"He guides me in the paths of righteousness For his name's sake." (Psalm 23:3 NASB1995)
I spent the whole of yesterday buried in Psalm 23:3. It is astounding how much a person can wring from a single verse when they are willing to sit with it and allow the words to burrow into their soul. My heart is full; it ministered to me so deeply. I can’t hardly wait to preach it on Sunday.
In my studies, David Guzik brought context to the humble station of shepherd. Shepherds were the last rung on the social ladder. Sheep herding is a dangerous, demanding and dirty job. Shepherds were seen as rough, unkempt men. If you watched the Chosen pilot, you have an idea of how sheep handlers may have been treated amidst community interactions.
“In Israel, as in other ancient societies, a shepherd’s work was considered the lowest of all works. If a family needed a shepherd, it was always the youngest son, like David, who got this unpleasant assignment…Jehovah has chosen to be our shepherd, David says. The great God of the universe has stooped to take just such care of you and me.” (Boice)
“Saith Rabbi Joseph Bar Hamna, there is not a more contemptible office than that of a shepherd…. But God disdaineth not to feed his flock, to guide, to govern, to defend them, to handle and heal them, to tend and take care of them.” (Trapp)
I’ve considered the status of shepherds previously, but always in regard to the first attendants of baby Jesus. Lowly sheep herders and wise men were invited for first audience with the King of Kings. Their unique stations represented both ends of the spectrum with intention: Jesus came for the rich and poor alike.
Never before have I considered the social implications of Jesus calling Himself a shepherd. Yet today, I see it. He dwelt among us; humble, poor, nearly homeless, rejected from polite society. He tended to the felt needs of the dregs of humanity, dealing with our brokenness, disease, sinfulness and despair. He dirtied His hands to address to our hopelessness. He spent all of His days on earth nomadic and cast out, content to keep sheep rather than compete with the rulers of the day.
It seems our Good Shepherd calls His followers to this same, simple and paraptetic life: dependent on the Father every step of the way, following Him upon arduous paths. I’m encouraged. Even in the roughest seasons, we are not forgotten or even penalized, we are living the same sort of life He did. It may very well mean we spend our days and nights in discomfort, tending to fragile, frightened, or wounded sheep. Shepherding is a difficult and dirty work but it keeps us endlessly dependent upon the Father. We trust in His provision rather than our own sufficiency.
Our diminished estate may dishearten us from time to time. We may find ourselves glancing in the direction of the prosperous and wondering if we’ve misstepped, if we could have plotted our course to an easier existence. But we cannot afford to forget that we are not home yet.
It was in my facebook memories today; this quote from five or more years back. Dr. Wood always prods my soul along just a smidge farther and a tad sooner then I’m ready to go.
“Don’t worry if something you want hasn’t happened in your lifetime!
God has all eternity to make it up to you!” (Dr. George O. Wood)
Every desperate day of Christ-following, we might remind ourselves: the best is yet to come. Our Good Shepherd served here in the dust and mud. He suffered deeply during His days on earth. His path was hard, yet He completed it in perfect submission. And then He was welcomed home as a hero and crowned as King.
Circle back to the manger for a moment. Remember, our Messiah was visited by both shepherds and kings. In hindsight, this was prophetic; He would grow up to be both Shepherd and King. The Savior would reach all strata of people because He was intimately familiar with all ends of the social spectrum. Our Good Shepherd understands our limitations and temptations. He knows what it is to have lots and to have little. And He trusts the Father in all conditions.
What about us? Can we commit to the unique trail He’s laid out for us? Can we trust Him when we can’t understand. We step in sacred footfalls when we choose to follow the path of righteousness marked out by our Good Shepherd. We walk in His wake all the way Home.
"I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd sacrifices His life for the sheep." (John 10:10 NLT)
Lord, today we see You anew: our Good Shepherd. How low You bowed to be with us! How gratefully we received Your sacrifice! Make us meek like You, happy to live for You in every circumstance. Please help us maintain a long view of everything that matters most. Keep us on the trail toward eternity with You. Amen.