Pursued by Love  Psalm 23 Conclusion
 
David the Shepherd King of Israel has given the world one of its best loved songs, the 23rd Psalm, and here is its conclusion:  ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’
 
The Lord has been my Shepherd.  He has provided me with the finest green pastures and safe rest by quiet waters.  He has restored me when I’ve wandered bringing me back into paths of righteousness.  He has stayed with and comforted me through the darkest valleys, protecting me from the deceptions of the evil one, treating me like an honoured guest, indeed like His own beloved child, even when cruel enemies had me surrounded.
 
The Lord, the Good Shepherd won’t leave me now.  He’ll see me safe home.
 
This strong confidence didn’t mean the author’s life was easy or uncomplicated.  Early success often prompts jealousy and resentment.  While this young giant killer was initially welcomed to the royal court he soon had to flee for his life and actually spent years as an outlaw nomad, under threat from Philistines and countrymen alike.  And while David seems to have been for the most part a good man and a noble ruler he was not above doing wrong, most dramatically when he forced himself on Bathsheba then had her husband killed to try and cover up.
 
The constant factor in David’s life, and ours, is the ‘goodness and mercy’ of God.  Let’s consider four wonderful truths revealed in this one verse.
 
The first of these is ‘goodness’.  The original language suggests something beautiful or lovely, having an attractive quality.  We might think of God as powerful or holy, ‘attractive’ may not be the first word we think of!  But there is something very attractive about the thought of a ‘good’ Shepherd, one who has no selfish or ulterior motives, one who is always concerned for the wellbeing of his flock.  The thoughts and desires of the Lord Jesus towards His followers are good, He constantly wants what is best for us.
 
We might remember how in the Old Testament how, even though God temporarily disciplined His people with exile for their persistent sin, He never stopped loving them and in time brought them back to the land of promise.  Through His prophet Jeremiah God said, ‘I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29 v 11)
 
God’s intentions for His people are consistently good and kind.  David learned to depend on this goodness of God’s character through widely differing circumstances.
 
The second truth in this verse is coupled with the first one, God’s ‘mercy’.  The King James version translated this word as ‘mercy’, the NIV as ‘love’.  The original Hebrew word is ‘hesed’ meaning ‘steadfast love’.  Unchanging.  Never failing.  Solid.  Dependable.  And therefore, when necessary, merciful.
 
The Shepherd is filled with goodness so He protects and provides generously for us whatever life brings our way.  When we in our pride and folly turn away to explore the paths of sin His steadfast love grieves for His lost sheep and longs for our safe return.  He so loves us He laid down His life for us, that if we repent and turn back we find not the punishment we deserve but mercy, forgiveness, wonderful saving grace!
 
Which brings us to the third truth, this idea of the Shepherd’s goodness and steadfast love and mercy ‘following’ us throughout our lives.  Again the language is important.  It suggests vigorous pursuit!  Someone has suggested that if the Shepherd is at the front leading the way, this goodness and faithful love are like sheepdogs bringing up the rear, nipping at our heels, driving us ever closer to the Shepherd!
 
It’s a nice picture but we’re probably better to focus on Jesus the Shepherd Himself, pursuing us with unrelenting love.  Refusing to give up, Christ goes after the one that is lost, the one that has fallen behind.  He came into this world to ‘seek and to save the lost’ that children who have gone astray and made a disgrace of themselves can now come home to a Father’s generous welcome.
 
When David was living in exile, far from home, even when he made some seriously wicked choices in life, the constant factor, the bedrock, the greater power that always brought him back was the Lord His Shepherd, pursuing him with goodness and loving grace.
 
At times in the wilderness David must have thought about his childhood home in Bethlehem and longed for his homeland.  But more, David missed being able to worship in Israel.  The Temple wasn’t built yet but there was the Tabernacle, a sanctuary where the Ark of the Covenant was kept.  It represented God’s presence among His people.  Later, when king, David would have it brought to his capital Jerusalem and plan a permanent structure there to honour God’s name.  He knew the Maker of heaven and earth doesn’t need a man made building still he pictured himself returning to that place of worship and being secure there all his days.
 
And this is our fourth truth, the final assurance of dwelling in God’s presence.  The Lord our Shepherd can be trusted to bring His people home to Himself.
 
People have some fanciful ideas about life after death.  Often people think it’s pretty much like this one but without the problems.  Like children being permanently excused from homework and given the keys to a toyshop!
 
