"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Psalm 23:1, ESV).
David understood what it meant to be a good shepherd. He knew what it was to care for a sheep so that it had no needs. David knew that a sheep had no hope without a shepherd to care for it.
It is hard to know which of his many struggles moved David to write these words, but I think it is safe to say they are born of struggle. Psalm 23:4 speaks of the "valley of the shadow of death." In Psalm 23:5, he acknowledges that his Shepherd had prepared him a table for him in the presence of his enemies.
David must have felt like a sheep--helpless and needy. Pursued and harassed. Yet David was serene. There was a rod and staff that protected him. There was still water from which to drink. His soul was restored as he rested in the green grass of God's goodness.
We have a Shepherd. He is referred to as the Good Shepherd--who laid down his life for his sheep. He is the chief Shepherd and Overseer of our souls. His name is Jesus, and he cares for us.
Showing posts with label the Lord Our Shepherd. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Lord Our Shepherd. Show all posts
Monday, November 26, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Our Shepherd and Guardian
"For you were like sheep going astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of you souls" (1 Peter 2:25, HCSB).
Usually, people don't like to think of themselves as animals. When the lines of comparison point squarely at a herded animal, the impulse to reject such comparisons becomes stronger. We don't want to see ourselves as cattle. If you know much about sheep, you don't want to be compared to them either. Sheep are not very intelligent and lack a defense mechanism.
Peter's words here pull no punches. He not only compares us to sheep, but tells us we are the kind that wonder off from safety and protection. Does that make us brave, curious, or stupid? If it softens the blow, we'll use the term foolish. Curiosity can be fatal, just ask a cat. Doing dangerous things doesn't necessarily make us brave, we could just do them because we don't know any better.
Do you ever look back at events in your life and wonder how you made it out alive (and mostly sane)? Peter tells believers that it is their Shepherd and Guardian, Jesus Christ, that has brought them through.
Did you ever have the feeling someone was watching over you? It is popular in our culture to speak of guardian angels and deceased relatives as those who watch over us. However, Peter says we have the best Guardian: Jesus.
He is the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep. He does not flee from danger, but guards his sheep with vigilance, so rest easy little lamb. Your Shepherd won't fail you.
Usually, people don't like to think of themselves as animals. When the lines of comparison point squarely at a herded animal, the impulse to reject such comparisons becomes stronger. We don't want to see ourselves as cattle. If you know much about sheep, you don't want to be compared to them either. Sheep are not very intelligent and lack a defense mechanism.
Peter's words here pull no punches. He not only compares us to sheep, but tells us we are the kind that wonder off from safety and protection. Does that make us brave, curious, or stupid? If it softens the blow, we'll use the term foolish. Curiosity can be fatal, just ask a cat. Doing dangerous things doesn't necessarily make us brave, we could just do them because we don't know any better.
Do you ever look back at events in your life and wonder how you made it out alive (and mostly sane)? Peter tells believers that it is their Shepherd and Guardian, Jesus Christ, that has brought them through.
Did you ever have the feeling someone was watching over you? It is popular in our culture to speak of guardian angels and deceased relatives as those who watch over us. However, Peter says we have the best Guardian: Jesus.
He is the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for his sheep. He does not flee from danger, but guards his sheep with vigilance, so rest easy little lamb. Your Shepherd won't fail you.
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Lord Our Shepherd
I used to wonder what it meant in the Scriptures when it said that Jesus looked at the people like they were sheep without a shepherd. The more I am beginning to understand the depth of the fallenness of our world the, the more I understand. When you look at a mother, brokenhearted, sitting by the bedside of her sick child, or a man confused about why his wife left, or someone trapped in addiction spiraling out of control, It isn't hard to understand what it means.]
Satan is like a wild animal, tearing at the lambs of God. His tactics are usually the same. First, he separates them from the flock. It's easier to pick them off one at a time. When people start missing the worship gatherings at their local church, it is wise to see if you smell "wolf" in the air. Maybe they are sick, maybe it is something much more dangerous.
Once he has got them alone, he begins to terrorize them. He howls blood-curdling accusations at them, speaking guilt and condemnation. He then begins to come at them from different sides. His goal is to keep their eyes off of the Shepherd. He has to keep them blind to the fact that the Shepherd is near by, or else they would call out for help. He keeps them helpless and hopeless, so they think that crying out would be useless.
They have forgotten that the gospel informs us that our condemnation has fallen on Jesus. He paid for our sin on the cross. This truth doesn't give us the authority to sin at will. It informs us of his gracious love towards us that saves us from sin--past, present, and future. It shapes in us the motivation to live righteous lives.
We must continually reach out to the harassed and helpless with the truth of the gospel. Jesus doesn't just want to save, he wants to shepherd. When the Lord is our Shepherd we shall not want. When the Lord is our Shepherd he guards us with his rod and staff. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we share in his desire to increase his flock the the proclamation of the gospel. We all like sheep went astray, but having been found by the Great Shepherd, we must seek to help the "lost" sheep we encounter find their way to the Shepherd.
Satan is like a wild animal, tearing at the lambs of God. His tactics are usually the same. First, he separates them from the flock. It's easier to pick them off one at a time. When people start missing the worship gatherings at their local church, it is wise to see if you smell "wolf" in the air. Maybe they are sick, maybe it is something much more dangerous.
Once he has got them alone, he begins to terrorize them. He howls blood-curdling accusations at them, speaking guilt and condemnation. He then begins to come at them from different sides. His goal is to keep their eyes off of the Shepherd. He has to keep them blind to the fact that the Shepherd is near by, or else they would call out for help. He keeps them helpless and hopeless, so they think that crying out would be useless.
They have forgotten that the gospel informs us that our condemnation has fallen on Jesus. He paid for our sin on the cross. This truth doesn't give us the authority to sin at will. It informs us of his gracious love towards us that saves us from sin--past, present, and future. It shapes in us the motivation to live righteous lives.
We must continually reach out to the harassed and helpless with the truth of the gospel. Jesus doesn't just want to save, he wants to shepherd. When the Lord is our Shepherd we shall not want. When the Lord is our Shepherd he guards us with his rod and staff. When the Lord is our Shepherd, we share in his desire to increase his flock the the proclamation of the gospel. We all like sheep went astray, but having been found by the Great Shepherd, we must seek to help the "lost" sheep we encounter find their way to the Shepherd.
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