“The LORD is my shepherd.” Of the many comforting words in God’s Word believers throughout the ages have cherished those. The Holy Spirit put those words into the heart of a shepherd-king named David approximately 1000 years before Jesus was born. They have been sung and spoken, shared and declared. They have brought comfort to the fearful, compassion to the hurting, and peace to the dying.
When David wrote, “The LORD is my shepherd,” he made a statement about himself and God. David realized his need for God. Like one of the many sheep he had cared for in his time as a shepherd he saw how helpless and weak he was. He saw this world as a wilderness filled with danger. He also saw God as the one who comforted him when he was afraid, who protected him, and provided for his needs.
On this Good Shepherd Sunday each of us have taken the inspired words of King David for our own. We gladly said in our Psalm for this morning, “The LORD is my shepherd.” But we are at somewhat of a disadvantage in comparison to the author of those words. Most of us have not tended a flock of sheep. We don’t fully realize the subtle truths in identifying ourselves as sheep and the LORD as our shepherd.
The Word of God for our sermon this morning will lead us to more clearly see the LORD as our shepherd. These comforting words from Isaiah tell us plainly how much like sheep we really are. The prophet will point out our need for the LORD as our shepherd and the LORD’s care for us as our shepherd. Since we are directing our attention to the living words of the living God, the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to see the LORD as our shepherd. May each of you:
SEE THE LORD AS YOUR SHEPHERD
I. See your need for Him
II. See His care for you
These verses come from the 40th chapter of Isaiah’s prophecy. That is significant because it marks a turning point in the book. Although chapters 1-39 contain some promises of forgiveness and hope, and some prophecies about Jesus, they primarily are a proclamation of God’s judgment on his people. In chapters 40-66 of Isaiah the LORD offers comfort and good news to his people. In fact, in chapter 40 verse 1, Isaiah wrote, “‘Comfort, comfort my people,’ says your God.” The verses we are focusing on in this sermon are a continuation of that opening declaration of comfort for God’s afflicted people.
But before God’s people can be comforted they must see the painful truth about their condition. Listen again to how Isaiah described it. “A voice says, ‘Cry out.’ And I said, ‘What shall I cry?’ ‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.’” The Holy Spirit gave Isaiah the courage to tell it like it is. Through these words the LORD our shepherd shows us our need for him.
It might be helpful for us to view these verses like a funnel. Isaiah shows us our need for the LORD as our shepherd in a general way and then he gradually makes it more personal. Isaiah begins by pointing us to the fact that all people are no more durable than grass. In comparison to the eternal and unchanging nature of God people are indeed no more lasting than grass. Although we are mixing metaphors between grass and sheep it helps us see our need for the LORD as our shepherd.
If you are over the age of 30 you have already begun to experience the withering of your flesh. Our bodies are dying, aren’t they? Even if God gives us good health and a long life we witness what Psalm 90:10 says, “The length of our days is seventy yearsor eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” Yes, it is with good reason we say, “The LORD is my shepherd.” When we see our weakness and our mortality we see our need for the LORD as our shepherd.
Not only does Isaiah use our mortality to point to our need for the LORD as our shepherd he also reminds us that we have no other place to turn. “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.” The glory of humanity, the best we can do and that we have done, is like a fragile, fading flower. Over the centuries mankind has made great advances in science, medicine, and farming. Yet, we still can’t control the weather. Droughts and floods, evidence of sin’s grip on the world still stifle our efforts. We have wide area radar to tell us when tornados are coming. But they still take lives and do great damage every year. We know more about the human body than any generation before us. Yet, a little girl in Houston has a tumor that only God can stop. Some of you know that my wife has an inner ear disorder in one of her ears. For all the wisdom doctors have in our time they still don’t fully understand how the inner ear works. I don’t say these things to frighten you. I am simply stating what should be obvious. We need the LORD as our shepherd. We are like grass and our greatness is like the wilting pedals of a flower.
Isaiah continues to make his point by directing us to our greatest weakness and our greatest need for the LORD as our shepherd. He wrote, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them.” What is the breath of the LORD? The breath of the LORD is his holy Word and the demands of his LAW. God breathes on humans the command to be as holy as he is and they wilt.
Let’s make this comparison more personal. How do we stand when the breath of the LORD blows on us? Perhaps we are pleased with ourselves for getting out of bed this morning to attend this worship service. Maybe the devil has convinced us that we are keeping the first three commandments by being here. Aren’t we loving God above all things? Are we not using his name to pray, praise, and give thanks. And aren’t we remembering the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy? The breath of the LORD will put an end to any such thinking. Our motives were not all pure. Thoughtlessness and carelessness over God’s name and God’s Word have also dogged us. Oh, yes, we need the LORD as our shepherd if we are going to survive a blast of his holiness. We wither like grass and shrivel like flowers in his presence.
