I want to turn to perhaps the most familiar passage in the Old Testament for our little meditation this afternoon — the 23rd Psalm. I suppose that at least nine-tenths of us here know the Psalm by heart, but I'll read it.
"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 forever.
Someone has called our attention to the fact that in the 22nd Psalm, 23rd Psalm and 24th Psalm we have what might be called, "The cross and the crook and the crown." So, our Lord has passed through the horrible experience of the 22nd Psalm; He has borne our sins in His own body on the tree. By and by He is going to come forth in glory clouds to take over this scene, to reign, to rule, and to set everything right that is wrong in this present world. God has promised it, and in no detail can it fail! But, in the meantime, here we are a company of believers gathered from various walks of life, various backgrounds; all sharing in common the wilderness experience. We're not in heaven. We are going to be, but we're not there yet. So, the Word of God has provided for us—God has given us a chart and a compass. We have the Word of God, we have the Spirit of God, and we have the shepherd care of Christ as we go on our way.
We know not whether this way may be long or short. There is nothing more fragile than the thread of life. We have been reminded of it in a very startling way this past week (the assassination of the President of the United States). So, you and I cannot say we will be here a week from today-none of us! We know the Lord's coming is imminent; it may happen today. And, if not there may be that experience that the Psalmist here alludes to when he speaks of, "the valley of the shadow of death." How uncertain is life!
I anticipate here just a moment when I remind some of you young folks that I gave you a copy of that remarkable incident of the young lady in Pasadena who was asked to write a paper for her teacher. She had been taught the evolutionary theory. She didn't accept it; she believed her Bible. So, in answering the professor in her term paper, she wrote a very frank statement of her faith in Christ. She wrote it on Thursday; she handed it in to her professor on Friday, and on Saturday she and her boyfriend were returning from a religious meeting, and they were run into by a drunken driver and instantly killed. She made her confession Thursday (she was only seventeen years of age), and on Saturday she was, "absent from the body, present with the Lord." So, let's live in the light of eternity—let's live with the realization that we are not going to stay here!
This Psalm starts out with, "The LORD," and it closes with the same expression, "dwell in the house of the LORD." The word LORD is interesting. You notice it is in capital letters; it isn't always so in the Old Testament. When you find that word spelled with all capitals, as you find it here, it is the equivalent of the word "Jehovah." That was the Name that God took in relationship with the Children of Israel. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob knew Him as God Almighty; but, when He took them out of the land of Egypt and into Canaan, He revealed Himself to them by the name of Jehovah. What does it mean? It means the One that was, the One that is, and the One that ever shall be. Who is that? We know that is the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a little pamphlet you can get from the Bible Truth Publishers, entitled "Jesus is Jehovah." You may have read it; but, if you haven't, get a copy and read it. In this pamphlet the author traces the various parallels between what is said about Jehovah in the Old Testament and what is said about Jesus in the New. So, we are left in no doubt at all that Jehovah of the Old Testament was Jesus of the New, and vise versa.
You and I are here in the pilgrimage journey, and we need a guide; we need a shepherd. How do we get to have a shepherd? Well, young folks, you know that wonderful 15th of Luke: about the sheep that was lost, and how the shepherd went out and searched until he found it, laid it on his shoulders, and brought it home.
Then the remark is made, "joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." We can't have much confidence in a conversion that knows no repentance. The apostle Paul preached, "repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ." And, what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder! Repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We become His sheep by the fact that He found us, accepted us, wrought for us, made us of His flock, and claimed us as His own. So the speaker can say, "The LORD is my shepherd." My shepherd!
Someone was telling me about being at the funeral of a colored brother. He and his wife had both once been in the Meeting. The funeral was held in the colored church, so called, and the speaker was very faithful in giving out the gospel. He preached from this very portion. He said, "The Word says, the Lord is my shepherd. Would you want Him to be your shepherd—would you?" Would you like to have Him be with you all the time, to go with you where you go? Do you want Him to be your own shepherd?" That is what He is—The Lord is my shepherd. In the so-called Lord's Prayer it is, "our Father which art in heaven." Our Father. But here, it is, "The Lord is my shepherd." Do we realize it? It is individual, isn't it? He is my shepherd! He is interested in me. Have you made it personal?
"My shepherd." He has a care over you. You know, that is a figure of speech which is used in various places in the Word of God. It isn't only just here, and it isn't only just in the New Testament. Look at Isa. 40:1111He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. (Isaiah 40:11) for just a moment: "He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." Could you have anything more tender, more loving, more gracious than that? "Gather the lambs with his arm." If we are only young in Christ, if we haven't known the Savior very long, we might be compared to the "lambs of the flock." He has a special care over such. He gathers them with His arm, He carries them in His bosom. Oh, how little we know the extent of our Lord's love for the lambs of the flock. In His bosom—the place of His love and affection. Are we enjoying it? Are we glad that the Lord clasps us close to Himself in that way? He shall gently lead those that have little ones with them. Some of you are young parents, just starting out on parenthood. You have some little ones. He is going to lead you gently along too. Oh, the gentle heart of that blessed good shepherd! How it is brought out here.
