“You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going.
Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.”
(1 Peter 2:25 MSG)
As I write this I am sorting through my notes from the women’s conference last weekend at our church. The main speaker was very thought provoking; I’m still pondering what she said. But one of my workshop sessions was centered around Psalm 23. I appreciated the approach of the workshop presenter, who said that while we usually connect this psalm with funerals, it really is a song of LIFE!
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. (NKJV)
As you were reading the above, you likely were familiar with the words because you’ve heard it before and probably even memorized it. But have you thought about what a shepherd does for the sheep? Sheep are not very bright animals. While very social and generally sweet, they are not blessed with great intelligence. So, when we hear Jesus say things about his followers like, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me,” (John 10:27 NKJV) it can sting to be compared to a dumb animal. Yet, Jesus uses this metaphor because he wants to be the Shepherd of our souls. Our Good Shepherd said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 NKJV). And that is what he did at the cross. That Good Shepherd will take us basically helpless and not-very-bright people as his “sheep” and he will teach us to follow him.
Our Good Shepherd shows us times in which to move and times to rest. There are things he needs us to do, but there are also times we are called to rest. Our Shepherd will show us what we need to know when we listen to his voice.
Our Good Shepherd takes us up the hills of our lives in a zigzag pattern. If sheep would go straight up a hill they would fall backwards and injure themselves. But if they go in a zigzag pattern they (we!) will have breaks, rests, and time to adjust to the difference in the altitude.
Our Good Shepherd has two tools to keep us safe – the rod and staff. The rod has an end shaped like the Shepherd’s hand and the Shepherd uses it as a club against his enemies. The staff has a large hook on it so he can pull sheep out of harm’s way. The sheep (we!) have to stay close enough to the Shepherd to stay protected.
Our Good Shepherd anoints us with the “oil” of Holy Spirit, much as a shepherd applies oil to the ears and nose of a sheep to get rid of pests. While having oil applied to ears and nose may not be pleasant, having the oil of Holy Spirit in our lives means having his presence and power upon and within us.
Today, may we be open to the leadership of the Shepherd of our Souls, trusting him for rest and protection.
Shepherd King,
We were lost sheep with no idea who we were or where we were going, but now we’re named and kept for good by you, the Shepherd of our Souls. Because you are our best friend and Shepherd we always have enough. You offer resting places in your luxurious love and oasis of peace. You restore and revive our lives, opening before us the right path and leading us along in your footsteps of righteousness so we can bring honor to your name. Even when your path for us takes us through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer us, for you already have! Your authority is our strength and peace. The comfort of your love takes away our fear. We’ll never be lonely because you are near. Even when our enemies dare to fight, you become our delicious feast and anoint us with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit. You give us all we can drink of you until our cup overflows. Why would we fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue us all the days of our lives. Then when our lives are through, we’ll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you! Glory and honor, praise and dominion be to you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! AMEN.
“For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:25 NASB)
The Good Shepherd
David’s poetic praise to God
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! (Psalm 23 TPT)