And what about the commandments that are concerned with our relationship to others? The LORD breathes on us the directive to love others as we love ourselves. He demands that we forgive as we have been forgiven. Do you feel the breath of the LORD consuming you with his holiness? Let’s go through the requirements of his LAW. Did you gladly file your taxes last month? Or did you grumble and complain? Have you protected the life God has given to you by the way you care for your body? Consider how you have stood up under the temptations of your sinful body? If you are a husband have you loved your wife as Christ loved the church? Wives have you honored your husband and submitted to him as the church submits to her Savior? Are we content with the blessings we have been given or do we strive and struggle for more? When the breath of the LORD blows on us we become as dead and dry as last year’s grass.
We were made from the dust of the earth and we will return to it. Our best efforts, our most noble plans, and highest achievements are nothing more than manure spread on the fields of history. Our best intentions to be good and our most obedient actions shrivel and crumble as the breath of God’s holiness reaches them. As Isaiah wrote later on in his prophecy, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” (Isaiah 64:6) With clear pictures and in graphic words Isaiah shows us our need for the LORD as our shepherd.
But Isaiah then offers us encouragement to see the LORD as our shepherd. He points us to the care the LORD gives to us. Due to their limited mental ability sheep don’t realize their need for a shepherd. But they certainly enjoy what the shepherd gives. Through these words Isaiah would raise us past the level of sheep. He would have us not only see our need for the LORD as our shepherd but he would also have us see the care our shepherd gives us.
To help us understand these verses we must remember that Isaiah was prophesying about the one who called himself the Good Shepherd. Through the Holy Spirit Isaiah was allowed to see 700 years into the future. He saw that Immanuel--God with us would come. Isaiah declared that Jesus would be born of virgin that he would be called, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In these verses it seems as though Isaiah was looking ahead specifically to Palm Sunday. “You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, ‘Here is your God!’ God came to his people in the person of Jesus the Good Shepherd. He came rescue them from sin and deliver them from death. Today these verses direct us to see the LORD as our shepherd.
Isaiah went on to write, “See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.” Those verses take us past Bethlehem, and Nazareth, and the skull shaped hill. They direct us to the stone that was rolled away from the tomb revealing that Jesus had risen from the dead. Our Good Shepherd has all power and glory. He rules everything for our good. We can trust his powerful promises. Jesus said of his sheep, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:2829) The Apostle Paul declared that our Good Shepherd is, “far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” He added the truth that “God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” (Ephesians 1:2122) When we see Isaiah’s vision of the LORD as our shepherd we see his care for us. Nothing can harm us or separate us from his love.
After showing us our need for the LORD as our shepherd and describing how he comes to us and how he is able to help us Isaiah completes the picture. “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Although we may not have any real life experiences with sheep or shepherds this image is easy for us to grasp. The LORD tends to all our needs of body and soul. Sometimes we may feel the sting of his rod or the pull of his staff. But everything he does is done out of love. He may withhold some things form us and lead us in paths we may not like. But always he cares for us. Through the image of lambs, and sheep who have young, Isaiah also points out the individualized and personal care that the LORD gives to each of us. He knows our situation in life and what particular needs we face
How right it is for us to say, “The LORD is my shepherd.” Isaiah shows us clearly the care he gives us. He comes to us in our need. His strength and authority stand ready to help and protect us.
A new kind of plane was on its first flight. It was full of reporters and journalists. A little while after takeoff, the captain’s voice was heard over the speakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, I’m delighted to be your pilot for this plane’s historic first flight. I can tell you the flight is going well. Nevertheless, I have to tell you about a minor inconvenience that has occurred. The passengers on the right side can, if they look out their window, see that the closest engine is slightly vibrating. That shouldn’t worry you, because this plane is equipped with four engines and we are flying along smoothly at an acceptable altitude. As long as you are looking out the right side, you might as well look at the other engine on that side. You will notice that it is glowing, or more precisely one should say, burning. That shouldn’t worry you either, since this plane is designed to fly with just two engines if necessary, and we are maintaining an acceptable altitude and speed. As long as we are looking out the plane, those of you on the left side shouldn’t worry if you look out your side of the plane and notice that one engine that is supposed to be there is missing. It fell off about ten minutes ago. Let me tell you that we are amazed that the plane is doing so well without it. However, I will call your attention to something a little more serious. Along the center aisle all the way down the plane a crack has appeared. Some of you are, I suppose, able to look through the crack and may even notice the waves of the Atlantic Ocean below. In fact, those of you with very good eyesight may be able to notice a small lifeboat that was thrown from the plane. Well, ladies and gentlemen, you will be happy to know that your captain is keeping an eye on the progress of the plane from that lifeboat below.”
Now, I realize that there are some situations that we ought not joke about, and a plane crash is perhaps one of them. But that little story about the plane and its pilot seemed so descriptive of our lives and the world today that I couldn’t help but tell it. Sometimes we find ourselves in situations very similar to that plane flight. Everything around us seems to be falling apart and the person in charge seems to be as remote as the captain in the raft on the ocean far below.
But the Person in charge of our lives is not distant or uninterested. He is our Shepherd and he is leading the way. Leading us; giving us eternal life; assuring us we will never perish; and, my friends, no one can snatch you out of his hands. Isaiah invites us to see the LORD as our Shepherd. See the LORD as your shepherd. See your need for him. See his care for you. Amen.