Now, look at Ezek. 34:11 15: "Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains of Israel shall their fold be: there they shall lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God." Now, that is Jehovah with Israel. But, don't you see? it is the same shepherd heart—the care that He has for His own.
Now, turn to the New Testament, to John 10:2727My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27): "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." In our chapter, the 23rd Psalm, it is my shepherd; it is the individual talking, but here it is the shepherd speaking. And He in turn says, "My sheep." Isn't that nice?—that reciprocal "My:" "My shepherd," and then to hear His voice come back, "My sheep hear my voice." That is a sign that we belong to Him—when we hear His voice. Later He says, "A stranger will they not follow." How sad it is when those who profess to be the children of God are seen following strange voices, and not the shepherd's voice. "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them." He never loses sight of us for a moment, regardless of where we may be. Never out of His thoughts. He neither slumbers of sleeps; He always bears us upon His heart's affections. Yes, our whole life is a concern to our shepherd.
Now, read the 28th verse: "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them our of my hand." Dear young Christian, if you know Christ as your Savior you have eternal life! It is a life that never had a beginning and will never have an end. It is a kind of life—it isn't only that it is endless life. There may be some who have endless life, but who wish that they didn't. They would be glad if they could get rid of the idea that they have endless life. But this is a kind of life—eternal life—a life that is in Him, in Christ. He was eternal life, and you and I have it in Him. We don't have it apart from Him, but we have it in Him. And, better still, not only do we have it, but, blessed be His name, we cannot lose it. Isn't that wonderful!
See what He says: "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." (Who is talking? The shepherd—the good shepherd.) "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:29,3029My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 30I and my Father are one. (John 10:29‑30).) If one child of God—just one—came up missing in heaven, it would falsify these two verses. It would falsify the Word of the Son of God, and it would falsify the promise of the Father! We have that double security, the Father and the Son. And we are in His hand forever; none can pluck them out of His hand! Do you believe it? Do you believe it deep down in your soul? If you do, does it not kindle within you a burning desire to hear His voice and to live to please Him?
Now, going back to our 23rd Psalm, "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." In this connection, turn to the familiar verses in Matt. 11:28 29: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Oh, dear young Christian, don't let the Devil whisper into your ear that to live a life for Christ in this world is going to be a hardship—that you are going to miss out on some good times. That is a lie of Satan! No, the happiest person in this room right now, is the one who is giving Christ His place in his or her life. "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters." There is food; there is refreshing. It is a glorious, happy thing to be a Christian—to be saved; to walk through this world as belonging to that blessed, glorified Man in heaven—the good shepherd of the sheep!
Turn to 1 Tim. 4:88For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (1 Timothy 4:8): "For bodily exercise profiteth little;" (That is, you get some benefit from bodily exercise.) "But godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." Bodily exercise can't do anything for you as to the life to come. But, here it is a question of godliness, of seeking to live to please the One who died for us, the Lord Jesus. He says that that life is profitable for all things. He is not leading us into a barren wilderness; He is not leading us into a path of misery and wretchedness, so that we become gloomy, mournful and unhappy. No, not a bit of it! "Green pastures" and "still waters." He is concerned that you and I shall know the joys that He had when He was here in this world. He was the Man of Sorrows, yet the happiest Man that ever trod the earth. Oh, how one enjoys that paradox—and it's true! There never was a happier Man than the Man of Sorrows. He delighted to do the will of His God and Father, and that is the standard that He set for us, that He has left us in His Word.
Now I want to read 1 Peter 2:21, 2221For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1 Peter 2:21‑22): "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." Christ has been through this scene, and He has left a path or standard for us. He has left us an example. And, what was that example? "That ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin." "My little children, these things write I unto you that ye sin not." (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1).) Is there ever any allowance made in the Word of God for a Christian to deliberately plan on sinning? Is there? Can you find anywhere in the Bible a loophole that tells you that you can take time off and sin? No! "Leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin."
That brings us to another part of our 23rd Psalm; a very solemn, but a very necessary part: "He restoreth my soul." Oh yes, our Shepherd doesn't cease to be our Shepherd because we stray, or because we miss the path. No, He is still interested in us. "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1).) One thing that strikes me about that statement is this: It doesn't say, "If any man sin and confess it." No, it doesn't say that! "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." In the case of Peter's grievous sin in denying his Lord, the Lord knew he was going to do that, and He warned him ahead of time. But, there is something that touches me—the Lord said to Peter, "I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." In other words, the advocacy of Christ started before the failure. He had already prayed for him. Peter, in order that he might learn a needful lesson, was allowed to go ahead and deny his Lord, and the third time with oaths and curses. Did he cease being one of Christ's sheep? Did he slip out of the Father's hand in that transaction? No! But he started all the processes of love at work to bring about his restoration. The next thing you find in that dear man, he is weeping bitterly—bitter tears. Oh, thank God for the bitter tears of repentance.
