1. React to this statement: “We get the leaders we deserve.”

2. How would each of these below affect your God concept (GC)? List some practice ways our GC affects our lives, for better or worse (if inaccurate, unbiblical). Jot down any applications to your life you receive from reading these below

  (Psa 147:11, bec we fear = respect & hope in His “chesed” = enduring love).

  (Psa 149:4, bec we humble ourselves, Jas 4:6, 10; Lk 14:11)

  (Isa 62:4-5, bec we act HAPPILY married to Him

  (Isa 65:18-19, bec we rejoice & are glad IN the Lord)

  (Zep 3:17, because of humility & rejoicing, vs 12-14)

  God sees (Lahai Roi, Jehoveh Jireh, Gen 16:13-14; 22:14)

  God sees ME

  God sees TO it

  God sees me through it

3. Many sheep receive ear marks from the Shepherd vs a “brand”. This is portrayed in a parallel passage in OT where the ear of the “love slave” is pierced” as a mark of ownership & loyalty when the slave realizes he has it pretty good in this master’s house (Ex 21:6; Dt 15:17; Ps 40:6)? Have you willingly asked the Lord to put His mark of ownership on you? What does that mark look like today (Col 3:5-18, 23)? Does it look like this is your life?

4. God knows us by name (Jn 10:3-4; Mt 6:26; 10:29-31). If God called you a “new name” (Rev 2:17 TCR# 2585) of affection and deep delight today, what would that name be? HDTMYF?

5. As a care-giver, do you think Psalm 23 applies to you? If so, how? What are some key lessons you’ve learned today from Psa 23?

I.  The budget hearings/debates/arguments/fights in Congress and the White House also serve as an ill. of “eternity.” They also remind me of some OT passages that teach us a couple things: a. how to pick a good leader/shepherd, b. we may get the kind of leader we deserve or ask (vote) for.

     A.  Right now congress is considering whether to tax deductions for corporate jets or scholarships so needy students can go to college for the first time.  They are pondering whether to cut the oil & gas industries $2.5 billion in offshore drilling subsidies OR cut $2.5 billion in home heating oil assistance for low-income families. Where is the concern for the weak (Ezek 34:20-22)?

     B.  It seems like there’s plenty of concern on Capitol Hill for catering to the powerful, special interest, fat sheep, which ultimately is about re-election and retaining power for themselves (Ezek 34:2-4, 8-13a).

     C.  One [original (-;] idea that would go a long way for our national leaders to show they care for us is to put themselves under Social Security and the new healthcare plan they passed. Wouldn’t you be just a tad more confident those systems would be sound & around?

     D.  Have you ever known a group, per capita, who have more felonies, sexual, & money scandals than Congress? 

     E.  Who’s taking care of the flock (Ezek 34:2b)?

II.  Enough of the negative. On to our positive example. Contrast these leaders w/ the Good Shepherd. “The Lord is my Shepherd….I am the Good Shepherd…” (Ps 23; Jn 10:4, 10-15).

     A.  As we look at the Good shepherd psalm we can learn many things about our relationship with Jesus, His care and love for us, but also how to care for others. This is for ministry leaders. But it’s also for anyone who gives care to or is over others: parents, pastors, managers, mentors, coaches and care-givers--EMTs, doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors, CPAs…on and on. Most of you can put yourself into (Psa 23) on the care-giving side, and for sure on the care-receiving end. We will learn about our Great Shepherd’s care for us, how to choose wise & caring leaders over us, & how to give better care.

     B.  Phillip Keller, a real-life shepherd in A Shepherd Looks At The 23rd Psalm, talks of how sheep need meticulous attention and constant care; more than any other class of livestock (p 21). So is it an accident God calls us His sheep over & over in the Bible; and HDTMYF?

          1.  Keller specifically lists these similarities we have w/ sheep: our mob, “follow the crowd,” instincts (like lemmings), stubbornness, stupidity, fears, & a whole host of other self-defeating behaviors.

