“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.” ESV
Psalm 23, written by David the shepherd boy, is the most popular psalm in the Bible, and has inspired many to write wonderful sermons on it. Being a shepherd is a hard job and a lonely life. The sheep are entirely dependent on the Shepherd for their sustenance, safety and welfare.
I recently found a family member watching a video on YouTube. It was about a Goat herd from Iran. He had over 500 goats in his care, and he was the only one in charge. He travelled with them through rocky and perilous terrain, guiding and controlling his herd. They listened to his voice, as he controlled and guided them. Sometimes, the goats stayed on a steep and dangerous incline on the mountains. He told them to stay still and they obeyed him!
Being a goat herd is a very lonely job, as he had no-one to talk to. He was left at the mercy of the elements, and he was with his animals, day and night. However, what impressed me the most was that when it was time for him to eat, he first of all led his herd to a pool of water and got them all well situated. Then, he got out his own food from his bag, made a fire and cooked his food. He even made some tea to go with his meal!
A Shepherd’s job is also similar to that of the Goat herd, but it’s probably more challenging because of the nature of sheep. They are timid animals and are easily scared. They tend to wander off at times, so the Shepherd must always be at alert to ensure that he does not lose any of his flock. Also, sheep cannot drink from fast flowing or noisy rivers. So the Shepherd has to look for quiet and still waters, so that they can gently take their fill from cool, quiet waters.
There are several examples of a good shepherd in the Bible. However, the ultimate Good Shepherd is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He himself says so in John 10:11 and 14, when he said:
“ I am the good shepherd.”
Jesus loves us so much that he laid down his life for us. In John 10: 1-18: Jesus told us the characteristics of a Good Shepherd and a Bad Shepherd. He says:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13 He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” ESV
It’s interesting that David the shepherd boy wrote Psalm 23 several years before Jesus Christ was born and started his ministry. Yet, the same terms and analogies were used by both.
Jesus Christ, in John 10: 11-15, gives the example of the hired hand who abandons the sheep when attacked by a wolf. As the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ promised to take care of his own, and is ready and willing to lay down his life to protect his sheep. Similarly, David told King Saul when he wanted to go and fight with Goliath of his encounter with wild animals who attacked his flock. In 1 Samuel 17:32-37:
“And David said to Saul, “Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.” 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, 35 I went after him and struck him and delivered it out of his mouth. And if he arose against me, I caught him by his beard and struck him and killed him. 36 Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” ESV
Also, the sheep knows the voice of the shepherd and they follow him. If a stranger were to come to the sheep and call them, they probably will run away from him because they do not know his voice.
Again, Jesus gave a very powerful statement in John 10:10: He says:
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”
That is the ministry of the Devil. He has a threefold ministry of stealing, killing and destroying good things.
However, thank God for Jesus Christ! He says in John 10:11:
“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” ESV
Beloved of the Lord, whose voice are you listening to today? Are you listening to the voice of the Good Shepherd that laid his life down for you? Or, are you listening to the voice of the devil, who is only bent on killing, stealing and destroying good things from you? Remember, he Devil does not give free gifts. He is a master at tempting people, and luring them away with wonderful promises which ultimately leads to destruction. However, such promises are merely a mirage. The real promise keeper is the Good Shepherd.
We found this wonderful line by line breakdown of Psalm 23 on the Internet:
1. The LORD is my shepherd- That’s relationship.
2. I shall not want - That’s divine provision and supply.
3. He makes me lie down in green pastures- That’s rest.
4. He leads me beside still waters-That’s refreshment.
5. He restores my soul- That’s healing.
6. He leads me in paths of righteousness, for his name's sake-That’s guidance and purpose.
7. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death- That’s testing.
8. I will fear no evil – That’s protection.
9. For you are with me- That’s faithfulness.
10. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me- That’s discipline.
11. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies- That’s hope.
12. You anoint my head with oil – That’s consecration.
13. My cup overflows-That’s abundance.
14. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life .And I shall dwell in the house of the
LORD- That’s security.
15. Forever- That’s eternity.
If God says it, he will do it. However, you must belong to him first before he can claim you as his own. Have you given your life to Jesus Christ? Please do so today. He will save, love and protect you. He will “supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.
If you have not yet given your life to Jesus, please say this short prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I am a sinner. I confess my sins before you today. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I want to know you personally. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in and be my Lord and personal Savior. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be. In Jesus name I have prayed. Amen”.
If you have sincerely put your trust in Jesus to be your Savior, welcome to the household of God!
Now, begin a closer and better walk with God. Look for a Bible believing church in your neighborhood and connect with other children of God.
Then, bask in the love of God, your Creator!
