I’ve Gone Astray Ps. 119:176

Ps. 119 is the longest continual portion of scripture in the bible. The Psalmist is used of God to make great statements . Verses 1 &2, 9-11, 18, 67, 72, 89, 105.

After writing 175 verses of the word of God , one might think that the Psalmist would be on a spiritual high, yet verse 176 paints for us a different picture. How could this have occurred?

A. could it be, the closer we draw to the Lord, the more we see ourselves as He sees us. That we become more aware of our own sin.

That our holy awareness is heightened : Isaiah 6: 1-5, Luke 5:1-9.

We come to a better understanding of verses like,”There is none righteous” and “all our righteousness is as filthy rages.”

B. Or perhaps, it happened to the Psalmist as it happens to so many. He was working for the Lord, doing what He was supposed to do and he strayed. He did not get wrapped in some hideous sin, he just wasn’t as close as he once was. Still working, yet not filled with His person. Some never miss church and are horrible backslidden on God. So we fill our lives going about doing the work of God, without the anointing of God.

4 traits of back sliding:

When we are filled with our own ways. Pro.14;14 What we want takes president.

When we are un-embarresed about sins of those around us-

When we are un-forgiving of the brethren Gal 6:1

When we don’t care about the lost, dying and going to hell

Three truths from the one verse.

I. The Unchanging Position of the Sheep, “I Have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek thy servant”.

I. I am a sheep, your sheep and your servant. I am not where I should be, and I can’t seem to get back on my own, but I know to whom I belong. I am still “THY” sheep.

I. John 10 : 11 “I am the good shepherd and giveth my life for the sheep.”

II. John 10:14 “ I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine.”

III. John 10:27 “My sheep know my voice and I know them and they follow me. 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.30 I and my Father are one.

IV. Isa. 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

But what if we commit a great sin. We forget that all sin in the sight of God is great. Jesus died for all sin.

Ill. Lot, vexed his soul, yet II Peter 2:7 called him a just man, and again in verse 8 a righteous man, and in verse 9 a godly man.

II Cor. 5:21 , Eph. 2:8-9

II. The Unintentional Problem of the Sheep, “I have gone astray”.

As a sheep, head down, feeding , wandering.

I. I never meant to be here, I don’t want to be here, I didn’t do this intentionally.

II. Sheep don’t run and break away from the master, it’s a gradual thing . One step in the wrong direction, a lowering of morals and convictions then another. Soon we can no longer hear the voice of the shepherd.

Acts 27: speaks of the danger of drifting, the shallow rocks of ship wrecks and the quicksand of death.

Many who call themselves Christians are drifting, drifting from the old paths where peace was found, drifting for the well of life and hewing themselves out broken sisters that can hold no water. drifting leads to ship wreck.

Couple getting divorce, church closed, many defile by sin, they drifted into it.

James 1:14 but everyman is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

On His own, he can’t get back- he gave up on trying to fix this.

III. The Uninhibited Plea of the Sheep. ‘SEEK THY SERVANT”

How can a sheep find His Shepard? He doesn’t even know where He is. He has looked around and found no direction.

Job. 23 :8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

The only way he will be found is if the sheep cries out. He knows the enemy will here(Bears and wolves), but He has faith in the shepherd , so he cries out to his only hope.

Luke 15, 99 safe in the fold, light on ankle.

Concl. The good shepherd came, (Luke 15) places the sheep on his shoulders and returns to the fold. Every sheep needs a fold of safety and rest.

Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto

The Shepehd of our souls waits for the cry of His sheep,

Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV)3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Psalm 17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Psalm 86:5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

Jeremiah 29:12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

Psalm 116:4 (KJV) 4 Then called I upon the name of the Lord; O Lord, I beseech thee, deliver my soul

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

1 Corinthians 1:2 the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:

Like the prodigal son I wandered in darkness

And I traded my life for a world of good time

No peace in my heart I ever could find

And I got so tired feeding after the swine

So I believe I'll go home and eat with the Father

The table is spread and they're waiting for me

I can see the Father coming out to greet me

"Lord I'm willing to be just a servant for Thee"

Like the prodigal son I wandered from Jesus

But the Good Shepherd saw through the heat and the cold

The ninety and nine He left in the fold

Just to find this lost sheep that was hungry and cold

So I believe I'll go home and eat with the Father

The table is spread and they're waiting for me

I can see the Father coming out to greet me

"Lord I'm willing to be just a servant for Thee"

So I believe I'll go home and eat with the Father

The table is spread and they're waiting for me

I can see the Father coming out to greet me

"Lord I'm willing to be just a servant for Thee”