The Great Shepherd Restores the Soul

Part One: Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd

Psalm 23: 1

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The Lord is my shepherd, maker, Father, protector, the Great Shepherd.

Our needs are taken care of. It’s not what we think we need; what He has for us is all we need.

David is writing out of his own experience as a shepherd to his father’s sheep as a young boy.

1 Samuel 16: 11

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance and protection.

As God’s children, we are dependent on Him for His guidance and protection. The New Testament calls Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd.

Psalm 23: 2

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

When you drive by or fly over farmland, you’ll see the green pastures. What a peaceful feeling that brings. This is the feeling you have when you truly place yourself in God’s hands.

Isaiah 43: 2

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

God will lead you to the path of rightness. If you go your own way, you are going to walk the path Satan has for you. Don’t think that Satan isn’t waiting to lead you. Check out the following verses below.

Job 2:2

And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Matthew 4: 1

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Now if the devil thought he could tempt Jesus, what do you think he can do with you? Without Jesus to protect you, you have no chance against Satan.

When you put ourselves in Jesus’s hands, you have contentment. Psalm 23 does not focus on the animal-like qualities of sheep but on the discipleship qualities of those who follow Our Lord and Savior.

However, when you choose to sin, you go your own way. Don’t blame God for the place you find yourself.

Psalm 23: 3

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God won’t lead you to a wrong path.

He restores you because He loves you. He loved us before we loved Him.

God sent His Son to pay for your sins. And by sending His Son, He made a way for you to go to Him directly without anything or anyone intervening.

He restores your soul out of love, but if you are rebellious and disobedient, you are going against your own best interest.

Read the full chapters of the Scriptures referenced:

Please return later this week for Part Two of Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd.

How Many Times Will God Need To Call You?

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3: 9-10

Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Scripture Commentary: … And when you hear His call, how will you respond?

The Lord called Samuel three times before he answered. Why did it take Samuel so long to answer God’s call? It’s because Samuel didn’t know God’s voice. If the Lord called you, would you known his voice?

God talks to us everyday. He tells us when we are doing right and when we are doing wrong. It is vital to our relationship with God that we both listen and respond to Him.

Although God does not always use the sound of a human voice, He always speaks clearly through His Word. To receive His messages, we must truly walk, talk and listen to him.

We cannot hear Him if we are not in His Spirit. To be in God’s Spirit, we must study His Word and live a life that we know is pleasing to God.

If you are His child, you will hear and feel His spirit. Like Samuel, be ready to say, “Here I am Lord.”

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Samuel Chapter 3

Man Judges the Outward Appearance While God Judges the Heart

Scripture: 1 Samuel 16: 6-7

And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD’S anointed is before him. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Scripture Commentary: We concentrate on our outward appearance but remember to also check the inside

What suit and shoes will I wear today? And how does my hair look? All of us concentrate on our outward appearance; we want to look our best when we go out.

That’s not a bad thing, but how many of us look at ourselves on the inside? We need to ask ourselves if we look good on the inside.

Am I a Christian, inside and out? We are to be loving, kind, helpful, and giving. The outside shell should be a mirror to the inside.

When God told Samuel to go and anoint the new king, Samuel was looking for a man who was tall and handsome like Saul. God warned Samuel against judging by appearance alone.

When we judge by outward appearances we overlook qualities that are on the inside. God sees all of us, both inside and out. God judges by faith and character, not appearances.

If you love God, it will show. Check yourself. What steps are you taking to improve your attitude and to show your love for God?

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Samuel Chapter 16

Have You Rejected God After All He Has Done For You?

Scripture: 1 Samuel 8: 5-7

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

Scripture Commentary: What would your life be if God rejected you?

How would you feel if you had been taking care of someone all of their life, and they suddenly said that they wanted someone else to take care of them? You had protected them from harm, cared for them when they were sick, and loved them unconditionally. What must it feel like to be so rejected?

The Lord did all of these things for His chosen people again and again – and yet they asked for a new leader.

How many times has God taken care of you? How many times has He protected you, and worked things out in your favor? And how often have you turned away, walking in your own way, not following Him?

The Bible tells time and time again how the Israelites rejected God – and He forgave them every time. How many times have you forgotten what God has done for you? Why do you constantly look to others when God has been taking care of and protecting you?

Our obedience is weak if we ask God to lead us but continue to live by the world’s standards. Reach higher – grow in your faith. Turn to God for all things; He is waiting for you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Samuel Chapter 8