EATING WITH SHEPHERDS: Singer #2

PSALM 23
June 14, 2009
with Adam Waters

What do we know of shepherding?
**Whenever I think of shepherding, I think of my years in youth ministry and trying to make sure that we never lost kids, that we fed kids and that everyone was okay when we went to an amusement park or the zoo.
**Maybe, all you think of is Little Bo-Peep.
**Maybe, you think of modern shepherding with electronic ear tags, dogs, bells on their collars and fenced in pastures.
**THE ENCYCLOPEDIA GIVES THIS BRIEF EXPLAINATION: To maintain a large herd, however, the sheep must be able to move from pasture to pasture, this required the development of a profession separate from that of the farmer. The duty of shepherds was to keep their flock intact and protect it from wolves and other predators. The shepherd was also to supervise the migration of the flock and ensured they made it to market areas in time for shearing. In ancient times shepherds also commonly milked their sheep, and made cheese from this milk. In many societies shepherds were an important part of the economy. Unlike farmers, shepherds were often wage earners, being paid to watch the sheep of others. Shepherds also lived apart from society, being largely nomadic. It was mainly a job of solitary males without children, and new shepherds thus needed to be recruited externally from the family. Still in other societies, each family would have a family member to shepherd its flock, often a child, youth or an elder. Shepherds would normally work in groups either looking after one large flock, or each bringing their own and merging their responsibilities. They would live in small cabins, often shared with their sheep and would buy food from local communities.

As we come to today's text, your background on shepherding might seem strange as you encounter Psalm 23 (NLT)...
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever.

Shepherds: Today we want to walk you through the shepherds of the Bible. From Able to the Abraham to the Hebrews being Pharaoh's shepherds in Egypt, God had his people focused on this profession to understand His desire and relationship with them.

The Father
• David (author) was a shepherd. God taught him much through this experience. Saved him from the bear & lion. This guided him later in life (ex: Goliath).
• Psalm 23
o Provider… Guide… Protector... Giver of blessing… Loving Father.
The Jews: Ezekiel 34
o 2 “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds, the leaders of Israel. Give them this message from the Sovereign LORD: What sorrow awaits you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep? 3 You drink the milk, wear the wool, and butcher the best animals, but you let your flocks starve. 4 You have not taken care of the weak. You have not tended the sick or bound up the injured. You have not gone looking for those who have wandered away and are lost. Instead, you have ruled them with harshness and cruelty. 5 So my sheep have been scattered without a shepherd, and they are easy prey for any wild animal. 6 They have wandered through all the mountains and all the hills, across the face of the earth, yet no one has gone to search for them.
The Son: John 10
o Giver of life… sacrifices his own life.
o Connected to the Father… connected to the sheep… UNIFIER!
o Willing servant to the flock.
The Apostles (specifically Peter): John 21
o Feed my sheep.
o Take care of my sheep.
o Lose control of your life… and follow me.
The Church: Titus
o Elders’ qualifications? MEN of CHARACTER and PURPOSE (1:5-16)
o Elders’ responsibilities: MEN of the WORD (2:1-8, 15)

EATING w/ Shepherds
PRAYING w/ Shepherds
We closed with a time of talking about the community having meals with each of our 3 shepherds. Then, we broke up into our flocks and prayed together as a church.