Our most precious of all psalms was written by a young David, a shepherd and a future king. Can you just imagine his thoughts as he gazed upon his sleeping sheep and the glorious star-filled heavens. In fact, he wrote many of his thoughts and we have such wonderful wisdom from what he learned from his job and from his God. He had joys, fears, struggles, grief...every imaginable emotion was written from his time out in the fields and on the throne. This was before the throne ever became a reality.
He knew what it was to be a shepherd - he came from a long line of them. He knew they were responsible for every need of their flock. He knew they needed to make themselves known to their sheep so they would recognize their voice. He knew the shepherd would need to gently but firmly guide his sheep back onto the right path. He knew if they were afraid, he would be the one to comfort them and restore them. He knew their enemies would be his enemies. He was their protector and would never leave them. In fact, he may have been speaking as one who knew exactly what it meant to need a "shepherd". For he knew who the "Good Shepherd" was and had a vital and committed relationship with Him.
Phillip Keller has written A SHEPHERD LOOKS AT PSALM 23 he says:
When the simple...statement is made...
that "The Lord is my Shepherd", it
immediately implies a profound yet practical
working relationship between a human being
and his Maker.
Do not miss John 10 where Jesus tells the Pharisees: "I am the good shepherd" (v. 11) and "...my sheep know my voice" (v. 27). They could choose to follow Him or reject Him...but they couldn't do both. Either He had authority and responsibility for them, or He did not. Either they surrendered the control of their lives to Him or they did not.
I choose to call Him my Shepherd! I give Him authority and responsibility to guide my life. He is wisdom, I am not. He is love, I am not. He knows the future, I do not. I am humbled by His leadership in my life and grateful.
For further study: Psalm 100:3, Psalm 119:176, Isaiah 40:11, Isaiah 53:6, Jeremiah 31:10, Ezekiel 34:1-31, Matthew 9:36, Acts 20:28, 1 Peter 5:4
Be blessed in your understanding of God's word,
Love,
Holly
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