The Lord is My Shepherd – Psalms 23:1a

Chew on this for a moment, “The Lord is My Shepherd…”

Typically we would say the Lord is my provider, the Lord is my protection, the Lord is my rock and so on and so on…

David simply says in Psalms 23:1a, the Lord is my Shepherd. The simplicity of the statement underscores the magnitude of who the Lord really is to David. He encapsulates all that the Lord is in the term shepherd. In the term shepherd, David uses imagery that readers of that area would be familiar with. David himself was a shepherd and was personally familiar with the role and responsibility of the shepherd.

Jacob also knew the value of the Shepherd and to which Shepherd he belonged…Genesis 48:15  Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day…

Note what Isaiah says about the passion and concern of the shepherd…Isaiah 40:11 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

And take heed to what Ezekiel says happens when there is no shepherd…Ezekiel 34:5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.

Ezekiel also echoes what God says about David being Israel’s shepherd…Ezekiel 34:23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.

And finally David only foreshadowed our ultimate Shepherd, Jesus Christ…John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Revelations 7:17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Has it sunk in yet? The Lord is My Shepherd!!!

Til next time,

Gary B.