.  They are searching like sheep without a shepherd for something new, something different, something exciting.  All the while, our Great Shepherd has provided “green pastures and still waters” for those who will let him be their Shepherd.

“He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”  Is it possible that one who enjoys the bountiful care of the great Shepherd of the sheep could ever become so distressed in spirit that he wound need restoration?  The author of this psalm knew the arid wastelands of spiritual distress. He had tasted the bitter gall of yielding to temptation; he had experienced the cold emptiness of estrangement from God.  In another psalm he cries out, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me?” (4:11).

Keller says that a “cast down sheep” is an old English shepherd’s term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself.  He describes the pathetic sight of such sheep lying on its back with its feet in the air trying frantically to get up but not being able to do so. Sometimes it will bleat a little for help, but usually it just lies there lashing about in frightened frustration.  It is necessary that the shepherd find the “cast down” sheep right away, for predatory animals and birds know that a cast down sheep is an easy meal.

After coming to our rescue, the Shepherd leads us in the “paths of righteousness.”  He retrieves us from the dangerous detours we often take in life. These detours are comparable to those times when we presume that God is going to take care of us even though we have acted irresponsibly as his independent sheep.  However, because ours is a Shepherd who is ever alert and attentive to his down cast sheep, he is instantly responsive to their cries for help. Through the prophet Isaiah, God expressed his concerns for the needs of his people: “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

When David speaks of “the valley or shadow of death,” he is portraying life’s bitterest experiences.  One can almost feel the chill and loneliness suggested by the valley.  The Hebrew word translated “shadow of death,” means “deepest darkness.”  But even in these agonizing experiences, one can know the warmth of the Shepherd’s presence.  For, after leading his sheep through these dark stretches on the way, the Shepherd “prepareth a table” for them in the midst of those who would destroy them and applies healing oil to their bruised bodies and the oil of gladness to their wounded spirits.  The “cup running over” suggests the abundant life of our Lord promises to all who drink from his fountain.  

David then talks about the promise.  “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  Here is a picture of the complete confidence of the sheep in his Shepherd, who has, through the long journey of life, proved again and again his concern for his sheep.  Every moment of the way, even on the detours he has foolishly chosen, the sheep has been followed by the :goodness and mercy” of his Shepherd.

Jesus said to his distraught disciples on the night before his crucifixion: “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:12). Psalm 23 covers the full spectrum of life, from the helpless state of the young lamb through the wilds and storms of his adult life. Then the end of this life is but the beginning of a grander life that has no termination.

“Following the shepherd” each step through life is the only way to maintain one’s equilibrium even in the midst of the most ferocious storm.  When the sun is shining and the Shepherd’s care for us is obvious or when we are in the subterranean passageways of the valley of the deepest shadows and cannot feel his presence, we can have “peace… which passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7), because we know that the Shepherd’s “goodness and mercy” follow us all the days of our lives. Let us acknowledge that the Lord is our Shepherd.  He will provide for us, and his blessings will be with us forever. God bless you all!