Shepherd

David got a lot of experience being a shepherd when he was young so he knew about sheep and how dependent they were on the shepherd.  Sheep were not very smart animals and if left by themselves they would end up in trouble.  They could not take care of themselves so they needed help and that is where the shepherd came in mighty handy.  Without the shepherd, the sheep could end up drowning in swift waters or starving or killed by predators.  The shepherd was the most important person in the sheep’s live.

The shepherd lived in the fields with the sheep for long periods of time depending on the circumstances, so the sheep got to know him and followed him because they knew his voice.  The shepherd had to protect the sheep from wild animals and from wandering off and harming themselves.  No wonder people have been related to in the Bible as sheep because we have similar qualities.

Remember when Jesus said this to Peter in John 21:15-17:

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’

He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’

He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’

He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’

He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’

He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’

He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’

And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’

Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’”

Peter was reinstated after he had denied the Lord three times and at this point he was not only reinstated and forgiven but he was changed from a fisherman to a fisher of men and also a shepherd who was to feed Jesus’ sheep and lambs.  Every church pastor is there to feed God’s sheep.  I wonder how many, instead of feeding the sheep, are devouring and taking advantage of the sheep.  I think they need to answer the question Jesus asked Peter, do they love Jesus or do they have some other motive and the same goes for evangelists.

Now let’s get back to David, David knew so much about sheep it is no wonder he wrote the 23^rd Psalm the way he did, relating himself to sheep, realizing that the Lord was his Shepherd, saying I shall not want.  Like I said a good shepherd took good care of his sheep, the Lord takes good care of His sheep also.  David knew where his help came from and who he could trust in and depend on.

Read what David said in Psalms 23:1-6:

“The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Yea, 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.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

All the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

Forever.”

David knew that no matter what he would face or whatever situation he found himself in, the Lord was his only hope and he put his trust in Him.  David experienced more devastating situations than we may ever face but through everything he faced, the Lord, his God, was always faithful even when he felt he was going through the valley of the shadow of death he knew he need not fear for he knew the Lord was with him to help him. David was so sure of his God, the last verse of this Psalm says it all, verse 6 says this, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

We believers know that the greatest Shepherd of all was Jesus; you can read what He said about Himself in John 10:1-18.  We can be so thankful that we have Jesus as our good shepherd, if we belong to Him, praise the Lord!  There is much to think about here and good reasons to rejoice in the Lord about, I hope you will.  May the good Lord bless you and yours and may you have a super day.  Don’t forget to thank and praise the Lord!!