          2.  Yet, amazingly, the Lord cares about us (He even cares about one sparrow, Mt 6:26; 10:29-31). He DELIGHTS in loving & caring for us. Is this how YOU see God?

          3.  How huge is our God Concept (GC) in helping us love & serve the Lord? The Bible GUARANTEES the Father delights in us many times. Look at the reasons why:

               a.  (Psa 147:11, bec we fear=respect & hope in His “chesed”).

               b.  (Psa 149:4, bec we humble ourselves, Jas 4:6, 10; Lk 14:11)

               c.  (Isa 62:4-5, bec we act HAPPILY “married” to Him)

               d.  (Isa 65:18-19, bec we rejoice & are glad IN the Lord)

               e.  (Zep 3:17, because of humility & rejoicing, vs 12-14)

     C.  He delights in you. He knows you by name and “by ear.” Sheep often don’t get branded. They receive an earmark. This is a distinctive “notch” the shepherd cuts into each ear of his flock to mark them as his own. The procedure for cutting it on is not pleasant for either. But it was a distinctive mark that each shepherd could recognize as a mark of ownership at a distance.

  Have you read the parallel in the OT (Ex 21:6; Dt 15:17; Ps 40:6)? There’s a beautiful song about this called “Pierce My Ear.” Have you willingly gone to the doorpost and asked the Lord to put His mark of ownership on you? It’s not outward anymore. Or is it (Col 3:5-18, 23)? Have you taken on Christ’s earmark, and does it look like this?

     D.  The good shepherd knows names (Jn 10:3). It’s not just masses, groups. Individuals matter to a good leader.

          1.  The descriptive names shepherds give their sheep are just one more indicator of how Father God DELIGHTS in us: “Blackie, bent ear, one eye.” These are almost always names of affection when we’re talking about human shepherds. How much more our Creator who DELIGHTS in us?

          2.  If God called you a “new name” (Rev 2:17 TCR#2585) of affection and deep delight today, what would that name be? Hurting heart? Sorrow? Pain? Despair? Confused? HDTMYF?

          3.  The Good Shepherd knows you by name (Ex 33:17; Is 45:3)? Do you occasionally think He’s forgotten you? Even if a mother would forget her child (and how unlikely is that) God promises HE will not forget us (Isaiah 49:15). What happens when you think long on that (meditate a la Psa 1:1-2; 119:9-11; Phil 4:8)?

          4.  I’m convinced from my own life and listening deeply to others that one of the biggest reasons for fear, loneliness, anger and a host of other self-defeating emotions or behaviors is we think God has forgotten us. What would convince you He has NOT?

          5.  “Just a sign!”? How many of us only need to go back in our journal, either our written one or mental one to see those signs in abundance? Maybe we’re the type who just can’t see the signs of God’s love and provision. What would change that? Because all who name His name have many such signs. We have many such promises of His love and provision in His Word.

III.  Think of one quality of our Good Shepherd that His name “Jehovah Jireh” shows us. We usually say that means “God provides (providence).” That’s a good translation. But “provide, provision, providence” all come from the same root word. If you break it down it’s “pro” “video.” This means “to see in advance.”

     A.  God sees. He sees ME. That was the promise God came to Hagar with when she had to run from Abraham’s home because of inner family rivalry. God led her to a well in the desert. He told her to name the well “Beer Lahai Roi,” meaning: “well of the Living One who sees me” (Gen 16:13-14).

     B.  Providence/provision also means “God will SEE to it,” because He sees into the future and knows our needs before we do (Gen 22:14).

     C.  He sees before us. Jesus reminds us today He has gone before us (Jn 10:4).

     D.  God follows up so many of the 366 “Fear nots,” with: “For I will be with you.” God doesn’t always deliver us out of fearful situations, but God will see us THROUGH IT.

     E.  The Good Shepherd doesn’t always get the sheep out of the predicament he’s got himself into, but He will look for him until he finds him, and won’t run away: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Dt 31:6; Heb 13:5; Jn 10:12).

     F.  Ill shepherds vs. butchers.