While the New Testament does promise the coming age will have no more crying or sorrow or pain, there’s more to it than just self-indulgence.  Heaven and resurrection are much more focussed than that, focussed on the Lord. 
 
In Psalm23 God has already proved Himself a good Shepherd, providing and protecting thus far.  The Lord had been with David in the green pastures, by the quiet waters, through the dark valley.  So David was assured that he would be with his Lord, kept safe in His presence forever.
 
Christians trust in David’s God, that He is with us here, now by the Holy Spirit and that we shall one day be with Him in heavenly glory.  Jesus the Good Shepherd made His home here on earth for a time that we might share His Father’s house for eternity.
 
That’s what we’re looking forward to and longing for most– to be with Him, to live finally and completely sanctified in the presence of the One Who loves us, gave Himself for us and pursues us with relentless grace!
 
Home at last.  Secure.  Free from sin and shame, welcomed and blessed for all eternity.
 
‘Surely goodness and loving mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’
 
Amen
 
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Resolved
  
One of the children in church last Sunday gave us a simple but excellent definition of a New Year’s Resolution – ‘doing something different’!
 
Something different to the way we thought and acted last year, yes, that makes sense.  Less of a slave to our appetites and instincts, more in control for the better.  Less addicted to resentment and self-pity, more free to celebrate every day with gratitude!  A resolution begins with decision and resolve on the inside – we have to want to be well.
 
But it is very much doing something!  Airy-fairy dreams don’t last long.  We need to practise daily.  We need to make good things our regular way of going.  It’s easy to develop harmful habits.  Aim at nothing and you’ve already started!  New Year is a fine opportunity to begin establishing some good patterns.
 
A habit is something that has become very much the natural rhythm of our lives, like eating and sleeping.  I’m reminded of the final advice Moses gave the Israelites where he reminded them of the commandments and laws God had given to guide them.  He said, ‘These commandments… are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them …on your hands and…your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses…’  (Deuteronomy 6 vs 6-9)
 
In other words it is wise to set God and His Word as a kind of compass bearing at every point of the day, every aspect of our living!
 
Over these last years I’ve been suggesting spiritual ‘resolutions’ for members of our congregation to practise.  Here are a few of them:
 
1, Every day, before your feet touch the floor, name your loved ones to God in prayer.  One natural rhythm of life is waking up.  Before/as we get up let’s acknowledge an infinitely more powerful Being than ourselves and seek His grace and blessing for that which is most precious to us, our family and friends. 

2. Every night when your head hits the pillow (regardless of what time it is) give thanks for something.  It may have been a tough day, even heartbreaking, but it will not have been without some mercy.  The sun still rose.  There was something of beauty and virtue if we were watching for it.  Remember it, let the thought of it warm your heart and balance your mind as you drift temporarily into the dark and unconscious. 

3. With your first coffee of the day, read a little Scripture.  Maybe you don’t drink coffee but with your first food and drink of the day feed your mind with a Psalm or a passage from the Gospels.  Take just a few minutes early in the day before the tidal wave of other info starts rolling.  Consider the wisdom of the ancients.  Pay attention to what our Maker and Judge has to say. 

4. Every Sunday you’re fit to rise, come to Church.  One day of rest, refreshment and worship in every seven is a true gift for a healthy life rhythm, beneficial for body, mind and soul.  Don’t waste it.  If at all possible, include in your day a gathering for praise, prayer and fellowship with people who follow Jesus. 
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Now these things are not a guarantee of a trouble free life, or a magic formula for success.  But they are practical lessons for beginners who recognise their need to grow in relationship with God.  Little steps in the right direction.  I feel very much still in the ‘beginner class’ but have found these disciplines genuinely beneficial.  In a confused and often vicious world, seeking the counsel and comfort of One Who loves us and gave Himself for us opens a refuge of truth and wisdom and an oasis of wellbeing for our souls.
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The Good Shepherd Guides us in Paths of Righteousness
Romans 3 vs 9-25  Philippians 3 vs 4-14
 
 
A farmer who doesn’t take care and lets his sheep wander into a neighbour’s garden will get a bad name for himself.  Those sheep are in trouble, but so is the reputation of their owner!
 
Jesus Christ leads His followers in practising all that is good for this glorifies God.  It brings honour to His name.  Subsequently Christ’s name is mocked when those who profess faith in Him don’t follow in His ways.  Our hypocrisy brings our religion, and our Master, into disrepute.
 
And so to our text for today from David’s famous 23rd Psalm:  ‘He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’  The Good Shepherd guides us in all that is pleasing to God, for His glory and for our own benefit and wellbeing.
 
