Psalm 42:6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me;
Therefore I will remember You from the land of the Jordan,
And from the heights of Hermon,
From the Hill Mizar. (NKJ Version)
Phillip Keller in his book entitled, A Shepherd Looks at the 23rd Psalm (Zondervan Publishing House; Grand Rapids, Michigan; 1970), writes, In Psalm 42:11 he cries out, ‘Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God…’
Now there is an exact parallel to this in caring for sheep. Only those intimately acquainted with sheep and their habits understand the significance of a ‘cast’ sheep or a ‘cast down’ sheep.
This is and old English shepherd’s term for a sheep that has turned over on its back and cannot get up again by itself.
A ‘cast’ sheep is a very pathetic sight. Lying on its back, its feet in the air, it flays away frantically struggling to stand up, without success. Sometimes it will bleat a little for help, but generally it lies there lashing about in frightened frustration.
If the owner does not arrive on the scene within a reasonably short time, the sheep will die. This is but another reason why it is so essential for a careful sheepman to look over his flock every day, counting them to see that all are able to be up and on their feet. If one or two are missing, often the first thought to flash into his mind is, One of my sheep is cast somewhere. I must go in search and set it on its feet again.
A “cast” soul left unattended will certainly be the demise of a believer. How does one get up?
Jeff Strite in his sermon entitled, Remember the Taste, gives this illustration (http://sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=107192&Page=1). Years ago, in an old stodgy community, a new doctor came to town. It was said he could cure anything and anybody, and everyone was amazed with what he could do – everyone except for Mr. Sweeny, the town skeptic.
Well, old Mr. Sweeny went to this ’miracle doctor’ to prove that he wasn’t anybody special. He went and told the doctor, ‘Hey, doc, I have lost my sense of taste. I can’t taste nothin’, can you help me?’
The doctor scratched his head and mumbled to himself a little, then told Mr. Sweeny, ‘What you need is jar number 47.’
The doctor turned to his shelf of medicines and took down a jar and told Mr. Sweeny to put some of it in his mouth. Immediately, Sweeny spit it out, ‘This is gross!’ he yelled.
‘Well, Mr. Sweeny’, said the doctor, ‘ I believe I’ve just restored your sense of taste.’
Angrily, Mr. Sweeny went home and fumed about his failure. But, one month later, he believed he had a solution to his problem, and went back to the doctor. ‘Doc,’ he said ‘I’ve been having problems with my memory. I can’t seem to remember anything anymore!’
Now, Mr. Sweeny was very pleased with himself because he just knew he had finally stumped this new doctor and he waited as the doctor scratched his head, mumbled to himself a little. Finally, the doctor went over to the shelf with his medicines on it and said aloud ‘Well, Mr. Sweeny, I believe what you need is jar number 47…’
When the doctor turned around, Mr. Sweeny was no longer there…
He remembered.
It was said that this new doctor could cure anything. And he CURED Mr. Sweeny. Now, of course, Sweeny didn’t really suffer from taste or memory problems. His problem lay much deeper than that… but whatever problem he really had… this new doctor healed him of it. And what healed Mr. Sweeny was the memory of how something tasted.
The word of God teaches us that one of the best ways to fix things that are wrong in our lives and to heal the wounds of our souls is to “remember” certain things.
Many scholars believe that Psalm 42 was written by David in one of the darkest times of his life. Years before this David made a bad choice. He committed adultery with a beautiful woman named Bathsheba and as a result, he ruined her marriage and seriously damaged his own family. Now – because of that sin – he’s lost his home and his prestige… his son Absalom has turned against him. He’s been run out of Jerusalem and is in hiding in the wilderness.
David has lost practically everything that has mattered to him.
A downcast spirit left unattended will become the demise of a believer.
Maybe you are here this morning in deep despair about a situation that you are helpless against. Maybe you are struggling in a relationship or hopelessly lost in grief. You can relate to David’s demise. You are a ‘cast’ sheep and you need help desperately.
This message is for you. There is someone who can put you on your feet and heal your broken heart. There is a remedy for your downcast soul. The person who can help you is the Holy Spirit, and the remedy for your downcast soul is in remembering what God has done for you in the past. I can assure you that He is faithful to help you now and in the future.
I’m going to use the 23rd Psalm to guide this message forward. It’s application is the remedy you need to get back on your feet and moving.
David says, The Lord is my Shepherd—I shall not want.
I’d like to make a comment. Please listen carefully. Whatever masters you will determine you fate. Notice that David said that the Lord was his shepherd. He didn’t say that the Lord is a shepherd, but He is David’s personal overseer. There is a world of difference between “a shepherd” and “my shepherd.” A downcast soul must remember this fact before it can ever hope to get up.
Dr. Paul Brand is a physician who treats people suffering from Hansen’s disease – similar to leprosy. In an interview, he was asked to give examples of people who had undergone this tremendous suffering. After he had cited some examples in detail, he was asked whether the suffering of these people had turned them TOWARD God or AWAY FROM God.
After some hesitation he said that there was no common reaction. Some, he said, grew closer to God, and others bitterly drifted away from Him. But the difference, Dr. Brand said, was based upon their attitude toward cause and response. Those who kept looking back, asking “Why did this happen?
