The Very Best of Shepherds

Scriptures: Psalms 23:1, Matthew 6:25-34

The Shepherd Provides for My Needs

Psalm 23 is a favorite for many Christians. I remember reading it to my little boy when he would have bad dreams, putting comforting Scripture into his heart and mind so he could sleep. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want … (Psalm 23:1esv) Those are very comforting words. 

As we get older, those promises become more meaningful on a deeper level. We need food, clothes, and shelter, but we also need companionship, love, and a sense of purpose. Our needs run deep. 

Jesus talked about our human tendency to worry in the book of Matthew. He said, “So do not worry saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Matthew 6:31–34 NIV). 

Sheep are not terribly smart animals. They get stuck on their backs. They get stuck in hedges and in holes in the ground, and the minute you pull them out, they’ll fall right back in again. But the Shepherd knows just how smart a sheep is — not very! — and He provides for that. He plans ahead. 

I still remember how our family was moving across the country so that my father could attend school. My brother and I would be attending the same university, and my mother would be the sole wage earner supporting us all. Our boxes and furniture were sent on ahead, and we got into our family’s two cars and drove across the country, believing that God would provide for us. 

Looking back on that cross-country move as an adult, I can see what a huge risk it was. At the age of eighteen, I simply trusted that my parents had it under control. But they didn’t! They were heading to a strange city with no jobs. 

Halfway there, my mom was sent a message. A company had heard that she was moving to the area, and they had a job for her. Not an interview, a job! If she wanted it, it was hers. She’d start the day after we arrived. I know what a miracle that was, and I will never forget it. 

God provides!

Scriptures: Psalms 23:2-3, 1 Kings 19:1-9

The Shepherd Insists I Rest

I mentioned yesterday just how smart sheep are — and they aren’t terribly. But then, neither are we a lot of the time. We’ll work ourselves into exhaustion, eat food that isn’t good for us just because it’s quick, and spend too much time in front of screens so that we start to suffer from depression. I love that God already knows our weaknesses, and in response to them, He tells us to rest. 

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul” (Psalm 23:2–3niv). 

We often think that the busier we are, the more deserving we are. If I’m doing my best and using up all of my energy, then I’m doing well! But God created us with limited energy stores, and we need to refill those. If we don’t, we get drained, depressed, and we lose all perspective. 

When Elijah was running from King Ahab, he hit depression. Why was he bothering? He was only one man! And he was so depressed he wished he could just lay down and die. “Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, ‘Get up and eat’” (1 Kings 19:5niv). 

There was food waiting for Elijah, and another nap, and then another meal. Elijah was exhausted, and he couldn’t think straight or even see what God was doing for him in that condition. But when he’d gotten his strength back, Elijah was ready to go back into the fray. 

We’ve all been there. We might not have been running from a murderous queen, but we’ve been so tired that everything looked impossible. But after a good night’s sleep, or maybe just so much as a snack, we start seeing solutions where there weren’t any before. 

There is spiritual power in a nap and a snack! That isn’t weakness, it was how God created us, and it’s a spiritual truth.

Scriptures: Psalms 23:4, Psalms 121

The Shepherd Never Leaves Me Alone

There is nothing scarier for us human beings than facing our mortality. Death is something we will all experience eventually, unless Jesus comes first, and somehow we manage to push it out of our minds for most of our conscious hours. We don’t think about it because we don’t want to. It scares us! 

Recently, one of my friends passed away. She had kept her illness a secret for some time, and shortly before her death, she told me that she didn’t have much time left. I was heartbroken. She was such a good person, and the world would not be the same without her. It made me stop and think about my own life and whether or not I felt ready to meet my Maker, should it be required of me. That isn’t a comfortable thing to ponder. I started wondering what actually dying feels like. Is it scary? It is peaceful? I was worried about my friend’s passing — what she experienced, and if God gave her special comfort. 

But then I was reminded of Psalm 121. That psalm is all about God taking care of us, but the very last verse says, “The Lord will watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8niv). 

