When I hear the word, shepherd, I automatically picture a guy with a tall cane surrounded by a flock of sheep. And then, of course, David’s words in Psalm 23:1 come to mind, where he writes, “The Lord is my shepherd…” (KJV). As I recently read through the entire story of David in the Old Testament, it seems obvious that David relates his relationship with the Lord through this particular metaphor because of his own knowledge and experience as a shepherd. In 1 Samuel 17, David explains how he cared for his flock and fought against the wild predators to protect his sheep. He says, “…Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him” (1 Samuel 17:34-35 KJV). So, I imagine as David proclaimed the Lord as his shepherd, he was thinking of how his sheep were entirely dependent on him for every aspect of their well-being. It is important to recognize that David does not call the Lord ‘a shepherd’ but ‘my shepherd.’ The Lord is David’s leader, protector, and provider.
In the New Testament, Jesus conveys this same type of relationship. In John 10:27-28, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (KJV). Just as David protected his sheep from the wild animals, even rescuing one from its attacker’s mouth, Jesus says no one will “pluck them out of His hand” (John 10:28 KJV). If we are Jesus’ sheep, we belong to Him forever.
So, my question to ponder: Can each of us say with certainty, “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD”? (Psalm 23:1 KJV). Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice and follow Him. Do we search His Word and spend time in prayer? Do we keep our eyes and hearts on Him? Or are we too distracted by the noise of the world around us to hear His call and heed His warning? Are our eyes so focused on our desired direction that we miss the path He is pointing us to?
May we hear our Lord’s voice and follow Him. May each of us say with assurance as David did, “The Lord is my shepherd.” (Psalm 23:1 KJV)
