SHEEP
We will start this mornings sermon with a claim from the writer Dallas Willard, “One of the greatest needs today is for people to really see and really believe the things they already profess to see and believe.”
We are all probably familiar with the phrase, “if you want to know what people really believe, don't so much listen to what they say; as pay attention to how they live.” The words of the 23rd Psalm are some of the most familiar in all of The Bible. They are beautiful words, but they are more than poetry to be read on special occasions, they are an invitation to a life that we all desire. Willard calls this, “a life without lack.”
At this point you might be saying, a life without lack?
I lack…let me count the things I lack….
I lack:
toilet paper,
answers,
work,
childcare,
patience,
stability, and
sanity, and
the ability to be with the people I love.
Just to name a few, Pastor!
But this is not what David means when he says, I lack nothing. He is not saying that we will never have to go on that journey through the valley of the shadow of death, no he is saying, when, WHEN! WHEN! When will I pass through.
Life’s difficulties inevitably come our way, but if we have a Good Shepherd to guide us, we have everything we need.
I have all things and abound; not because I have a good store of money in the bank, not because I have skill and wit with which to win my bread, but because the Lord is my shepherd. -Charles Spurgeon
How did David learn to live a life without lack? First off he knows he is one of God’s Sheep.
The Lord is my Shepherd
Right off the bat we discover that this Psalm does not sit well with self sufficiency. Psalm 23 is the song of a mature David, who reveals a deep and personal relationship with God. He says the Lord is My Shepherd. David’s true greatness did not come from his nation, or his army, or his victory over the giant Goliath, rather it came from his ability to rely on God. He started at the bottom, with nothing and nobody to help him, and he ended up the King over God’s chosen people.
He sinned boldly (as Martin Luther once said), and he worshiped with Power.Through it all David learned, his true identity was that of one of God’s Sheep. Not the most flattering animal to compare oneself too, but by taking on this humble identity, what he got in return, was a benevolent caretaker who knew him by name, saw the value in him, and searched for him when he wandered from the righteous path. In those times, when he was desperately lost, he knew God would seek him out. Through confession, he knew God’s Grace would bring him back into the fold. In his battles, he knew God would give him the strength to overcome his enemies, and when he did, David offered thanksgiving.
David, by knowing he was a sheep in God’s pasture, could live a life not determined by his current circumstances. David’s life story transcended his present reality, and allowed him to find his true self, the man God intended him to be.
Now let us turn our attention to the second part of Psalm 23:1
The lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.
To do so let’s look at a lesser known story from the life of David, that demonstrates how David was able to live a life, wanting for nothing.
1 Samuel: 22
David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
It is in a cave, hiding from his enemies, that David truly learns what it means to be a leader. All the people, with all of their problems, gathered around David, they brought him their distress and discontent. 400 people gathered in a cave, hiding, with nothing to do, but focus on how difficult life had become. (Sound familiar? ish.)
Now, we might think what happened next is David rose up, gave his best “Brave Heart” speech, and led them out of the cave and into a glorious victory in battle; but no.
1 Chronicles 11: 17-19, reveals what was really going on with David in the Cave of Adullam.
At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” So the three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the Lord. “God forbid that I should do this!” he said. “Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?” Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.
Oh that someone would get me some water from the gate near Bethlehem?
You see, what David is saying? Remember back then, when things were simpler. David grew up in Bethlehem. He most certainly would have tended his sheep outside the city, near the gate, and would have often drank from the well.
We might be saying; remember when…when we could go surfing without getting arrested?
Remember when we could go to the store without looking like we’re there to rob it?
Remember when we went to school, went on vacations, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries; you remember, the good old days.
David is surrounded by problems, all the troubles of his community are being placed at his feet. His community is in crisis, and he is responsible for all of them. It is no wonder that in a moment of despair, his response is…. remember when things were simpler…ever been there?
But don’t miss the other story. Three of his mighty men take him seriously. They don’t understand the poet, only the spoken orders of the commander. They can’t help but take David literally, so great is their loyalty and courage.
