“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.” Psalms 23:1-6.
A Shepherd’s hands welcomes new life to the farm. The Shepherd cares for each sheep, feeds them, tends to them when they’re sick, guiding them to new pastures, and gives them security.
The sheep learn the touch of their shepherd’s hands and respond to the sound of their voice. They have learned that when they are in the presence of the shepherd, they are safe, cared for and protected.
The bond, the shepherd to sheep have, is one of absolute trust.
When you think of the relationship the shepherd has with their sheep, Jesus describes this same relationship he has with us “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd,” John 10:14-16
The scripture in Psalms gives us comfort in knowing that we have salvation through the Lord, that we have been saved and redeemed. He provides living water which restores our soul, there is nothing we could want outside of Him because He sustains us. In the world we are constantly searching and searching for the next thing, but the Lord provides comfort, peace and unspeakable joy when we abide in Him.
The Psalmist shows us what the sheep receive in the natural, is what we receive in the spiritual. Though we may walk through rough terrain or encounter rocky challenges or stormy weathers, the psalmist shows us that our Lord is with us. Just like the shepherd who protects and keeps their sheep safe through whatever dangers they may encounter, Jesus’ is always with us through our storms, we just need to hold onto the promises of God “…I will never leave you nor forsake you,” Hebrews 13:5 and listen to our Shepherd with the understanding that He will bring us through!
I know it is difficult right now, I know there are times you feel like giving up, you feel like you can’t go on any longer. Look at John 10:16 “and other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd,” Jesus thought about you and me when he said this. He chose us, so that we may be saved by Him. He knew the hardships that we would have to go through, but like the sheep is not without their shepherd, neither are we without our Saviour. He knows your pain, lean on Him to guide you through, you will see new mercies every morning (lamentations 3:23). Hold on - don’t let go! Amen! X