AN ASTUTE SHEPHERD PT 1
There’s a time of the year when teams scramble to put together their budget numbers and business goals for the next fiscal year. Workers are rewarded by how well they deliver on their goals. Unless one is living under a rock, we all know that the trajectory to success is one that rewards the ability to embrace change, speed and agility. The pace is intense – everyday.
Marcia Hornok wrote an often-cited take on the hectic modern life that is a total reversal of Psalm 23:
The clock is my dictator, I shall not rest.
It makes me lie down only when exhausted.
It leads me into deep depression
It hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy, for activities sake.
Even though I run frantically from task to task, I will never get it all done,
For my ideal is with me.
Deadlines and my need for approval, they drive me.
They demand performance from me, beyond the limits of my schedule.
They anoint my head with migraines,
My in-box overflows.
Surely fatigue and time pressures shall follow me
All the days of my life.
And I will dwell in the bonds of frustration
Forever
The argument here is not that we should not get up to speed, be sharp and strategic. Look closely at the Bible and you will see that God’s Word is all about long-term sustainability over short-term success! Christians are called to work heartily because we are God’s children and representations of His standard (read Colossians 3:23-24). So, what is God’s approach to sustainable success?
In part one of our study of Psalm 23, we’ll look at verses 1 to 3 penned, in all probability, by King David who had an intimate knowledge of how an astute shepherd would take care of his sheep.
The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need.
2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For the sake of His name.
[NASB]
Beyond sounding poetic and lyrical, these three verses depict Jesus as the astute Shepherd who is always one step ahead of the realities that we experience so that He may lead us to better outcomes than we imagine.
The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need
In biblical days, shepherds were low-skill hired hands who were not known for being attentive on the job or vigilant of dangerous predators that could threaten the safety of their flocks. Although they were shepherds by occupation, they were not true shepherds at heart. Jesus spoke about them in John 10:12-13 as hirelings that would abandon their flocks in a heartbeat if there was any threat to their own safety.
On the other hand, the prophet Jeremiah wrote that a true shepherd is one who reflects God’s own heart for His people: “Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3:15).
Jesus Himself said John 10:11,14 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me”. As our Shepherd, Jesus is firm but not heavy-handed, in control but not draconian in His ways because He knows how to lead in ways that His flock would stay on course for their own safety and well-being.
We are living in a world of endless needs driven by climate crisis, energy crisis, water crisis, public health crisis, poverty crisis, economic crisis and political crisis. Yet, we can say “The Lord is my Shepherd, I will not be in need”. Does it sound selfish? No! What it means is that when we are in stormy situations, we will have the peace and assurance of God that we need to bring stability, and strategize solutions. If we don’t give up learning because we feel humiliated, we will experience the breakthroughs that we need. We will find joy in humourless challenges to be the source of strength that others need. From reading God’s Word, we will find the wisdom we need to chart new paths.
He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
The irony here is that sheep are by nature so high-strung and anxious that only a skilled shepherd can provide them with some level of calmness. Even so, sheep can never be made to lie down. So this verse suggests a very close relationship between the sheep and the shepherd because only then, can a sheep actually feel safe enough to rest.
The other irony in this verse is the misconception of expansive green pastures. In reality, the grounds where sheep grazed in biblical times were actually Judean desserts that only had sparse patches of grass in good seasons, and rocky dry grounds most of the year. Yet, skilled shepherds know where to find patches of grass behind rocks. This illustrates that no matter how barren our circumstances may appear, Jesus, our Shepherd, can still lead us to hidden green pastures we would not find on our own!
Finally, sheep, being skittish and easily rattles, do not drink from rushing streams because they are especially sensitive to harm. Experienced shepherds know where the streams of water are relatively calmer so that their flocks will drink and not die of thirst. In the same way, Jesus our Shepherd knows exactly where to find ‘waters of rest’ to refresh our parched souls. We may find this in private worship, from taking time out of a busy day for a moment of contemplative reflection on His Word or to give thanks to God, or from pulling ourselves out of endless social commitments to be still and tune in to His heart. This is indeed the anti-thesis of an activity-filled and adrenalin-driven life many believers find themselves in – especially in the company of other believers! Think frenzied fellowships!
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name. (v3)
The hooves of sheep leave tracks on rocky and mountainous terrains that other flocks follow to stay safe. In the same way, when we follow Jesus, we too create paths of righteousness for others to find the way to Him.
But when we begin to think that to belong is to adopt a ‘pack mentality’, when we confuse community with blind conformity, when we start looking at each other and see how ordinary and unimpressive we are individually – that is the beginning of taking the wrong path. Instead, we ought to keep our eyes on the Lord who is our personal and good Shepherd so that we would enjoy a right relationship with Him and others.
But we can be assured that Jesus our Shepherd is always on the look-out for the straying sheep to bring us back to a community of faith. He desires to see us redeemed and restored to the right relationship with Him and with those in our lives. He wants to refresh our soul constantly (and not just when we are on vacation) so that we can enjoy the success He provides for our lives and relationships.
This is a summary and reflection based on a virtual BIR Session held on 8 October 2022.