Times are not simple for David. Bethlehem, his home had been conquered by the Philistines. So when he says he wants a drink from the well outside its gates, he doesn't think that anyone would actually try and do it. But these three radicals, make it their mission. They risk their lives for a cup of water. But, when they brought it to David he refuses to drink it. Not only that, he pours it out in front of them! Really?! Can you imagine if you were one of these guys! They’re probably thinking they are sure to get a medal, a promotion, something for pulling off this one. Then their leader says, actually, on second thought, “I prefer Gatorade!”
Actually, what happens is that David is so aware of the sacrifice that it took to get this water, he sees it as a sacred act. David may be thirsty, but everyone is thirsty. Is he really going to drink this water while his army watches? Some Kings would, but not David. He knows, he is not worthy of this kind of sacrifice, he is no different than his men, he is one with them. He is, like them, one of God’s sheep.
In that cold dark cave, facing poverty, discontent, distress, and fear, David chooses to make an offering. He pours out the water. Water taken at great risk, for him; a vanity that he will not endure. Rather, he pours it out as an act of worship to his God.
He is revealing that this ordinary water from a well in Bethlehem, is sacred. David or anyone else are unworthy to drink it. He knows that in the eyes of God it is the sacrifice that makes something sacred.
David is teaching us that a life without lack is a sacramental life. Sacramental living means to look at all of life the way we look at sacraments ( Communion, Baptism). If all of life is seen as sacramental, then everything becomes sacred for the believer. Every act, every thought, every word becomes sacred.Romans 12:1 puts it this way, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship.When you see the world sacramentally it changes your approach to everything.
It is a direct assault on our desire to control others.
This reality that so often when we meet someone, we like them, but over time we discover there are few things we would like to help them change. Of course these changes have to do with making our life a little easier. Naturally, we are the ones who can help them change. So we create a criteria in our head for what they should do, how they should change. And, then often we judge them for not changing into the person we tried to manipulate them into becoming.
It is a direct assault on how we see ourselves as well. This reality of how we give ourselves goals, and start evaluating ourselves based on the amount of achievements we accumulate. The ability to have a certain job, a certain lifestyle, a certain friend group, the perfect family. But the things of this world are transitory, and when they pass away, as they inevitably do, that’s when you hit the wall of life, the one you cannot scale alone.
Then we wind up looking upon our lives with cruel reflection. “I wasted how many years of my life before it blew up in my face? What do I have to show for it?”
But the sacramental tells a different story. Those years you gave of yourself. Those years filled with uncertainty, anguish, and pain, those were not wasted years. The love you poured out, regardless of the outcome, was sacred.
Remember David, as he was hunted by his enemies; his hometown is occupied by a hostile army, and he doesn't know how he is going to provide for the people who count on him. He is not exactly winning, but in the midst of it all, he sees an opportunity to make a sacrifice to his God.
He shows something essential regarding a sacramental life. It is not the outcome that matters, It’s not about the drinking of the water, it’s about the sacrifice.
Our life with God has never been about worldly achievement, or personal gratification. Rather, it is about the gift, a gift from God, freely given, and meant to be given to others. The gift of a right relationship with our God. When we walk through the truth of the 23rd Psalm, no more do we desire the outcomes of our own schemes, instead we turn our attention away from ourselves, and towards our heavenly Father; and recognize it is all a gift from God. Freely given, and meant to be given by us to others. We need not worry about the outcome, because we have a Shepherd who takes good care of us.
We might say, “God you are my Shepherd, you know what I need, and I know in both good times and bad, no matter what the score board says, what you care about is the sacrifice.”
Today, may we take a step back from our ourselves, from our feelings of lack, and recognize the beautiful sacrifice that we are all making for one another. Our mutual sacrifice, on behalf of each other, is sacred. It is the gift freely given, God’s sacrifice given for us, to be freely given by us, to each other. Just as God gave us the atoning sacrifice of His only Son, our lord and savior Jesus Christ.