Meditate.
The
LORD is my shepherd;
I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside
peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will
not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and
comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor
me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your
goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will
live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:1-6 (Underlined for emphasis.)
Sheep grazing in Israel.
Where is their shepherd?
Has He gone to find the lost one?
Yahweh Ro'i. The Lord is my shepherd. In
the Strong’s definition, ra’ah or ro’i is a primitive root, to tend or pasture
a flock, In the Bible it is associated with friendship, companions, and
pastoring. God does more than just provide…as in giving us all we need
physically and spiritually. He is our creator, sustainer, Master, Lord, God
Almighty, all powerful, sanctifier, and Father. Books are written on Psalm
23—so this short devotional is just that…short. It is up to each of us to seek
the Lord…as our Shepherd…as our Lord. The Bible teaches about itself by giving
us more clues on a particular subject. It is the best commentary on itself.
Listen
to this message from the LORD, you nations of the world; proclaim it in distant
coastlands: The LORD, who scattered his people, will gather them and watch over
them as a shepherd does his flock. Jeremiah 31:10
Although He has allowed His sheep to be driven off into all parts of the world, God is a wonderful shepherd...gathering His flock back into their homeland…The Promised Land, Israel.
Jesus taught about a shepherd going after one lost sheep—as if
that were one lost soul.
If
a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won't he
leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one
that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully
carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his
friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost
sheep.' In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who
repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and
haven't strayed away! Luke
15:4-7
In looking for more understanding on shepherd we can see that even at the
last judgement the shepherd is
described.
But
when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he
will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his
presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep
from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his
left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are
blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of
the world." Matthew 25:31-34
The Lord is my shepherd. I can count on Him to care about me, provide for me and watch over me—no matter where I am or what I’m doing. God is good. Do you feel that same connection and relationship with our Lord?
Prayer ~ Now may the God of peace—who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood—may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21
Verse
of Salvation ~ Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the
days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm
23:6
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