Today, I would like you to take an imaginary trip with me. Close your eyes and let’s begin our journey. Envision a beautiful lush green meadow with soft grass. Through the middle of this meadow runs a clear stream. The sky is blue, the sun is shining brightly and there is a soft cool breeze blowing through the trees. Everything is peaceful, so you spread out a blanket beside the stream and lay down to take a nap or maybe read a book. This is an opportunity for you to escape the cares of life for at least a moment. For the majority of us this is a very inviting picture. This is the exact image that David is painting in verse two. A good shepherd desires to lead his sheep to such a place as this. This would be a place where his sheep could lay down without any fear or disturbance. A place that is necessary for the well being of his sheep. This is the same type of place that the Good Shepherd is striving to lead us to. He knows that like the sheep this is necessary for our well being as well. As we reflect on David’s words today, we will discover exactly how and why God wants to do this for us. But above all, I would like us to discover all the benefits that come from allowing the Shepherd to lead us to this place.
I. Understanding why this is essential for the sheep.
A. Sheep require rest to properly digest their food.
1. Not only does a shepherd make sure that the sheep have nourishment they also are concerned about the sheep having proper rest.
2. The shepherd must search out a shaded, peaceful and secure place for the sheep to lie down in order that they may properly digest their food.
3. After the shepherd finds this place that offers his sheep a high level of tranquility, he leads them there.
4. As the sheep lie there during the heat of the day they will chew their cud.
5. This is just another example of the shepherd understanding the needs of his sheep.
B. Sheep can be very easily stressed out.
1. Sheep will not lie down when they feel even the slightest little bit of fear.
2. Sleep will not lie down if they sense any friction in the flock. In flocks there is what is often known as the butting order.
3. Sleep will not lie down if they are being bothered by flies and parasites.
4. Sheep will not lie down if they feel the least bit hungry. This is why good pasture is essential.
C. Sheep need a peaceful environment in order to rest.
1. When one weighs the four factors that affect a sheep’s ability to rest you can begin to see the importance of a peaceful environment.
2. What we need to realize is that these words have nothing to do with the sheep eating all they want or drinking all they want.
3. The Hebrew word used for “pasture” does not necessarily mean a place of grazing. It refers to a lush meadow that is beautiful and peaceful.
4. The Hebrew term translated “still waters” can literally be translated “restful waters.”
5. The focus of both images has to do with a place that is peaceful and encourages one to rest.
6. David’s words are focused on the idea of the shepherd being diligent in finding his sheep a place where they can truly enjoy a rest that refreshes them.
II. Understanding why this is essential for us.
A. Life has the ability to rob us of our peace and contentment.
1. The majority of us sitting here today have felt stress at some time during the past week.
2. Life can become burdensome and quite difficult to navigate. During these times like the sheep we find it difficult to rest.
3. We all have lost sleep worrying about some situation or another.
4. We all have felt like God was a million miles away and believed that we were left to face everything alone.
5. The truth is that only four percent of what we worry about is within our ability to do something about but God promises to help us deal with the other ninety-six percent as well. There is nothing that is beyond His control.
6. This is exactly why He wants us to find our security and peace in Him.
B. Our lives require times of restoration and refreshment.
1. There are times when we just feel that we cannot handle one more thing. In fact, many times we feel like we have too much to handle.
2. There are times when we just keep giving and giving till we are exhausted and have nothing left to give.
3. To remain healthy and focused we need those times of restoration and refreshment.
4. If we do not find this peaceful place to rest the consequences can be dire.
5. God realizes that we need many of the same things as sheep do.
C. David speaks words that let us know that he is not just talking about sheep.
1. David drives the point home as he no longer is talking about sheep when he says, “He restores my soul.”
2. David is speaking from life experience.
a. When I am discouraged He restores hope.
b. When I am burdened He offers to help carry the load.
c. When we feel alone He comforts us with His presence.
d. When we are overcome with fear He reassures us.
3. God is promising that He will not only provide what we need for our physical self but He will also meet all of the needs of our spiritual self.
