Psalm 23

Posted on June 15, 2014 by Unknown

Bruce Ferris - Speaker

Fathers Day in this country has an interesting history.  A response to Mother's day is one, another is the response to a mining accident in 1908.  A young girl convince her Pastor and others to dedicate a Sunday to fathers.  First celebrated in 1910, and may a permanent national holiday by president Nixon in 1972.

Psalm 23 is a picture in many ways of the perfect Father.  That is to say that each father is called to be a shepherd father.  To lead our family and children to exhort them, employ them and instruct them according to God's word, that they may live before him with joy!  What joy it is to walk in truth! 

In the new testament with see this picture expanded in John 10.  And as fathers it is true that we have "feet of clay", to have be fallen and failing, yet, in the Lord we have new life, and so our children have new life.  After the way.

*Three Qualities of a Shepherd Father*

**1. A Godly father is a provider**
We see this first in verse one.  "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." That is the way of a father, to provide.  Perhaps we are working in a job we do not like.  We sacrifice so we can provide.
**2. A Godly father is a protector.**
Our children and wife are gifts from God.  As such we also protect.  This is something that seems to be ingrained into the male nature.  We seek to protect.

**3. A Godly father prays always.**
You see a father cannot just provide and protect in material ways, but also in spiritual ones.  Our children

**4. A Godly father is a guide.**
"He guides me in the paths" The father is to be the spiritual leader of the home.  This is done is a way that is kind and gently but with the underlying strength and authority that only God can give.  See the way that Jesus is shows us in this. 

It is hard to get a sheep to lie down. (Reminds me of trying to get my children into bed). 
Sheep do not lie down when they are nervous or frightened.  If they feel at rest, then they will lie down.  What an example this is.  The shepherd and father gives loving instruction.  The instruction that brings peace.

This does still mean though that a shepherd father does discipline.  But the way of understanding this is to realize the purpose of the discipline.  It is so that our children will delight in the Lord.  Why? Because only God can give them what they really need and not just what they want.  Discipline is a way of love.

**5. A Godly dad is an abider.**
The Godly father is present.  This is the power of presence.  Even when our fathers have passed on from life they are present in us, for what they instilled with us, or didn't instill is present. 

This is done not just corporately but individually. The child says, "he is my dad." For this reason we are to attend to our children and individuals as well as a group.  For we see this directly in this Psalm, "the LORD is my shepherd." How awesome is that.

The Godly dad invests the Christ in his life, so he can invest the Christ in theirs.  Surely goodness and mercy will follow them all the days of theirs lives and they will dwell with him forever, for in his own life the Godly father has done this first.

Amen.

If you seek to know a true and Godly father, then seek our Father above.

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