The original Hebrew word translated as ‘righteous’ literally means ‘straight’, not twisted or crooked or corrupt in any way but clear, direct, running true.  This is the path God sets, we are to walk in it.  It gives extra meaning to the previous sentence, ‘He restores my soul’.  The shepherd corrects, he brings back into line, those who are straying.  He may even have to seek and save those who have wandered badly and got themselves lost and in danger. 
 
This world constantly invites people to leave God’s path and trespass into forbidden territory.   Jesus Christ, Son of God and Good Shepherd brings us back and leads us in paths of righteousness.
 
Now we shouldn’t be surprised that Almighty God desires righteousness in those He has created.  Scientists frequently express wonder at the mathematical precision we can observe in the universe.  Einstein was not conventionally religious but he drew back from professing atheism because of the amazing order he saw in the laws of physics.  It’s not surprising that many scientists come to believe in a Creator as they spend their lives exploring the evidence of His design.
 
Nor is it surprising then to discover that the same God Who created the physical order of galaxies and DNA with such meticulous care has set a moral order for His creation to follow.  His blueprint for human behaviour is set down in the 10 Commandments entrusted to Moses and recorded in the Bible.
 
We are commanded first and foremost to practise reverence for Him in all aspects of life.  It follows that we should respect for our fellow human beings who are ‘made in His image’.  So we use His name in worship and prayer, not as a cheap swearword.  We treat human life as sacred from conception to natural death.  We uphold marriage and family and sexual fidelity.  We respect other peoples’ property.  We tell the truth.  We live content and grateful rather than lustfully coveting what can never be ours.
 
These are the paths of righteousness set by our Maker.  They are paths of life and blessing and happiness for individuals, communities, societies.  Practise these things and all should be well.  But this is where the problem arises. 
 
We don’t!
 
Human beings like to proudly imagine we know better than God.  We aim to please ourselves before Him so we make up our own rules and don’t even keep those very well. 
 
The Apostle Paul spends the early chapters of his letter to the Christians in Rome spelling this out, that when it comes to failure and guilt before God, we are all in the same boat.  People with some religious experience may have a better knowledge of what God says is right and wrong but just knowing the law doesn’t actually make us good people. 
 
‘There is no -one righteous, not even one’ Paul solemnly declares.  We’re all in trouble and this is something we can’t fix ourselves.  We all need help.  We need more than head knowledge of the rules.  We need a relationship with the Good Shepherd to help us practise them.
 
For those who trust in Him, Jesus does three profound things to make us ‘righteous’ and pleasing to God.  One He did a long time ago when He took our sins and their penalty on Himself at Calvary.  Our sin was atoned for that day so that when someone trusts in Him today they are forgiven, cleansed.  There is no condemnation for our past failure and disobedience.  We will no longer be called to account for that guilty record.
 
The second thing He does is to clothe us in His perfect righteousness before God.  This is what Paul says he desires in Philippians 3 to be ‘found in Christ’, envelope and shielded with the righteousness that comes from God.  When someone becomes a Christian they are described as being ‘justified’, declared righteous and acceptable in His holy presence.  We are given the appropriate dress for the royal court of Heaven.  God chooses to look on us kindly as we are covered, sheltered, made beautiful in the perfect obedience of His Son. 
 
This gives us a radical new status with the Creator of the universe and a whole new outlook on life!
 
Our names are moved from the file marked ‘condemned’ to the one marked ‘passed’.  We get to call Him ‘our Father’ Who was at one time going to be our Judge.  We are no longer limited to the temporary and relatively shallow pursuits of this world but are enlisted to serve the King of Kings for things that are eternal!
 
This doesn’t mean everything becomes easy.  Christians are frequently misunderstood, misrepresented, even persecuted.  Furthermore, while our past is forgiven and we have a ‘righteous’ standing before God, while in this life we are still tempted to sin.  So the third thing the Good Shepherd does is to accompany us through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  He lives in our hearts.  He is with us daily to lead us in paths of practical righteousness and blessing, if we are willing to be led!
 
The Apostle Paul knew all about it.  He had lived awhile and seen it all.  He had suffered injustice and loss and knew he still wasn’t perfect but he considered every challenge as more than worth it to know Jesus, to walk in the company of the Good Shepherd, to glorify the Lord’s name.  He writes,
 
‘Forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards in Christ Jesus.’
 
May that be the response of us all to God’s Word today!