The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want”

One of the most recognized chapters found in The Bible is Psalm 23. With only six verses, it is also one of the shortest. We hear it read at most funerals and many know it by heart. This may lead us to not realizing how profound those first five words are, “The Lord is my shepherd.” David is telling us that The Creator of the universe leads him through his entire life, dependent on God to provide all his needs.
      After we accept God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ, we need to make another decision. Do we want to merely be a believer in Jesus, or become a follower of Him? The more difficult choice is to become His follower, but it is also more rewarding. By following Him, we draw closer to Him. John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” As followers of Christ, we are His sheep. Much like sheep, we are not perfect. We occasionally stray from our shepherd. Aren’t you glad that He will leave the others to find the lost one?
     The first three verses paint a picture of peace and serenity in the life of a sheep. “I shall not want, He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, He leadeth me beside the still waters, He restoreth my soul, He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.” It’s a pretty good life — abundant food, fresh water to drink, and a safe path to travel. Then, this peaceful scene changes. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
    That green pasture may be becoming smaller and that freshwater stream may be drying up. Now, the shepherd will have to guide the sheep to another place. They may encounter predators along the way and the ground may be treacherous. The sheep will stay close to the shepherd, listening to his voice. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Christ never said that life will be easier once we follow Him. He actually said to follow Him we must deny ourselves and pick up our cross. That doesn’t sound very appealing.
    Eventually, the sheep will come to another place with green pastures and enough water to sustain them until the next time they have to move. Once again, the shepherd will be there to lead them. As followers of Christ, we know He will always be there to lead us through our own valleys of the shadow of death. The sheep may require a gentle tap from the shepherd’s staff to get them back on the correct path while we often need the shepherd’s hook to do the same. When all is said and done, the final words from Psalm 23 provides us with the reassurance we need, “And I shall dwell in the house of The Lord forever.”