What did I do to deserve this? Am I being punished? Where is the justice in life?”
These were usually the ones who bitterly turn away from God and resigned themselves to fatalistic despair.
The sufferers who grew closer to God in their suffering were those who could put the question of cause behind them and focus on their response. They were the ones who could say to themselves, “OK, this suffering is terrible, and it hurts, and it isn’t fair, there is no justice, OK!! But now I face a challenge: Can I look ahead and with God’s help, seek to find His work, His glory, His goodness, in every moment of my life, both moments of pleasure and pain?”
Notice the remedy here. It is on the focus—either the problem or the problem solving God. If you know God as “a” shepherd only, you will remain downcast. However, deliverance comes when you know Him as your personal Shepherd.
Remember this.
David says—I shall not want.
The English word “want” used here has a greater meaning than not lacking provisions. Its extended meaning is to be “content” in God. Can you say this morning that you are content? Is your soul free from restlessness? Only you and you alone can answer that question.
Again quoting from Phillip Keller’s book on the 23rd Psalm, As I have moved among men and women from all strata of society as both a lay pastor and as a scientist I have become increasingly aware of one thing. It is the boss—the manager—the Master in people’s lives who make the difference in their destiny.
I have known some of the wealthiest men on this continent intimately—also some of the leading scientists and professional people. Despite their dazzling outward show of success, despite their affluence and their prestige, they remained poor in spirit, shriveled in soul, and unhappy in life. They were joyless people held in the iron grip and heartless ownership of the wrong master.
Once again I repeat, whatever masters you determines your fate. Let God master your down cast spirit, and He is sure to bring contentment to you. We used to sing in the church of my youth a chorus that said, “I am satisfied. I am satisfied. I am satisfied with Jesus.” In my life, I have no need to chase after something else because I am unsatisfied with Jesus. The Lord is my Shepherd. His care for me is sufficient. I need not, nor do I want another master, another shepherd to care for me. I am satisfied.
David said that his Shepherd leads his to green pastures.
Phillip Keller—The strange thing about sheep is that because of their very make-up it is almost impossible for them to be made to lie down unless four requirements are met.
Owing to their timidity, they refuse to lie down unless they are free of all fear. Because of the social behavior within a flock, sheep will not lie down unless they are free from friction with others of their kind.
If tormented by flies or parasites, sheep will not lie down. Only when free of these pests can they relax. Lastly, sheep will not lie down as long as they feel in need of finding food. They must be free from hunger.
It is significant that to be at rest there must be a definite sense of freedom from fear, tension, aggravations and hunger. The unique aspect of the picture is that it is only the sheepman himself who can provide release from these anxieties. It all depends upon the diligence of the owner whether or not his flock is free of disturbing influences.
One of the first things that happens to a down cast soul is fear. Fear brings panic and panic brings excruciating mental anguish. And when a mind is in anguish, the human soul begins to die. Not physical death, but a death that is reflected in the eyes of utter despair. It’s hard to disguise fear. It emanates through the pores of your skin. Only God—the True Shepherd—can take the place of fear. And once He does, life returns as seen through the window of your soul—the eyes.
David said that the True Shepherd leads His sheep beside still waters.
What does this mean?
Keller—The body of an animal such as a sheep is composed of about 70 percent water on an average. This fluid is used to maintain normal body metabolism and is a portion of every cell. Water determines the vitality, strength and vigor of the sheep and is essential to its health and general well-being.
When sheep are thirsty, they become restless and set out in search of water to satisfy their thirst. If not led to good water supplies of clean, pure water, they will often end up drinking from the polluted pot- holes where they pick up such internal parasites as nematodes, liver flukes or other disease germs.
Generally speaking, water for the sheep comes from three main sources…dew on the grass…deep wells…or springs and streams.
Most people are not aware that sheep can go for months on end, especially if the weather is not too hot, without actually drinking, if there is heavy dew on the grass each morning. It is the responsibility of the shepherd to make sure that the sheep can be out and grazing on this dew drenched vegetation. If necessary, it will mean he himself has to rise early to be out with his flock.
I find this interesting. It is the believer who finds God early in his day, he is the one that is able to guard against the down cast spirit. It’s like eating breakfast. Doctors tell us that the most important meal of the day is breakfast because it quick starts the metabolism, which in turn gets the body systems moving forward.
What is a remedy for the down cast soul? It is getting into the word and prayer before getting in to your day.
David said that the Shepherd restores the soul of the sheep.
To store something means to place something somewhere for safe- keeping. To Restore is to replenish what was once store. Simply put, restoration of the soul speaks of replenishing what was once there but has run low. Yes, Christians have the capability of running low in the soul. In other words, we need to continue filling up on the Holy Spirit. A well known evangelist once said that the reason we need to be refilled with the Holy Spirit is because we leak.
What has leaked out of your soul recently? Has God’s mercies that are new every morning gone dry because you failed to ask God to replenish them? The very fact that God’s mercies are plural and different every day, means that it is necessary to keep refilling with them. A cast down spirit has failed in replenishing God’s mercies that bring joy and contentment. But don’t despair. “Be ye filled.” Ask God for the Holy Spirit. Let Him refill you every morning. He will give you what you ask.
David said that the Shepherd…to be continued.
