The valley of the cast sheep.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalms 23:1-6 (KJV)
So many of us will confidently recite this psalm. However do we understand what the psalmist is telling us?
3 titles for the shepherd:
1. The Great ~ Hebrews 13:20 (KJV)
2. The Good ~ John 10:11 (KJV)
3. The Chief~ 1 Peter 5:4 (KJV)
8 characteristics of a good shepherd?
1. He takes care of the flock. Gen 31:38
2. He defends the flock. 1 Sam. 17:34,35
3. He knows each one of his flock by name. John 10:3
4. He teaches his Sheep to know & recognize him and his voice. John 10:4
5. He causes the flock to rest Ps 23:2. & Jer 33:12
6. He waters the flock. Gen 29:10
7. He is very passionate about his sheep. Luke 15:4
8. He disciplines the sheep and draws them closer to him. Psalm 23:4
John 10:27 (KJV). “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:”
If He is our shepherd then we are His sheep. (It is the only animal that we are likened too).
The Spiritual Implications of Being Sheep
Now, if the Lord is our Shepherd, that makes us the sheep. Prone to wander. Entirely and always reliant on our Shepherd, whether we realize it or not.
But here's what we need to understand: we can't see God as Shepherd if we don't see ourselves as sheep. When we open our eyes to how much we really need and rely on God for everything, the more we realize His provision in our lives. But if we live in the lie that we can do this on our own, we wander and drift away from our true source, looking for satisfaction in artificial places.
Jeremiah 50:6 NIV. “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. "
So when David says, "I shall not want," he is acknowledging how completely reliant he is, one God as his Shepherd.
“I shall not want” because God, as a good shepherd, will ensure I have everything I need. “I shall not want,” not because of what I've done or can do but because God loves me. “I shall not want” because I know God personally as my Shepherd.
The sheep have to be just right. No tension in the flock. No wolves around. No bugs in the air. No hunger pains. With sheep, they do not know how to find safe pasture, or to spray bug repellent on themselves, or deal with friction or find food.
When it says “I shall not want” remember Jesus in the desert and Matthew 6 v’s 25-34 (7 reasons not to worry)
“He make to me down to lie in green pastures”
What picture does this conjure up in your mind >> green fields warm day >> no traffic just you under a tree resting in the warmth >> a small slow flowing stream >>PEACEFUL
They need a shepherd to lead them and to help them lie down in green meadows.
To lie down sheep need 4 conditions>>>
1. They need to be free of fear (for the sheep to lie down)
2. They need to be free of tension/friction with other sheep
3. They need to be free of parasites
4. They need to be free of hunger
2 Peter 1:3 (AMP) For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him. Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue).
That’s why "he maketh me to lie down in green pastures." The second part of verse two says that He also "He leadeth me beside the still waters".
The imagery conveyed here appears at first to be of quietly flowing streams, and of sheep and lambs resting quietly beside them.
E.G. if we cannot find say 10 minutes a day to be still, be in the pasture, be by still waters, how will we hear His voice?
Sheep also need water to survive. And they will not drink from noisy, turbulent water. They require a well or a slow-flowing stream, “still waters”. Sheep are frightened of swiftly moving water. They’re poor swimmers, and get bogged down with their heavy wool just as we would if we tried to swim wearing wool overcoats. So when the shepherd comes to a moving stream, he doesn’t try to force the sheep to drink. Instead, a good shepherd will build a dam making a quiet little pool where his sheep can drink from still waters. One source of good water for sheep is found in the dew each morning. A sheep can go for months without actually drinking water if the shepherd gets the flock up to feed early in the morning when the grass leaves are covered with dew.
In John 7:37, Jesus stated, "If any man thirsts, let him come to me and drink."
Our Shepherd leads us beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul
The great invitation Isaiah 55: 1-3 ~ 3 requests
1. Come and drink
2. Come and take
3. Come to me
1 Peter 5:7, KJV "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
Psalms 42:11 (KJV) Why are you cast down, O my inner self?
Job 22:29 (KJV) When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
Cast down Hebrew word SHAW FALE
To humble >> To bring (CAST) down >>
restoreth – to bring back; to restore, refresh, repair
If a sheep rolls over on its back, it has a problem. It won’t be able to get back up. The English coined a term long ago to describe this. They call it a “cast sheep”.
