“Just A Prayer Away”

November 10, 2013

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Sermon 4 of Fall Series

“Shepherd Us O God”

Deuteronomy 7:9 MSG

Numbers 23:19

Psalm 23:4 King James Version

Psalm 139:23-24 King James Version

 “Shepherd Me O God” by Marty Haugen

A reading from the Psalms, Psalm 23, verse 4…listen for the voice of the Shepherd to you and me, the sheep of His flock. (Read from the King James Bible)

Psalm 23:4 King James Version (KJV)

4 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.

“Shepherd me O God beyond my wants,

beyond my needs, from death into life.

Though I should wander the valley of death,

I fear no evil, for you are at my side,

your rod and your staff, my comfort and my hope. (Sing)

I remember a time that Shanequa lost her favorite blanket. She slept with it always. When she was sick, that was the one thing that comforted her. She had it since the day she was born. It was familiar and she knew she always had it to hold on to. Well…one day she couldn’t find it when she was going to bed. She searched every where to no avail. She came into our bedroom frantic. She had lost the one thing that she could hold onto when she slept…the one thing that would help her sleep with a sense of being safe and sound. She was inconsolable. So Ray and I went back to her room to look again with her. After a short time we found it buried in the blankets on her bed. It was as if we had performed a miracle for her. She was so happy as she snuggled with the blanket, chastising it for hiding on her. Everything was set right again. The chaos that had happened was now gone. She slept safe and sound.

In the world in which we live…we all need to have that thing that gives us comfort. With all the dysfunction and madness around us…in that chaos that can feel as if it is taking over…we need that thing that helps us get through the tough times. Where do we find that comfort as we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death?”

Over the past two weeks, we have been journeying with the Shepherd found in the 23^rd Psalm, the Good Shepherd. We have talked about us not wanting because of our Shepherd, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ…how we are never without Him…how this same Shepherd wants to bring us to peaceful pastures where we can rest beside the calm streams of living water He gives so freely to all of His sheep. Last week we talked a little about how He is the only one who can truly restore us and when we are restored we are guided on the path of righteousness for His name…not our own. We talked about how we can become “cast sheep” stuck on our backs unable to get up and the fact that Jesus is the only one who can set us right again. This week, we will discover why we feel comfort from our Shepherd in those times of trial and chaos…

So there are two parts of this verse I would like us to look at this week the first being walking through the valley and the other is we are comforted by His presence with us…the Good Shepherd. Now with sheep, in the summer they spend all their time in close companionship with the shepherd under the shepherd’s solitary care. They go to distant summer ranges with the shepherd who leads them there. The shepherd takes them on long “drives” so that they can get there. Now the sheep move along slowly and eat as they go. They gradually go to the feeding place behind the receding snow and by summer they have made it to the summer feeding ground. They move into unmarked territory. During this time they are completely alone with the shepherd. They become intimately under the care of the shepherd both day and night. But you see… as the shepherd moves His flock into territories that they may not have traveled; the shepherd has already charted the course through the wilderness places. The shepherd knows the way…the path is familiar to him and his surefootedness gives them peace and comfort in knowing they are cared for.

Jesus…the Good Shepherd…knows the way for us…He has traveled the path before us and is familiar with the path. We will not fear, for thou art with me…with us in every situation, every dark trial, every disappointment, every distress. We Christians, as the sheep, would love live beyond the low lands…in the higher places with God. We want to have a more intimate relationship with God…beyond the common. We even talk about those mountaintop experiences and even envy those who have reached the top and entered in to a more sublime sort of life with God. But…it is in those valleys that our Shepherd invites us to come and drink from the Living Water He offers to His sheep. Pools of water cool and clean in the dry arid landscape of the valley we are traveling.

As it is with ordinary sheep management, so with God’s people, one only gains that higher ground by climbing up through the valleys. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, leads His flock gently, put ever moving up…moving ever forward…through the paths that wind through the valley. “Yea, tough I walk through the valley of the shadow of death”, the operative word is through the valley…not around…not avoid…but through. Jesus has said “Lo, I am with you always”…this includes as we walk through the Valley of the shadow of death. And it doesn’t have to be a physical death that the Shepherd goes with us. It could be our death to self…our death to sin…our death to bad attitudes… Jesus, the Good Shepherd s always there…steering the lost sheep…the frightened sheep…the willful sheep…on the road that is best.

