On Father’s Day we began this short series based on Psalm 23, we are calling “Lead Like Jesus.” We know this Psalm was written by King David. In Psalm 23:1 David announces, “The Lord is my Shepherd. . .” I know we're just talking about five words here, but so many things come to mind. Last week we saw how God anointed David “shepherd” over all Israel. By most every measure David was an incredible leader and influencer. Yet here, David sees himself as subservient, in fact, quite dependent upon God—in every way a lamb would be upon a shepherd.
For a lot of men (for most?), it might be a point of pride to say, “I’m my own man. I’m a leader. I don’t need anything from some God, or Savior or Lord, or Shepherd.” David is taking a radically different posture. Doesn’t it make a man weaker to have to depend upon God? Or does it make a man even greater and stronger?
The real “Aha!” is to realize that every passage of Scripture points to someone and something deeper—and that someone in Psalm 23 is Christ Jesus. Like David, Jesus was anointed shepherd. In John 10 Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.” But just as David assumed the posture of lamb, so did Jesus. Jesus is the Great Shepherd, but he is also the Lamb of God. “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world,” said John the Baptist. In the Gospels, Jesus is completely reliant upon God’s Spirit, upon God’s Word, upon God’s strengthening in prayer, upon God’s purpose, plan, will, direction. Jesus only did the works he saw the Father doing. He only spoke the words commanded by the Father. In life and at death, Jesus “entrusted” himself to the Father, like a lamb to the shepherd.
To what extent like David, like Jesus can you speak of the Lord as “my shepherd” (i.e. as “your shepherd”)? This morning I want to wade into the next couple of verses in Psalm 23. Psalm 23:1-2 David says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters.” What David is saying, in so many words, is that my Lord satisfies me!
If ever there was an original sin it was distrust and dissatisfaction. Satan’s play was to convince Eve that God wasn’t enough. That God couldn’t be trusted to meet all her needs. That God was withholding blessing from her. Genesis 3:6 describes the fateful moment Eve looked away from God for satisfaction, “The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” From the beginning of time, we’ve sought satisfaction in just about everyone, everything, and everywhere we could.
There is a good chance that you find yourself quite skeptical of Psalm 23:1. “The Lord is my Shepherd… I have want I need.” Oh really? You’re serious. David kind of reminds me of the Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians. In Philippians 4, Paul expresses appreciation for all the support the Philippian Church has been giving him while imprisoned. But it isn’t just the circumstance that Paul is imprisoned. In Philippians he describes how Christian brothers—filled with envy and selfish ambition—are stirring up trouble for him while he is in prison. And to add insult to injury, it’s also evident Paul is near death. He is contemplating whether he should just go and be with Christ (which is better by far) or whether he should continue laboring and toiling for people’s joy and progress in the faith.
But it’s in Philippians 4:10-14 where Paul says, “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.”
The extreme hardships and deprivations of imprisonment. I spare you description but use some imagination. The extreme disillusionment and discouragement of people who should be for you, turning against you. The deep depression and despair realizing your strength is failing and death is very near. “Thanks for caring Church… but I’m good. The Lord is my shepherd, my provider. He has strengthened me. I’m content. I’m satisfied. I’m not in want.”
Come on Paul, are you serious? The whole book of Philippians is Psalm 23! Paul says, “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will continue it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Oh, those troublemakers? “What does it matter? False motive or true Christ is proclaimed and in this I rejoice.”
Oh, my failing strength. “My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always with courage Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.” “For me, to live is Christ and die is gain.” You want to make my joy complete? Have the same mindset as Jesus! “I consider everything to be lost in view of the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I’ve suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ.”
“What is this spiritual gibberish of which you speak Paul? You’re seriously okay that you’ve lost everything? You seriously consider everything as dung compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus?”
Paul is absolutely serious. In Philippians 3 he describes how the enemies of the cross of Christ are focused on earthly things. Their god is their stomach, their glory is in their shame. David seems to be pretty serious too. But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself.
David is absolutely serious. In Psalm 23 he testifies. “The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.”
Allow me to give you some counter-intuitive pastoral counsel. The world tells us, if we truly want to find satisfaction, fixate on earthly things. In Matthew 4, upon his baptism, Jesus is driven out into the wilderness, where he fasts forty days and forty nights. Matthew 4:2, its one of those hand to forehead verses, “After he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” Of course, Jesus was!
And just like Satan approached Eve in the garden, Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness. “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Satan first appeals to our physical appetites, our cravings and desires, the lusts of our flesh, our hungers and thirsts. Satan takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple. “If you are the Son of God throw yourself down. Let the angels catch you in the air.” The pretext is that Jesus you will have instant fame, personal recognition, social status, your name will go VIRAL in all Jerusalem. I think of Jesus telling his brothers, “anytime is right for you… but not for me.” Last Satan takes Jesus to a mountaintop and says, “I will give you all the kingdoms of the world—all majesty, power, glory—if you will fall down and worship me.”
It's all master class stuff. How does Jesus respond? “Man doesn’t live on bread alone but every word that comes from mouth of God. Do not test the Lord your God, serve him only. Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.”
I can point to countless times in my life when I sought satisfaction apart from God. Jon Morrissette, how did it work out when you followed your cravings and desires, your physical appetites, your hungers and thirsts? Jon Morrissette how did it work out trying to make a name for yourself, chasing your fifteen minutes of fame, trying to please your friends, trying to earn the applause of men, the clicks of social media drones? Jon Morrissette how did it work out trusting in your own power and strength, trying to build a name or kingdom for yourself?
It’s amazing to contemplate that Jesus, that David, that Paul… found all the satisfaction they could ever want not running from God but abiding in the Father’s will, in the Father’s gifts, waiting on the Father’s timing.
If you enjoy reading about leadership, sometime check out the book Leadership on the Line. I’ve made this book required reading for any students I’m teaching. The authors Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky have this interesting section where they urge leaders to learn to manage their hungers. What kind of Hungers? I’m glad you asked.
First, the hunger for power and control. We all want agency. We want to be masters of our destiny. We don’t want to depend upon, or wait for anyone or anything. What better way in life, than to play Lord over others. My way. My will. I’m Shepherd, I’m Lord. I trust no one but myself.
Second, the hunger for affirmation and importance. We’re all prone to grandiosity. We want to be noticed, to matter greatly, to be appreciated, celebrated, valued, recognized, pinged, googled, quoted, followed, tweeted, liked. Who needs God to be Savior when the world already has the gift of me?
Third, the hunger for intimacy and delight. Deep down, we need to be touched and held, emotionally as well as physically. We are so susceptible to loneliness, personal rejection, isolation. The boundaries men and women cross to fill their inner void for intimacy and warmth.
How many seemingly great people have we seen crash and burn because of an inability… not just to “manage” these inner hungers… not just to “manage” the temptations of Jesus, or a King David, or an Apostle Paul… but how many have crashed and burned for failing to seek satisfaction in God? The secret to contentment, to satisfaction, is in WHO we ABIDE in. I look to God for all I need. I look for God to lead to green pastures of satisfaction, to mysteriously quiet yet refreshing waters. I look to God my daily bread. I tend to God’s glory and fame, not my own affirmation and importance. I build God’s kingdom, letting go of my own.