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.