I was talking to a young lady recently, who professed to be converted—just freshly converted. She said, "I have been crying all day." I said, "Thank God for that!" One wonders about modern day polite conversions. How easy it is to wheedle people into some kind of a confession, with no exercise of soul whatsoever. It reminds me of a brother who went to visit a home, and he spoke to a twelve year old girl there. He said, "Can you say John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)?" She said, "Yes, I can." And, she did. He said, "Do you believe it?" "Why, certainly I believe it." He said, "Alright, let's get down on our knees and thank God that you are saved." When they got up from their knees, he went to her parents and said, "Your daughter has confessed Christ, and now she should be at the Lord's Table." (She told me this herself.) It was a little country Meeting; so she was received into fellowship. It was later that she told me, with considerable spirit, "If I had died during those years that I was breaking bread in the Meeting, I would have gone straight to Hell!" Those were her own words. No! Salvation is a real thing; repentance is real. When Peter went out, he wept bitterly. He was restored; he was brought back into fellowship, and he was entrusted with great responsibilities in the Kingdom of God.
David, you know, was one that sinned grievously. (David is the one who wrote this Psalm.) Did God let him off easily? Did God just smooth the thing over and say, "Now David, that's alright, Don't feel too bad about it?" Is there anything like that in your Bible? If you want to know what real repentance is, read the 51St Psalm. We might turn and read a bit of it: "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me." (Thank God for that—he felt the weight of it!) "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part shalt thou make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou halt broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not the spirit of holiness from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit." (Psa. 51:1-121<<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba.>> Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51:1‑12).) Notice, he doesn't say, "restore unto me my salvation." No, he doesn't say that. But, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation." Oh beloved, that is real repentance.
So, in the 23rd Psalm. "He restoreth my soul." "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins..." But, He doesn't stop there, does He? "And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." That is, there is no point in sinning and getting forgiveness, over and over. That is not of God. No, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He wants us to judge the roots; to go back and see why we fell into this thing, and get it cleaned up so that we do not fall into the same thing again.
"He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake." Yes, He leads me in the paths of righteousness. What is that? Right paths—He leads me in the right path. Do you want to be led—do you? What are your plans? Are you planning something? Is it right? Is the Shepherd leading you in that direction? "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake." Dear young folks, it is a wonderful thing to be gathered to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. His Name stands for all that He is. Yes, His Name is the expression of His personality. It is just as if you took a check to the bank to be cashed.
It doesn't make any difference how big the check is, if it has the name of a multi-millionaire on it, you are going to get the check cashed. That name stands for the personality; it stands for the man. And, if the millionaire was right there saying to the cashier, "Give this man 20, 40, 60 thousand dollars—hand it to him," it wouldn't be any different than having the piece of paper there with his name on it. So, here, "He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His Name's sake." His Name stands for all that He is, the holy, perfect, sinless One.
Then we have the next blessed verse about walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And, didn't the nation think about it this last week? "The valley of the shadow of death." I have talked to different ones who were here and there, about their business and in their offices, when this sudden news came over the radio; and, I have not heard a single case where anybody turned around and began to joke. No, there is something solemn about death. This scene through which you and I are walking is the valley of the shadow of death. I often think of a remark a dear older brother used to make: He said, "That if a form of bronze, a shaft of marble, or a monument of granite were to mark the resting place of all the departed dead, we would find that we were literally living among the tombs." Yes, it is the valley of the shadow of death.
"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." I will make just a brief remark about the rod and the staff. The Lord has a discipline in your life and mine—He has to correct us. And, "If ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." So, we read in the Word that God has a government in your life and mine. Thank God that He has! Can you have any conception, if you stop to think it over soberly, of where you would be, and where I would be right now if God had just let us have our own way, and never come in with His rod to correct us? I wouldn't want to think where I might be! But He doesn't let us have our own way—"Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." There is that care over us that is going to see us through. We don't always enjoy it; but thank God for it!
Is it a hard life? Do you think it is a hard life to live for Christ? Oh, beloved, it is the happiest life on the face of the earth! "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Does that sound like an unhappy person? Does that sound as if it came from the lips of one who is galled by the yoke, wondering how he is going to get out from under it? Oh, no! Those are the words of a happy person.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Notice, it is "goodness"—not, "evil." I have had the privilege talking to some ripened old Saints, who were in the evening of life; the shadows were lengthening—they were just about through. I have seen their faces just glowing with joy, and with the anticipation of His presence. They were victors—they were victors at the close of the journey. They could say, "Goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life."
Now, what is the climax of it? "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." You know, in the 14th of John our Lord said: "In my Father's house are many abodes." (“My Father's house.” Yes, that is where we are going!) "If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." I will dwell in the house of Jehovah—Jesus—forever. Oh, dear young soul, aren't you glad you are a Christian? Aren't you thankful? Praise God for such a Savior! Let us seek with renewed confidence to let Him have our life altogether, and not try to divide it, part with the world, and part for Him. Let Him have it all. Oh, may He give us grace today!
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