Let's turn now to the word of God as we continue on in our study of his word and we were going to be going into John chapter 10 but John chapter 10 is where Jesus begins to talk about the fact that he is the good shepherd. And so this morning I thought we might spend some time focusing on the teaching of the scriptures about the shepherd and the sheep relationship that God gives us in his word. And so for that reason we're going to spend some time looking at Psalm 23 this morning. So if you would, open in your Bibles or open in your bulletins to Psalm 23, and we'll read that before we begin. Psalm 23, a Psalm of David. Hear now the reading of God's holy and inspired word. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. 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 namesake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Heavenly Father, give us insight into your word. Help us to see you as you are. Help us to see us as we are and help us to trust in Jesus Christ for who he is and what he has done for us. We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Well, the New Testament is filled with images from the Old Testament. Principles, quotations, allusions, references abound in the New Testament from the Old Testament. And the more time you spend in the Old Testament, you realize that what's in the New Testament isn't really all that new. As a matter of fact, when you read the Apostle Paul, you see that he really isn't saying a whole lot new than what was already said in the Old Testament, but he just brings clarity and focus and identifies that it is all Jesus Christ. that the Old Testament points to. But what we find in the Old Testament is beautifully revealed in the New Testament. And if we don't have an understanding of the Old Testament, a clear picture of what's taught for us there, then the New Testament will not be as full and as beautiful as it could be. But whenever we do have an understanding of what the scriptures teach, that God has revealed to us in the Old Testament, the New Testament explodes with a beauty and a delight that we often don't expect. But really, this shouldn't surprise us. God is the author of both the Old and the New Testament. It is the same Spirit who inspired all of the authors of Scripture to give us God's Word, the same Word. Now, as we continue in the Gospel of John, we are coming to John chapter 10 and this is Jesus' final public discourse and the topic of his message that Christ gives to the people is that of the Good Shepherd. Now we could glean a whole lot from just a simple study of that New Testament passage on Jesus as the Good Shepherd apart from a knowledge of the Old Testament. But Jesus draws heavily upon the central theme and image from the Old Testament scriptures of God being the shepherd and his people being the sheep. And it's this image of shepherd-sheep relationship that we want to have a better understanding of and better picture in our mind. Because this will bring a greater color and depth to the things that Jesus has to say. And a greater appreciation for what Jesus has to say. And so this morning, I want to spend some time examining this idea of the shepherd sheep motif in the Old Testament, with the hope that you'll not only have a better appreciation for John chapter 10 when we come to it next week, but you'll also see and remember that the Lord, namely the Lord Jesus Christ, is your good and dear shepherd. And that's really the main point that I want you to get this morning, is for you to remember and see that the Lord Jesus is your good shepherd." Now, in order to see this, we need to first look at how the Lord is the shepherd of Israel and His people are the sheep. And so of the many descriptions the Bible gives about the relationship between the Lord and his people, I don't think any of them are as prominent as that shepherd-sheep relationship. Over and over again, God's people are referred to as his sheep. We heard it this morning in our call to worship from Psalm 100. Know that the Lord, he is God, it is he who made us and we are his. For we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 95.7 tells us that the Lord is our God. We are his people, the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Isaiah 53.6, it said that we all like sheep have gone astray. And David confesses in Psalm 119 that he has gone astray like a lost sheep. So God's people time and time again are referred to as God's sheep. And therefore, it shouldn't surprise us that God, time and time again, is referred to as the shepherd of the sheep. Psalm 80, verse 1, give ear, O shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. All of Psalm 23, which we read, refers to God in this way. Verse 1, we sing, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. And even God himself takes this description as a shepherd upon himself in Ezekiel 34 when he says, I myself will search for my sheep and seek them out. I will feed my flock and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. And so the Spirit of God wants us to see this description for God and for his people. He wants us to understand that God is our shepherd, and that we are his sheep. Because it's in this context of the shepherd-sheep relationship that he wants us to understand our connection with him. And the reason is, is because this is one of the best expressions and images of who we are, and more importantly, of who God is. And the more we understand this imagery, the more we will understand ourselves, the more we will understand God, and the more we will understand our relationship with him. And so if you are a sheep, this means that you're vulnerable. If you are a sheep, this means that you're not very strong. If you're a sheep, this means that you need guidance in this life. If you are a sheep, you're easily frightened and made anxious by circumstances around you. If you're a sheep, you're prone to wander and go astray. And if you are a sheep and you do go astray, you know that you need to be rescued because you can't save yourself. Does that sound familiar? It sounds like us, doesn't it? We are sheep and we are God's sheep. The shepherd, on the other hand, the shepherd is a defender. He protects the sheep. He guards the sheep. He sacrifices his own comfort and sometimes his own life for the sheep. And so he is selfless. He loves the sheep. He's kind. He's gentle. He's not harsh or cruel so that the sheep don't scatter. But he knows the sheep. He can lead the sheep, he can feed the sheep because they know him, he has an intimate relationship with them and he can set them at peace. And the shepherd pursues lost sheep and carries ones who are broken and injured upon his shoulders. And so the relationship between the shepherd and the sheep is a close one. It's established on trust and on love and one that's consistently demonstrated to the sheep by the shepherd's care for the sheep. And we learn more about ourselves. We learn more about God and about our relationship to him through this shepherd-sheep imagery. And one of the things that we need to see about God in this, one of the things that this imagery helps us to understand about him is that our God is a good, tender-hearted, and loving God. And we know this because he is a good, tender-hearted, and loving shepherd. The Lord does everything a good shepherd is supposed to do. And we have a beautiful description of that for us in Psalm 23, which we read here at the beginning. Look there again with me through the text and see how the Lord is this good shepherd. We see that he provides for all of our needs. