Safe and Sound

October 27, 2013

Stetson Memorial United Methodist Church

Sermon 2 of Fall Series

“Shepherd Us O God”

James 3:18 Common English Bible

2 Samuel 22:3 New Living Translation

Proverbs 14:30 New International Version

Psalm 23:1-2 King James Version

Psalm 121:8 King James Version

“Shepherd Me O God” by Marty Haugen

Let us pray… (Pray for the Spirits illumination of the scriptures)

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

“Shepherd me O God beyond my wants,

beyond my needs, from death into life.

God is my shepherd, so nothing shall I want,

I rest in the meadows of faithfulness and love,

I walk by the quiet waters of peace.” (Sing)

Have you ever noticed all the voices of the world today? We hear commercials about how you can live the good life if you buy this or that. If we follow this type of teaching or that type of teaching you will have life abundant with no worries. It can be mind boggling. Who is the best leader for our lives? Where can we find the rest and compassion we yearn for? Can we even find rest in this world of restlessness and chaos?  How can we have that feeling of being safe and sound?

Today, we begin a series that will take a look at one of the most famous biblical writings. I think it may be the most memorized “prayers” of the bible next to the Lord’s Prayer. Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at Psalm 23. It is one of the most hopeful writings in the bible for me. It gives me hope and security that I am being loved and watched over by someone who wants to lead me into a life of joy and peace.

The 23^rd Psalm is one that tells us about One Shepherd …the One Voice…that will lead us into peace. The voice of the Good Shepherd is one of love, of comfort, of protection, joy and peace.

The Scriptures from this morning talk about that peace and what peace does for us. The James talks about how being at peace allows us to sow peace by our actions of peace. As we cultivate peace in our souls we are able to be at peace with those around us. The scripture from 2^nd Samuel talks about God being our rock and protector…about how our God is our safe place and refuge. When we have peace we have a knowing that God is always with us. And the Proverbs this morning tells us that when we are at peace…in the depths of our heart…we are given life. The first two stanzas of Psalm 23 also talks about that peace and safety found in the voice of the Good Shepherd. (This Psalm was written by David who was a shepherd himself like his father was. This shepherd was thinking of being a sheep in God’s flock)

“The Lord is my Shepherd”→ the shepherd David was talking about was Jehovah, the Lord God, the Creator of Heaven and earth. When Jesus, God incarnate, came to be among humanity, He confirmed…affirmed…the fact that He was the Good Shepherd. When we think about who Jesus was and how he was…His character…we too can gladly state that “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Now, let’s think about this for a moment. God, in Christ, is deeply concerned about you and about me…all of humanity. This thought alone should stir our Spirits….give us awareness…help us realize that we are deeply loved and cared for.

Now as I said, David was not speaking as a shepherd, even though he was one, David was speaking as a sheep, one of the flock. It was if he was shouting to the world, “Look at who my Shepherd is…the One who cares for me. It is the Lord. The maker of Heaven and earth!” We too can shout it from the roof tops.

David knew that the type of life that sheep have all depends of the One who Shepherds the flock. Some are gentle and kind while others could care less about the sheep. When we think about the vastness of the stars and the universe it can be staggering. But…the Lord who created all this beauty and vastness…this same Lord….thinks about humanity…as small as it is and wants to shepherd us. How humbling is that?

And not only that…this same great God wants to provide for our needs. What a statement we can make as we declare “I shall not want.” We lack nothing. We can be content in the Good Shepherds care of us and we need not crave or desire anything else. Now…this doesn’t mean we won’t have trials and tribulations in our lives…we live in a fallen world. This doesn’t mean that we will never have adversity…what it does mean is that we will never lack the care of the Creator, our God. What the makes difference in humanity’s life is the boss…the manager…the Shepherd the leader of their lives. Is it a shepherd like a hired hand…worldly possessions…sin and greed or is it the Good Shepherd that leads them with love, tenderness and compassion?

The Good Shepherd wants to have us, as humanity, lie down in green pastures beside calm waters. Now the strange thing about sheep is that because of their “makeup” it is almost impossible to “make” them lie down unless four requirements are met.

1.     They need to be free from all fear

2.     They need to be free from all friction with others of their kind

3.     Free from flies and parasites

4.     They must be free from hunger

It is up to the shepherd to provide freedom of all these requirements for them. t is the shepherd that makes it possible for them to lie down, rest, relax, and be content and quiet. They need to be flourishing…

In order to feel this way they also need to see the shepherd in the field with them. h presence reassures them as long as they are a “good shepherd.” We, as Christians, have no other substitute for the awareness that our Shepherd is nearby. Christ’s presence in our lives can dispel any fear or panic we are facing.

We live in a world where anything can happen at any time that can cause us to fear. We have learned to “expect the unexpected” in life. But…in the midst of all this we can have an awareness of Christ, our Shepherd, being with us through all our trials. It is this very awareness that makes a difference in how we react to the pit falls in life.

In the midst of the chaos of the world, the Good Shepherd invites us…His sheep…to rest beside still waters of His presence. This kind of reminds me of the time when Peter walked on water. He stepped out of the boat to walk to Jesus. Even though the waters around him were rough…full of chaos…Peter was able to walk on the waters. That sis until he changed his focus. When he focused on Jesus he was able to walk on the water but as soon as he lost his focus…lost the thought of Jesus the Shepherd was who told him to come…he began to sink. He became lost in the chaos of his surroundings. It was not until he refocused himself on Jesus and called to Him for help that the waters beneath his feet became like calm waters that he could walk on and he walked back to the boat with Jesus at his side.

You know…sheep can survive in a dry, arid environment but the one thing they always need is water. The shepherd knows where the best drinking waters is…the calm refreshing waters the sheep need to live. When they become thirst they are restless and begin to search for water. IT is the shepherd who knows of their need and leads them to the safe water. We, as humanity, as Christians, may thirst for that water needed to quench our parched souls. We may try to fill it with the waters of the world only to find it leaving us wanting more. It is only the Good Shepherd that can lead us to the water that satisfies our soul.

Do you thirst for something that will satisfy your soul? Are you feeling as if you are in a dry parched land with no water in sight? Are you in need of rest for your soul? Are you confused by the many voices of the world and are looking for the voice of the One who cares? Do you know of someone who could use an rest in the care of the One True Shepherd? Come into the sheepfold of the One who offers peace and love. Come and rest beside the waters of joy and compassion. Come to the Shepherd. Listen…do you here Him calling you on the wind to a place of milk and honey? Heed the voice of the Good Shepherd, our Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Let Him Shepherd you through the chaos into His pasture of peace. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore. Come and be safe and secure… “Shepherd me O God beyond my wants, beyond my needs, from death into life.” Amen…