Walking in the Shepherds Shadow

Shepherding My Family, Part 1

Shepherd Bible’s favorite analogy for Godly leadership!

• The Bible is full of Shepherds. Sheep mentioned, 192x Lambs, 164x. Shepherd is found in the Bible more than 80x.
• The King was a Shepherd.
• Fathers are sometimes called Shepherd. (Acts 20:29)
• A pastor called to “Shepherd the flock of God”
• The first man born on earth Able was a shepherd.
• All Patriarchs were shepherds. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s sons. – but not Joseph. He was an administrator. Remember Abraham and Lot were both shepherds. Lot chose good pasture of the plains, toward Sodom.
• Jacob’s wife Rachel was a Shepherdess.
• Moses was tending the flock of Jethro when he saw a burning bush.
• Moses’ wife Zipporah and her sisters were shepherdess’.
• The prophet Amos was a Shepherd from Tekoea.
• In the Old Testament, God was called the Shepherd of Israel. “Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock; you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth” Ps. 80:1
• King David was called the “Shepherd King.” He wrote Psalm 23. He was tending the flock when Samuel came looking for a king. Later, when the prophet Nathan wanted to get David’s attention, he told him a parable about sheep.
• Greatest Shepherd: Jesus. How did Jesus read Psalm 23? Personally. (See John 10. He is identifying himself as the Shepherd in Psalm 23.)

Text: Psalm 23:1-6

Psalm 23:1, The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

• Jesus said John 10:11: I am the good shepherd.
• John 10:7: I am the gate for the sheep.
• John 10:11: The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
• John 10:14: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—“
• How did Jesus read this Psalm? Personally. He is the Shepherd. How should we read it? Personally. We are the sheep.

Psalm 23:2, Hebrew, Beside waters of rest.

Psalm 23:4, Hebrew, The valley of deep darkness.

David knew valley’s!

• Geographical: The valley of opposition. (Goliath)
• Relational: The valley of rejection. (Saul: Loyal. Harp. Girls: Thou/10.)
• Spiritual: The valley of sin. Ever get in over your head?
• Devotional: The valley of unanswered prayer.
• Emotional: The Valley of Grief. (Absalom)

Question 1: Who am I a Shepherd to? My immediate family. Children? Marriage? Marines. Question 2: Who is my Shepherd? Everyone has a Shepherd

What Happens When I Shepherd Me? I naturally lead out of my and my

• When I lead out of Damage and Fear, I Reproduce hurt and pain.
• For me successfully lead others, I have to be led by someone greater than me.

What Happens when Christ Shepherd’s Me?

• My spirit is deeply satisfied. (I shall not want)
• I find rest no one else can give. (Lie down green pastures) (Still waters)
• My soul is restored (Psalm 23:3)
• I have nothing to fear. (Walk through valley shadow, fear no evil, Psalm 23:4)
• I have direction for life. (Rod/Staff comfort me)

Good things! “Surely goodness and mercy will follow me…”

Jesus: I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD! Good, Greek, “Kalos.” Beautiful, valuable, virtuous. Pretty much, all the things you want in your life.

How do I allow God to Shepherd my Heart?

Simple things David did as a leader reflected in Psalm 23:

1. He walked

• 23:1“the Lord is my Shepherd.” 
• He spent time with the Shepherd.
• Green pastures, quiet waters represent a healthy spiritual life.
• Build good spiritual habits. Rise early, read deeply, meditate on God’s Word, pray clearly. Don’t pray vague prayers.
• Find richness in a growing relationship with God. David says, “I shall not want.” He means, that God is sufficient for him. God is abundant in his life, God overflows riches into him. When someone says, “I follow Christ, and New Age…” what they are actually saying is that they find Christ someone insufficient. They feel they need something more to fulfill them spiritually. This is where the wolf is waiting in the shadows, to introduce crooked paths that lead away from Christ.

2. He took a deep interest

• Psalm 23:23, refers to him teaching us His ways.
• His “names sake” – His name is a deep expression of who God is.

3. He welcomed

• Psalm 23:4, The Rod was a tool used to throw at a wandering sheep.
• When David was confronted with sin in his life, he wept.
• Great illustration here about a horse. . . No matter how big David got, how tough he seemed, how man tribes he ruled, he never got too big for God to hunt him down and bring him back.

4. He believed God was

• Psalm 23:4, the language of the text changes from third person to first person. David ahs been talking about God, here he speaks to God. Valleys in life bring us face to face with God.
• Jesus LEADS sheep, he doesn’t Drive them. Jesus goes ahead of us in life. Not going to face any situation this week that Jesus has gone ahead of you and already faced.

5. He trusted God to

• Annoying enemies. Psalm 23:5, flies bother sheep. The oil represents soothing from injuries by annoying pests.
• Enemy – enemies. David trusted God to deal with evil men. Psalm 23:5, you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. A Good Shepherd finds a mesa – a place like a big table. He drives out the enemies in that area.
• All enemies! Psalm 23:4, I will fear no evil. Includes: Demonic and Satanic evils.

6. He saw

• He resisted cynicism, declaring, “My cup overflows.” (Psalm 23:5)
• All my life, God has shown me his Goodness. Even in the darkest valley, God was good to me.