Childbirth is a traumatizing experience. A baby is born with pain and a certain amount of risk, even today. But God is there as we arrive into the world, helpless and crying. And He’s there with us when we go through the process of dying and go join Him in glory. When we can face the fact that we will eventually die, and when we can draw comfort from knowing that God will be close to us and bring us through, our perspective changes. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4esv). We can face life so much more courageously when we know that our coming and going is in His hands, and we will never be alone. 

God still has work for us to do in our lifetimes, and we need to step out in courage and faith to fulfill our missions.

Scriptures: Psalms 23:5-6, John 16:17-23, Genesis 50:15-21

The Shepherd Gives Me Justice

In this world, we will have troubles. Jesus told His disciples clearly that life would not always be easy for them. It isn’t easy for us, either. We might be misunderstood, taken advantage of, and deeply wronged. People might lie about us, pass around untrue rumors, and betray us. Life isn’t all green pastures and still waters. How are we as Christians supposed to deal with grave injustices perpetrated against us? Where is the Shepherd when bad things happen? 

The answer is that the Shepherd is right there beside us, and He sees it all. I love the image that Psalm 23 gives us of the Shepherd’s loving care because it includes justice! 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5niv). God will still bless us, and He will allow those who have wronged us to see His blessing on our lives. There is justice, after all! But we must leave it in God’s hands. 

People might be able to hurt you. They might be able to affect your job or your income. They can lie about you and tarnish your reputation. They can break your heart. But there is one thing that a human being can never touch, and that is your blessing. God can give back to you so much more than you ever lost. Your cup overflows because God fills it to the brim and just keeps on pouring. And God will allow them to see your blessing, despite their efforts to harm you. 

Joseph endured great hardship because of his jealous brothers. You can read about it in the last thirteen chapters of Genesis. He was insulted, ignored, hated, plotted against, sold into slavery, and abandoned by the brothers who should have been looking out for him. Alone as a slave in Egypt, he was lied about, thrown into prison, and forgotten. But God wasn’t finished! And when Joseph ended up a ruler in Egypt and was able to provide those very brothers with food to save them from starvation, Joseph told them, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good” (Genesis 50:20niv). God’s intentions trump man’s intentions every time! 

Jesus says, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33niv). And He will make your cup overflow.

Scriptures: Psalms 23, Psalms 25, Exodus 4:1-17

The Shepherd Has Solutions

From marriage issues and relationship stresses to work conflicts and money problems, we need practical solutions! It’s easy for us to get overwhelmed and to feel like there is no way to fix our problems, and I love that the Good Shepherd has practical solutions. 

The Good Shepherd “leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3esv). He doesn’t let us flounder on our own — He shows us the way through. David tells us that “He will them in the ways they should choose” (Psalm 25:12niv). We are not left on our own, and there is a solution to our problems. 

The Shepherd’s rod and staff (Psalm 23:4) are a beautiful image of God’s practical guidance. These are tools used to guide, protect, and care for sheep. God isn’t far off — He’s getting His hands dirty in our lives, and that was a big comfort to David. 

A few hundred years before David was writing his songs, Moses was called to free God’s people from slavery in Egypt. Moses was rightfully afraid, but God pointed out something powerful. He asked Moses, “What is that in your hand?” (Exodus 4:2niv). Isn’t it interesting that Moses, too, had a staff? It was a simple tool, a cheap piece of wood. But it was all Moses needed for God to perform miracle after miracle to get the job done. God has already provided us with exactly what we need right now. 

When we have problems in our lives, we need to look around ourselves and ask, “What is in my hand?” What do you have right now? Because God has already provided you with your solution. He’s leading you along the path of righteousness, and like the very best of shepherds, He’s planning ahead for you in ways you can’t even imagine now. So don’t think that God is surprised by your problem just because you are. You’ve got the tool you need right in your hand. He made sure of it. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1esv).