Thy rod and thy staff comfort me…Even to this day; shepherds still carry a rod and staff. They bring the bare necessities with them as the go out to shepherd their sheep. A young shepherd boy…or girl…take pride in the selection of their rod and staff that is just the right size for them and works well with their strength. The go out and find a young sapling and cut it down. After they have selected “just the right sapling” they whittle it down with great care. It is the one thing they have to fend off predators when they are out there tending the sheep. This rod….is actually an extension of the shepherd’s right hand. With it they would shepherd the sheep and keep them together as well as discipline those wayward sheep who would wander away. The sheep would sense the comfort that the shepherd had because of having the staff.

Think about this for a moment. God sent Moses to Pharaoh to free His people with a staff…a rod…that showed God’s might. Even in David’s day, the rod was comforting to the sheep as they saw it in the hand of their shepherd. As a matter of fact, the Scriptures are known as God’s rod. In times of trouble how comforting it is to Christians to turn to God’s word…His rod…and know it to be His Shepherd’s…the Good Shepherd…hand of authority. Now the shepherd used the end of the staff…the knob…to discipline the sheep…those who would try to wander off…those who were stubborn and not want to go where they were being lead. But not as you might think. They would swing the rod in the air and it would go whistling through the air and scare the sheep back to where they needed to be. For we as Christians, doesn’t the word of God…God’s rod…come to our hearts with surprising subtleness when we go astray? It is the living word of God that convicts us and helps us stay on the right path.

The shepherd also used his rod to count the sheep. A sheep that has passed “under the rod” was one that had been looked at…examined to make sure everything was OK with it. You see…the wool is very thick and the shepherd would use the rod to split the wool so that they could see if there were any parasites or wounds or disease going on with the sheep. This takes time because the shepherd wants to be very through. Now…we…as God’s sheep…are searched…looked at by the tender, caring Shepherd. If we allow it…Gods Word searches us. Psalm 139 verses 23-24 exclaims: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” God will get below the surface and bring things to light that need to be healed…things that need to be made right…This rod…comforts us. We live in a world that is contrary to what Jesus…the Good Shepherd would have us be. We are tempted from all sides. How awesome it is…how comforting it is…to have the “rod of God”…God’s word…to help guide us on our path.

The staff that is carried by a shepherd is unique. Only those who shepherd sheep have a staff. It wouldn’t work for large animals but it is perfect…just right…for sheepherding. It is designed and shaped perfectly for sheepherding. And it is used ONLY for their benefit. It is a symbol of concern and compassion. The rod is used for discipline but the staff is one of comfort. It is used in three ways:

1.     The shepherd uses the staff to gently lift a newborn lamb and bring it to its mother if separated from her. The shepherd doesn’t want the lamb to have the scent of human hands on it

2.     It is used to reach out and catch individual sheep and draw them close to himself for examination. It works well for shy and timid sheep that will usually keep at distance to the shepherd

3.     It is used to guide the sheep. They guided gently into a new path or through a gate and even along dangerous and difficult paths. The Shepherd doesn’t beat the sheep with it but uses the tip to gently apply pressure to the sheep’s side.

Some shepherds use the staff to keep a favorite sheep, a pet, close to them. They walk almost as if they were hand-in-hand with each other.  We, as Christians have the Holy Spirit…the Comforter…that draws us together with others, draws us the Good Shepherd, and guide us on the path of righteousness. Through the Spirit we are in touch with Christ.

Are you feeling the staff of the Shepherd drawing you close to Him…or even into an even closer relationship? Is the Spirit prodding you on a path that might be different or even a little “dangerous” in your opinion? Our Shepherd is just a prayer away. He is always listening for voice of His sheep in need of help…lost in the shadowy valley of death. Let the Good Shepherd lead you through the valley into a new grazing land where there are streams of Living water and cool breezes of the Spirit. Come and be comforted by the Good Shepherd, our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, and find comfort and guidance for the journey. He say’s come all you who are weary and I will give you rest. Let Him be your guiding light on your journey of life everlasting.

Shepherd us O God beyond our wants,

beyond our needs, from death into life.

Amen!