A “cast” sheep is in a dangerous position. Helpless, it is easy prey for the predators. Even without wolves, it will die if it doesn’t get turned upright.
If the sun is hot, it will die within a few hours. If it’s cloudy weather, a sheep will last a few days before it dies.
“Valley of the CAST SHEEP”
Have we walked into the valley of cast sheep. The sheep have strayed from the Shepherd and have grown weary and laid down. They have rolled over and become cast, and they cannot rise.
Cast sheep A sheep that has rolled over onto its back is called a "cast" an old English word. It may not be able to get up without assistance.
When a sheep becomes cast the gases in its stomach and the pressure builds and cuts off circulation. The Blood cannot do its job, and the sheep perishes.
The sheep have wandered into the valley away from the Shepherd. Their independence has made them tired. They seek to lie, and in lying down and becoming comfortable they become cast. Some are over laden with wool, the wool is caked with the dirt - the sins of this world. The weight of the dirty wool pulls it down. It rolls over and becomes cast. It cannot control itself, its feet flip in the air and it becomes cast.
Psalms 37:23 (AMP) The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].
1. Let Him turn you over ~ walk back on the paths of righteousness
2. The Shepherd doesn’t want to leave you laying there on your back ~ you have a specific purpose to fulfil
3. He knows that if you don’t turn around you will die ~ let His lamp be a guide for your feet so you stand out in this world as a lighthouse of hope & peace
“Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me”
Rod (represented the shepherd's protection and authority) and is used in two ways
1. As a form of defence (studded)
2. “Rodding of the sheep” (coming under the ROD) Ezekiel 20:37 (KJV) And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:
Staff (the staff represents his guidance and tender compassion for the sheep).
1. Used by the shepherd to gently catch and draw a sheep to him so that he could give it close and intimate examination.
2. The staff was also used to guide the sheep, not by beating but rather by pressing it against the side of the sheep, to direct it along a given path.
Sometimes a shepherd would walk along with a sheep with his staff gently touching it so that they “are in touch”.
One way I believe we know if we are under the rod is to ask ourselves:
• Do I deposit a blessing behind me or am I an irritation to others?
• Do I leave behind peace in lives - or turmoil?
• Do I leave behind forgiveness - or bitterness?
• Do I leave behind contentment - or conflict?
• Do I leave behind "flowers of joy" - or frustration?
• Do I leave behind love - or rancor (animosity, resentment, ill feeling or bitterness)?
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
Imagine, if you will, what the word 'goodness' actually means. The dictionary definition is this: 'in man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.' Now add to that the fact that God is a greater 'goodness' than man can possibly be. He chooses to be goodness. Not a passive act, deliberate.
“When Jesus is your Shepherd, every major issue in your life has been settled. You know who you are, where you’ve come from, (you know) where you’re going and what you’re going to do with your life in the meantime…” Like restless and wandering sheep, not one of us will ever truly “lie down” and rest in total contentment until we recognize and allow “The Great, The Good & The Chief Shepherd to lead us to still waters and take us to green pastures.
Acknowledge that the Lord is my shepherd of my life. Pray.....
“Lord Jesus, I acknowledge my need of you and I accept you as my Lord, saviour and the shepherd of my life.
I invite you now to be Lord and Shepherd of ......
my life
my spirit and my relationship with you
my body and my behaviour
my mind and my thinking
my tongue and the things that I say
my emotions and my reactions
my will and all of my decisions
my time, my home, my family and my possessions, of all the work I do and
the things I put my hand too and of all my relationships
Thank you Lord that from this moment, I know with your help, I will shine brightly (see Philippians 2 v 15) for you on this earth, representing you, in all that I do as your ambassador, I thank you, Lord, that your blood was shed, that I might be free ...
#bibletime #jesusistheway #biblestudy #dailybible #joy #humble #thebible #christ #jesuschrist #holybible #faith #christian #christianity #god #christianblog #jesus #wisdom #verses #bible #bibleinspiration #serve #repent #repentance #scripture #amazinggrace #trustgod #praise #prayer #heaven #life
1 note
·
View note