Knowing the Shepherd's Voice: Psalm 23 and John 10

``Now, some translations talk about having life abundantly, or life in abundancy, and Eugene Peterson's The Message translation even talks about a better life than they ever dreamed of. And in these words of Jesus, we see the imagery from Psalm 23, the green pastures and quiet waters of verse two, the life that lacks for nothing at verse one. We also see the abundance of the table prepared before enemies, along with the image of a cup that overflows at verse five. Now, the Greek word that John uses to describe abundance in the chapter is perezos, which really means super abundant, overflowing, if you like. [01:01:13] (50 seconds)  #AbundantLifeOverflow

And similarly, the Hebrew word that David uses for the overflowing cup. Now, forgive my Hebrew pronunciation here, it's Rey Voya, and that gives an idea of complete satisfaction. And we even see the abundance of what is in store for followers in this life and in eternity, in the words of verse six of the Psalm. Surely, your goodness and love, or mercy, will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. This is the abundant life that Jesus is bringing to his followers as the good shepherd, in stark contrast to the thieves and the robbers who will only kill and destroy. [01:02:03] (53 seconds)  #OverflowingCupSatisfaction

Sheep do respond to their master's voice, and they often know their own names. In fact, the Scottish theologian, FF Bruce, in his commentary on John, says this, In my youth, some shepherds in the Scottish Highlands not only called their individual sheep by name, but claimed an individual sheep would recognize its own name and respond to it. So, the metaphor really holds water here. Once again, the shepherd in Jesus' parable, who is him, as he states in verse 11, the good shepherd, knows how to protect those in his care, just as the Lord, who is our shepherd, does in Psalm 23. [01:00:06] (47 seconds)  #ShepherdKnowsName

When they use the metaphor of the sheep being tended by the shepherd, it's because it speaks to our vulnerability as human beings. Sheep are purely prey animals. They are incredibly vulnerable to attack, and it's the reason why they are gathered together in large groups and flocks, chiefly for safety. They are animals that need to be taken care of, just as we need to be guided by God. To those listening in David's time, and indeed later in Jesus' time, this metaphor of the sheep and the shepherds would resonate with them. [00:51:04] (40 seconds)  #VulnerableAndGuided

Now, are two things about this psalm and the Gospel reading that I would like us to think about. Firstly, concerning the psalm itself. It's a very personal description of who God is to the author. The Lord is my shepherd, not the shepherd of the world, nor the shepherd of Israel. God is indeed all of those things, but he belongs to the author, and the author knows he also belongs to God. The whole psalm is a personal reassurance of the fact that God will protect those who belong to him. [00:54:24] (43 seconds)  #MyShepherdMyBelonging

But he has no need to be afraid, for he too has been redeemed by the Lord, called by him, and he will not fear what is happening around him or ahead of him, because the Lord is with him. Just as we sang. Secondly, I'd like us to consider the similarities between the psalm and what Jesus is saying about himself in John chapter 10, and how the images he uses are echoed in the words of the Psalm. Now, Aileen and I were having a discussion about this this morning. The lecternary reading of John chapter 10 is verses one to 10 this morning. [00:56:06] (42 seconds)  #RedeemedAndReassured

So, it's to them that this warning of thieves and robbers entering the sheepfold by dishonest means at verse one is addressed. But although they claim, as Jesus says, to see, they cannot see themselves in the parable of the sheepfold that Jesus is telling them. And at verse six, it says, Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. And it's in this parable of Jesus that we see some of the same danger lurking that we felt in Psalm 23, the shadow of the valley of death. These thieves and robbers have come only to kill and destroy, verse 10. [00:58:38] (46 seconds)  #BewareThievesAndRobbers

But they are also the strangers that the sheep, Jesus' followers, will run away from, as they do not recognize them, verse five. The sheep of the sheepfold have no need to fear evil too, for they do know the voice of their shepherd, who we know calls them by name, as we sang in our hymn earlier. Now, when I was researching this morning, I did wonder if this idea of sheep being able to recognize their master's voice was a bit of an exaggeration or simplification. But, like Aileen, the more I searched, the more evidence I found that many farmers believe this is the case. [00:59:23] (43 seconds)  #SheepKnowTheirShepherd