Yahweh is my best friend and my shepherd. I always have more than enough. He offers a resting place for me in his luxurious love. His tracks take me to an oasis of peace near the quiet brook of bliss.
That’s where he restores and revives my life. He opens before me the right path and leads me along in his footsteps of righteousness so that I can bring honor to his name. Even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have! Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near. You become my delicious feast even when my enemies dare to fight. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit; you give me all I can drink of you until my cup overflows. So why would I fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life. Then afterward, when my life is through, I’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you! // Psalms 23 (TPT)
Psalms 23 is a very familiar and famous scripture. This scripture is rich and fragrant in depicting who God is and His intimate role as a shepherd. We live in the new world, so we are not as economically and culturally familiar with shepherds as the people in the ancient world. But being a shepherd was such a common profession back then; so it serves as a great metaphor in Biblical literature.
Sheep are the most specific livestock mentioned in the Bible. Several examples exist in both the Old and New Testaments that illustrate the relationship between the shepherd and their sheep. Some shepherds and keepers of livestock noted in the Bible include Abel, Abraham, Issac, Moses, Joseph, Job, and (probably the most famous) David. Being a shepherd carries a lot of weight, and sheep intensely need their shepherds. Not just for show, but all aspects of survival. Being a shepherd is no piece of cake; because God is a shepherd, and he would not have a job that easy. But God is not just any kind of shepherd; he is a good shepherd.
The Good Shepherd feeds us!
The good shepherd gives us all we need; he is our source. Humanity is intended to be solely dependent on God. Not only because he knows all of our needs, but because he is the only one tailored to meet them. The good shepherd draws us back to the place where we belong. As we follow him we find our meaning and purpose.
The Good Shepherd protects us!
God protects us from the enemy; he shelters us, anchors our souls, and gives us safety. He is our resting place, and we will always have a home in him. As he holds us in His hands, we are not just safe from present harm but eternal harm as well. Our good shepherd takes immense pride in caring for his sheep.
The Good Shepherd leads us!
The good shepherd is our guide, and he knows what the future holds! Our future is his past, so nothing is a surprise to him. God knows where we're going, so he leads us well. He sees the bigger picture; therefore, we do not have to figure out anything for ourselves. We can trust him to lead the way.
I pray that you remember who your good shepherd is as you trail through this life. Things will not always be easy and times will get tough. But relying on your good shepherd will get you through this life and preserve you for eternity.
Listen to the entire message here! : )
Comments