Does the world hear
it? In the midst of the harsh realities of suffering, hunger, injustice,
oppression, and war, does the world hear it? Do you hear it? Do you hear
it in your own life? Is there today in our world, in you life, the clear,
comforting, assuring song of the shepherd soaring across the meadows,
hills, and valleys for all to hear?
The song of the
shepherd: the Psalmist heard it. He knew the song very well. He was so
comforted by that sound that he knew wherever he was, wherever he went,
whatever happened to him, his shepherd would take care of his every need.
The 23rd Psalm, you see, is ascribed as a Psalm of David.
David knew all about the protective care of a shepherd, for that is how he
took care of his sheep. A shepherd really does all those things
for his flock—
providing for their every need,
bedding them down in lush fields,
leading them to fresh, still water,
taking the safe paths,
going with them on the more dangerous trails and through the
dark
valleys.
A shepherd knows what helps keep a flock close and secure perhaps more
than anything else. He speaks to them, giving direction and instruction.
And the sheep respond to the sound of his voice, for they recognize its
song. David knew this well. Once the flock had settled for a time—to
feed or rest for the night—David also would play his lyre. It was the
song of the shepherd in the sound of his voice and the music of the lyre,
that familiar sound which meant safety, security, food, and rest. It was
the song of the shepherd to which the sheep responded. It was the song of
the shepherd in the sound of his voice by day that they trusted as they
made their often harrowing journey in their seasonal trek to find the
right climate and good pasture. It was the song of the shepherd in the
music of his lyre by night that kept them assured of their safety and
security as they lay vulnerable to the whims of the weather and the
wilderness. By day or by night they heard the song of the shepherd.
Jesus knew this song so
well. When the religious leaders asked him what he thought he was doing,
he tells them,
I have told you, and you do not believe...because you do not
belong to
my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow
me.
I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one
will snatch
them out of my hand. John 10:25a, 26-28
Throughout the Gospel of John you
hear his voice declaring directly and confidently the love and care he
shares. Very early on in the third chapter Jesus says quite plainly,
God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever
believes
in him will not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
The woman at the well heard his voice, though she
did not quite understand when he told her,
Whoever drinks of the water I give will never thirst, for
that which I
give is a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
John 4:14
The lame man at the pool by the temple sheep gate
heard his voice and responded with joy when Jesus said to him,
Get up. Pick up your mat and walk.
John 5:8
As Jesus walked upon the rough waters of the Sea of Galilee he told his
disciples,
It is I, don’t be afraid. John 6:20
and they immediately found themselves in safe harbor. When so many around
him were hungry he brought forth abundance from their meager supply and
said,
I am the bread of life. John 6:35a
He was so confident in the power of his voice that he even declared that
everyone in their graves would hear him. Later on in the Gospel his voice
is yet to be heard when he will declare,
I am the resurrection and the life. John 11:25
When those gathered around the cross hear his last words there,
It is finished, John
they understand their meaning only when his voice comes to them again from
the other side of the grave when Jesus says,
Peace I leave with you. John 14:27a
This indeed is the good shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep, as
he said of himself. They heard his voice, they heard the song of the
shepherd. Does the world hear it? Do you hear it?
It is perhaps the most difficult to hear the song of the
shepherd in the midst of the difficulties and trials and disasters of
life. So many of us face so many challenges. So many in our world have
recently suffered terrible losses through natural disaster. Our world is
so focused right now upon the reality of war in Iraq and Afghanistan with
so many directly in harm’s way. Can you hear the song of the shepherd in
the midst of this? How can the world ever hear the song of the shepherd?
Whenever I hear of a natural disaster and the human
suffering it inevitably brings I take heart in the ministry of our
church. I take heart in the midst of tragedy because I know, through the
United Methodist Committee on Relief, our church is there immediately
anywhere in the world to bring assistance. Whenever I read of a natural
disaster anywhere in the world I know that soon after I will be reading a
release of the United Methodist News Service telling us how we are
helping. These news releases often tell very personal stories of hope in
the midst of despair. I remember particularly remember one such story.
On April 18, 1998 a devastating tornado struck Nashville, Tn, which
damaged 1228 homes, 600 businesses, 33 public buildings, and Tulip Street
United Methodist Church. Although scaffolding was eventually necessary to
prevent its collapse and a tarp was needed to cover a 50-foot wide hole in
the sanctuary wall, the church’s bell tower, reinforced through the years
in order to support the 10 heavy bells, had withstood the force of the
tornado.
That night, as you can imagine, numbers
of persons were walking around in the pitch blackness totally stunned by
the devastation. No lights dispelled their gloom and no sounds except the
sirens covered the creaking of stressed timbers. “All of a sudden,”
reported resident Betty Adams, “bells at Tulip Street Church started
playing Amazing Grace. The feeling!” she said. “If you could have seen
the looks on the faces of the people gathered there by the church…we
stopped and listened, and then we started hugging each other. There must
have been 30 or 40 people out there in the streets, and there wasn’t a dry
eye.” Tulip Street pastor Bill Miles told the rest of the story. A
church member who had climbed up into the tower to check on it with the
organist, asked the organist to play something for the neighborhood. Rev.
Bill said, “When Betty Adams told me about it the next day, she was still
teary-eyed.” (United Methodist News Service, April 27,
1998)
You see, they heard it,
just as the Psalmist heard it. The song of the shepherd. The Psalmist
was so comforted by that sound that he knew wherever he was, wherever he
went, whatever happened to him, his shepherd would take care of his every
need. Jesus, the good Shepherd, said,
My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. I
will give
them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will
snatch them
out of my hand. John 10:27-28
As you go forth today,
listen, listen for the song of the shepherd. Does the world hear it? Do
you hear it?
