The Lord “is” or “my” Shepherd?

“I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” ~ Alexander the Great

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

23 The Lord is my shepherd.
I lack nothing.
2 He lets me rest in grassy meadows;
he leads me to restful waters;
3  he keeps me [a] alive.
He guides me in proper paths
for the sake of his good name.

4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no danger because you are with me.
Your rod and your staff—
they protect me.

5 You set a table for me
right in front of my enemies.
You bathe my head in oil;
my cup is so full it spills over!
6 Yes, goodness and faithful love
will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live[b] in the Lord’s house
as long as I live.

Footnotes

Psalm 23:3 Or my soul

Psalm 23:6 LXX; MT I will return

Most people are familiar with Psalm 23. It’s the most read Psalm at funerals and has earned the nickname the “Funeral Psalm.” The question is, why? Why do so many people resonate with Psalm 23? Is it because this Psalm portrays God with us through the good, the bad, and ugly of life? I think that’s right. Immanuel, God with us, through the thick and thin, as long as we all shall live. This Psalm is full of promises and illuminates God’s will for justice, righteousness, and shalom/peace for all people.

In today’s devotion, let’s turn our attention to the very first line in the Psalm. “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Take a moment and reflect on this verse. Let me frame it another way “The Lord is Shepherd.” Now compare and contrast these two statements: “The Lord “is” or “my” Shepherd? How you answer this question will make a BIG difference in how your life turns out. A more contemporary interpretation would be to say, “God is everything, or God is nothing.” The question you must answer is, what’s my choice to be? Your actions, not just words, confirm your selection.

• Is the Lord a Shepherd?
• Is the Lord my Shepherd?
• Does a Shepherd even exist?

Let’s break down the three alternatives:

There is no Shepherd: If there is no Shepherd, then we are doomed. A sheep without a shepherd is like a nation without a leader; fear, uncertainty, and unruly chaos would prevail. If there is no Shepherd, then why are there sheep? How can sheep even exist if there is no Shepherd or, if you wish, Creator?

The Lord is Shepherd: This position presupposes that the Shepherd does exist, but the sheep want nothing to do with the Shepherd or vice versa. The sheep’s propensity is to live for themselves, consuming all they can from the world and becoming easy prey for the wolves of the present day. The sheep acknowledge the Shepherd exists, but neither the Shepherd nor the sheep wish to be involved in each other’s lives.

The Lord is my Shepherd: Every sheep needs a shepherd, or the sheep will quickly perish due to its inability to protect and save itself from predators of life. When the sheep commits to following the shepherd, and the shepherd commits to leading the sheep, the relationship becomes personal. The sheep can honestly say, “This is my shepherd,” and the shepherd can honestly say, “This is my sheep.”

The good news is that the Shepherd is real. The best news ever is that the Shepherd can become “our personal” Shepherd by saying “yes” to the relationship. The Good Shepherd has already said “yes,” and He is patiently waiting for you to say “yes” to His invitation. When we choose to let the Shepherd lead, and we commit to follow the Shepherd, we enjoy the protection and salvation that only the Shepherd can provide. If you have never called on the Lord to be your Shepherd, then today is a great day to start.

The shepherd is consistently among the sheep. God reminds us that He is our Shepherd and is always with us, never forsaking us or forgetting us.

Ezekiel 34:11-16 (CEB)

11 The Lord God proclaims: I myself will search for my flock and seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out the flock when some in the flock have been scattered, so will I seek out my flock. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered during the time of clouds and thick darkness. 13 I will gather and lead them out from the countries and peoples, and I will bring them to their own fertile land. I will feed them on Israel’s highlands, along the riverbeds, and in all the inhabited places. 14 I will feed them in good pasture, and their sheepfold will be there, on Israel’s lofty highlands. On Israel’s highlands, they will lie down in a secure fold and feed on green pastures. 15 I myself will feed my flock and make them lie down. This is what the Lord God says. 16 I will seek out the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the wounded, and strengthen the weak. But the fat and the strong I will destroy, because I will tend my sheep[a] with justice.

Footnotes

Ezekiel 34:16 Or them

Let us remember the words of Jesus Himself:

Luke 15:3-7 (CEB)

3 Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose someone among you had one hundred sheep and lost one of them. Wouldn’t he leave the other ninety-nine in the pasture and search for the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he is thrilled and places it on his shoulders. 6 When he arrives home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Celebrate with me because I’ve found my lost sheep.’ 7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who changes both heart and life than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to change their hearts and lives.

And lastly, 

John 10:1-21 (CEB) 

10 1 I assure you that whoever doesn’t enter into the sheep pen through the gate but climbs over the wall is a thief and an outlaw. 2 The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The guard at the gate opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 Whenever he has gathered all of his sheep, he goes before them and they follow him, because they know his voice. 5 They won’t follow a stranger but will run away because they don’t know the stranger’s voice.” 6 Those who heard Jesus use this analogy didn’t understand what he was saying.

I am the gate

7 So Jesus spoke again, “I assure you that I am the gate of the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and outlaws, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life—indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest.

I am the good shepherd

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 When the hired hand sees the wolf coming, he leaves the sheep and runs away. That’s because he isn’t the shepherd; the sheep aren’t really his. So the wolf attacks the sheep and scatters them. 13 He’s only a hired hand and the sheep don’t matter to him.

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own sheep and they know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. I give up my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that don’t belong to this sheep pen. I must lead them too. They will listen to my voice and there will be one flock, with one shepherd.

17 “This is why the Father loves me: I give up my life so that I can take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I give it up because I want to. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it up again. I received this commandment from my Father.”

19 There was another division among the Jews because of Jesus’ words. 20 Many of them said, “He has a demon and has lost his mind. Why listen to him?” 21 Others said, “These aren’t the words of someone who has a demon. Can a demon heal the eyes of people who are blind?”

I don’t know where you are on your spiritual journey, but wherever you are, I hope that you can come to say with immense gratitude and confidence, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” and commit to living accordingly.

Here is a nugget to end with: A great ministry leader should always smell like sheep!

Lord, my Shepherd, my Savior, and my Redeemer thank You for loving, protecting, and saving Your sheep. Without You lighting my path, I am lost and easy prey for the principalities and powers of this world. May I never lose focus that You are my Shepherd, and I am Your sheep. I am forever grateful that the Lamb of God, Your only Son, laid down his life so Your sheep can live forever and escape the dark powers of this world. In Your Spirit and Name, I pray these things. May Your will not mine always materialize, now and forever. Amen.

Photo by Sam Carter on Unsplash