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He grants us rest and peace and makes sure that we're nourished and sustained. makes us lie down in green pastures. He leads us beside still waters. He provides protection and security and comfort to his sheep when danger, trouble, or death is near. 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. He sets his sheep at ease even when enemies threaten. You anoint or you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Could you imagine trying to eat a meal and sit at peace and actually eat a meal when all of your enemies were surrounding you and wanted to attack you? You wouldn't be able to eat, would you? Imagine sheep trying to eat with their enemies around them. And yet the good shepherd is trusted so well, the good shepherd does his job so well that even when enemies are surrounding us or surrounding the sheep, they're completely calm and completely at ease because they're convinced that those enemies are not going to get past their shepherd. And so they can put their heads down and not look around and eat in peace. He treats his sheep as precious and he treasures them. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. He fosters a great sense of trust and hope and love for him among his sheep, so much so that they are convinced that surely goodness and mercy must follow us all the days of our lives. He lets nothing come between him and his sheep so that they are never separated from him. And so they know that they will dwell in his house forever. Nothing will take them away. What a very good shepherd God's people have. And as if that were not enough, we read in Isaiah 40 verse 11, he is gentle and compassionate towards his sheep. He will gather the lambs in his arms and carry them in his bosom and gently lead those who are with young. Brothers and sisters, these are the descriptions of the Lord and his heart and care for his people. And these are the descriptions of the Lord and his heart and his care toward you as his sheep. And so one of the things you need to ask yourself this morning is, do you view God in this way? When you think about the Lord of glory, when you think about the Holy One of Israel, when you think about the one who dwells in unapproachable light, do you ever think about him as your shepherd? And do you think about yourselves as his sheep? and the relationship that exists between you because of that reality. Sometimes we're tempted to see God as only one who is harsh and swift to punish us whenever we step out of line. But the image of a shepherd shows us that he's tender and loving, he's patient and gentle with us. Maybe you think that you only face trouble and trials and affliction in this life, only bad things ever happen to you. But the truth is that God works all things together for your good. The image of the shepherd reminds us, convinces us that we are not being led astray but in fact goodness and mercy have to follow us all the days of our lives. Maybe you count yourself as being unwanted in the kingdom of God, that God begrudgingly saved you and doesn't want to have anything to do with you now that he has saved you. The image of the shepherd shows us that the Lord counts you as precious and dear in his sight. He desires you, he cares for you, he tends for you. Maybe you fear the threats and evils of this world toward you. The image of the shepherd reminds us that he provides protection and security and safety for us in our trials and in our afflictions so that we can rejoice. not to mention the promise to take you through the veil of death with victory. We need not fear. Is your heart concerned that you may have fallen from the Lord's grace, that perhaps because of your sin, you won't actually make it into heaven? Well, the image of the shepherd reminds us, shows us that the Lord brings us peace and that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever because in Jesus God has brought you justification with him and peace with God. Your shepherd has granted you rest and peace and therefore you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. What a picture of the Lord's care that's found for us in this imagery of the shepherd. You need to keep this view in mind of God when you think about him. Of all the images you may think about him throughout the week, keep this one in your mind. He is your shepherd and you are his sheep. He is a very good, very tenderhearted, loving shepherd. Now as the great shepherd who dwells in heaven, God has set over his people under shepherds, and we see that throughout the Old Testament, we see it in the New Testament as well. Under shepherds to lead and guide and care for his flock. There were to be representatives in his shepherding arm in this world on his behalf. And so there was Moses, there was Samuel, there was David, these were good shepherds that God gave over his people, ruling and caring for them. Good shepherds like the Lord. But there were nevertheless evil shepherds in this world who worked on behalf of the evil one trying to lead and rob and steal the sheep away. Unlike Moses and Samuel and David and ultimately unlike God himself, wicked and evil shepherds had arisen among God's people. Shepherds that took advantage of God's people. Shepherds that cared only for themselves and not for the flock of God. shepherds who harmed and abused the sheep, shepherds which would forsake the flock and leave them vulnerable to danger. We read this earlier, but the Lord speaks out against these shepherds in Ezekiel 34, and he commands his prophet to cry out against them. Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, even to the shepherds, thus says the Lord God. Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves, should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered." What a stark contrast there is between these false and evil shepherds. and the Lord as the shepherd. Just think back again to the descriptions you have in Psalm 23 and Isaiah 40. These shepherds are nothing like the Lord. They're evil shepherds seeking their own interests, their own gain, abusing and using and taking advantage of the sheep. And so God declares in Jeremiah 23, woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture. Zechariah 11, woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock. God has strong words to say about those shepherds who neglect and abuse his sheep. And next week we'll see how the good shepherd responded to those who had abused and neglected and used the sheep. But this is not just a problem that's in the past. Just think about all of the health and wealth prosperity preachers today who lead their flocks into error or the televangelists who continually take advantage of people and their money claiming that their giving is a great act of faith and they need to prove it over and over and over again just so these men can fill their own pockets. or liberal pastors and churches which have compromised truth and doctrine for the sake of unity all the while leaving their people to become food for evil men and for heresies? Or how about otherwise sound and orthodox pastors and teachers and churches which do teach right doctrine and yet lay legalistic burdens upon their people? and lord their authority over the people. God has harsh words to say to all of these. Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter my sheep, the sheep of my pasture. Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock. I thank God that in his grace the Lord has granted to this church, to this denomination, under-shepherds who strive to know and love God and to live to serve God's people and God's sheep. But friends, something that we need to understand about this is that the only reason that the description of these false, wicked shepherds in Ezekiel 34 don't apply to us is because of God's mercy. It is only in God's mercy that we are not these false and wicked shepherds found in Ezekiel 34. What we read there is the description of the natural fallen bent and wicked fruit of the heart of man. And if it were not for the mercy and grace of God towards us, we would be the same. So brothers and sisters, pray for us, pray for our congregation, pray for our denomination. Pray that God would preserve us, and pray that God would raise up shepherds, under-shepherds of his sheep, and that he would show mercy and grace to them, that they would lead God's people like the flock of God, and they would submit themselves to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because wicked and evil shepherds abound in our land. They do so now, they did so in Israel's day. and such evil and wicked shepherds who took advantage of and abused the flock of God. And even those who served faithfully and yet failed and fell short. All of these shepherds, good and bad, all of them were to leave a longing in the heart of God's people for the one true great shepherd of the sheep. And I pray that that's the same thing today, that even though we lead you as faithfully as we can by the mercy of God, even when we fall short and fail you, I pray that it still leaves the longing in your heart for the great shepherd of the sheep, Jesus Christ. And God in his infant kindness and grace purposed to send forth the ultimate good shepherd. And we see in the Old Testament that the great son of David, the Messiah, is that one great shepherd of the Lord's people. After God rebuked the merciless, violent, wicked false shepherds of Israel, In Ezekiel 34, he gives the blessed promise of the great shepherd in verse 23. Listen to this promise. God says, I will establish one shepherd over them and he shall feed them, my servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. Now, of course, these words were written years after David lived and after David died. And so it wasn't David himself who would rule over God's people. It wasn't David himself who would feed them and be their shepherd, but it would be the greater than David who was to be the shepherd to come. God had declared, I will establish one shepherd over them. He shall feed them. My servant, David, he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And how incredible it would have been then to hear Jesus, the son of David, say, all whoever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know my sheep, and I'm known by my own. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand." What a comparison to those wicked, evil shepherds Jesus is, the great shepherd of the sheep. Jesus has come as the long-awaited Messiah shepherd. He has come to fulfill the longing of Israel. He had come to find and seek the lost sheep, which were spread across the globe, both Jew and Gentile. Jesus has come to be the shepherd of his people. And it's this Jesus, this great shepherd of the sheep who grants us rest and peace and makes sure that we are nourished and we are taken care of. You read Psalm 23, you see your good shepherd there. He makes us to lie down in the green pastures of his word. He leads us beside the still waters of his spirit. Jesus provides protection and security and comfort to us when trouble and danger or death is near. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil for Jesus is with us. His rod of protection and his staff, they comfort us because Jesus has disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities and enemies over us. by canceling the record of debt that stood against us, forgiving us for all of our sins by the blood that he shed on the cross. We can follow Jesus with confidence even into death because we know that there is nothing that can condemn us because Jesus is our shepherd. Jesus treats us as precious, and he treasures us. He anoints our head with oil. He has set his spirit to dwell in us, and his mercy is new toward us every morning. And so our cup of grace overflows. Jesus is gentle. He's compassionate towards us. He will gather us like lambs in his arms, carry us close to him. He fills our hearts with a great sense of trust and hope and love for him. Surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. Our shepherd has come and he leads us in the way everlasting so that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. This is the Lord's doing and it should be marvelous in our eyes. This is the work of our shepherd savior, Jesus Christ. And so friends, as we move on into the study of John chapter 10, keep this glorious Old Testament picture in mind of the shepherd and the sheep, of the truth that the Lord is the shepherd of Israel and his people are his sheep. Remember that he is a very good, very tenderhearted, very loving shepherd. And that even though there are nevertheless evil, wicked shepherds in this world, God promised the great son of David, the Messiah, as the one true shepherd of the sheep. And friends, he has come. He has lived, he has died, he has raised from the dead, and he reigns in heaven and leads you and guides you as the good shepherd. So remember and see that the Lord Jesus Christ is your good shepherd. Follow him and find rest for your souls. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for Jesus Christ. We do pray you would lead us by your word and by your spirit to find comfort in your son. Minister to us today, we pray, by your spirit's presence. In Jesus' name we ask it. Amen.