4. Every day God wants to provide rest and refreshment for our souls.
5. He is the Good Shepherd and He will lead each of us to the place where we can find all that we need.
III. Application? Understanding how God makes this happen for us.
A. God has given us His promises to restore and refresh our soul.
1. God often uses the promises that are contained in His word to bring refreshment and restoration.
2. David realized this, listen to his words from Psalm nineteen.
3. The law of the LORD is perfect, refreshing the soul. (Psalm 19:7—NIV 2011)
4. God also uses the Holy Spirit to bring refreshment and restoration into our lives.
5. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:26-27—NIV 2011)
B. God his willing to restore and refresh our souls as often as we need it.
1. Do you ever wonder if God gets tired of us constantly running to Him when something goes wrong?
2. When it comes to refreshing and restoring our souls God does not operate on the basis of a quota system.
3. God doesn’t care how many times we have messed up or how many times we get discouraged. He is ready, willing and able to provide us with what meets our deepest needs.
4. The truth is that we can approach God with confidence because He wants us to come to Him at any time and as many times as we need.
C. God is the only one who is capable of restoring and refreshing our souls.
1. David’s use of the pronoun “He” indicates a recurring message that He is trying to get across.
a. He makes me lie down.
b. He leads me beside.
c. He restores my soul.
2. People and the things of this world can do many different things for us but they all fall miserably short when it comes to providing restoration and refreshment for our souls.
3. The things of this world can help us find temporary pleasure at best but they cannot do for us what Jesus can.
4. The truth is that there is no sorrow or pain that is beyond God’s reach and ability to heal.
5. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He is the only one that can lead His sheep to a place where we can find rest and refreshment.
6. The great news is that the restoration and refreshment that He offers will last for eternity.
Horatio G. Spafford and his wife, Anna, were pretty well-known in 1860’s Chicago. And this was not just because of Horatio's legal career and business endeavors. The Spaffords were also prominent supporters and close friends of D.L. Moody, the famous preacher. In 1870, however, things started to go wrong. The Spaffords' only
son was killed by scarlet fever at the age of four. A year later, it was fire rather than fever that struck. Horatio had invested heavily in real estate on the shores of Lake Michigan. In 1871, every one of these holdings was wiped out by the great Chicago Fire.
Aware of the toll that these disasters had taken on the family, Horatio decided to take his wife and four daughters on a holiday to England. And, not only did they need the rest -- DL Moody needed the help. He was traveling around Britain on one of his great evangelistic campaigns. Horatio and Anna planned to join Moody in late 1873. And so, the Spaffords traveled to New York in November, from where they were to catch the French steamer 'Ville de Havre' across the Atlantic. Yet just before they set sail, a last-minute business development forced Horatio to delay. Not wanting to ruin the family holiday, Spafford persuaded his family to go as planned. He would follow on later. With this decided, Anna and her four daughters sailed East to Europe while Spafford returned West to Chicago. Just nine days later, Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales. It read: "Saved alone."
On November 2nd 1873, the 'Ville de Havre' had collided with 'The Lochearn', an English vessel. It sank in only 12 minutes, claiming the lives of 226 people. Anna Spafford had stood bravely on the deck, with her daughters Annie, Maggie, Bessie and Tanetta clinging desperately to her. Her last memory had been of her baby being
torn violently from her arms by the force of the waters. Anna was only saved from the fate of her daughters by a plank which floated beneath her unconscious body and propped her up. When the survivors of the wreck had been rescued, Mrs. Spafford's first reaction was one of complete despair. Then she heard a voice speak to her, "You were spared for a purpose." And she immediately recalled the words of a friend, "It's easy to be grateful and good when you have so much, but take care that you are not a fair-weather friend to God."
Upon hearing the terrible news, Horatio Spafford boarded the next ship out of New York to join his bereaved wife. Bertha Spafford (the fifth daughter of Horatio and Anna born later) explained that during her father's voyage, the captain of the ship had called him to the bridge. "A careful reckoning has been made", he said, "and I believe we are now passing the place where the de Havre was wrecked. The water is three miles deep." Horatio then returned to his cabin and penned the lyrics of his great hymn.
