A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23
Phillip
Keller
As a way of
introduction, Phillip Keller writes, “This book has been developed against a
rather unique background which has perhaps given me a deeper appreciation than
most men of what David had in mind when he wrote his beautiful poem. First of
all I grew up and lived in East Africa, surrounded by simple native herders
whose customs closely resembled those of their counterparts in the Middle East.
So I am intimately acquainted with the romance, the pathos, the picturesque
life of an Eastern shepherd. Secondly, as a young man, I actually made my own
livelihood for about eight years as a sheep owner and sheep rancher.
Consequently I write as one who has had firsthand experience with every phase
of sheep management. Later, as the lay pastor of a community church, I shared
the truths of this Psalm, as a shepherd, with my ‘flock,’ every Sunday for
several months.”
article,
For this
brief paper, I have chosen only one small part, “He Restoreth My Soul.” Now, I
have picked again one section of this chapter regarding “cast” or “cast down.”
Psalm
42:11 again cries out. There is an exact parallel to this in caring for sheep.
This is an old English shepherd’s term for a sheep that has turned over on its
back and cannot get up again by itself. If the owner does not arrive on the
scene within a reasonably short time, the sheep will die. The author gives
several reasons as to what caused the sheep to be “cast down.”
“There is
the aspect, too, of a sheep simply having too much wool. Often when the fleece
becomes very long, and heavily matted with mud, manure, burrs and other debris,
it is much easier for a sheep to become cast, literally weighed down with its
own wool.
“Wool in
Scripture depicts the old self-life in the Christian. It is the outward
expression of an inner attitude, the assertion of my own desire and hopes and
aspirations. It is the area of my life in which and through which I am
continually in contact with the world around me. Here is where I find the clinging
accumulation of things, of possessions, of worldly ideas beginning to weigh me
down, drag me down, hold me down.
“It is
significant that no high priest was ever allowed to wear wool when he entered
the Holy of Holies. This spoke of self, of pride, of personal preference-and
God could not tolerate it…
“Whenever I
found that a sheep was being cast because it had too long and heavy a fleece, I
soon took swift steps to remedy the situation. In short order I would shear it
clean and so forestall the danger of having the ewe lose her life. This was not
always a pleasant process. Sheep do not really enjoy being sheared and it
represents some hard work for the shepherd, but it must be done.
“Actually
when it is all over both sheep and owner are relieved… And similarly in dealing
with our old self-life, there will come a day when the Master must take us in
hand and apply the keen cutting edge of His Word to our lives. It may be an
unpleasant business for a time. No doubt we’ll struggle and kick about it. We
may get a few cuts and wounds. But what a relief when it is all over. Oh, the
pleasure of being set free from ourselves! What a restoration!” How about
reading Hebrews 12.
“This Psalm
opened with the proud, joyous statement, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd.’
“Now it
closes with the equally positive, buoyant affirmation, ‘And I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever.’
“Here is a
sheep so utterly satisfied with its lot in life, so fully contented with the
care it receives, so much ‘at home’ with the shepherd that there is not a shred
of desire for a change… Conversely on the shepherd’s side there has developed a
great affection and devotion to his flock. He would never think of parting with
such a sheep. Healthy, contented, productive sheep are his delight and profit.
So strong, now, are the bonds between them that it is in very truth-forever.”
