The BBC news reported the headline of a Turkish newspaper in June of 2005 that read, “Shepherds watched in horror as hundreds of their sheep followed each other over a cliff….First one sheep went over the cliff, only to be followed by the whole flock”. Around 400 sheep died in a 15-meter fall. Heroically, the bodies of the 400 sheep cushioned the fall of another 1,100, saving the rest. Linda Gordon of the Animal Regulations Department describes sheep: "Sheep are very high-strung, nervous animals….Anything that frightens one will frighten them all. It's a chain reaction. And, as far as the animals go, they are not high in intelligence.” That is probably the nicest, most respectful way to call something or someone “stupid”.
Sheep are unremarkable. We do not put them in normal zoos. We put them in petting zoos for our toddlers to play with. They are not intimidating. They are unremarkable, forgettable, and “not high in intelligence”. Yet, what is interesting is we often think sheep are the central focus of the famous Psalm 23. However, we only have to read the first verse to catch the real focus.
Ps. 23:1 “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.” The focus of Ps. 23 is on the “Shepherd”. So, here is what I want to know: what does the rest of the Psalm say about this Shepherd? Let’s look at it.
Ps. 23:2 says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” King David is pondering how God, the Shepherd, has provided for him physically and spiritually. But do not miss the emphasis. The emphasis is on the Shepherd. Sheep do not provide for themselves; they are helpless, weak, and frail. They are provided for by the shepherd.
We have to pause to understand that in ancient times the work of shepherding was hard, demanding, and dangerous. Shepherds had to travel for days or weeks at times to chase water and pasture. They worked alone, talking to their sheep daily. They would count their sheep every morning and evening to account for all of them. They had to make temporary shelters, sleeping in the doorway to protect the sheep from enemies. It was commonly understood that a shepherd might not return from sheep tending because a good shepherd provides for his weak, helpless, and frail sheep and risks life and limb to do it. The sheep can only rest and rely on the shepherd.
Now, in case we think Ps. 23 is all about green grass and still waters, we reach verse 4: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” The older I get the more I realize how much I fear what lurks in the dark unknown. Here, the shepherd purposefully leads his sheep through darkness while the sheep are unsure if predators lurk in the shadows. But they do not fear because a good shepherd is there defending them. A good shepherd not only provides for but protects his weak, helpless, frail sheep. And he risks life and limb to do it. His sheep just rest and rely on him.
As if the news of Ps. 23 could not get better, it does: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” So the shepherd here hosts a feast for his sheep amidst enemies but the enemies cannot touch the sheep. The sheep are provided for, totally protected, and given more than they need! These unremarkable creatures are treated like royalty because a good shepherd provides for, protects, and goes above and beyond for his weak, helpless, and frail sheep, risking life and limb to do it. And his sheep just rest and rely on him.
Sheep are unremarkable but what’s remarkable is a good shepherd is willing to die for them to take care of them. In our sin we are unremarkable. Each of us have wandered away from God. We do not deserve the care of God. Yet, God does not just risk life and limb for you; He gave life and limb for you. God saw you ravaged by sin and death and in order to provide for you and protect you, He became a sheep, taking on your humanity. Remember what John the Baptizer preached? “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God…’ (John 1:29). Jesus’ whole life was lived with the shadow of death looming over him. Then He walked into the darkness of death at the cross “like a lamb led slaughter” (see Is. 53).
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus, the Good Shepherd, defeated our greatness enemies: sin and death. He provided our greatest need: reconciliation to God. What remarkable love and care from God, our Shepherd, who lived, died, and rose for you.
